Spring Sports Special: Banner County looks to lean on experience of seniors

The Banner County track team returns some experience on the boys side but has little varsity experience on the girls side as the 2015 season begins.

Banner begins the season with 14 competitors - seven boys and seven girls.

"Our numbers are down a little bit, but I think we've got a good, solid group of kids to work with," Banner track coach Kari Gifford said.

Although the Wildcats are down in numbers, Gifford is pleased with what she has seen from her team to this point.

"So far, the kids have been working hard. They've been showing up to practice," she said. "I think we're ahead of maybe where we were last year, so that's good. We'll see what the weather does to us. We've had good weather so far. So far, so good."

Tyson Dahlgrin, one of three seniors for the Banner boys, was a state qualifier in the 110 meter hurdles and 300 meter hurdles a season ago. Kadan Huber also returns as does Bryce Olsen, who competed in track as a sophomore but not as a junior.

"Tyson is going to be strong in the hurdles. I think Kadan's going to try the hurdles. Kadan should be, he's got quite a bit of experience in the high jump, so we look for him to do well in the high jump," Gifford said. "Bryce has thrown before. He wasn't out last year but he was out before that, so he's starting out with some experience, too."

With only three seniors, Gifford said that experience helps not just them, but the rest of the team as well.

"It helps them. Because they're seniors they're starting out stronger and more mature, and they know our system," she said. "As far as the other kids and bringing them along, we kind of look to them to lead, especially when we first get started. Some of the drills we do, they can kind of lead and help teach those. So that helps a lot. Our seniors are a good bunch of kids."

Others out for the Banner boys team include Tallion McGowan, Micah Wicker, Garrett Grubbs and Brandon Blickensderfer.

Looking at the girls team, Banner does not have much varsity experience but Gifford expects big things from some of her younger athletes.

"Courtney Knisley was out for cross country and qualified for state in cross country. She's got experience in the distance, so we're looking for that to be a strong area for her," Gifford said. "Courtney is a freshman, MaKenna Dahlgrin is a freshman. She's had good junior high experience with the throws. So we're looking for her to be strong in the throws. Abby Russell is a junior. She's thrown before, so she's got experience, too.

"We've got some other freshman who participated in junior high, but we don't know where they're going to be at yet. We've got some kids that haven't been out before, so we don't know yet."

Other members of the girls team include Sierra Flores, Arielle Whelchel, Emily Singleton and Erika Geary.

Banner's inexperience does not just include freshmen, but also a few juniors out for the first time as well.

"We've got some juniors who haven't been out before. So that's fun. That will be interesting," Gifford said. "We've got a big group of freshmen and a couple sophomores."

Gifford said the team is progressing well, but she will know more after it opens the season Saturday at Kimball.

"They're catching on. We'll just have to see. It's always a guessing game until you get that first meet in, and our first meet will be in Kimball," Gifford said. "After that, we'll know where we are and it'll kind of give us a gauge to go by and a starting point for improving. We'll know more after then - as long as the weather holds out. Sometimes we don't get that Kimball meet in because of the weather."