March 18, 2024

Tigerhawk track looking for success in Class 1A

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The Colfax-Mingo track and field teams will both compete in Class 1A this year, and girls coach Zach Tomas and boys head man Matt Barkalow expect that to be an advantage for the Tigerhawks as the boys begin the outdoor season at 4:30 p.m. Tuesday at Nevada and both squads compete at Lynnville-Sully on April 7 at 4:45 p.m.

Tomas has five returning state qualifiers and a solid group of distance runners to work with, while Barkalow hopes a strong junior class can lead the Tigerhawks back to the blue oval in May.

Colfax-Mingo’s golf teams have a new coach. David Brahm takes over a pair of programs that have a total of eight golfers. The boys begin the season with a tournament at 2 p.m. on April 13 at Terrace Hills Golf Course. Both teams play at Saydel on April 14. Action there begins at 4:15 p.m.

Girls Track

From top to bottom, Tomas said this is the most taleted team he has had since taking over the program six years ago.

And having five returning state qualifiers and a large senior class with plenty of experience also should help as the Tigerhawks look for success in their first season in Class 1A.

Tomas will have 33 athletes to work with and the best part about most of them is that he can put them in a lot of different events.

“We have a lot of versatile girls that I can put anywhere and we can succeed,” Tomas said.

Returning from a seventh-place finish in Class 2A at last year’s state meet are all four runners on the distance medley relay — junior Jessica Albright, sophomore Brianna Cooper, junior McKinzie Tjaden and sophomore Dakota Hostetter.

Last year, the foursome broke a 33-year old record in the event with a time of 4 minutes, 19.02 seconds. But they are looking to do even better this year.

Tjaden and Albright are both two-time state qualifiers. The strong sophomore class also features returning state qualifier Aranda Woods, who placed 23rd last year in the long jump.

Tomas also expects seniors Bailey Pease, Kennedi Hostetter, Sara Lahart and Ivy Moore to have strong seasons in the distance events. All four, along with Tjaden and Dakota Hostetter, were a part of Colfax-Mingo’s state-qualifying cross country team in the fall.

Tomas also sees potential from senior Rylee Thompson in the long jump as well as freshman Ries Wilson in the high jump and sophomore Amy Russell and freshman Rhiannon Haley in the shot put.

The versatility of the program also helps other teams in area. All five returning state qualifiers as well as senior Kaylee Stubbs, junior Brooklynn Rawlins and junior Ashley Lafferty will play on Prairie City-Monroe’s soccer team.

The Tigerhawks have 10 seniors, eight of which are four-year participants to the team. The junior class is five deep and there are 11 sophomores and seven freshmen.

The rest of the roster includes seniors Cassie Craig, Erin Earles, Chelsey Lourens and Allison Teed, junior Marlene Morlang, sophomores Madison Barnes, Alexis Bucklin, Cassidy Booher, Sloan Carkuff, Alivia Haley and Reagan Nichol and freshmen Brooke Nicholson, Courtney Burdess, Megan Earles and Hailey Wamsher.

C-M Boys Track

The Tigerhawks’ strong junior class is led by Jacob Lietz, Colin Lourens, Blake Summy, Jared Myers and Gabe Simpson, and Barkalow has high hopes for that group.

“These five boys are extremely successful multi-sport athletes who possess both physical and mental toughness,” said Barkalow, who begins his ninth year as C-M boys track coach. “Any individual or relay event in which they compete will absolutely be contending for medals at local meets and for state berths later in May. They are the heart and soul of this team.”

The roster includes 26 student-athletes — five seniors, 12 juniors, six sophomores and three freshmen.

Clayton Brown headlines the senior class as Barkalow expects him to be competitive in the distance events and 800s.

Lietz currently has the fifth-best 400 time in Class 1A and he will be the anchor on a lot of relays. The distance medley team of Summy, Lourens/Myers, Lietz and Simpson also should fare well this season.

Summy and Lourens also have both been marked at around 19 feet in the long jump and each has the potential to hit 20 feet and contend for a state berth, according to Barkalow.

Alan Wheeler is the team’s best shot throwers and five Tigerhawks have eclipsed 100 feet in the discus.

Cameron Warner leads a small group of sophomores. He was a top-20 finisher in the state-qualifying cross country meet in the fall. Barkalow also expects foreign exchange student Andreas Juul to make an impact. The Denmark native will run anything from 200 to 800.

The rest of the team includes: seniors Richard Blom, Cameron Lantry, Seth Strohmeyer and Chris Warner, juniors Sean Borts, Jake Buehrer, Garrett Chapman, Michael Deal and Nichols Deal, sophomores Jimmy Camp, Will Dunsbergen, Ethan Opfer, Wyatt Owens and Adam Teed and freshmen Jake Dunsbergen, Colton Lourens and Jared Nichols.

C-M Golf

Senior Jimmy Abell headlines a squad that includes six boys and two girls.

Abell could be in the mix for a conference title this season and the other two seniors are Brady DeJoode and Olivia Maggard.

“The three seniors have shown great leadership and all three are looking to make big impacts in their final year,” said first-year coach David Brahn.

Brahn is coaching golf for the first time. He grew up in Nashua.

“I have always enjoyed coaching and look forward to the challenges this position will bring,” Brahn said. “My first priority as golf coach is to work on increasing our numbers for both the boys and girls.”

Joining DeJoode and Abell on the boys’ team will be juniors Mason Mosher, Jacob Jeter and Zevin Lander and freshman Alex Lewis. Joining Maggard on the girls’ squad is sophomore Skye Weber.

“I have a great group of kids to work with,” Brahn said. “They love the game and are eager to improve. They also have shown the willingness to help one another improve showing great leadership in taking time to make sure others are doing what it takes to become better players.”

With just two on the roster, the Tigerhawks will not be able to participate as a team. The boys will have exactly enough for a full team, but there won’t be any room for error, according to Brahn.

“Everyone will be needed to contribute,” Brahn said.