The MVRHS winter track program has come of age.The team is building on strides made last year with a meager group of 11 boys and three girls. Last season the boys finished 3-2, placing third in the Eastern Athletic Conference (EAC), while the girls team finished fourth.
“The program has grown to become a legitimate track and field team,” Coach Joe Schroeder said. “We have 37 kids signed up, including virtually the entire fall cross-country team, and we’ll be able to compete in the whole 11-event range at meets.”
Having enough numbers to compete in all events, including relay races, is an important overall defensive move as a team. “If you don’t participate in an event, the other team gets nine points. It’s tough to win that way, so we’re very excited that we can run in every event,” the coach noted.
The team returns burner Nevin Wallis, a state runner-up in 600m hurdles and EAC 600m hurdle and high jump champ. Aivaras Gedvilas, a top state cross-country finalist, adds depth to a team that includes shotput veterans Nathaniel Picker, J.B. Breth, and Richie Barlett, who will anchor the boys squad. Abby Marchand and Addy Hayman will round out the girls team. “Abby and Addy are both also multipurpose athletes, competing in jumps and relays for us. And we have Olivia Smith, a top Eastern Massachusetts athlete who is the reigning EAC long jump and 55m hurdle champ,” Coach Schroeder said.
Coach Schroeder is busy conditioning his squad and retrofitting his cross-country athletes for the winter events. “We’ll rely on kids like Madison Moreis and Livie Smith to give them technical advice. For cross-country athletes who are used to running outside in a cool, quiet environment, it’s a big transition to competing in a small, hot space with 400 or 500 kids competing and screaming for each other.
“We haven’t had a meet yet, so it’s hard to tell. We’re teaching, conditioning, and training, looking to slot the right people in the right events,” he said of the myriad of dashes, hurdles, distance runs, jumps, and throws awaiting his team.
The Vineyarders play their meet schedule principally at the Wheaton College facility in Norton, with occasional trips to Boston to the Reggie Lewis Center. The season begins at Wheaton on Dec. 14 against Coyle and Cassidy in an EAC meet.
