For the Daily Reporter
New Palestine
Head coach: Kyle Ralph
Key losses: Samuel Voelz, Brady Walden, Caleb Eagleson, Spencer Corey, Chase Crowder
[sc:text-divider text-divider-title=”Story continues below gallery” ]
Click here to purchase photos from this galleryKey returnees: Kyler Harrison, Drew Austin, Jared Reed, Gavin Hausz, Laine Schonauer
Preview: No team in Hancock County is dealing with harder hits from graduation quite like New Palestine is. Last year, Samuel Voelz not only won the individual state championship in the 800-meter run, he helped their 4×800 and 4×400 relays to second and third place, respectively. However, none of the runners on either of those relays are returning. Looking to rebuild, New Palestine is relying on regional qualifiers Jared Reed (110 meter hurdles), Gavin Hausz (high jump) and Laine Schonauer (high jump), as well as distance duo Kyler Harrison and Drew Austin, who placed first and second at the Hancock County Cross-Country Meet, to lead the team.
Mt. Vernon
Head coach: Bruce Kendall
Key losses: Nathan Casler, Blake Miller, Kyle Forsythe, Donovan Bigelow, Mark Lough, Nathan Seifert, Garrett Mauk, Nick Anderson
Key returnees: Jailen Porter, Steve Hogan, Damari Gatewood, Conner Nelson, Alex Carter, Drew Bluthemann
Preview: Bruce Kendall is going into the 2018 season focused on, and excited about, all 16 events. “(Our) biggest task in 2018 is merging all of the freshman and sophomore talent into what we already have,” Kendall said. Kendall doesn’t favor one event over the other, but he’s happy to have Jailen Porter, school record-holder in the 200-meter dash, and Steve Hogan, who reportedly has improved significantly in the pole vault, on this year’s squad.
Eastern Hancock
Head coach: Clayton Schultz
Key losses: Reece Burkhart, Devyn Brinson, Jayson Bowers
Key returnees: Skyler Schrope, Will Huffman, Kyle Moore, Blayze Sarber
Preview: Coming from an Eastern Hancock alum who was a distance runner on the track team, it was surprising to see the amount of kids on the Royals’ 2018 roster of 35. “We are excited by the unknown as each new season brings surprises,” coach Clayton Schultz said. “Our guys are working very hard every day in practice and are excited to start seeing the results in meets.” Another element Schultz is excited about is something Eastern Hancock hasn’t had in a while — a strong distance group. The 4×800 meter relay team ran 8:50, which is the third fastest time Eastern Hancock has posted in that relay in about 10 years, at the Hoosier State Relays, an unofficial indoor state championships. Leading that relay is Skyler Schrope, who Schultz credited as a “talented young man and one of the hardest workers I’ve had the pleasure to coach.”
Greenfield-Central
Head coach: Scott Burton
Key losses: Jacob Hansen
Key returnees: Quentin McBride, Adam Lee, Cooper Hanson, Conner Kinnaman, Tate Helm, Braden Brown
Preview: The Cougars, luckily, don’t have to worry much about losing too many members due to graduation. “We have a very young team, so it will be interesting to see how they develop during the season,” head coach Scott Burton said about their youth. “We will have a much better idea on the direction of this group as the outdoor season progresses throughout April.” After finishing third at the Hancock County meet last year and seventh in the Hoosier Heritage Conference, Greenfield-Central surely will be looking for a better season than 2017. They return only two regional qualifiers in Braden Brown (high jump, long jump) and Adam Lee (pole vault). Lee is coming off of a seventh-place performance in the pole vault at the Hoosier State Relays.
