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Youth Movement Continues For Red Hawks
Last year the Red Hawk program was dominated by first and second year athletes. The 2008 team has a significant number of first year athletes (18) but the number of sophomores and juniors (17) is also up from a year ago. The men’s team appears to have the event balance and depth to have an outstanding year.
“I believe this is the strongest men’s team during my fifteen year tenure. In fact it may be the best ever,” said head coach Robert Duley.
That optimism is fueled by the fact that all event groupings have some very talented athletes in them. Starting with the distance team who this past fall won their third Wisconsin Private College championship (2002, 2005, 2007) in the past six years.
Leading this group will be seniors, Jim Hein, Bryan Schneider, and Harrison Smith. They have eight All-Conference titles between them in cross country. Each has times that rank in the top 20 all-time school performances in several distance events. In addition, Hein holds the school record in the indoor 800 and the outdoor steeple chase. Also coming off successful cross country campaigns are freshmen Jason Smith, Michael Dussault, Ben Worcester, Lucas Felten, and sophomore Andy Peck. Their versatility will allow them to compete in middle distance and distance events. Also looking to contribute and add depth are sophomore Brian Fatla, freshman Cody Jolin, and junior Michael Buroker.
“The distance group has been a strength of the track program for many years and this year will be no exception,” said Duley.
The sprints will be handled by a long list of first-year athletes (Bakary Dao, Andrew Handeland, Abdoul Madjid, Nick Pesik, and Jamie Reese). The hurdles also will be a strong event as Bob Wood returns after a year off because of an ACL injury. Wood was the indoor 55 hurdle champion as a freshman. First year athlete, Alex Tomshek will join Wood in the hurdles. With the depth in the sprints, and distances the Red Hawks will be very solid in the relays as well. With the strength and depth of this group some school records will be in serious jeopardy.
“This is the first time in many years that we have a team of good sprinters. We have always had one or two, but this year we have six or seven,” said Duley.
The jumps are another strong area for Ripon College. Led by indoor and outdoor triple jump school record holder Demba Camara, the Red Hawks will be very strong. Other jumpers looking to make their mark in ’08 are Max Bellmore, Dao, Madjid, Reese, Tomsheck, and Wood.
Not to be outdone by the other event groups, the throws have quality depth as well, which will be led by sophomore Brad Bogenschutz and junior Joe Reese. Joining them this season will be freshmen, Matt Ingish, Kyle Roy, and Jeff Trinka. The Red Hawks have had thirteen national qualifiers from the throwing events over the past fourteen years and it appears several more are waiting in the wings.
“I am really excited about watching this team compete. We are very talented and have a great work ethic and I really like our approach to detail and our team chemistry. We will be among the best in the conference for many years,” said Duley.
The women are coming off five first division finishes in the past six years. Depth will be an issue in ’08 as the Red Hawks have been hit hard by graduation the past three seasons. The strength of the team by both numbers and talent will be in the middle-distance, distance, and throwing events.
Middle distance and distance runners looking to contribute will be seniors Amanda Beers, Brittany Dick, Rebecca Duley, junior Erin Beggs, sophmores Jessica Davey and Whitney Levash, and freshmen Erin Bavery, Laura Rueling, and Brooke Zank. Dick, Duley, and Davey are all several time All-Conference runners in cross country. Dick holds the school record in the steeple chase.
“The distance group for the women will again be solid. I look for them to help carry the team this year,” said Duley.
The throws will be led by senior Jenni Marcell, who has re-written almost every throwing record for the Red Hawks, including holding Ripon records both indoors (shot and weight throw) and outdoors (hammer and discus). Marcell was an NCAA provisional qualifier last season in the indoor and outdoor shot, finishing 13th in the nation indoors.
“I never have had an athlete work harder and be more focused than Jenni. We have had some great athletes through the years and Jenni is among the best,” said Duley.
Adding quality depth will be first year thowers Caitlin Butterbaugh (So.) and Erin Lukas (Fr.). The sprinting and jumping events will be filled by Levash, sophomore Amy Krueger, and freshman Sparkle Lee. They will be very competitive in their specialty events, with Lee in the short sprints and Levash and Krueger in the long sprints.
Though not as strong as the past several seasons the women look to be competitive based on some very strong individual performances.
“We really have an awesome group of young ladies in our program. They work hard, know how to compete, and are very much team oriented. They are fun to work with each day,” said Duley.
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