Penguins Track 2021

The Whitewater Penguins are planning on making a lot of noise in the world of State C Track and Field, with a 100 percent participation rate in the sport.

Yes. All hands are on deck for the Penguins. Every single high school student at Whitewater School is on the track team. A total of 13.

"I just went around and said, hey this will be really fun," Whitewater Head Coach Charlene Wasson said.

The Penguin teams consist of four boys and nine girls. Only two boys are eligible for varsity meets due to the 90-day transfer rule.

The team hopped right into track practice after the conclusion of the State B Basketball tournament. Practices started Monday, March 15.

"I told the girls that they could take time off but no one wanted to be the one that didn't show up for practice, so they all showed up," Coach Wasson said.

The team welcomes back a few state performers, who were each sophomores or younger the last time that they competed at the 2019 State C Track Meet in Laurel.

Senior Kelsee Cummings placed fifth in the State C shot put event with a throw of 34-1.5. Her personal best in the event was a 35-7 set at the North-East Top Ten event in Glasgow earlier that year.

Cummings also set a personal best of 83-5.5 in discus in the 2019 District 3C Meet placing fourth.

The team also welcomes back a duo of talented runners in Kia Wasson and Hannah Hanley.

Wasson, a senior, last ran in the 2019 State C Tournament despite being injured. Her latest times were 6:18.71 in the 1600 and 13:47.82 in the 3200.

Wasson just missed placing in both the 1600 meter and 3200 meter runs at the 2018 State C, finishing in seventh place in both runs. She set a personal best of 5:45.76 in the 1600 and had a time of 13:03.32 in the 3200.

Hanley, a junior, ran in three state events in 2019 as a freshmen, finishing in eighth place in the 300 hurdles with a time of 49.18 seconds, a personal best. Hanley took eleventh in the 100 meter hurdles with a personal best of 13.40 seconds. She also had a time of 28.14 in the 200. Hanley was the Eastern C Divisional Champion in the 100 and 200 races.

Beau Simonson, a senior, also performed at state in 2019, and had his second-best throw in his career of 40-11.25 in Laurel. He set a personal best of 41-8.5 at the Park City Invitational. Simonson has a personal best of 113-7.5 in discus.

The Penguins welcome a lot of young talent in 2021, including Kendra Cummings, Ava Hanley, Samantha Wisher, who ran cross country. Kora LaBrie, Kendall Scheffelmear, and Paige Wasson, were each members of the 2021 State C Girls Basketball Runner Up North Country Mavericks.

Many of the Penguins are experiencing track for the first season.

"I feel like the sophomores have a feeling similar to Christmas morning because they missed a year of high school track," Coach Wasson said. "So they are kind of wanting to get out there and see what they can do."

As for the freshman, Coach Wasson said that they are excited, but nervous.

The Penguins consist of Beau Simonson, Ethan Newbern, Hunter Ellis, and Matthew Newbern.

The Lady Penguins consist of Ava Hanley, Hannah Hanley, Kelsee Cummings, Kendall Scheffelmear, Kendra Cummings, Kia Wasson, Kora LaBrie, Paige Wasson and Samantha Wisher.