With the 2016 track season coming up, there will be many changes to the track team, including multiple new freshman and Coach Clark Oberle becoming the assistant track coach.

“I love having Coach Oberle in track,” junior Halee Van Poppel said. “He’s also the volleyball coach, so it’s cool getting to be with him in a different sport. He’s going to be a big help this year.”

This years track team has about 45 girls, bigger than teams in the past, due to the team gaining more freshman than normal.

“I love being new to the track team,” freshman Ashley Stewart said. “It was scary at first because the older girls can be intimidating, but they are great at making us feel welcomed and including us.”

With more freshman on the team, the upperclassmen have made it a priority to lead the underclassmen.

“I’m feeling very good about the 4×4,” Van Poppel said. “We lost two of our big members last year, but there are some younger people that are ready to step up and fill the shoes and we are even more motivated to win this year.”

Last years group of long distance girls has gained more members, increasing the team to 10 girls.

“At first I could tell that some of the younger girls were timid around me,” sophomore Kaley Allen said. “They were scared of long distance coming into it, but every day they get a little more comfortable. Regardless of the age difference, we all need to strive to be our best and compete with each other as hard as we can.”

This year there are three senior captains on the team– Maddy Haynes, Kieran Hanlon, and Laura Lotze. They lead and set a good example for the younger athletes.

“I’m excited to be one of the captains this year,” Haynes said. “I was the cross country captain too, and it’s fun being able to lead the track team and push the girls to work their hardest every day.”

With all the new members to the team and the new assistant coach, this track season will surely be exciting.

“I’m looking forward to a great season,” freshman Charleigh Lowry said. “Track is always fun because we are able to make new friends and grow close together as a team.”