Paul Schmidt is entering his 12th year as head coach of the Becker Bulldog boys track and field team.
Though the boys and girls track teams are separate sports, they typically share the same competition schedule and the same facilities for practices and events. They also share coaches across both teams as some are more specialized in working with the athletes in each specific exercise.
“We lost Josh Ihrke as our assistant girls coach and throwers coach,” said Schmidt. “Those are big shoes to fill as Josh did a great job with our throwers and before that our jumpers as well.”
The boys and girls teams have brought in Daniel Rooney to fill in for Ihrke.
“He will be working primarily with the throwers this year as well as the assistant girls coach,” said Schmidt. “Also new to our coaching staff is Adam Maine, who is volunteering with the jumpers, sprinters and hurdlers. Adam brings a wealth of knowledge to our coaching staff and has previously coached at Holdingford where he was also an athlete.”
“I absolutely love coaching track and field,” he said. “It is such a unique sport in that you can compete as a team and individual and it is the only sport in which girls and boys compete side by side.”
What Schmidt likes most is the athletes.
“We have great student athletes at Becker and they continue to amaze me with their determination, dedication and commitment to track and field.”
Schmidt enjoys recruiting athletes and hooking them on the sport.
“Many athletes on the boys side come out because they are looking to get faster for football or stay in shape for another sport, but they often realize how fun track and field is and that it is more than just running,” Schmidt says. “After they are hooked, I can usually get them to try some different events and often we find other things they are good at.”
Schmidt boasts around 53 boys on the teams from grades 9-12. It is his largest squad since his first days of coaching in 2006. The junior high program has also seen an increase to 25 athletes for 2018.
Schmidt’s team is the two-time defending Granite Ridge Conference champions and their goal is to repeat again this year. Another goal for the team is to improve thier standing in the True Team and section meets and again — get the team or at least a few players down to the state meet at Hamline University in June.
Several teams will be vying to bring Becker down and that includes Albany, who really came on in the boys track and field competition.
“Our section is really tough with Alexandria and Moorhead and last year’s champs Bemidji,” said Schmidt.
Schmidt’s team is led by a large group of seniors as well as a talented group of juniors. The seniors are Alex Anderson, Austin Hemmelgarn, Bryce Boser, Cody Johnson, Devon Johnson, Erik Parson, Ethan Holm, Evan Schafer, Jacob Drury, Jonathan Novak, Justin Kringler, Lachlan Lahr, Mitchell Enerson, Nathaniel Croal, Nicholas Radunz, Rhiley Larson, Sidney Boros and William Schendel.
“Across the team we are pretty even for numbers which will be good for years to come,” Schmidt said. “Our team captains this year are Sidney Boros (sprints and relays) Austin Hemmelgarn (sprints and relays), Johnathan Novak (800 and 4x800 relay) and Ethan Holm (triple jump and pole vault).”
All four of Schmidt’s captains turned in strong performances last year and he hopes they will start up where they left off.
Nick Radunz is the team’s top thrower to keep an eye on and Kevin Andres (sprints and relays), Sam Ricker (1600 and 4x800) and Jordan Gruenes (800 and relays) should be strong in their events as well.
“We are hoping that Jacob Drury can return from injury and regain his success in the high jump from two years ago,” said the head coach. “Justin Kringler looks strong in the 800 and David Myers will be a force in the hurdle events.”
Schmidt says William Schendel should be strong in the pole vault and high jump.
Schedule:
• 4/3 - at Foley 3:30 p.m.;
• 4/9 - at Milaca, 4 p.m.;
• 4/19 - home vs. Albany & Cathedral, 4 p.m.;
• 4/24 - at Mora 4 p.m.;
• 4/27 - at Pierz, 4:15 p.m.;
• 5/3 - at Pillager, 4 p.m.;
• 5/8 - at Milaca (True Team), 3 p.m.
• 5/15 - home vs. five GRC teams, 3:30 p.m.;
• 5/22 - at Zimmerman 4 p.m.;
• 5/30-6/2 - Section 8AA Tournament, TBD;
• 6/8-9 - State Tournament at Hamline University, TBD;
