Track team doubles in size

By Laura Kussman • March 11, 2020 1:30 am
Tate Thomson/Staff photo Front row (left to right): Brianna Hess, Janay Geiser, Katie Place, Thea Flierl, Piper Flierl, Tristan Cullen, Blake Riley, Henry Holt, Satchel Bourne, Sintaryehu Shannon. Middle row (left to right): Ari Tucker-Belt, Sofia Duke, Ella Flynn, Joanna Evans, Arlo Harold, Nora Flynn, Emma Herman, Lilly Rock, Sarah Neal, Ben Weeks, Matthew Wolf (manager), Kai Miniken, Zachary Place. Back row (left to right): Shannon Plummer (head coach), Emily Vogel( manager), Sophia Swanson, Alex Holman, Luke Wate, Jason Levasheft, Mateo Blackmon, Milo Geiser, Kenny Hallock, Keegan Bailey, Will Leeming, Jon Olsen, Luke Erickson, Jim Sane (assistant coach). Not in photo: Kaden Richie and Brian Wolf.
Tate Thomson/Staff photo Front row (left to right): Brianna Hess, Janay Geiser, Katie Place, Thea Flierl, Piper Flierl, Tristan Cullen, Blake Riley, Henry Holt, Satchel Bourne, Sintaryehu Shannon. Middle row (left to right): Ari Tucker-Belt, Sofia Duke, Ella Flynn, Joanna Evans, Arlo Harold, Nora Flynn, Emma Herman, Lilly Rock, Sarah Neal, Ben Weeks, Matthew Wolf (manager), Kai Miniken, Zachary Place. Back row (left to right): Shannon Plummer (head coach), Emily Vogel( manager), Sophia Swanson, Alex Holman, Luke Wate, Jason Levasheft, Mateo Blackmon, Milo Geiser, Kenny Hallock, Keegan Bailey, Will Leeming, Jon Olsen, Luke Erickson, Jim Sane (assistant coach). Not in photo: Kaden Richie and Brian Wolf.

*ALL HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS HAVE BEEN CANCELED DUE TO CORONAVIRUS*

Friday Harbor’s track team returns this spring for a third season under the leadership of coach Shannon Plummer. Plummer said this year, a high volume of students is joining the team from the freshman class.

“My roster has gone through the roof. I’m anticipating 43 students to show up. Last year we had 23. A lot of freshmen are coming out with a lot of new talent. I’ve got my rising stars who always seem to come out, too. I’m really looking forward to the kids competing,” he said.

Plummer, who has spent 26 years as part of the school’s football program, accepted the position of track head coach last year. He was a pole-vaulter and hurdler during his high school track days. He says being a sports fanatic is simply a trait that runs in his family.

Although star runner Emily Vogel broke her foot wrestling and will be taking on the position of team manager this year, Plummer said he’s excited about a freshman distance runner who he thinks can “step into Vogel’s really big shoes with ease.” Vogel recently traveled to Australia to run for Down Under Sports, snagging third place in the global competition. Plummer said he doesn’t want to put his team under any pressure this year and just looks forward to seeing how well they can improve their form.

“If you ask any of my returning kids, ‘what is the thing coach Plummer preaches the most?’ they’ll tell you: form.”

The team’s first league meet is on Thursday, March 19, against LaConner who is hosting the meet. Then the team travels to Coupeville the following week, on Thursday, March 28, to run against Coupeville High School.

On Friday, April 3, the Wolverines will return to LaConner for the “Clash of Conferences: and face off Burlington-Edison, Meridian and Sedro-Woolley high schools. There will be no meets at Friday Harbor this season. Districts are slated for Thursday, May 14 at Mount Vernon Christian.