The last time the Stoughton High School’s track team competed was in June of 2019. The last practice was March 11, one day before school closed for the next eleven months. 

It is official that there will be a season this spring. Practices are scheduled to start April 19th, with the state meet scheduled for June 25-26. 

Boys Head Coach, Nathan Nelson, has been on the coaching staff for fourteen years and this is his second year as head coach. 

The boys’ team has an impressive group of upperclassmen returning this spring. Senior Carter Keo (pole vault), Senior Teddy Baldukas (mids/sprints), Senior Christian Smith (distance), and Junior Jayden Zywicki (mids) are among the top returners.

Nelson discussed the team’s strengths and challenges for this year. 

“Our distance and mids runners are strong. We have a core group that could compete at the state level. After that, we have some wild cards. It’ll have been two years since we’ve had competition, so we don’t really know what we’ve got,” Nelson says. 

Nelson mentioned that he is looking forward to building relationships with his athletes and pushing the program in the right direction. 

This season will be  Susan Zaemischs’s first year as head girl’s coach, but she has coached basketball and cross country for 20 years. 

Zaemisch discusses what she looks forward to as Head Coach. 

“I am excited to be part of this great program. I enjoy watching athletes work hard and achieve their goals,” Zaemisch says. 

The girls’ team has an impressive group coming back, some of whom competed at the 2019 WIAA state meet two seasons ago. The top returners include Ellie Trieloff (sprints), Senior Savannah Burroughs (sprints), Senior Gina Owens (distance) Junior Abigail Groleau (sprints), and  Junior Annie 

Tangemen (sprints), 

The girls’ team has strong returners in sprints and distance, but will have some gaps to fill in the field events (jumps and throws), as well as hurdles. 

Senior Savannah Burroughs and Junior Abigail Groleau discuss how they’ve been preparing for the season. 

Burroughs was a part of the girls 4x100m relay that went to state in 2019. Since then, she has battled different injuries and has worked her way back. Burroughs swims four to seven days a week and lifts three times a week to stay in shape. 

“My overall goals are to stay healthy, get some current times and PRs for college, and to have fun with the team,” Burroughs says. 

Groleau was also a part of the state qualifying 4x100m relay in 2019 as a freshman. She set a school record in the 100m dash with a run of 12.14 seconds her freshman year. Groleau trains at Level Up Fitness in Stoughton three times a week and focuses on cardio. 

Groleau talks about how she likes to stay healthy and stray away from injuries. 

“I have to be careful about not further injuring myself, so before all my workouts I do a thorough warm up (to stay healthy),” she says. 

Much time has passed since the Vikings took to the track for the last time. With promising underclassmen competing to earn spots and an impressive group of Junior and Senior returners, there is much anticipation to see what this year will bring. Even with the uncertain circumstances, the athletes are staying prepared until the next time the starting gun goes off.