Panthers ready to run the track

The Saratoga Panthers track and field team are working to make some adjustments that need to be made for the season.

Rex Hohnholt, head coach for Saratoga Panthers Track and Field, said a lot of questions will be answered on how well the Panthers will be doing this season. He said this coming track meet can determine what direction his team needs to go.

"We did not have half the team as we did at our first track meet," Hohnholt said. "We will find out a lot of answers this week. What I will say about our team is that they are coachable and they work awfully hard from top to bottom and I am really proud of that."

Hohnholt said his goal is to continue the same success he has had with past teams. He said there are some returning students who will continue the same success from last year.

"Our team had a lot of success from both the boys and girls side and the girls have come off from winning two straight years of being state champions," Hohnholt said. "We just want to keep going with that. This year there were a lot of key kids that the team has lost from last year both from the boys side and girls side. Currently, we have a group of young, hungry kids on our team right now and I am really excited."

Hohnholt said that there are no current student athletes on his team who are in a position to break any state of conference records at this time. He said there is a possibility down the road that there are young students who could be breaking records in the future.

The returning girls who are now in this year's junior class who will help contribute to winning track meets are Aspen Sewell, Josie Little and Rhiwan Willams. On the boys team, the Panthers have lost a lot of key students. However, Hohnholt said the boys to look for are Alyster Ingram and Douglas Anderson.

"Ingram has worked hard for us forever, " Hohnholt said. "Anderson was a state qualifier from last year and a placer who should do well this year."

Saratoga is short on leadership from seniors and does not have four time returning students in the boys or girls track and field program. However, Hohnholt said to look out for this year's freshman, sophomores and juniors who will lead the charge in the future.

"Our freshman, sophomores and juniors are really tough minded and they lead by example," Hohnholt said. "We are blessed to have them on our team and they will be the further".

Hohnholt said despite the minor details that need to be fixed on his team, he feels confident that his team will make it to state this year and possibly finish in the top ranks.