Success is something that has come year after year for the Cardinal girls track and field team.
With past runners like Kourtney Kelly, Elizabeth Timas and Emily Kruse, there have been big shoes to have to fill in order for the Huskies to make another great run in the state tournament.
Cardinal won the 2018 Dan Potopsky Invitational, where junior Kaylee Klepper finished first in two field events, earning the MVP at field events.
Her teammates Marina Cooper, Taylor Zeigler and Cardinal’s 4×200-meter relay team consisted of Zeigler, Sarah Shanhan, Anna Blubaugh and Mackenzie Conley with a time of 1:56.53.
All respectively won their events.
Strong performances by Daisy Robinson, Camille Cummins and Megan Maddox, helped pace Cardinal to its first victory of the season.
“I want to see kids succeed,” head coach Greg Cicero said. “I try to fill out an even sheet that will give both the team the best chance of winning each time out and also give the individuals the best chance to do well in events.”
Perhaps the success comes from the lay out of practices the team experiences.
“Our practices are typically laid back,” the coach said. “This team works extremely hard in practice and is not afraid to hold each other responsible.”
With the late start to Spring, the kids have been run through everything Mother Nature has decided to throw at them.
Cicero likes what he sees from his team.
Help from the upperclassmen has provided guidance for the younger athletes.
Seniors like Zeigler, Shahan, Cooper, Conley, Maddox and Anna Avalon have helped fill the missing pieces of past runners.
Cicero described his athletes as, “rising to a new level at meets and scoring a lot for us.”
Klepper, a junior, has been phenomenal for Cicero and his Huskies.
“Klepper has been a steady competitor in the throws and is establishing new bests almost every meet,” Cicero said.
Being a regional qualifier last year in shot, Klepper has realized what she can accomplish, and how quickly she can do it.
Although the Huskies have not seen success at the CVC meet the past two years, they seem to show up when it matters most, at the state tournament.
Help again from Klepper and Avalon could be the key factor for a great run at districts and regionals.
“I have high expectations for all of my teammates,” Klepper said. “They are all very talented, and I know that we can accomplish wonderful things as our season winds down.”
The quest for a state title begins May 16, where the Huskies hope to finish strong yet again.
In order for that to happen, they will have to continue to compete with the same mentality they have had all season.
Coach Cicero is excited to see what his small, but mighty competitors can accomplish to keep Cardinal track on the map.
“The key for us now is to find the right balance between work and rest heading into the postseason.”.