The Baltic Bulldog girls track team returns a lot of experience and is one of the larger girls teams compared to years past. The boys team will have some big shoes to fill with the loss of 14 contributing seniors last year according to head coach Rory LaValliere.
Daynica Witzel and Maiya Fredrickson return as state place winners in the field events from last year. Seniors Holland Kortemeyer and Junior Caitlyn Pickett are expected to add team points in the field events this year. Coach LaValliere says that a group of juniors who have run at state since they were in seventh grade will help lead the track events. Hailey Tiahrt and Sadey Holt will be joined by Meredith Larson, Tenley Witzel, and Alexis Kehn to make up a variety oof the mid distance races and relays. The sprint group will be very young but led by Witzel and Claire Berg.
LaValliere said that seven of the returning boys competed at the state meet last year. Kellen Artz and Gavin Miller will contribute to team points in the field events and will be joined by Trevor Cuperus and Braxten Allen. In the track events, LaValliere is looking to create some competitive relays with Allen and Henry Anderson in the short sprits, Dylan Runestad and Ben Erickson in the long sprints and mid distances, and Jack Wilde in the distance races. Other notable athletes this year are Cooper Gary, Brody Aday, and Ben Berg.
