To your mark

Sonja Karp
NLJ Sports Reporter
 
Dogie tracksters are chomping at the bit to be off to the races in 2021. After losing out on the 2020 season, the sound of the starting pistol is music to the ears of 36 young Dogies who are anxious to get into the blocks. 
Head coach Chad Ostenson missed out on the first few days of practice which began last Monday due to coaching the Lady Dogies hoopsters at the 3A State Basketball Tournament last week, but in his absence assistant coaches Matt Conzelman, Kathy Beehler and Dave Christiansen started whipping his team into shape.
“I’ve only been to one day of practice but my coaches have gotten them off to a good start,” Ostenson nodded. “They are working hard and going through the paces. We haven’t been out on the track much, but it’s better than it’s been in the last couple of years that we’ve been able to compete.”
Numbers are particularly good for the boys, however the girls are working with only a few. Of the 36, only six are ladies and all are new to varsity track given there was not a season last year. Sophomores Jaylen Ostenson, Shelby Tidyman, Tiernan Stanton and Sierra Blaney are joined by freshmen Kendra Merchen and Tara Carter. 
Though there are a few throwers in the crew, Coach Ostenson feels like he will be able to put together a relay or two throughout the season.
With 30 young men to work with, the situation is a little more flexible for Ostenson. In addition, the team
is returning several seniors and juniors who advanced to the state meet in 2019. 
“We’ll see how that translates because there’s a big change physically from sophomore to senior year,” Ostenson speculated. “It’ll also be fun to see the difference between the last time they competed. The girls’ last time was in middle school, and there’s a big difference in development in two years for the guys. They’ve gotten stronger and matured, so it should be fun.”
Seniors who placed at the regional meet in 2019 include Zach Purviance who is a middle distance runner, Gunner Ramsey who jumped 6 feet in the high jump, and Grayson Ramsey who was part of relay teams with Gunner and Purviance. Junior Tristan Troftgruben placed in the mile and two mile open races as a freshman, and though he is still coming off some injuries sustained during cross country, Ostenson expects him to do well this year.
Other returning seniors are Skyler Jenkins, Dylan Drost, Bridger Alishouse, Dillon Kenney, Conrad Prell and Tyrell Harrington. 
“We have a good core of senior boys who will provide some good leadership and do some good things on the track,” Ostenson nodded. “It will be a fun year, and fun to get to have a year, and the kids are working hard. It’s an individual, but a team sport and you will get out of it what you put into it. I’m excited to see the kids get to be able to compete this year since they didn’t last year.”
The Dogies are scheduled to go to Buffalo Friday for their opening contest, however Ostenson isn’t sure his team will be ready so he is leaning toward bypassing that meet to prepare for the Laura Chord Invite in Newcastle on Friday, the 26th
of March.
Current COVID-19 restrictions require that meets limit the number of teams to eight. While that limit may be relaxed in the future, for now that is the requirement of the Wyoming High School Activities Association.