Graduation robbed the Oak Harbor High School boys track team of a talented class, but the loss presents “lots of opportunity” for the newcomers, according to head coach Jay Turner.
Among those who graduated were school record holders Dejon Devroe and John Rodeheffer. Turner, however, does welcome back 26 lettermen.
The returnees include only seven seniors: Joe Gorman (distance), Jared Gray (hurdles, sprints), Daniel Guerrero (sprints), Fred Miller (throws), Joseph Nolan (throws), Tyren Perdue (throws) and Josiah Welch (sprints).
Gray was second-team, All-Wesco North in the 300 hurdles and honorable mention in the 110 hurdles. In the divisional meet, he placed second in the 300 hurdles, third in the 110 hurdles and fourth in the 100.
He also ran on the second-place 4×400 relay with sophomore Mac Nuanez, another returning letter winner. The relay team went on to place 11th in the state meet.
Nolan finished seventh in the discus at the divisional finals.
Junior lettermen include Ben Bozeman (javelin), Josh Cote (400, 800), Ben Gasper (distance), Thomas Gilham (sprints, jumps), Garren Guerrero (hurldes, jumps), Michael Lym (distance), Immanuel McLaurrin (jumps), and Brycin McIntyre (jumps).
Lym placed sixth in the 800 in the 2015 North meet, and Garren Guerrero was sixth in the 110 hurdles.
Sophomore letter winners along with Nuanez are Jordan Bell (triple jump), Mac Carr (sprints, jumps), Marcus Fox (throws), Ozelle Jackson (sprints, jumps), Matthew Kolden (hurdles), Andrew Miller (jumps), Kyle Nickols (jumps), T.J. Passmore (sprints, jumps), Wyatt Pauley (distance), Weston Whitefoot (throws) and Cullen Wood (vaulter, sprints).
Nuanez finished fifth in the 400 and sixth in the high jump in the North Division championships last spring.
A key newcomer, Turner said, is junior Jordan Washington (sprints, throws, jumps).
“As a whole, the boys are very hard workers and they want to get better,” Turner said.
The Wildcats host their annual Island Jamboree with Coupeville, South Whidbey and Lakewood at 3:30 p.m. Thursday, March 17.
Oak Harbor and Meadowdale go to Marysville-Pilchuck at 3:30 Thursday, March 24, for the first meet. A week later, the Wildcats host Cascade and Snohomish at 3:30 p.m.
