Wildcat track squads hope to be competitive

Wildcat track squads

hope to be competitive

    PRESQUE ISLE – The personnel losses were heavy for the Wildcat track and field teams.
    Dusty Graham, Dylan Plissey, Lucas Richards and Jason Johnson on the boys side and Katrina Whittier and Amber Griffin on the girls side all were major point scorers and have since graduated. 

    The coaching staff, made up of Lori Googins, Ron McAtee, Mike Waugh and Joe Greaves, are in hopes that an increase in participation will help ease the loss of those athletes.
    The boys team has just under 40 competitors and the girls has just under 20 on their roster, which McAtee said are larger numbers than recent years.
    “We have a few upperclass students that are doing spring sports for the first time, and some others have switched sports,” said McAtee, who serves as the girls’ head coach but specializes in throwing events for both genders.
    Googins, the boys’ head coach, works with the sprinters, hurdlers and relay teams, while Waugh lends his talents to the distance runners and Greaves the jumpers and pole vaulters.
    “As a whole, I anticipate a good season,” Googins said. “We have a fairly young group of athletes and we still don’t know what events everyone wants to compete in.”
    Members of the boys team are seniors Craig Winslow, Ethan York, Justin Lewin, Mitch Davis, Nathaniel Postell, Scott Mitchell and Tyler Hotham; juniors Alex Page, Ben McKenna, Brandon Gibson, Josh Allen, Justin Good, Logan Thibeau, Paul Elish, Seth Powers, Steve Goulet, Tyler Eager and Zach Lunney; sophomores Ben Sipe, Corey Meunier, David Paradis, Dylan Michaud, Jesse Rochester, Logan Good, Lucas Cyr, Matt Eager, Sam Clukey, Trey Stewart, Tyler Maynard and Tyler Thibodeau-Grant; and freshmen Dakota Fox, Duncan Billings, Gabe Player, Jacob Williams, Joel Shay, Jon Rochester, Khyver Lowe, Scott Delong and Thomas Freeman.
    On the girls’ roster are seniors Elizabeth Paradis, Elizabeth Wright, Hallie Bartlett and Jerica Fox; juniors Jaylee Fox, Mackenzie Pinette and Victoria Winslow; sophomores Barbara Bonville, Brittany Burlock, Brittany Caron, Caitlin Sirois and Erica Hemphill; and freshmen Abbie Carrier, Emma Bartlett, Kali Warner, Meredith Stewart and Samantha Simonds.
    The managers are Kelsey Corriveau, Haley Bouchard and Emily Wright.
    “We have a few good athletes in most every event,” McAtee said. “As for state competitors, we should have a good turnout in the Penobscot Valley Conference championships and the state meet.”
    Presque Isle’s first meet of the season involves several PVC teams and is this Saturday at Orono beginning at 1 p.m.

Staff photos/Kevin Sjoberg

    COACH RON MCATEE watches as junior Steve Goulet works on his technique in the discus during Friday’s workout for the Presque Isle varsity track and field team. The Wildcats have their first meet of the season Saturday at Orono.

    PRACTICE RUN – Under the watchful eye of Wildcat assistant coach Joe Greaves, PI sophomore Corey Meunier prepares for an attempt at the pole vault at Friday’s practice.

    BIG THROW – Victoria Winslow gets ready to release the javelin during a practice held Friday. The Presque Isle track and field team opens its season with a meet Saturday at Orono.