The Big Lake Hornet boys track team consists of 40-45 athletes cut out to make 2021 a season to remember.

Head Coach Bob Blanchard — entering his third season at the helm — will be aided by Todd Trutna (distance coach), Andrea Ibberson (jumps coach), Jim Stewart (pole vault and hurdles coach) and Adam Pelot (throws coach).

“I love devoting time to coaching high school kids because they are great kids to be around,” said Blanchard. “I also see it as a great chance to teach the kids many life lessons through a sport that I enjoyed competing in and that I enjoy coaching. Seeing them improve throughout the season and throughout their careers on our team is another reason I enjoy spending so much time with these kids.”

Blanchard was a sprinter for two very successful programs (Storm Lake High School and Central College). He also coached track and field at Rifle High School in Rifle, CO for three years before moving to Big Lake. He has coached track five of the six years that he has taught here in Big Lake.

Though Blanchard and his coaching staff have not quite named team captains for 2021, he knows he has a plethora of real team leaders on his squad.

“Our seniors (are his main leaders on the team),” he says. “I don’t have very many, but I know I can rely on all my seniors to steer our team in the right direction.”

The sport of track and field can be different than most team sports because of its individual component. 

“We really don’t have rivalries (at least I don’t feel we do),” Blanchard said. “We go into each meet with the attitude that we want to compete to the best of our abilities and earn as many SBs (season’s best) and PRs (personal records) as possible.”

The COVID-19 pandemic ruined spring sports throughout the state last year and Blanchard hopes that situation is behind them, though they still have some protocols to adjust to. And if a case comes up with a student/athlete, it could throw a wrench in how the season progresses.

“The biggest challenge we face is the potential of our team getting shut down for a couple of weeks due to COVID,” said Blanchard. “Our kids will follow the mask guidelines set by MDH but at the same time, we are trying to make our season as “normal” as possible for these kids.”

With all the choices students have as far as spring activities, many of the programs at the school have thinned out and teams have lost some talented individuals to other, sometimes more popular sports. But Blanchard likes what he sees as far as the future of track and field in Big Lake.

“Track and field is in good hands moving into the future,” he says. “I don’t know if it is growing or not, but we still have plenty of good student-athletes that come out every year to run track and field for us.” 

The sport that Blanchard runs into most when it comes to kids trying other activities isn’t even a school sport. 

“Our biggest problem is AAU basketball,” he said. “We have a great group of kids right now in all grades. We are a little light on upperclassmen but the ones we have are great people and great student-athletes. We also have a good group of freshman and sophomores that if they all decided to stick with track and field, will keep our future bright too.”

The boys’ first meet of the year was Tuesday at home. They then compete at Monticello High School April 17 against multiple schools.