i HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS: Spring athletes ready to get going
Morning Sentinel
HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS: Spring athletes ready to get going
BY TRAVIS LAZARCZYK
Staff Writer Kennebec Journal & Morning Sentinel 03/31/2009

BY TRAVIS LAZARCZYK

Staff Writer

The high school spring sports season began on Monday, but for many track and field athletes, the first day of practice felt like the start of the second half of a long season.

"It feels like it carries on," said Waterville senior Shelby Tuttle, who set state records in the triple and long jumps during this past indoor track season.

The state indoor track and field championships were a month and a half ago. For athletes who took part in the New England Championships it ended three weeks ago.

"Just enough time to rest and heal," Waterville coach Ian Wilson said.

Along with track, practices started for baseball, softball, lacrosse and tennis.

Wilson said 40 of the 100 students out for the Waterville outdoor track and field team were on the indoor team. At Lawrence, coach Tim Alberts has 80 athletes out, with 35 of them back from the indoor season. While some events are different outdoors (longer sprints, for example), those athletes who have a few months of track and field training already have an advantage.

"For some kids, it's old hat," Alberts said. "They just continue what they're doing."

"You're still in shape," Waterville's Mike Nelson said.

At Waterville, the emphasis during the indoor season is more on strength training.

"The spring becomes more of a conditioning time, and you can really get some good performances," Wilson said.

While athletes coming to outdoor track from other winter sports aren't out of shape, it can take a little while to adjust to the different muscles used in track events.

"Usually, it's hip flexors and hamstrings," Wilson said. "This is a different type of speed. Hockey is quick bursts and your shift is over, and basketball is more sudden moves and jumping."

Although coaches aren't allowed contact with athletes between seasons, many athletes continue to work out on their own. Alberts pointed to Mike Brooks, a senior captain of the Bulldogs' cross country, indoor track and outdoor track teams.

"If you want to run, (Brooks) is going running," Alberts said. "The throwers, they've been in the weight room."

The 100 athletes out for the Waterville team is the most Wilson has seen in his 13 years as the Panthers' coach. With approximately 600 students enrolled at Waterville, that means one out of every six Waterville students is on the team. Part of the draw is the team's recent success. The girls are the two-time defending Class B state champs in the outdoor season, and won the indoor state title in February. The Waterville boys have three straight outdoor state crowns.

"I think back in the '70s and early '80s when we had 1,300 kids, we had numbers like this," Wilson said. "There's a lot of kids willing to work hard to be part of a state championship team."

Travis Lazarczyk -- 861-9242

tlazarczyk@centralmaine.com

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