There are numerous key losses for the Wilmington High School boys track and field team this season.
But head coach Chris Reynolds, SBAAC American Division coach of the year in 2022, isn’t throwing in the towel for the Hurricane to be right back in the thick of things later in the season.
Reynolds is in his third season as head coach, with a 180-27 record. He’ll be assisted by Eileen Grosse, Karen Heslop, JT Lykins, Tyler Parks, Savannah Coyle, Henry Dawkins and Ben Baylor.
There are 11 returning letterwinners, led by Adrien Cody, Blaize Johnson, Zeth Cowin, Henry Hildebrandt, Levi Cochran, Preston Ziegler, Conner Walters, William Hildebrandt, Zane Smith, Aiden Matheney and Oliver McDermott.
“Last year’s seniors passed the baton to Blaize Johnson to lead the team this year,” Reynolds said. “Blaize coincidentally was one of our most outspoken leaders last year as a junior, so he’s no stranger to setting expectations of his peers and leading by example.”
Several newcomers, most notably Eddie Brooks, Bryce Vilvens, Damarius Bart, Jake Vance, Landon Scott, Stephen Rickman, Brylan Ruddle, Logan Johnson, Malachi Cumberland, Noah Estes, Garrett Steinmetz, Eli Stewart, Julius Jackson and Jessie Keith, will contribute.
The team lost Collin Barker, Trevor Billingsley, Ky Bozarth, multiple times state qualifier Brett Brooks, Brooks Butler, Devon Cordell, Tayshon Cordy, Zainne Cowin, Matt Irwin, Alyk Lippincott, Malik Scott and Andrew Stewart to graduation last spring.
“Last year’s senior class was one of the most talented classes to set foot on the track,” Reynolds said. “This year’s freshman class could be just as talented in four years so I’m really excited to start their development and fill those voids from last year’s class with this young talent to sustain our dominance.”
Reynolds added the junior high program this season is “looking really lean” which is a cause for concern in the future.
SCHEDULE
March 25^Wilm Field Relay^H^10a
March 28^Miami Trace^A^430p
April 4^Little Miami Inv^A^4p
April 14^Xenia^A^4p
April 17^Western Brown^A^4p
April 21^Hillsboro Inv^A^4p
April 24^Monroe JV Inv^A^4p
April 25^Wightman Inv^EC^4p
April 27^Little Miami Inv^A^4p
May 3^Lebanon^A^4p
May 8, 10^SBAAC Championship^Wbg^4p
