WEBSTER CITY GIRLS TRACK RETURNING LETTERWINNERS are, front row (left to right): Bonnie Nohrenberg, Adeline Tesdahl, Cloe Savitski, Tateelina Vankham and Natalie Buakham. Back: Jakaela Cherry, Lydia VanDeer, Adysen Poppen, Lynne Roberts and Alondra Johnson. (Photo by Patrick Coons)

For now, the Webster City girls track program welcomes back one returning state qualifier.

Lynx head coach Tyler Mosbach hopes junior Cloe Savitski will have plenty of company, though, before this season is said and done.

Mosbach likes the makeup of his squad for 2024, as Webster City brings balance and competitiveness to the table in preparation for an indoor meet at Clear Lake on Thursday.

“We have four returning seniors and quite a few returning letterwinners,” Mosbach said. “All of them understand the expectations of the program, and will be instrumental in teaching the new athletes those expectations.

“Cloe is our only returning state qualifier from last year, but we hope to get more girls there this May.”

Savitski reached the Class 3A 100-meter dash field in Des Moines as an underclassman. Savitski, senior Adeline Tesdahl and sophomore Lydia VanDeer were regular placewinners in meets a season ago.

Mosbach feels like he has the right combinations in mind for the Lynx to show vast improvement across the board.

“I think our biggest strengths will come in some of the relays,” Mosbach said. “We don’t have that one person who is going to show up and score us 40 points, but we do have a lot of girls who will give everything they can to help their teammates succeed.

“I look forward to that continuing and more girls following in line as the season progresses.”

An offseason of work — and an influx of freshman talent — will help.

“We have a lot of freshmen and new faces on the team,” Mosbach said. “Many are multi-sport athletes and came into the season ready.

“We also had most of the girls with us this winter weightlifting and speed training. I would expect these girls will help us to have a well-rounded lineup, giving us the ability to be more competitive at meets.”

Ultimately, the mental aspect of growth is as important as the physical in Mosbach’s eyes.

“It’s about (having) an overall competitive mindset,” Mosbach said. “Competition is the most important contributor to improvement. It doesn’t matter if that competition is occurring in meets or in practice. The girls need to strive to beat the person next to them in every rep or every event.

“It’s something the other coaches and I have been preaching in practice, and I think we are on the right track. Some of the new faces have really helped us there.”

Mosbach knows his squad’s current form is vastly different than what he will see in less than two months — and hopefully, the change will be for the better.

“Obviously, our ultimate goal is to get as many girls as we can down to Drake for the state meet,” Mosbach said. “But to be honest, what I really want for the team is to have as many personal records and season bests as possible.

“Ultimately, that is the only thing we have any control over. If we continue to get better week after week, the rest will take care of itself.”

Tesdahl, Nalani Buakham, Bonnie Nohrenberg, Lynne Roberts, Tateelina Vankam and Ellie Weinschenk are the seniors on this spring’s squad. Savitski, VanDeer, senior Lynne Roberts, junior Adysen Poppen, junior Alondra Johnson and sophomore Jakaela Cherry are the other returning letterwinners.

2024 WEBSTER CITY GIRLS TRACK

Roster

Seniors — Nalani Buakham, Bonnie Nohrenberg, Lynne Roberts, Adeline Tesdahl, Tateelina Vankham, Ellie Weinschenk.

Juniors — Olivia Gallentine, Alondra Johnson, Sydney Oswald, Adysen Poppen, Cloe Savitski, Lydia VanDeer.

Sophomores — Jakeala Cherry, Kate Feltz, Abby Peterson, Alaina Powngnas, Harper Range.

Freshmen — Haylee Ades, Perla Andrade, Rosemary Chamness, Cindy Gomez Lopez, Izzy Grossoehme, Amanda Lahr, Abie Meyer, Abby Muongnamvong, Charlee Olson, Avery Poppen, Ariauna Reed, Lexi Schism, Sarahi Terrazas, Kaitlynn Van Demark, Kaitlyn Winkler, Tristyn Wright.

Schedule

March 21 — at North Indoor Indoor Championships in Clear Lake.

April 2 — at Southeast Valley; 4 — at Eagle Grove; 9 — at Algona; 25-27 — Drake Relays; 29 — at Iowa Falls-Alden; 29 — at Iowa Falls-Alden.

May 2 — at Hampton-Dumont/CAL.