Lady Pirates under new leadership
Aaron Kirchoff, Sports Editor,
Greensburg Daily News
Published March 21, 2007 - There will be a new look for the Greensburg track program. After over 30 years of coaching at Greensburg, Kim Hayden retired as the head coach for the boys and girls track teams at the conclusion of the 2006 season.
Troy Davis takes over as the head girls coach after working on the staff as an assistant for the last five season. Rhastina Blessing also joins the coaching staff this spring as the jumps coach.
The Lady Pirates track team returns 12 members from a squad that finished 7-3 in dual meets, won the Decatur County championships and placed fourth at the EIAC last spring.
Valerie Hagerty returns for her fourth season as the lone senior on the girls team.
Sophomore Taryn Owens looks to improve on her freshmen year when she was the most valuable runner and established herself on five of the top 10 performer lists in school history.
Mollye Leas enters her junior season as the best returning thrower on the team while Shelbi Reed will be one of the leading sprinters on the squad.
Nine freshmen are out this year. The newcomers are led by Katie Burns, Brianna Parsons and Emily Oesterling, who were all big contributors last year at the junior high level.
Greensburg has switched sectionals this year, leaving the Columbus Sectional and now competing at Franklin County. The girls hope this change will lead to more regional qualifiers.
The team has been working out since the middle of February and is looking forward to competing in their first meet April 3 against the Greenfield-Central Cougars.
The key to success this year according to Coach Davis will be staying healthy and avoiding injuries.
“We’re rounding into shape and working hard, but we’re not deep enough to have anyone get hurt. It should be an exciting spring on the track,” Coach Davis said.
Members of the 2007 Lady Pirates include senior Hagerty; juniors Veronica Tuley, Jasmine Littrell, Tawna Chauncy, Ann Weigel and Leas; sophomores Owens, Reed, Casey Nelson, Sabrina Smiley, Erica Schwering, Grace Fiske; and freshman Parsons, Burns, Gina Ricke, Tara Ramer, Kylie Wood, Kara Edmundson, Joyciann Taylor, Oesterling, Hannah Houk and Andrea Hall.