By JOHN RAFFEL
Charlotte track coach Nicholas Perkins couldn’t have been happier with how his team performed on June 1 when Charlotte took fourth place at the state finals for Division 2.
It was Perkins’ seventh season as Charlotte’s head coach.
Charlotte was 7-0 in conference dual meets ands ad split the conference title with Olivet.
“We met expectations as a team, exceeded expectations in some individual events and relays,” Perkins said. “We had three broken school records on the season and second place finish at states in 4×200 and 4×400. The team dealt with some lingering injuries throughout the season making it difficult to reach our full potential in the sprint relays.”
Top performers:
Cutler Brandt – First year hurdler winning the state title in the 300m hurdles and a true swiss army knife able to help the team to score points in 11 of 17 events. A leader and integral part ofthe sprint relays and individual events. Now holds 3 school records.
Maliki Garza – Battled through some injuries on the season but never strayed from remaining a necessary part of the sprint relays. Now holds 2 school records.
Jason Green – Improvement in his sprint times from last season are indescribable. First time participant in the sprint relays he was able to break 2 school records with his team.
Bryce McConnell – Undoubtedly one of the most talented underclassmen in school history, huge improvements from last year in sprints and jumps.Finishing the season with 3 all state awards the program looks forward to his continued development.
Braylon Holmes – A long jump specialist finishing the season as the No. 2 freshman in the state, and a up and coming sprinter will look to fill some big shoes as a successor on the future of Charlotte sprint relays.
“We are only graduating five seniors in 2024, three of which were apart of the record breaking 4×100 and 4×200 teams. Cutler Brandt, Maliki Garza and Jason Green will be tough to replace. Kaiden Holmes will return as a senior and lead the team in the sprints to work towards the goal of continuing our relay success,” Perkins said.
“However, with a sophomore class carrying most of the remaining load for the teams success, we look forward to the continued development of our young athletes. The future of the program rests firmly on a very talented sophomore class in Bryce McConnell, Evan Colosky, Phoenix Lawton, Grant Conley and Gage Johnson. Accompanied by our outstanding freshman Braylon Holmes in the long jump and sprints, and incoming freshman hurdler Tyler Densmore, the program should be able to continue improving.”
Perkins added: “After securing our third consecutive undefeated conference title, this young group of athletes know how to win and I look forward putting what they have learned from this years seniors when we return next spring.”