Courtier and Schraft look to East Mills girls track

 JOEL STEVENS

Opinion-Tribune

With just 13 athletes out for the squad this season depth is a concern for East Mills girls track coach Kevin Schafer.

The Wolverines combined a handful of returning letterwinners and large freshmen class this season.

Filling all the events, and especially the field events, are a major concern, according to Schafer.

“We have a few strong runners and Emmy Duysen is strong in the shot and the discus and we have pretty strong group of freshmen to bolster us. So, some of them will have to help us,” Schafer said.

Schafer said returning letter winner Zena Courtier and freshman Janette Schraft are likely his top-two runners. Courtier is the team’s top 800-meter runner and Schraft was running varsity level times in everything from the 400 meters to the 3,000 meters as an eighth grader.

“We’ll have to figure out what’s best for her to run,” Schafer said of Schraft. “That’s going to be the interesting thing with a runner who has such a wide range. What’s going to be the best for her and the team with everyone else kind of fitting around her and Courtier.”

Schafer will likely keep his lineups fluid most of the season as he attempts to match up athletes with the right events and relays.

“We’ll probably mix up who we want, whether we load up in relays to see who we can get in there and running individually,” he said. “Meet to meet we’ll probably change it up.”

Schafer said his young team’s goal is simple: get better week to week.

“Sidney is going to be really strong, so winning a conference is probably not an option, but the nice thing about track is that when you’re a freshman and you run your best time, you’re excited. Every kid on the team has a different goal individually, sort of like wrestling. So we want all our kids running their best times by the end of the year.”

Schafer said he’s curious to see what kind of shape his team with their first meet coming on March 31 at Stanton.

“Quite a few of the girls were out for basketball, so you hope that helps,” Schafer said.