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Ponies excited to see program growing in numbers
s032523_TRACK-PREVIEW-monticello
Monticello will see a host of new faces hit the track this spring.

MONTICELLO — The Ponies graduated three top track and field competitors in 2022, including the record holder for multiple events, Evan Guenther. 

Also gone are state qualifier Hannah Clark on the girls side, and sectional qualifier Wade Noriega on the boys side. Ian Schwartzlow, who finished third in the 3,200-meter run last year, is out for the spring season after suffering a torn ACL during basketball.

Third-year coach Molly Delwiche has a good problem to have this spring though: Lots of depth.

“Our girls team has quintupled from two to 10 members for the first time since I started coaching,” she said. “I’m excited to be able to try some new events like relays with the girls, and also be more competitive in scoring at meets.”

Natalie Wahl and Alex Roe are her two returners this spring, with Wahl a thrower in the discus and Roe a long-jumper. Freshman Molly Olson should make some noise in distance events, too. On the boys side, Ben Collins, a member of the conference 1,600-meter relay team returns as well.

“We have some strong competitors returning from last year and will hopefully see state appearances from Natalie Wahl and Alex Roe,” Delwiche said, “as well as Molly Olson.”

A lot of this year’s competitors have never done track, or are back after taking a few years off.

“I’m expecting some pleasant surprises as we figure out where their strengths lie. We have more depth in our girls team this year, so it will be exciting to see how they can come together to score as a team,” Delwiche said.

Tait Swanson, Atreyu Blades, Ayden Wilkins and Joe DiCristina return on the boys side. Newcomers for the team include Ray Valentine, Collin Blum, Madi Hauser, Hannah Broger, Emily Goers, Brook Allison, Danica Altman, Delen Gillaspie, Ella Salas and Kennedee Johnson.

Delwiche said she is also looking for a few of her athletes to fill in some shoes besides just the ones that dig into the track.

“This season will be a great opportunity for returning members to step up and take leadership roles to teach the many new people we have this year,” Delwiche said. “We have also lost two really strong seniors from last year — Hannah and Evan — so it will be up to our new people to work together to fill in those gaps. Losing Ian Schwartzlow to a torn ACL will really hurt our distance team, as he was our key mile and two-miler.”