More athletes, more fun

WORLAND - The winter sports season is in the rearview mirror and up now are the spring sports. The first of the Worland High School spring sports in action will be Worland High School track and field.

The Warriors and Lady Warriors start their season in Casper today for the Glen Legler Memorial Early Bird Invite.

"We're really excited this year. For the first time in a while we'll be taking two busses to meets," said WHS track coach Tracey Wiley. "We're only taking 36 to Casper because we want to give the basketball kids a rest and there are other things going on this weekend. There will be 4A teams there in Casper and it should be a good meet for us to get the season started."

Finishing last season with around 35 athletes, Worland has 64 athletes out for the team this season. With that kind of bump in participation Wiley, who is in her second season at the helm of WHS track and field, is excited for this season's potential.

"We have 64 kids out and I'm hoping we can end with 64. With the number we have this year we're almost double from last year. We're happy that we're finally able to take two busses," said Wiley.

Worland track did lose a talented class to graduation, which included 3A boys discus champion Hoyt Nicholas and speedster Emmy Dykman who finished second in the 200-meter dash. But returning for the program is a strong group that will look to make a run at some hardware this year.

"With the boys we have the numbers, we have 39 possibly 40 out. Anytime you have numbers like that things can go in your favor," said Wiley. "We have a good group coming back from last year. They were in contention at state last year and got second at regionals - Brad Lyman in the high jump, Cody Newell in the hurdles, Blaine Kroger is another returning senior, Maclin Wiley in discus and shot put. Josh Garza was eighth in the pole vault last year. Stone Ramos was another state competitor for us. We're looking for Porter Harman to do great things in the distance running."

Wiley added, "The girls same thing, we have a good group returning. Kylah Mills had a good season last year going to state and this season she's looking stronger. Sierra Borovatz will be good in the jumps and sprints and be a good leader. Mariah Alcaraz was another state competitor for us and she placed seventh in the discus."

There are even a few athletes making their return to the track after some time off.

"Kylie Woffinden used to do track and she's back out for her senior season. Dalton Jeffries used to be a track kid and now he's back with us, and you just can't find a kid that's tougher than him," said Wiley.

Wiley even has a promising freshman class of athletes that will add to the team's strength.

"We have a handful of young kids out this year that are going to do well for us. Tatum Zimmerman is one of those kids; she's a distance runner who has tons of potential," said Wiley.

The Worland track program looks to be on the uptick and now Wiley is eager to get the season underway.

"We're just excited to compete and ready to compete," said Wiley. "I'm just looking for good things from these kids this year. We're going to be competitive all across the board. We got a lot of good athletes out this season and we're just looking forward to the season."