Area Sports
Wolves look to get back on track
Published on Wed, Mar 16, 2011Read More Sports
Sequim sprinters Lauren Bell, left, and Nicole Pino practice their baton handoffs at a preseason practice. Sequim Gazette photo by Michael Dashiell
Head coach: Brad Moore (17th year)
Assistants: Don Lichten, John Fodge, B.J. Schade, Roger Brown, Vic Brancasio
2010 record: Girls — 7-1, second in Olympic League, third at districts, tied for fourth at state 2A meet;
Boys — 4-4, fifth at Olympic League meet, fifth at districts, 24th at state 2A meet
Top returning athletes: Girls — Audrey Lichten, Haleigh Harrison, Jasmine McMullen, Lauren Bell, Nicole Pino, Sarah Spray; Boys — Jayson Brocklesby, Alex Jenkins, Adrian Clifford, Emmanuel Herrera, Stephan Stilts, Frank Catelli, Josh Daker, Judah Breitbach, Mack Grinnell
Top newcomers: Girls — Brittany Vereide, Hannah Hudson, Sarah Hutchison, Frid Kasperson, Jennifer Morelos;
Boys — Dylan Chatters, Jake Lewis, Chance Bean
Key dates: March 19 at Port Angeles, April 9 at Bellevue Invitational, April 22 at Port Townsend, April 28 vs. Kingston, May 5 at Olympic League meet
by MICHAEL DASHIELL
Sequim Gazette
This spring, the Sequim High School track squad is banking on quality, not quantity.
When head coach Brad Moore and company take to the track oval and the field, it will be with a full crew of 23 girls and 22 boys, the smallest collection of athletes since Moore started coaching the squad in the mid-1990s.
“We’re not deep, but we have a couple of good kids,” Moore says. “We have some potential. We’re quick. We can develop that.”
Sequim likely has more answers on the boys side than the girls. Back is speedster Emmanuel Herrera, who challenged for a state title as a freshman last year and wound up third in the 300-meter hurdles. He also qualified in the 200-meter sprint (finishing 10th overall) and helped his 4x400 relay squad take seventh place.
Other returning sprinters like Stephan Stilts and Kahn Mills give the Wolves depth in the shorter races, while veterans Alex Jenkins and Adrian Clifford bolster a solid distance crew.
In the jumps, sophomore Jayson Brocklesby can score points in a number of events.
Frank Catelli will be counted on for big points in the throws, as Sequim doesn’t have many bigger athletes who can tally points in those events. Moore will look to returnees Joshua Daker and Steven Hall for depth in the field events.
Newcomer Chris Falkey may be key for the boys; the transfer had breakout seasons in football (fall) and wrestling (winter).
Sequim’s girls had a banner year in 2010, with seniors Anna LaBeaume and Allison Cutting racking up state titles.
But after losing the pair and perennial state competitor Samantha Whiteside, Sequim rebuilds around
distance runner Audrey Lichten and a handful of returnees.
“We have a lot of unknowns,” Moore said, “but we do know they’re fast.”
Giving the Wolves a boost in the sprints are Nicole Pino, Lauren Bell and Jasmine McMullin, while multi-event sophomore Haleigh Harrison looks to improve upon her solid freshman campaign from a year ago.
Early on in practice, Moore said, Harrison looked ready to go.
“It looks like she picked up where she left off (last season),” he said.
Moore says he has high hopes for McMullin, who put in some work in the weight room during the offseason.
The Wolves were slated to compete at Fife on March 15 — results were unavailable at press time.
Sequim is at the Port Angeles Invitational on March 19.
Reach Michael Dashiell at miked@sequimgazette.com.
