Panther boys set for season home opener

Another Creston boys track and field season is fast approaching with the Panthers hosting their opening meet of the year (today) Tuesday.

With some new facilities and youth potential, Creston head coach Pat Schlapia is excited for the new season that quickly arrived.

The Panthers have 11 boys out for track and field this season, so lineups and participants in events will fluctuate depending on the meet and the circumstance.

“With our youth, a lot of potential,” said Schlapia. “The potential will need to work hard and improve in each practice and each meet! We’ll grow as an individual and as a team!”

Five returning letterwinners highlight the Panther squad, including lone upperclassman and only senior Hank Looney, who Schlapia has already referred to as a team leader.

Looney is out for his fourth season on the track and will be accompanied by four sophomores and six freshman.

Schlapia believes that the field events will be the depth of the Panther unit this season.

Shot put and discus will feature Keagan Smith, Chris Wilson, Luke Tebbenkamp and Damien Beard.

Smith returns as the leading discus thrower last year with a mark of 89 feet, 10 inches.

At the high jump will be Cael Kralik, who cleared the 5-8 mark as a freshman, which was second behind now-graduated Michael Scherer.

Keagan Trembly is another returnee for the Panthers after posting the season-best time in the 800 meters last year with a 2:26.96.

Freshmen will hold down the long jump as Erick Rodriguez, Chris Wells and Lucas Veatch will all be looked to in the season’s early going, according to Schlapia.

The longtime head coach expressed plenty of excitement about the new long jump, high jump and throwing areas as well.

With most of the team being younger, Schlapia is looking to make sure Creston is hitting its stride in the latter parts of the season.

“As a team, we’re a work in progress,” said Schlapia. “We’ll look to improve and better ourselves through April and peak into May!”

Rodriguez, Wells, Looney and Ethan Freeman will also be called upon in relay events.

The Panthers open up at home in the Hawkeye 10 South Division Meet and will host the Panther meet Friday, April 12.

Creston will be working a little shorthanded as a team as a few members will be out of action early on with injuries and ineligibility.

Conference

expectations

What is likely nothing new to plenty of Creston sports fans, the Hawkeye 10 is expected to be quite the conference battle this season.

Schlapia said he expects Atlantic and Harlan to be outstanding and the Rams of Glenwood to be right there with them.

Scheduling changes

Weather has kept the Panthers a little cramped up through the early parts of practice, but track fixes at opposing schools will move Creston around a bit this season.

The two meets following Tuesday’s home meet are the Husky Invitational and Glenwood Ram Relays.

Both events have been shifted to different sites as the Husky Invitational will be run at Van Meter High School and the Glenwood Ram Relays will take place at Lewis Central.

Creston will get an early feel for the Lewis Central track, which will be beneficial when the Titans host the Hawkeye 10 meet May 2.

Roster

Senior: Hank Looney. Sophomores: Cael Kralik, Keagan Trembly, Ethan Freeman, Keagan Smith. Freshman: Erick Rodriguez, Damien Beard, Luke Tebbenkamp, Lucas Veatch, Chris Wells, Chris Wilson.

Schedule

March 26 – Hawkeye 10 South Division (Home)

March 29 – Winterset Husky Relays at Van Meter

April 1 – Glenwood Ram Relays at Lewis Central

April 5 – Clarinda Cardinals Relays

April 9 – Chariton Charger Relays

April 12 – Panther Relays (Home)

April 18 – Griswold Tiger Relays

April 23 – Carlisle Wildcat Relays

April 25-27 – Drake Relays

April 26 – Red Oak Tiger Relays

May 2 – Hawkeye 10 meet at Lewis Central

May 9 – State Qualifying Meet at TBD

May 16-18 – State Track Meet at Drake University