Posted: 4/12/06
Boys track and field team to rely on experience
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Joe Drennan
Sports Editor
Forest Lake High School boys track and field coach Paul Kendrick is hoping the hard work ethic of the boys will show as heís uncertain of the teamís competitiveness this season.
ìWe really have to fill some holes,î Kendrick said. ìWe have to have some of our younger kids come through for us to be competitive. Come the end of the year though I expect to be competing for a section title.î
The Rangers will be led my MIT bound senior Dustin Kendrick, senior Derek Peterson, senior Alex Borum, senior Erik Stolberg and senior Jamison Hull as Captains.
Some of the returning letter winners include hurdler and 400 meter sprinter senior Geoff Cass, sprinter senior Jack Wittrock, distance runners senior Ben Fick and Hull, jumpers junior Brandon Yetter and junior Aaron Anderson.
The sprinters have Wittrock and sophomores Dalton Keep and Dillon Grant.
ìWe got Dalton to come out from the football team,î Kendrick said.
The hurdling crew consist of Kendrick and Cass as returning hurdlers. Kendrick did not hurdle last year as he recovered from a broken leg suffered during the hockey season.
One of the younger guys who have a chance to step up are sophomore Dillan Edelen.
ìI would expect that in our conference he could place in the freshman/sophomore meet,î Kendrick said.
The distance runners feature Nordic skiing state champions Fick and Hull who are coming off a strong cross country season. Junior Seamus Glewwe and Yetter are expected to be solid in the 800 yard runs as their times were dropping at the end of last season.
Anderson will be the Rangers number one jumper. Stolberg will also be jumping.
Sophomore Jake Schmidt, along with a number of younger athletes will compete in the pole vault event.
The weight men will again be the Rangers leaders. State participants Peterson and junior Tyler Kleinhuizen will be the leaders.
ìThose two, in my estimation, should both go to the state meet in both the shot put and discus and make the finals,î Kendrick said. ìThey should have a great year with all their training.î
Other weight men include junior Matt Schwartz, junior Colin Peterson and sophomore Luke Daninger.
Farewell
This will be Coach Bill Streeterís 25th season with the Rangers, it will also be his last as heís decided to retire after the season.
ìItís just time,î Streeter said. ìAge, longevity, it all added up to the right number.î
Streeter first started coaching in Coon Rapids where he spent seven years before coming to Forest Lake.
Over the years Streeter has coached some talented Rangers athletes. Two that stick out to Streeter are double state champions Joe Toath and Mark Fahey.
ìThis year will be one of my better groups that Iíve had and hopefully weíll be able to bring at least two of them to the state meet in both the shot and discus,î Streeter said.
Competition
As usual the Suburban East Conference will be a tough one. White Bear Lake will stay true to its tradition of being a strong program, while Mounds View and Woodbury will have quality athletes, just not depth.
The Rangers next meet is at 3:30 p.m. Tuesday at Roseville.
Forest Lake Times
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