Wawasee’s Clayton Cook has big dreams this season on the track. (Photo by Mike Deak)
SYRACUSE – Let’s face it, winter has been brutal. If there has been a ray of hope, it’s that some of the snow has melted. There is grass underneath the tundra!
While the fields and tracks slowly thaw out, Wawasee’s boys track team opened its season with a bang and have already set a pace for what could be a very exciting 2014 spring campaign.
The inclusion in the Hoosier State Qualifier indoor track meets in March have given Wawasee a chance to see what it has, and for a couple of its stars, to shine ahead of the eventual outdoor season.
Juniors Clayton Cook and JJ Gilmer both have already set standards for themselves as contenders, both making the state meet this weekend at Indiana Wesleyan. Cook has set the school record in the 60-yard dash at Trine March 15 and broke the Culver Academy indoor meet record in the 45-meter high hurdles. Gilmer is currently ranked No. 1 in the state in the high jump at 6’6” after his efforts at Trine and has cleared 20 feet in the long jump.
“JJ finally looks comfortable,” said Wawasee head coach Scott Lancaster. “He looked very good at Culver and has had a nice run in both long jump and high jump in the state indoors. Clayton is cleaning up some technical stuff, but he looks ready to step forward. He’s a legitimate state contender.”
Wawasee isn’t just those two athletes, with several runners and throwers priming to compete for state tournament possibilities this year.
Distance was a strong suit for Wawasee on the cross country circuit last fall, and several of those standouts are ready to take to the oval this spring. Senior Adam Doll and junior Zach Cockrill both had outstanding cross country seasons and should make noise on the track.
Doll is a two-mile specialist, and finally reached the regional level last May after near misses his first two seasons. Cockrill has improved in the 800, and should excel in what has become one of the more fascinating races in area track.
Junior Austin Trowbridge could step forward to provide Wawasee with a one-two punch in hurdles with Cook and the high jump with Gilmer. Trowbridge’s improvement through his sophomore year actually helped Wawasee beat Plymouth and he has only progressed into his junior year, according to Lancaster. Another addition to the track that could surprise a few is freshman Cole VanLue, who could pair with Cook in the 100 to add depth for the sprinters. Senior Michael Pena also adds a fleet foot on the track, which Lancaster feels he could add more than just time to this team.
“Pena is a great kid to have around, he’s just rock steady and ready to compete,” Lancaster said. “He’s a soldier that is always ready to be out front leading the charge. He is a great starter for our relay teams. He just loves to perform.”
Field events again should be a strong suit for Wawasee. Senior Ethan Brown will lead the throwers, as throws coach Scot McDowell noted he is already sending the discus far enough to contend for a regional. Brown and junior Jon Walker both have improved in shot put, and will lead a very young but hungry pit of throwers.
Gilmer and classmate Jake Hutchinson both have the distance to compete in the long jump, both having cleared 20 feet in their careers. But long jump should be ultra competitive as Lancaster noted at least four other Northern Lakes Conference schools all have 20-foot jumpers.
“We hope to be in a position by the conference and sectional that we are at least competing with the big boys in the area,” Lancaster said. “We don’t have the depth to beat some of the top-level teams like Warsaw or Northridge. But we have individuals that can compete. We hope a little fire in the belly burns and kids start to step forward.”