WELLS – If there’s strength in seniors, the United South Central girls’ track and field team could be quite strong this spring.

Friday, April 06, 2001

WELLS – If there’s strength in seniors, the United South Central girls’ track and field team could be quite strong this spring.

The Rebels have nine of them.

&uot;Our strength is our senior leadership,&uot; said second-year head coach Geri Murra.

Five of the Rebels’ seniors earned letters last year – Chris Schmitz, Laura Schoen, Laura Martin, Jennie Olson and Liza Christensen. Also returning as letterwinners are sophomores Lacy Schumann, Michelle Sonnek, Sara Bias and Violeta Hernandez.

Among the other top prospects for the varsity, according to Murra, are freshmen Amber Brenke, Amy Christenson, Mandy Jacobson, Sarah Hill and Crystal Hill, and eighth-grader Lindsey Rauenhorst.

The rest of the roster includes seniors Sara Stenzel, Sara Nowak, Steph Linder and Amie Evjen, juniors Ashley Tibodeau and Sarah Koziolek, sophomores Kate Stenzel and Yoko Kitano, and freshmen Liz Nowak, Susan Koziolek, Sara Weber and Crystal Redman.

Murra, who’s assisted by Jen Welle and Darin Allis, sees Fairmont, Blue Earth Area and St. Peter as the teams to beat in the always strong South Central Conference.

&uot;Our team expectations are to improve at each meet, reach our goals and reevaluate them,&uot; said Murra. &uot;We expect the girls to challenge themselves and their opponent in each event they participate.&uot;

The key to success for the Rebels?

Said Murra, &uot;Working hard in practice, and practicing and competing with a positive attitude.&uot;