Warhawks boys prepare for upcoming season

With the season starting for the West Fork Warhawks boys track season at the Dickinson Relays on March 4.  Head coach Caleb Hovenga said that a goal for the team is to get as many people to qualify for state as they can. 

“We have been a little light there the last few years so getting a few more guys down there with the experience we are bringing back that doesn’t seem like a crazy goal by any mean,” Hovenga said.

Another goal for the team is to compete for a conference title according to Hovenga. Hovenga said the team is pretty young this year so they are also looking to see a lot of growth during the year. 

“The biggest goal that we have is this year by far is bringing some of those freshmen and sophomores that we have and grow them into becoming the type of athlete they are capable of becoming,” Hovenga said.

For the returning athletes heading into this season, Hovenga said one thing they can take away from last year is to come back hungry.

“We got right to the brink of success last year and I am hoping that they come back hungry and ready to work and show these younger guys what it looks to be in a successful program,” Hovenga said.

The team has plenty of athletes that can have a big year for the Warhawks according to Hovenga.

“This year we have a junior in Trevor Despenas coming back and he finished just outside the state meet last year and came as close as you can to that,” Hovenga said. “He was able to come as an alternate for a couple of things and he was able to see what is going on down there. He has come to practice and he is very focused. We’ve got a lot of sophomores coming back, Ryan Dorenkamp put some varsity stuff for us as a freshman. Owen Schmidt got some sprint stuff for us last year and so did Dax Suntken. We have a lot of senior leadership this year, Edison Maske who is a current school recorder holder on our shuttle hurdle, Levi Ruckdashel who is our top miler last year, and Austin Altick who is our our big long jumper last and Sage Suntken who is a hard worker and a great leader and is ready to finish this year strong.”

One thing that Hovenga said he wants to see from the team in the first couple of meets is the athletes pushing through the little things and staying focus. Hovenga said he also wants to see the growth from the team and how athletes respond to having a performance that they might not be happy with.

As the season moves along, Hovenga said he would like to see the team move in the direction of competing for the conference title.

“Even finishing as a top three team would be something we haven’t done in a while,” Hovenga said. “We have the team to do that. This group of guys can definitely do that. As long as we are improving and more in the right direction I know we are making the big steps we need.”