By John Raffel
Correspondent
LAWTON —Mike Meyer is head coach for a Lawton track and field program that expects to be strong again.
Both teams last year were 4-1 in conference meets and finished second in the SAC.
Girls team was third at regionals. Four girls qualified for state finals in two different events. The boys team won regionals second year in a row and seven
boys qualified for state finals in five events.
Mason Mayne was state champion in discus and state runner-up
in shot put. He is returning for his senior year this year.
Graduates included Heidi Newhouse (now running for Grand Valley State University), high jumper and sprinter.
“Great athlete and even better person. Will definitely miss her
personality, leadership, and work ethic,” Meyer said.
Lexi Girolami is playing volleyball for Heidelberg University. She was a high jumper and hurdler
“She was a great athlete and even better person. We will definitely miss her
personality, leadership, and work ethic.
Kylee Somers was a thrower.
“She is a great athlete and even better person,” Meyer said. “We will definitely miss her personality, leadership, and work ethic. Addi Price was a sprinter.
“Great athlete and even better person,” Meyer said. “We will definitely miss her personality, leadership, and work ethic.”
Key graduates for boys were Jason Barnett and Valentin Portillo as throwers;
Andrew Van Tuyl and Zach Kooyers as pole vaulters and Kal Motter and Aiden O’Brien as sprinters.
Top athletes for this year’s team:
Girls team: Megan Robertson (senior, pole vaulter and sprinter, captain); Alyssa McNally (Senior, pole vaulter and sprinter, captain); Gabby Holloway (Senior, hurdler and high jumper, captain).
Boys Team:
Mason Mayne (Senior, thrower, captain, returning state champion); Hayden Merriman (senior, sprinter); Greyson Burrous junior, sprinter, Jack Fletcher Junior, sprinter.
Strengths for the girls team will be pole vault, hurdles and sprints.
“We are a young team so just getting some big meet experience,” Meyer said. “Our league is one of the toughest track conferences around with many great D3 and D4 schools. Schoolcraft, Kalamazoo Hackett, Kalamazoo Christian,
Constantine, Saugatuck, and Bridgman are always tough every year.
“If both of our teams can stay healthy, we hopefully will land towards the top.”
