(Avoca) The AHSTW boys track team has more than doubled in size from last year.
Coach Jackson Renberg is at the helm for the Vikings this season and says they showed flashes of potential through the first month of practice. The team has just four upperclassmen, a few sophomores, and 13 freshmen.
The Vikings have a good group, especially in the sprints. Joey Cunningham is one of their headliners. “He was on the 4X100 and 4X200 for us last years. He’s a senior that’s run for us for four years. He really is looking strong and we think that he can help us in a lot of different relays. He can also help us in the individual 100 and 200. The last couple of years we’ve had some guys that were a little quicker than him in those, but this might be his year to be able to show what he can do in those events. He’s a great kid and a great worker.”
Michael Shiffer and Gavyn Fischer round out the senior class. Fischer returns after missing last season with an injury. “He’s been working on his technique in the discus and shot put and looking a lot stronger.”
JJ Madsen enters his sophomore season ready to take an even bigger step forward. “We’re looking forward to seeing what he can do not only in the sprint areas, but also the jump. He’s gotten stronger, gotten quicker and looks like he can jump higher this year.”
Renberg identifies Jack Burns as a quality returner. Some of the freshmen have a lot of potential such as Kyle Sternberg, Cole Scheffler, and Aidan Martin just to name a few. Renberg is very excited about what the deep group of freshmen can bring to the team. “In the long term those freshmen are going to be huge for us. If they stay out with those numbers they are going to be able to do some things that the track team hasn’t been able to do for a while.”
