Posted: 4/21/04

Wolvesí strength will be balance

"Both our girls team and boys team should have pretty good balance this season," said Milaca Track and Field Coach Randy Furman. "We should score points in the running events and relays and we should pick up some points in the field events.

"Weíre hoping to build some depth as the season goes on."

Last season Milaca girls placed third at the Rum River Conference Meet while the boys finished ninth.

Veterans returning for Milacaís girls include seniors Amberly Hirsch (200-meter dash, 400, long jump) and Janelle Packard (sprints, relays), juniors Sara Hanenburg (800, 1600), Amanda Roehl (800), Elyse Dahlstrom (800, 1600), Amber Lee (long jump, 1600), Anna Phillips (hurdles, 200), Hannah Coffee (pole vault) and Amanda Prasnicki (pole vault), sophomores Anna Wildman (1600, 3200) and Lyssa Wildman (1600, 3200) and ninth grader Kelly Nelson (pole vault).

Other team members include senior Anna Crain and Jennifer Lindner, juniors Ashley Theisen, Cassie Pearson, Vanessa Halstead and Joy Peterson, sophomores Ashley Brown, Brittani Hanson, Karly Ringham and Kirsten DeHart and ninth graders Amanda Studnisky, Amanda Yeats, Anika Erickson, Becky Ruis, Danielle Swenson, Jamie Theisen, Janelle Taylor and Kelly Prziborowski.

The Wolves lost standout Jessi Struffert (400, relays) and Chrissy Dee (high jump, relays) through graduation.

Veterans returning for the boys include seniors Mitch Vedders (200, 400, shot put), Paul Bauerly (pole vault, long jump, triple jump) and Mike Rygh (200), juniors Andy Kotsmith (100, 200, triple jump), Axel Totzke (200, 400), Adam Rodin (400), Clinton Swenson (hurdles) and Jon Moorlag (high jump), sophomore Luke Thomsen (800) and ninth grader Caleb Coffee (pole vault).

Other team members include seniors Jon Fry and Matt Ahner, sophomores Alex Brundrett, Andrew Olson, Anthony Jackson, Andy Peterson, Bryan Nelson, Chris Carlson, Jesse Carlson, Levi Plath, Kevin Johnson and Torin Erickson and ninth graders Josh Ellison, Dustin Geist, Calvin Miller and Aaron Wright.
Graduation losses included Tony Swenson (hurdles) and Derek Beutz (sprints).
Furman and Jeremy Mikla are Milacaís co-coaches.