In 2011, the senior class was key to the success of the season.
In 2012, the story remained the same for the Zionsville boys’ track and field team thanks to its leadership and hard work of its new senior class.
“We had a very successful season last year and lost quite a few seniors. So this season, we knew we had a lot of new athletes and even some new coaches as well,” Zionsville coach Gabe Porras said. “There was a lot of unknown at the beginning of the season, we weren’t sure who was going to step up and contribute.”
Much like last season, it was members of the senior class leading the way.
Senior Samuel Berger qualified for the state meet in both the 800 and 1600 runs. He finished fourth (1600) and eleventh (800) respectively, and set the new school record in the 1600, with a time of 4:11.25.
Berger was also named to the all-Hoosier Crossroads Conference team and was chosen to represent Indiana in the Midwest Meet of Champions, where the top senior athletes from Indiana, Ohio and Michigan competed against one another.
Fellow senior Ryan Stack qualified for the regional in both the 100 and 200 dashes, but fell just short in qualifying for the state meet.
The Eagles also received notable contributions all season from seniors Jordan Weeks and Karl Anliker in the pole vault, Graham Bixler in distance races, Brian Groen in sprints and the long jump and the 4x400 team consisting of Berger, Kyle Bailey, Adam Kern and Cameron McCullough.
“We were fortunate to have a very large senior class and are really proud of the work ethic that they had and the tone they were able to set with it,” Porras said. “We were able to count on some events that coming into the season we didn’t think we were as strong, so we ended up having a pretty special season.”
The Eagles finished 7-2 in dual meets, losing to only Hamilton Southeastern (who finished second at the state meet) and Carmel (who finished third). They finished sixth in the Hoosier Crossroads Conference meet, fifth in sectionals and runner-up of the 10-team Zionsville Invitational meet.
Zionsville will lose 21 seniors to graduation, but return 55 underclassmen, including 19 juniors who Porras hopes have learned a few things from his departing senior class.
“The legacy of this senior class will be that they were very hard workers and no matter what happened with their performances, it was the best effort they could give. We are very proud of this group and what they were able to accomplish,” Porras said. “Hopefully the underclassmen can see the work ethic they had and emulate it when it’s their time to be leaders on the team.”
Again next season, the senior class will be counted on to carry the team.
“We relied on a lot of seniors this year, and I feel pretty good about the athletes that will be back on our team next year,” Porras said. “They are going to have to step up and contribute they way that this senior class did. So I am very excited for next year and our coaching staff is looking forward to another good spring.”
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