By Michael Ahearne ’14
THE ROUNDUP
Brophy Track and Field began its season at Chaparral, March 5, after training for just over a month with both old and new coaches.
Brophy Track began their training with their first practice Feb. 10 at the Brophy Sport Complex.
The team has been practicing every day since, during the season, as well as Saturday and no school day practices, which will be arranged by individual event coaches.
The team has about 180 students this year, making it one of the largest groups yet.
About 60 are long distance runners, 35-40 are throwers, and about 90 are working on short distance running, jumping and hurdles.
The majority of Track and Field is younger students, but that is because by the time students reach junior/senior year, they either have their own place they are comfortable with on the team or don’t do the sport anymore, said head coach Mr. Bill Kalkman.
Bobby Bullington ’14 has been part of long distance running all four years, and said he believes the senior team is weaker this year, but still has a chance to win state.
“It’s always a kind of mystery with the track team.” Bullington said. “I didn’t expect us to win state last year but we had a lot of help from Devon Allen (’13) and a lot of the great seniors from last year. But I think with this year, we lost a lot of talent with Devon Allen and Marco Luiz (’13) and all those other great runners. I think we still may have a chance at winning a state championship this year.”
Bullington said there is pressure on seniors on the team each year.
“Every year there is always a chance for the senior class to try to prove themselves,” Bullington said. “To show they are just as good as or better than last year’s seniors class, but I think we will have a tough time this year proving that we were as good as last year’s track team because we had so much talent last year.”
Bullington has also seen many underclassmen step up and try to take leadership roles with so few seniors in Track this year.
“I can definitely tell that in long distance Luke Mason (’17) is going to be a huge force on our long distance track team,” Bullington said.
The team staff includes both current Brophy teachers and outside coaches who, coach Mr. Kalkman, said deserve to be mentioned, as they are a key part to the team’s success.
Coaches Mr. Mike Keahon ’73, Mr. Matt Williams ’07, Mr. Alex Mason ’05 and Mr. Ted Skowron are in charge of training those interested in distance running.
Coaches Mr. Bill Bakley and Mr. Joe Klein ’86 are in charge of throwers.
Coaches Mr. Doug Cox and Mr. Andy Rienhardt as well as student Robert Brooks ’17 are in charge of those interested in sprinting.
Coaches Mr. Chris Ramsey and student Isaiah Oliver ’15 are in charge of training hurdlers and jumpers.
Finally, coach Mr. Shea Kearney is in charge of pole vaulters.
Track and Field Schedule as of March 5, 2014:
March 5 @Chaparral
March 8 @ North Canyon Inv.
March 12 @North Canyon
March 14 Brophy Prep AMDG Inv.
March 21/22 @ Chandler Rotary Invite
March 26 Chandler
March 29 @ Freshmen Showcase (Desert Vista HS)
April 2 Horizon & Pinnacle
April 5 Fr. Olivier Soph. Inv & Var. open
April 9 @ Hamilton
April 11/12 @ Arcadia invite, CA
April 25 @ Mt View Invite
April 26 @ Sophomore Invitational
April 28 @ NE Valley Region – day 1
April 30 @ NE Valley Region – day 2
May 7 & 10 @ State Div. 1 and 2
