Winning a state championship in any endeavor is difficult. The amount of time put in preparation, giftedness, confidence and the motivation of every team member are but a handful of variables that must be just right to take home the title.
Last year was special for the Wimberley High School track team. It would be easy to set a goal of getting back to Austin and bringing home another state title.
Discussing the expectations with his student athletes, head track coach Josh DeMarco said he sought to put them at ease.
“I’ve been telling them ‘Just remember, we won’t be where we need to be until we need to be there.’ Last year, at the third track meet, we didn’t know we were going to be at the state championships,” he said. “It’s exciting to talk about, but this is a different team with different kids and different strengths.”
“I hope we are able to repeat,” DeMarco continued. “I believe we have a strong team and we have a shot. Surely it’s the goal but success in track is built on staying healthy and improving every week.”
The stable is deep both on the track and in the field events. The 4x400 meter relay seems to simply reload every year as do the 4x200 and 4x100 relays.
“These early meets are tough with cold weather conditions, missing athletes from basketball or other sports and general aches and pains from working back into track shape,” mused DeMarco. “We fill slots and try new lineups to see where chemistry plays out and where we can keep guys fresh from week to week. Everyone is pouring their heart into it and are devoted to team success. They’ve seen what can happen and want to be part of the next something special.”
Aside from individual events, Lane Towns, Chase Carson and Lucas Brookshier are part of the 4x400. Ethan Talley and Gabe Wray have swapped out in the first two weeks and will progress for the team as they gain experience. Cody Heckel, Zack Patek and Gage Tumlinson are putting in good times on the 4x100 relay as well.
Every point earned at a track meet can make the difference of a team winning or falling short by the narrowest of margins. Scoring is for first through sixth places with points awarded 108-6-4-2-1. Relays count double (20-16-12-8-4-2.) Points in shot put and triple jump in last year’s state meet vaulted the men’s team into contention for the title.
The Texans’ field events are in good shape with a host of strong competitors throwing, vaulting and jumping this season. Triple jump record holder Gabe Wray returns for his senior campaign and potentially adds depth to relays along with long jump. With basketball complete, sophomore Nolan Waida steps up to varsity this season and holds promise in long jump and high jump. Nate Brooks and Noah Birdsong are also coming out of basketball and will contribute quickly.
Caden Romo, Jackson Labouliere and Kaedon Gonce are all throwing the shot put — coached by returning Wimberley graduate, athlete and new teacher/coach Cheyenne Gold — in the low 40s thus far. DeMarco expects throws in the mid-40s will advance out of district and into area with a possibility to get to the regional meet scheduled for the last weekend in April.
Coach Caleb Hall believes his three pole vaulters — senior Logan Wilkenson, junior Cash Toomey and sophomore Eamon Gallagher — are all capable of vaulting over 12 feet as the season progresses. Toomey finished with a silver medal and Wilkenson with the bronze at the Blanco Panther meet last week with both finishing at 11’6”.
“They’re going to be competitive and should be in the points this season,” Hall said. “Getting out of district and into the area meet will take some effort on their part for the remainder of our practices this season, but once you get to the area meet, our district is pretty strong. It opens up possibilities for getting to the regional meet.”
Another exciting aspect of this Texan track season are two 800 runners competing at a high level. Two juniors — Alex Chio and AJ Hanle — ran well in last Thursday’s meet in Blanco. Hanle also ran a 4:54 mile which is good for early season and should expect to shave that time down into the low 4:40s by season end barring injury or ailment.
DeMarco is pleased with the leadership exhibited early in this season.
“The older kids have done a great job these first couple weeks of taking the younger kids under their wings, showing them what to do and how to do it, and I’m pretty proud of that,” he continued. “I think (last year’s graduates) Juan and Landon Gary always tried to help those other guys, and it rubbed off on the underclassmen. I think they sense what it’s going to take to be successful.”
The team travels to Canyon Lake High School for the Hawk Relays this Thursday, March 2 and to Navarro High School for the Panther Relays on Thursday, March 9.
Wimberley’s Texan Relays are scheduled for Thursday, March 23.
