Whitewater Track and field

As a school Whitewater has lost some of the most talented athletes in the area to graduation, including Jeret Warren, Kourtney Simonson, Keira Simonson and Larimie Scheffelmear. They also lost a key athlete in Tatum Moore, who is recovering from a knee injury.

"We lost a big chunk of our runners," Head Coach Charlene Wasson said. "We don't have a lot of runners this year but we do have a lot of throwers."

This year the Penguins track team has a young, new look, with most of their athletes being in the sophomore and freshmen classes. The Penguins have nine high school athletes and ten junior high athletes this season.

Alexandria Santillan is the team's lone senior and while Santillan was new to track in 2015, she displayed great strength in shot put and discus. Her personal best in shot put was 23-3 ½ and her best in discus was 71 at last year's Porcupine Invitational in Nashua.

Santillan made the Eastern C Divisional meet in the shot put and the 400 meter run but did not qualify for state.

"She's improving on the running," Coach Wasson said. "She kind of made it a goal this year to make that a bit of a priority. Her shot put looks pretty spot on from where she was last year."

The team welcomes back two juniors in Kayleigh Cummings and Serena Sanguins.

Cummings will have double duty this season as she will also be golfing for Whitewater.

"She usually does a little bit of golf before we start track practice then she goes to hit a few more after track practice," Coach Wasson said.

A golf swing can help Cummings out in her throwing events.

"I believe it will help her with her upper body control movements for shot put and javelin," Coach Wasson said. "It can't hurt it at all. It will only make her better as far as the core torso goes."

Cummings went to the State C in shot put last season and took third in the divisional meet while qualifying.

Cummings had a personal best of 93-1 in the javelin throw. She also had a best of 16:33.52 in the 3200 and a personal best of 28-4 in shot put. She just posted a new personal best of 30-1 in the Glasgow Invitational last Saturday.

Sanguins will participate in shot put, discus, the 1600 and the 400.

"One of her goals is to accomplish running the mile," Coach Wasson said. "She was in cross country this past fall so she wants to do that at a meet. Her shot put and discus look good but we've been focusing on her running and getting her in shape so she can accomplish her goal."

The team welcomes back a strong sophomore class that includes Trace Simonson, Trey Simanton and Cody Scheffelmear, all of which did well last season. The trio makes up this year's boys team.

Simonson did well last season posting strong throws but he has already eclipsed last year's personal bests in all three throwing events last Saturday.

In Glasgow Simonson threw a 141 foot throw in Javelin, 126-6 in Discus and 38-10.5 in shot put.

Scheffelmear and Simanton have not seen action yet this season. Scheffelmear and Simanton thrived in the hurdle events. Scheffelmear also fared well in the long jump. Simanton was a strong competitor in the 400. Both ran in the long relay team last season, however they will not have enough to field a four man relay team this season.

The team also welcomes freshmen, Trinity Nolte, Hannah Anderson and Isabella Lawless.