Frankenmuth has enjoyed success in high school track and hopes it continues this season.
The girls won the Division 3 title last year under coach Mike Snyder. The team also won it in 2009 and 2010 when Jamie Engel was coach.
“We had relays that worked well together,” Snyder said. “We had two phenomenal athletes and that helped. We had quite a few state qualifiers.”
The two athletes to whom he was referring are graduates Emily Wee and Olivia Shelden, who are now at University of Michigan and Central Michigan University, respectively.
There are some talented athletes coming back.
“We’re just reloading,” Snyder said. “Our goal is top three in the state.”
He’s looking for athletes like Angela Ritter, a senior, to be strong in the 200-meter dash plus the 800-meter and 1,600-meter relays.
Returning is Ashley Frahm in the shot put and discus. Also back is Sydney Brommer, a sophomore, who was on the 800- and 1,600-meter relay teams last year. They’re also looking for her to do well in the 100- and 300-meter hurdles plus the high jump. Brayene Benner, a freshman, will be in both hurdles and the 1,600-meter relay, while Lauren Peterson is a senior in the 400-meter dash.
Junior Carly Hammond is returns as a distance runner.
For the boys, Jerry Drake is back for his third year as head coach, although he’s been with the program for 22 years. The team was third last season and first the previous spring.
“I’m not as deep as I’ve been in the past,” Drake said. “We’ve been fortunate to have a great group of guys to work with. This year, I have a great group of guys to work with again. I’m young. We’re lacking in depth, but we have some talent.”
That talent includes Jake Hall, who was all-state in the 800-meter run last season. It also includes Brian Stearns in the hurdles, Alex Halppa in the shot put, plus Jessie and Jotham Micho and Michael Fromm in the throws.