BY JOHN LUND
Times-Shamrock Writer

For outdoor spring sports teams throughout the area, the cabin fever caused by a brutal winter has athletes itching to get back to their element instead of being subjected to indoor workouts.

The Elk Lake boys and girls track and field teams are in the same boat, but have made the best of the situation and continue to prepare for the upcoming season.

Head coach Will Squier is gearing up his squads to qualify for the district meet and then move on to states, the same preparation he institutes for his cross country team as well.

“We certainly have some ideas about what we can accomplish at the end of the season,” Squier said. “Right now, the focus is definitely in finding out where we are in regards to starting points and times for the first meet. We don’t want to put the cart before the horse though. There’s an awful lot of work to do and many things can happen until then. So there’s a general sense of planning, but that’s not too much of a focus yet”

Elk Lake brought home three gold medals at the district meet last season, which included siblings Taylor and junior Hunter Watkins and the 3,200 relay of Julie VanEtten, Katie Bennett, Liz Trowbridge and Kenzie Jones.

Taylor Watkins and Trowbridge have since graduated, but the rest return and should put forth another successful season for Elk Lake, which finished 4-1 in Division 4 of the Lackawanna League last season.

The trio of girl runners highlight a strong distance squad for the Lady Warriors, and Squier will have a possibility of several other combinations with cross country runners that can fill the relay void.

Other key returners for the girls’ team include Adrianna and Mikaela Parrett and Megyn Stevens, as well as the additions of senior Emily Forba and freshman Lydia Ofalt.

Squier said he will do some experimenting in the first couple of meets to fill some holes and see where the girls will excel.

“Taylor left us a big hole to fill at javelin and we haven’t been very strong in the pole vault, but I think we’re going to cover most of the events pretty well,” Squier said. “We have one of the fuller teams that we’ve had in a while as far as numbers go, so I think we’re going to be good in most areas. We might not have a superstar that we’ve had in the past, but overall I think we’ll be solid.”

The girls’ roster includes seniors Jenny VanEtten, Megyn Stevens, Kenzie Jones and Emily Forba; juniors Rebecca Sisson, Alyssa Sickler, Mikaela Parrett and Katie Bennett; sophomores Julie VanEtten, Carleigh Tyler, Andrea Rockefeller, Adrianna Parrett, Korena Kraynak, Keri Jones, Justine Johns, Jenny Grosvenor and Miranda Decker; and freshmen Lydia Ofalt, Kyleigh Marshall, Kaitlyn Hongach, Madison Clause, Grasyn Bushnell, Eliza Bosscher and Hannah Bennett.

BOYS TEAM
The Warriors aren’t as full as the girls’ team, but Squier will still have enough familiar faces to put together decent numbers.

The boys’ team, which finished 3-2 in Division 4 of the Lackawanna League last season, will also be strong in distance with junior Hunter Bedell and seniors Dalton Sherman and Eddie Cumens back in the fold, along with the addition of freshman Cody Oswald.

Along with Watkins, senior Gianni Ferrari will fill in at pole vault and sprints and sophomore Tommy Milandri will concentrate on throws.

“We’re a little weak to start the spring and struggle in that more than anything else early on,” Squier said. “But having (former Abington Heights head coach) Frank Passetti working here with us and having his expertise will really help with that.”

The boys’ roster includes seniors Dalton Sherman, Gianni Ferrari and Eddie Cumens; juniors Hunter Watkins, Cole Tyler, Seth Tewksbury, Sean Smith, Chase Orlandini, Jimmy Kerchner, Connor Kajola, Johnny Blatzley and Hunter Bedell; sophomores Parke States, Dakota States, Thomas Proske, Seth Owens, Tommy Milandri and Anthony Falcone; and freshmen Adam Parrett, Cody Oswald, Isaac Dibble, Lionel Cordova and Brett Carney.

BACK TO WORK
Squier noted Montrose will pose the biggest challenge in the division, as both its squads finished last season undefeated.

“Susquehanna is also rumored to have a lot more kids out this year, and anytime you get more numbers, you’ll start getting talent,” Squier added. “It’s great for the league but it definitely makes it an unknown for us.”

Squier said that it’s important for both teams to start with a strong base at the beginning of the season in order to have a good chance of moving on to qualify for districts and possibly states.

“I have certain times and certain distances and heights that people need to legitimately be close to at the opener in order to realistically improve enough to get to the district level,” he said. “I’m not so much concerned on winning or losing in the first couple of meets, but in establishing where we are and what we have to do in order to get to the levels we hope to. I’m excited to see that and hopefully the weather will be good enough to get a fair look at it.”

Along with Passetti, Squier will be assisted by Katie Good and Carol Selwood, along with the addition of Jillian Dunn to help with hurdles.

“They’re a really strong core, not only with past playing experience but with coaching experience and expertise,” Squier said. “I think you’re going to see Elk Lake make some progress in a lot of areas.”

SCHEDULE
March 25, Dunmore, A, 4:15 p.m.
March 31, Blue RIdge, H, 4:15 p.m.
April 7, Susquehanna, A, 4:15 p.m.
April 9, Carbondale, H, 4:15 p.m.
April 14, Lackawanna Trail, A, 4:15 p.m.
April 21, Mountain View, A, 4:15 p.m.
April 27, Montrose, H, 4:15 p.m.
April 30, Jordan Relays, A, TBA.
May 1, Spagna Championships, A, TBA.
May 11, District meet, A, TBA.