After what Three Lakes-Phelps track Head Coach Nate Koch called a slight rebuild last year, the Bluejays return plenty of talent to the track this upcoming season, with the hopes of being a well-rounded and larger team, according to the coaching staff.

Last season, junior Nolan Waltz advanced to the WIAA State meet in La Crosse in the 1600-meter run. Junior Zach Weavers, senior Ethan Potrykus and sophomore Masen Schoeneck made it through to sectionals last season in their respective events.

Weavers competes in the shot put and discus, Schoeneck does the high jump and triple jump, and Potrykus runs track events, focusing on the distance 1,600-meter and 3,200-meter runs.

These returning athletes should mix well with the new athletes entering the program in both the girls and boys teams.

“It’s nice to have so many of our athletes returning. We’ve got a strong roster and are pushing a larger team this year. I’m looking forward to another good season,” stated Koch. “We’ve got some new athletes, so having our veterans around means that we’ve got some leaders to help them get situated. My hope is to be a well-rounded team.”

Returning firepower

Leading the charge for the boys’ team is Waltz, who is an accomplished runner on the track and in cross country. Coming off a runner-up finish at the State cross country meet this past fall, Waltz now sets his sights on a second consecutive trip to La Crosse this spring.

“Nolan, of course, made his first appearance at the state track meet in the 1600. He also finished second at the state cross country meet. We’re hoping for another successful track season while he resets and focuses on the 800m this year.

Weavers is another athlete who can make a push at state this year in the shot put and discus. Koch said the junior thrower set himself a good foundation last year at the end of the season at sectionals, where he should only improve.

“Zach is also returning and made a good showing last year in the throws, making it to sectionals. I’m hopeful that he can make it all the way to state this year,” Koch mentioned.

“We’ve got a few others that, while younger, are showing some promise.”

Schoeneck, a sophomore, is one of those athletes. Like Weavers, he built a good foundation as a freshman, as he posted the second-highest jump of all freshmen during sectionals at 5’8” and cleared 5’9” during regionals.

Koch stated that he hopes this version of the team has balanced strength both on the track and in field events.

“We can be a force on both the track and out in the field,” Koch said about the boys’ team.

New faces incoming

Some strong first-year high school track athletes come in from the middle school program this season. Freshmen Bekah Koch and Grace Mandli will highlight some of the track events this season, while Mandli will also sprinkle in some field events. Koch said the girls’ team will also return a trio of junior throwers in field events, so the hope is for some breakthrough performances on the girls’ side despite being a smaller group compared to the boys.

“I see ourselves probably strongest on the track side of things with freshman Bekah Koch in our distance events and Grace Mandli in the hurdles. Grace also does well in the long and triple jump, and we’ve got our returning trio of junior throwers,” he stated. “So we’ve got some possible action on the field side with the girls as well. I’m hoping that we can have some breakthrough performances this season.”

The coaching staff said Waltz and Weavers are contenders to advance to the state meet, but wouldn’t be surprised if they have more than that once the season is said and done, with the talent they have on both teams.