Tigers Smiling About Season

July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.

By Jeff Holsinger, Times-Union Staff Writer-

The way Troy Akers figures it, he has 52 reasons to be optimistic about the upcoming track and field season.

That's because he has 52 boys on his track team. The Tigers, who went 6-2 and finished third in the Northern Lakes Conference last year, graduated just one key athlete, P.J. Wiley.

"I believe you build a team by finding people to compete in the toughest events, the 400, 300 hurdles and 800," Akers said. "I think we picked up about 10 kids over last year. With 52 kids, we have a large group of kids who fit that mold."

Back are David Hoffert and Scott Sheperd. Hoffert, who will run the 800, 1600 and relays, was the Northern Lakes Conference cross-country champion last fall. Sheperd was the NLC long jump champion a year ago.

Then there is Derrick Duncan (relays, sprints). And Jose Esquivel (sprints, hurdles, relays). And Greg Patrick (distances).

And, yes, Jon Hill.

"We have one of the best sprinters around in Jon Hill, a junior, who competed in two events at state last year," Akers said. "We're a really deep team. I could go on and name others, but when you have 52 kids. ..."

As a sophomore, Hill went undefeated in the 100 and 200 dashes in regular-season dual meets. He advanced to state in the 1600 relay and 200. Hill took 18th in the 200.

"Jon can't rest on last year's laurels, and he needs to develop a stronger work ethic," Akers said. "He can't rest on his God-given talent. I tell him every day we have a lot of kids who work harder than he does."

Because of that, Akers flat-out tells you his relay teams may not comprise of the same people as last year. Consider that his 1600 and 3200 relay 3200 relay teams went to the state finals last year, and the only guy they lost from those teams was Wiley. Warsaw's 3200 relay team took 10th, while the 1600 relay team placed 12th. Six others - Greg Seiss, Steve Fussle, Justin Rice, Esquivel, Hoffert and Hill -Êwho either ran those relays or were alternates return this year.

But they're not locks for this year's relay teams, Akers said. Remember, Akers has 52 people to pick from.

"We have so many good kids who are looking for a place there," he said. "It's so competitive right now, so it wouldn't be right for me to give you a name and then not have the kid compete there. I'm not trying to keep anything from you, but that's how it is."

Having too many people for one event is what coaches call a "pleasant problem." Akers does have some of the other kind of problems - concerns.

"Our biggest area of concern is the field events," he said. "We have a lot of kids who can run, but we have to develop some depth in our field events. If we can get some throwers and jumpers, we'll be tough to beat."

Until then, Akers refuses to tab his 52-man team, his team that graduated one guy who scored big points, as the team to beat in the NLC.

"The team to beat is the team that's been there," he said. "I believe it's that way until a team proves it's not at the top of its program. In this case, that's Concord. They've been at the top the last couple of years. But they have a new coach, and I don't know how that will affect them.

"The big three are Concord, NorthWood and Goshen."

One thing Akers has going for him: He's in his second year. Last season Akers and his athletes were still getting to know each other.

"I wanted them to be more goal-oriented," he said. "My approach was a big shock to them. There wasn't anything wrong with the way they did things in the past, but my way was just different than what they'd done.

"Last year at the end of the season, they began to understand that. This time, we're ahead of that before the season has ever started." [[In-content Ad]]

The way Troy Akers figures it, he has 52 reasons to be optimistic about the upcoming track and field season.

That's because he has 52 boys on his track team. The Tigers, who went 6-2 and finished third in the Northern Lakes Conference last year, graduated just one key athlete, P.J. Wiley.

"I believe you build a team by finding people to compete in the toughest events, the 400, 300 hurdles and 800," Akers said. "I think we picked up about 10 kids over last year. With 52 kids, we have a large group of kids who fit that mold."

Back are David Hoffert and Scott Sheperd. Hoffert, who will run the 800, 1600 and relays, was the Northern Lakes Conference cross-country champion last fall. Sheperd was the NLC long jump champion a year ago.

Then there is Derrick Duncan (relays, sprints). And Jose Esquivel (sprints, hurdles, relays). And Greg Patrick (distances).

And, yes, Jon Hill.

"We have one of the best sprinters around in Jon Hill, a junior, who competed in two events at state last year," Akers said. "We're a really deep team. I could go on and name others, but when you have 52 kids. ..."

As a sophomore, Hill went undefeated in the 100 and 200 dashes in regular-season dual meets. He advanced to state in the 1600 relay and 200. Hill took 18th in the 200.

"Jon can't rest on last year's laurels, and he needs to develop a stronger work ethic," Akers said. "He can't rest on his God-given talent. I tell him every day we have a lot of kids who work harder than he does."

Because of that, Akers flat-out tells you his relay teams may not comprise of the same people as last year. Consider that his 1600 and 3200 relay 3200 relay teams went to the state finals last year, and the only guy they lost from those teams was Wiley. Warsaw's 3200 relay team took 10th, while the 1600 relay team placed 12th. Six others - Greg Seiss, Steve Fussle, Justin Rice, Esquivel, Hoffert and Hill -Êwho either ran those relays or were alternates return this year.

But they're not locks for this year's relay teams, Akers said. Remember, Akers has 52 people to pick from.

"We have so many good kids who are looking for a place there," he said. "It's so competitive right now, so it wouldn't be right for me to give you a name and then not have the kid compete there. I'm not trying to keep anything from you, but that's how it is."

Having too many people for one event is what coaches call a "pleasant problem." Akers does have some of the other kind of problems - concerns.

"Our biggest area of concern is the field events," he said. "We have a lot of kids who can run, but we have to develop some depth in our field events. If we can get some throwers and jumpers, we'll be tough to beat."

Until then, Akers refuses to tab his 52-man team, his team that graduated one guy who scored big points, as the team to beat in the NLC.

"The team to beat is the team that's been there," he said. "I believe it's that way until a team proves it's not at the top of its program. In this case, that's Concord. They've been at the top the last couple of years. But they have a new coach, and I don't know how that will affect them.

"The big three are Concord, NorthWood and Goshen."

One thing Akers has going for him: He's in his second year. Last season Akers and his athletes were still getting to know each other.

"I wanted them to be more goal-oriented," he said. "My approach was a big shock to them. There wasn't anything wrong with the way they did things in the past, but my way was just different than what they'd done.

"Last year at the end of the season, they began to understand that. This time, we're ahead of that before the season has ever started." [[In-content Ad]]

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