By Staff
It is time for the Dowagiac track coaches to begin building on their success.
The Chieftains, despite not having a single home meet due to the condition of their track, turned in an extremely successful season which culimiated on Friday.
Dowagiac will send two pole vaulters, a long jumper and a relay team to the state finals June 4.
Dowagiac coaches Ken Jordan and Mike Stanger realize that they need more bodies if they are going to compete.
Last Friday in Allegan, St. Joseph captured the Division 2 regional championship without winning a single event.
The Lady Bears, who have won three consecutive regionals, do it with depth.
Dowagiac won two events, setting and tying school records, but were only able to finish sixth.
It has to be extremely frustrating for Jordan and Stanger to see other schools taking home trophies.
Dowagiac has had some outstanding front line competitors since the late 1990s, but have been unable to get out the numbers they need to win division, conference or regional championships.
The Chieftains will have a brand new track facility to compete on next year.
Now is the time to start beating the bushes and get more kids out for track.
There are plenty of talented kids walking the halls of Dowagiac Union High School.
There are some talented athletes set to come over from Central Middle School.
It would be great to see those kids come out for track.
Dowagiac will have a solid nucleus of thinclads returning in 2006. With the additional help, the Chieftains could make a run at several crowns.
How to get those kids out for track is still under debate, but Stanger and Jordan will be working hard over the next few months to figure it out.
In talking to Stanger this week, he is extremely proud of the kids who came out this season and gave everything they had.
Track is hard work there is no doubt about that. So getting kids to come out will not be an easy task.
There is no instant gratification on track and field. It takes hard work. The rewards will be there for those who give of themselves.
Now is the time to begin working to get those individuals which can help make Dowagiac the track power it once was.
Next season starts now.