Midland High boy’s track season preview

by Jason Wolverton

A year after finishing second in the Saginaw Valley League, the Midland High boy’s track team again shows promise heading into its first home meet April 17.

Second year coach Marty Hollenbeck says his team’s depth is again its strength, as his roster sports a number of athletes capable of finishing well in any number of events. That depth was already on display earlier this season at the Central Michigan University Indoor Meet, particularly in the field events.

Junior B.J. Ryder took home first place honors in the pole vault at the CMU Indoor, and Hollenbeck expects him to stay strong throughout the season. Junior Kevin Nehil is also showing promise in the pole vault, something Hollenbeck says shouldn’t be surprising given pole vault coach Butch Wenzel’s strong reputation.

“In the past ten years, he has sent sixteen pole vaulters to states, and four of them have placed,” Hollenbeck said of Wenzel. “I don’t know of another event coach who can say that.”

Hollenbeck also gives credit to assistant coaches Will Luzar and Josh Mileski, pointing out that having a roster of over 100 kids is made easier thanks to the skill and expertise of his coaches.

“People ask me how do I do it, but it’s not me,” he says. “Those guys do it for me. I know they’re doing a great job”

Mileski heads up a group of throwers who also did well at the CMU Indoor. Senior Mychael King took home second place honors in the shot put a season after finishing eighth in the state in that event. Hollenbeck lauds King’s effort so far this season, pointing out that it is often difficult to give track a great deal of attention in an athlete’s final few weeks of high school.

“To get a senior as focused as Mychael means we’re doing really well,” he says.

Also doing well is senior Justin Barnes, who set a personal record while finishing fourth in the shot put at CMU.

“He’s throwing already as well at the beginning of the year as he was at the end of last year,” Hollenbeck says. “And that’s a good sign.”

The Chemics are also looking solid in their distance events. At CMU, Junior Nathan Love finished fifth in the 800-meter while Zach Romer finished sixth in the 3,200. Hollenbeck expects both to be strong throughout the season as well as senior Steven Cope.

In sprint events, Hollenbeck says the team is young, but again gives credit to an assistant coach for making the most of his team’s talent.

“We have a lot of young sprinters but coach Luzur will have a very competitive 400-meter relay team at the end of the year,” he says. “He’ll have those kids so fine-tuned that the skill will make up for our lack of speed.”

Ultimately, Hollenbeck thinks his team will find success, but chooses to bring out that success by focusing first and foremost on the individual athlete and then letting the team success fall into place from there.

“Track is kind of an individual sport with a team flare,” he says. “We’re always looking for us to improve as individuals first, and when that happens, the team excels.”

The Chemics will be in action next on April 17 when they host a triangle meet against Flint Northern and Saginaw High. The scheduled start time is 4 p.m.