Concord’s boys track team had a strong season last year, as the Minutemen finished second in the Northern Lakes Conference and at the sectional.
The goal this year for the Minutemen is to do even better.
“We’re excited about a large group that early in the season looks committed to improving each day,” said Shafer.
“Hopefully, we can see how close we were last year to winning the NLC and be motivated to compete for championships this season.”
A year ago, Concord and Warsaw tied for first at the NLC meet with 166.5 points, but the Tigers won the outright league title. Warsaw’s first place finish during the regular season was the tie-breaker.
Concord has an experienced roster, with several athletes having achieved state tournament success.
State qualifiers that return are senior Jaron Thomas (100 and 400 relay), junior Jackson Yoder (800), junior Reese Breveard (400 relay) and senior Simeon Lake (400 relay).
Regional qualifiers that will contribute are sophomore Trent Deaton (high jump), junior Donovan Arnold (discus), junior Bo Brunner (1,600 relay), junior Jacob Hernandez (3,200 relay), senior Noah Culp (high jump) and senior Ernest Jennings (110 hurdles).
Another squad looking to be competitive in the NLC is Northridge. Last year, the Raiders finished 4-3 in the NLC and fifth at the sectional.
“This season we’ll have a competitive team led by a talented distance group,” said Northridge coach Trisha King.
“I’m excited to see how our guys stack up against the other conference schools, and looking forward to being competitive in the state tournament season as well.”
The Raiders return state qualifiers Xavier Miller (1,600) and Jaden Fisher (3,200 relay), who are juniors, and NLC champion Baylor Miller (3,200 relay), who’s a junior.
Also back are seniors Marc Hernandez (distance), Joe Keyser (distance) and Aiden Miller (pole vault), along with juniors Brady Hicks (distance), Brock Lloyd (throws) and Isaiah Rodzankas (sprints).
NorthWood, which finished 3-4 in the NLC a year ago, will be separated from the other Elkhart County schools this year at the sectional, as the Panthers travel to Plymouth.
“We look to place well as a team (at the sectional) and advance a great number of athletes to the Goshen Regional,” said NorthWood coach Mark Mikel.
Panther athletes to watch are Max Parciak (thrower), Colson Yoder (thrower), Joe Mitschelen (pole vaulter), Deondray Monroe (high jump, longer sprints), Gavin Rulli (short sprints, long jump), Wyatt Mast (short sprints), Hayden Lechlitner (hurdler), Kaleb Kehoe (distance) and Josiah Maxwell (distance).
“We return a strong core of throwers, sprinters and jumpers,” Mikel said. “We also have a young and talented distance group.
“We’re hoping to continue our climb up the NLC standings. We hope to be in the top half of the always a highly competitive NLC.”
There are 80 athletes on the Goshen team, including 24 returning letterwinners.
“We’re excited about having 55 athletes between our sophomore and freshman classes this year,” said Goshen coach Graham Clark.
Providing varsity experience will be seniors Aaron Anglemyer, Gabe Janisse, Dominick Riley, Isaiah Weishaupt and Brayden Weise, juniors Dorian Diaz, Cooper Fish and Daniel Kinsey, along with sophomores Caleb Cervantes and Levi Schlegel.
“We’re looking forward to a balanced attack from our athletes on the track and in the field events,” Clark said. “Aaron Anglemyer, Gabe Janisse and Isaiah Weishaupt will help us in several events. Janisse has been our top sprinter for nearly four years now.”
Elkhart finished second in the Northern Indiana Conference in 2024 and has plenty of firepower back from that squad.
Leading the Lions will be state qualifiers Zach Anderson (100, 400 relay), Anthony Leonard (400 ...
