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Expectations are high for the Fergus Falls girls’ track and field team entering the 2014 season. “We had a very young team last year and watching them show amazing growth and buy in on what they can accomplish was the biggest highlight of the season,” shared Head Coach Niki Welde. “We really stress the importance of self-improvement in events and as an Otter. We have goals of reaching the state meet in many area. The hard work that these girls are willing to put in, shows us that they have bought into the fact that they can reach that goal.”
Assisting Welde will be Shawn Papon, Angie Leitch, Ike Carlson, Denny Hystead, Nathan Dregseth, Kyle Owings and Jon Pontius.
Team captains will be Ella Starzl (long jump, high jump, 100, relays), Sonja Lahti, Sarah Grotberg (3200), Naomi Dummer (distance), Aisling Cox (throws) and Macee Butler (throws).
Brook Zierden (shot put, discus, long jump, triple jump) will be busy in four events for the Otters, along with Hannah Scharnberg (high jump, triple jump, long jump, hurdles), Mayah Fear (triple jump, pole vault, long jump, 100 and Rachel DeBrito (100, 200, relays, long jump). Participating in three events for the Otters will be Sarah Nordlund (triple jump, high jump, pole vault), Layla Zosel (high jump, long jump, 100), Brynn Blondeau (triple jump, long jump, 400) and Esther Covington (100, 200, sprint relays). Siiri Smestad (100, relays) and Ruby Ellison (high jump, relays) round out the jumpers and sprinters.
The Otters have depth in the distance department with Violet McConn (200, 400, 800), Estee Versteeg (800, 1600, 3200), Cassie Wellman (800, 1600, 3200), Olivia Swanson (400, 800, 1600), Alexis Wellman (400, 800, 1600), Savannah Lee (400, 800, 1600), Naomi Grotberg (800, 1600) and Carsyn Lill (400, 800, relays).
Coach Welde says Alexandria and Perham will be the teams to beat in Section 8AA with the Cardinals being the top challenger to the Otters in the Central Lakes Conference.