The Milan News-Leader
A Heritage Newspaper
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Big Reds ready for big run
Girls' team hopes to improve fourth-place '07 league standing
By Jerry Hinnen, Staff Writer
PUBLISHED: April 3, 2008
The Milan Big Reds might be on track to make history on the track this spring.
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While the Milan girls look to improve on their solid fourth-place finish in the 2007 Huron League standings, the Big Red boys will be hunting their third consecutive undefeated dual meet record and third straight Huron League championship.
Milan boys' head coach Rich Pellegrini said no Milan boys' track team has won three consecutive conference titles since coach Jay Waldfong was coaching future professional football players Joe O'Donnell and Bill Laskey in the 1950s.
"This boys' track team is trying to do something that has not been done for almost 50 years," Pellegrini said. "If we can stay healthy, we will be competitive in all of our meets."
The Big Reds won't lack for returning firepower in their attempt at a three-peat, starting with defending Huron League long jump, 100-meter dash and 200-meter dash champion senior Ron Spears.
Spears will be joined on Milan's sprint squad by senior Anthony Marshall, another quarter of the 800-meter relay team that tied a school record in 2007 and a state qualifier in both the 100 and 200-meter dashes. Seniors Randy Butts and Matt Chapin also will play a key role in the sprint events for the Big Reds.
Top 2007 hurdler Kyle Love returns for Milan with fellow senior Eric Betts and junior Bill Egolf also expected to score in hurdles events.
In the field events, Milan will return a solid corps of throwers featuring junior David Box, and seniors Scott Kenyon and Corey Iott. Betts also will be out to defend his Huron title in the high jump.
The Big Reds also should be even stronger in distance events, with junior Kyle Anderson coming off a state meet-qualifying campaign in cross-country season and 3,200-meter relay veterans Brian Kirkpatrick, Anthony Mann and Sam Rowe all back to provide depth. Freshmen Joe Martin and Dylan Shearer could also contribute after strong cross-country seasons.
For all his team's experience and talent, though, Pellegrini doesn't expect anything to come easily for the Big Reds when it comes to securing that third title.
"Airport and Monroe St. Mary's will have their usual competitive teams," he said.
Where the Big Red boys should be most dominant in the sprints, the Milan girls likely will again draw most of their points from their distance program. All-State cross country star sophomore Jordan Tomecek could become All-State in track, as well, after placing ninth in 2007's state 3,200, but junior Kara Porter, sophomore Angela Swain (who ran sprints in 2007), and several other veterans of Milan's sixth-place cross country team will be capable of scoring in distance events, as well.
While thinner elsewhere, Milan could see points from junior hurdler Ashley Agar, sprinters Mareisha Lala and Loren Weber, and high-jumpers Weber and Taylor McGovern, each of whom scored for the Big Reds at the 2007 Huron meet.
The Big Reds' season is scheduled to start Saturday at the Clinton Invitational, weather permitting.
Other members of the Milan boys' team include seniors Anthony Durbin, Jake Kanitz, Robert Logwood and John Nuckles; juniors Jeremy Chie, Mark Coleman, Alex Davis, Will Farrar, Tim Hochradel, Jeremy Robison, Mike Spence, Lyle Tomaszweski and Zach Collett; sophomores Joel Michalak, Cameron Morgan, Dennis Saunders and Ben Zilke; and freshmen David Bates, Tyler Borso, Jalen Walker Dobbins, Jevon Freeman, Ezekiel Gordon, Spencer Hayes, Jon Holiday, Leo Pittman, Eric Santure, Ryan Spears, Mark Sumpter and DeQuan Chambers.
The News-Leader was unable to reach Milan girls' head coach Steve Porter for this article.
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