The Merrimack Valley indoor track team may not have trophy cases filled with hardware or the same championship esteem as other programs, but the Pride consistently finish near the top of the team standings and are poised for a strong season once again.
MV has talented individual threats and proven leaders in seniors Brandon Wood, Dylan Guinard and Joey Baylus on the boys’ side, while senior Kristie Schoffield and junior Kaitlyn Covell are expect to lead the girls’ team.
Both squads will have most of their scoring threats from last year’s Division II state championships back this season. Perhaps most importantly, both squads have depth and versatility.
With all of these pieces, the boys are looking to improve from the 22 points they scored over the last two seasons, finishing fifth in 2015 and sixth last season. And the girls are looking to improve on last season’s eighth-place finish.
“We do bring back some experience,” said Coach Bob Mullen, a 27-year veteran who leads the Pride, along with second-year co-head Coach Joey Ellis.
“I think (the boys will) be disappointed if they’re not in one of the top three spots,” Mullen said. “They expect to come back strong. We know there are very good teams out there we are shooting for.”
Leading the way for the boys are Wood and Baylus, who both qualified for the finals in the 55-meter hurdles last season, historically a strong event for the Pride. Wood finished second and Baylus finished seventh, while Wood followed up a strong indoor season with an individual title in the 300 hurdles and third-place finish in the 110 hurdles last spring. Baylus also finished sixth in the high jump last winter and had a successful outdoor campaign, scoring in the 110 hurdles and multiple relays.
“I love coaching the hurdles,” Mullen said. “It’s something I’ve taken pride in for a long time. (Wood and Baylus) have high expectations to finish strong in our division meet in that race.”
Guinard finished sixth in the 600 last year and leads a strong group of sprinters including juniors John Barger, Jacob Barrington and Herman Nixon. Guinard, Baylus and Wood should form the base of highly competitive 4×200 and 4×400 relay teams, with Barger, Barrington and Nixon providing plenty of depth and versatility in those positions.
Sophomore brothers David and Matt Reynolds return as leaders in the distance events. Junior Isaiah Shedd can be strong in any running even from the 300 through the 1,500. Along with classmates Matt Lyle, David Quinn and senior Josh Hill, the Pride have options for a formidable 4×800 team.
Seniors Dade Perron and Ryan Latorella and junior Nick Bartlett are the top throwers.
Top newcomers to the team include senior Joe Ostrowski (sprints and jumps), sophomore Matthew Ostrowski (sprints and jumps), freshmen Dylan Lessard (throws and sprints) and junior Ryan Kelly (sprints and hurdles).
Mullen estimates there are five or six teams eyeing a top-three spot. Defending champion Souhegan and Portsmouth “for sure,” will be in the mix, according to Mullen – with Windham, Coe-Brown and Oyster River also in the mix. He added, “there’s so much unknown right now.”
Like the boys’ team, the girls “are a team that has balance and leadership,” according to Mullen.
The girls are also bolstered by an increase in numbers and a big surge from the five-member roster in 2015 that finished second to powerhouse Coe-Brown at the state meet.
“Our program has grown a lot in numbers,” Coach Ellis said. “We have a lot of youth and depth … the girls didn’t lose anyone (from last season).”
Schoffield is the two-time defending 600 champion, won the 3,000 in 2015 and has the potential to be a threat to win any running event in between. Covell qualified for states in the hurdles the past two years and joined Schoffield on the winning 4×100 and 4×400 relays in 2015 and the runner-up 4×400 last year.
The 4×200 and 4×400 relays should also be a strength for this year’s team with a talented sophomore class of sprinters, including Tristan Beyer, Asia-Grace Hanson and Maizie Thurber-Wells.
Junior Lauren Rouse joins Schoffield as a strong returner in the distance events with junior Elizabeth Williams and Hanson leading the throwing contingent.
A large and talented freshmen class – including Emma York (distance), Addie Hodge (hurdles and jumps), Noelle Colarusso (sprints and jumps), Nicole and Cassidy Considine (sprints and relays) – will look to compete instantly.
Coach Ellis figures defending champions Milford, Oyster River, Lebanon, Coe-Brown and Souhegan will be in the mix at the top of D-II.
Coaches Mullen and Ellis have talent and depth to work with and a team with an attitude that is willing to do whatever it takes to be successful.
“Everyone is willing to try different things,” Mullen said.