WELLS — Any coach would love to have a strong group of leaders or an impressive set of promising newcomers ”“ Wells girls track coach Jen Lewia has the best of both worlds.

Lewia heads into her 15th season with several seniors, who will be counted on as leaders, but she also has a group of talented young athletes.

The longtime coach is hoping her senior leaders will set the tone.

“Our ultimate leaders are the seniors. They are the ones who set the tone and lead the warm ups, help our younger student-athletes, create team spirit and demonstrate sportsmanship that is passed onto each class that follows them,” said Lewia.

Those leaders, including Reilly Boyle, Mikala Dunbar and Anna Libby, will also be counted on for a lot of points in each meet.

“Boyle in the 400 meters and relays, Dunbar in the javelin and Libby in the 100 and 300 hurdles and pole vault,” said Lewia on who some of her top point scorers will be.

Also on the list of top point scorers is one of those impressive newcomers ”“ freshman Madison Szczygiel.

“Madison is an amazing and talented young lady,” said Lewia. “I’m expecting that she will continue to perform at her highest ability each race. She has an extreme determination to be at the front of the pack during her races and she isn’t intimated by the older girls she competes with.”

Szczygiel, who is expected to be key in the 800 and relays, isn’t the only talented newcomer as Taryn Lambert, Natalie Thurber, Erin Clawson, Delaney McDonnell, Bailey Morrison and Bailey Morrison should also make some noise this season.

“We have an great group of newcomers to our team and they have proven to be very talented,” said Lewia. “I think they will add a great deal to the team. Like any team, the more athletes you have, the better quality you’ll have, because the athletes will push each other to be better. It is a win-win situation.”

Lewia is hoping for some big things out of her team this season, but above all else, she is looking for improvement.

“My expectations are that the girls work hard in practice ”“ set goals and strive to attain them,” said Lewia. “I’m a big proponent of improvements from meet to meet. I feel that if the student-athletes work hard in practices that they have the ability to achieve improvements during the meets. I hope and expect that every time a student-athlete steps onto the track, on a runway, or in a circle, that they will perform to their highest ability on that day.”

— Sports Editor Pat McDonald can be reached at pmcdonald@journaltribune.com or at 282-1535 ext. 322.

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