The Press-Dispatch
Issue link: https://www.ifoldsflip.com/i/1097179
The Press-Dispatch Spring Sports Preview Wednesday, March 27, 2019 D-7 By James Capozella Press-Dispatch Sports sports@pressdispatch.net Lady Charger head track and field coach Josh Roach will be guiding the 2019 edition for Pike Central with just one senior, three juniors, six sophomores and 18 freshmen. That contingent of freshmen make up more than half the team numbers and will proba- bly provide more than their share of talent, energy and drive in a sport that requires individual and team effort. Roach will be joined by assistant coaches Wil Teague and Olivia Leighty. Student manager Court- ney Weisling joins the group and will be busy as the coaches handle 28 team members. Asked about the upcoming sea- son, coach Roach said, "We are very excited about the upcoming season. Everything is still working out with the weather we have had lately, so we are still piecing some things together as far as events. We have some returning athletes that made it to regional last year and we look to expand on that this year with a promising freshman class added into the mix." "In field events, Alyssa Jen- kins advanced to regional in dis- cus. She looks to get even stron- ger this year and has a lot of big goals. She is our only returning se- nior, so we look a lot to her for lead- ership. She is one that constantly wants to put in extra work and im- prove. Alyssa isn't settling on just going to regional like last year. She wants to have an even better year and even hopes to see if she can throw at the collegiate level. She knows that she has to put in a lot of work to set herself apart. That work has helped her get this far and she doesn't plan on slowing down anytime soon." "Our 4x400 relay team had a very successful season last year and placed second at sectional. We return three of the four run- ners from that team with Libby Stone, Lauren Young and Jenna Meyer. We have a lot of competi- tion right now for that fourth spot. The three returning runners run cross country for me and I have seen how hard they will work for a goal, as they pushed each other this season in advancing to semi- state. They also have others that are willing to push to that level around them as most of the girls on that semi-state team are also running track." "Libby Stone also placed second in the 400 -meter dash at section- al and advanced to regional, and was just two places off of advanc- ing in the long jump. We are very young, so it will be a growing pro- cess, but I believe there is a lot of promise and I fully look forward to seeing the girls get to those levels that they want to reach." Jenkins is the lone senior, joined by three juniors: Jaylyn Nelson, Lily Frederick-Rice and Morgan Houchins. Six sophomores consti- tute the second largest class in the running this season. Jenna Mey- er, Lauren Young and Libby Stone are three out of last year's fresh- man class that did well at sectional and are joined by three other soph- omores: Charlotte Dudenhoeffer, Lily Willis and Taylor Corn. The freshman class makes up more than half the team with 18 of the 28 members for 2019. Fresh- men joining the team this sea- son include: Addison Faulk, Am- ber Wilkins, Ashton Catt, Bella Toman, Carissa Moudy, Emma McKinney, Emma Quakenbush, Erika Vinnedge, Jade Kamman, Kayla Cannon, Kayla Gladish, Kya Leighty, Kya Sullivan, Laney Johnson, Morgan Anderson, Mor- gan Blackburn, Morgan Sallee and Quinlan Teague. The girls' first challenge will be a home standing meet with Tecumseh on April 1, followed by a trip to South Knox on April 4. North Posey visits on Monday, April 8 and then the Lady Char- gers travel to the Jasper Invitation- al on April 11. South Spencer is hosted on Mon- day, April 15, followed by the Pike Central Invitational on Thursday, April 18. Washington and Barr- Reeve are hosted at Pike Cen- tral on Monday April 22. The La- dy Chargers are on the road Mon- day, April 29 for the Pioneer Re- lays and then take the long trip to Tell City for the Pocket Athlet- ic Conference championships on Tuesday, May 7. The sectional be- gins Tuesday, May 14 at Princeton Community School and then the regional is at Evansville Central on Tuesday, May 21. 2019 GIRLS' TRACK & FIELD LADY CHARGERS TRACK & FIELD IS LONG ON FRESHMEN Pike Central's 2019 girls' track team members are, front row (l to r): Lily Frederick-Rice, Alyssa Jenkins, Morgan Houchins and Jayln Nelson; second row: Bella Toman, Kayla Cannon, Morgan Sallee, Lily Willis, Lauren Young, Libby Stone, Jenna Meyer, Charlotte Dudenhoeffer and Taylor Corn; third row: Morgan Anderson, Quinlan Teague, Laney Johnson, Emma McKinney, Amber Wilkins, Ashton Catt, Addie Faulk, Morgan Blackburn and Emma Quakenbush; back row: Josh Roach (Head Coach), Kya Sullivan, Carissa Moudy, Erika Vinnedge, Kya Leighty, Jade Kamman, Olivia Leighty (Assistant Coach), Wil Teague (As- sistant Coach). We are very young so it will be a growing process but I believe thee is a lot of promise ad I fully look forward to seeing the girls get to those lev- els that they want to reach." -Coach Josh Roach Whether you're a trained athlete or a weekend warrior, you can count on the experienced sports medicine specialists at Gibson General Hospital to get you back in the game. Our program offers rehabilitation to care for your sports injuries. And we'll teach you how to prevent further injuries and improve performance to help you stay in the game! High Quality Sports Medicine Care. Close to Home. High Quality Orthopedic & Sports Medicine Care. Close to Home. Whether you're a trained athlete or a weekend warrior, you can count on experienced orthopedic & sports medicine specialists at Gibson General Hospital to get you back in the game. Through a partnership with Joseph Orthopedics & Sports Medicine Center, integrated program offers orthopedic treatment and rehabilitation to care your sports injuries. And we'll teach you how to prevent further injuries improve performance to help you stay in the game! Centered Around You. Proud provider of athletic training service to Gibson County schools. Gregory K. Willis, CPA Carla D. Willis, CPA 705 E. MAIN ST., PETERSBURG (812) 354-6274 Fax: (812) 354-6974 Members American Institute of Certified Public Accountants • Indiana CPA Society Willis & Company, p.C. CERTIFIED PUBLIC aCCOUNTaNTS & CONSULTaNTS GO Chargers SEIZE THE WEEK'S SPORTS NEWS. Get a hold on the sports world when you read the newspaper. We bring you complete coverage of sports events and scores, so you can keep up with your favorite teams at a glance. Seize the day and subscribe today; call 812-354-8500 for convenient home delivery.