Depth, youth set tone for Wayne, Holmes County girls track season

Area girls track and field teams enter the 2026 season with a mix of experienced returners and emerging young talent.

Below are season previews for area teams:

Dalton

Dalton returns a deep roster as the Bulldogs look to move up in the Wayne County Athletic League standings this season.

Coach Amy Greer believes the team’s mix of experience and youth could help the program take a step forward.

“We are looking to improve our place in the league,” Greer said. “We have a great group of returning letter-winners. We are young, but these ladies are ready to prove themselves.”

Leading the returning group are seniors Grace Dorffer (sprints), Leah Lehman (middle distance), Mya Geiser (sprints) and Baylie Horrisberger (sprints). Juniors Evelyn Arnold (high jump), Kaley Conrad (throws), Elandria Kindy (pole vault), Mariah Michaels (throws), Brinna Miller (sprints/throws), Isabelle Rohrer (distance) and Liberty Scholz (sprints) also return. Sophomores expected to contribute include Adeline Carpenter (hurdles/sprints), Audrienna Goodrich (sprints), Samantha Kerby (pole vault), Abigail Mendez (middle distance), Elizabeth Pauli (middle distance), Jaida Reid (distance), Gretta Smith (high jump/hurdles), Ella Tomlinson (sprints/long jump) and Madison Yoh (pole vault/hurdles).

Freshmen Ellis Dobes (middle distance), Luci Fratena (pole vault/sprints), Nina Hart (throws), Maggie Hershberger (distance), Jennifer Hess (sprints), Gloria Nolt (distance) and Liliana Yutzy (middle distance) also could make an impact.

Dalton finished fourth in the WCAL last season.

Garaway

Garaway returns several experienced athletes while also relying on a talented freshman class as the Pirates prepare for the 2026 season.

Garaway finished 11th in the IVC and eighth at the district meet last year.

Among the returning athletes are Quinn Schwartz (10th, throws), Dylan Deetz (11th, sprints), Abby Steiner (11th, pole vault/sprints), Josie Hershberger (10th, throws) and Laney Hershberger (12th, throws). Steiner qualified for state in the pole vault last season.

Several newcomers are expected to contribute including freshmen Alexa Jones (sprints), Naomi Lane (sprints), Kari Miller (sprints), Kirsten Miller (sprints), Laynee Reneker (distance), Haley Yoder (throws) and Lilly Yoder (sprints).

Coach Zach Mottice said the team should be strong in its sprint relays and expects its field events to be a strength.

However, the Pirates will need to build depth early in the season.

Garaway hopes to finish in the middle of the pack in the IVC while developing throughout the year.

Hiland

Hiland enters the 2026 season with a small but balanced group of athletes under first-year coach Megan Amos.

Amos said the program has nearly doubled in size this season with the addition of several newcomers.

“We have nearly doubled the size of our boys and girls teams this year,” Amos said. “We are excited to see what the many new faces on the team as well as returners will accomplish. We have a hardworking and dedicated group that will build a solid foundation for our program.”

Although the girls team has fewer numbers than the boys side, Amos believes its balance across events could be a strength.

“While we are smaller in numbers on the girls side, we have a good balance of sprinters, distance, jumpers and throwers, which can be seen as a strength,” she said.

The team also will rely on several younger athletes as they gain experience early in the season.

“With smaller numbers last year, we are starting the season with a lot of new faces to track and field,” Amos said. “While this is exciting, it will be a bit of a learning curve for some of the newer athletes to adjust to the sport and become comfortable with competitions.”

Senior Myla Troyer returns as one of the team’s experienced athletes in the high jump and hurdles and is expected to help lead the group this spring.

Other athletes on the roster include Hayley Yoder, Zoe Miller, Helen Risner, Alexis Mishler, Madeleine Troyer and Adleigh White.

Looking ahead to the season, Amos said competing in the Inter-Valley Conference will provide strong competition and opportunities for athletes to improve.

“Our league always consists of strong competitors in every event,” she said. “We have a lot of really great track programs in the IVC, and it gives us great opportunities to better ourselves and compete against some of the best. Our goal for the league meet will be achieving PRs and preparing ourselves to perform at our best when it comes time to advance athletes towards the state meet.”

Smithville

Smithville returns a strong group of experienced runners while also welcoming a large freshman class.

The Smithies finished 5-2 overall last season and placed second in the WCAL standings. Coach Kirstie Mahas, now in her 13th season leading the program, said the team will look different after graduating several key seniors.

“We lost a group of seniors who were important contributors on the team for four years,” Mahas said. “However, we have a large freshman class out this spring, which gives us the opportunity to fill in events. While we may have a lack of experience in some areas, we hope to build on the positive experiences of last season.”

Smithville returns several athletes expected to contribute this season including Kaitlyn Carr (senior, distance), Maryn Erdman (junior, distance), Audrina Mack (junior, sprints/jumps), Shelby Shenk (junior, sprints), Hayden Steiner (junior, sprints/jumps), Claire Buller (sophomore, sprints/jumps), Tessa Duell (sophomore, distance) and Mallory Johnson (sophomore, throws).

Carr won state titles in the 1,600 and 3,200 last season. Erdman placed at state in the 800. Steiner and Buller were state qualifiers.

Mahas believes the Smithies’ strength will again come from their performance on the track, particularly in the distance events.

“While there will be new faces, we have some very experienced runners returning,” Mahas said. “These girls work hard and are positive and encouraging leaders for the team.”

The team will rely on its younger athletes to grow into larger roles early in the season.

“We have a lot of young and inexperienced athletes,” Mahas said. “It will make things more challenging at the start of the season, but it also means there is a lot of room for growth over the course of the season.”

Smithville also expects several newcomers to contribute including Bekah Bramlett (junior, throws), Natalia Dias (freshman, throws), Josie Gasser (freshman, long sprints), Sophia Hernandez (freshman, throws), Cierra Hough (sophomore, sprints), Jayden Leach (freshman, sprints/hurdles), Hannah Lightfoot (freshman, long sprints), Averie Mahas (freshman, sprints/jumps), Aliza Richardson (freshman, sprints/jumps), Olivia Shelly (freshman, sprints/jumps), Savannah Weidman (freshman, long sprints) and Zaina Patton (freshman, sprints).

Looking ahead to the league race, Mahas expects strong competition but hopes the Smithies can again contend near the top of the standings.

“The county meet is always exciting with excellent competition,” she said. “We hope to find ourselves back toward the top after our runner-up finish last year but know that it will not be easy.”

Triway

Triway enters the season with a strong returning core and expectations of being one of the top teams in the PAC-7.

Coach Bobby Anderson said the Titans bring back 17 returning athletes, giving the team experience and depth across multiple events.

“We are going to be very well-rounded this year,” Anderson said.

Triway expects to be competitive in several areas including sprints, distance and field events.

Anderson said one early challenge will be building confidence as the team adjusts to the season.

“Confidence in how competitive they can be,” he said.

With its returning talent and balance across events, Triway believes it can contend near the top of the league standings.

“I think we can be in the top two,” Anderson said.

Waynedale

Waynedale enters the season with increased numbers and a strong group of seniors as it looks to improve on last year’s fifth-place finish in the Wayne County Athletic League.

Coach Shauna Pittman said the biggest difference for the team this season will be its size after nearly doubling the roster.

“The main change from last year will be the size of our team,” Pittman said. “We only had 14 girls last season; we’ve almost doubled to 26. This is huge when it comes to filling events. Last season we had so many open events, especially in the distance and throws.”

Waynedale returns a number of experienced athletes including seniors Anna Pittman (pole vault, sprints), Callie Wolfe (sprints, long jump), Jorjia Persinger (sprints), Haylee McKelvey (sprints) and Abigail Polen (distance). Sophomore returners include Olivia Suttle (sprints), Piper Polen (distance) and Taydum Hasseman (sprints). Makena Conrad (distance) and Kinsey McKelvey (sprints, throws) also return to the lineup.

Anna Pittman is a three-time state qualifier and was a member of an All-Ohio relay team, alongside Wolfe and Suttle. Polen earned All-Ohio honors in cross country.

Pittman believes the team’s increased depth should help it be more competitive in meets.

“This season our numbers are really good,” she said. “Just being able to fill out a roster will make a huge difference with being able to score. Plus, we have a great group of talented seniors this year.”

At the same time, the team will rely on a number of newcomers who are still adjusting to the sport.

“We have a lot of new runners on the team this year,” Pittman said. “While this is a good problem to have, it also can be challenging getting them ready to go and trained. They are proving themselves, though.”

Several newcomers could contribute this season including senior Emma Jane Franks (sprints, pole vault) and freshmen Cylee Betson (sprints, hurdles), Rebecca Wickens (mid-distance), Autumn Hochstettler (throws), Amelia Bernhart (throws), Josie Miller (sprints), Rylen Falk (sprints) and Mya Shaffer (sprints).

Looking ahead to the WCAL race, Pittman hopes the added depth will help the Golden Bears climb the standings.

“Last season we finished fifth, so we would like to top that this year,” Pittman said. “Being able to fill events this season should help with a chance to place higher. We have such a tough league, though, so you really never know.”

West Holmes

West Holmes returns several experienced athletes under coach Scot Mellor.

The Knights graduated several contributors but still bring back a number of athletes with postseason experience.

Among the returners are junior thrower Mallory Marmet, a regional qualifier in the shot put; senior Katherine Kaster, a state qualifier as part of the 4x800 relay; and sophomore Iriel Mena, also a state qualifier in the 4x800 relay who finished sixth in the OATCCC Division III/IV 1,600 indoors. Senior Lilly Brown returns in the jumps while junior Breslyn Brown is back in the mid-distance events after serving as a state alternate on the 4x800 relay. Senior Saige Krownapple also returns in the throws.

Several newcomers are expected to contribute this season including sophomore Ellianna Babbitt in the distance and relays, freshman Brooklyn Hustack in the sprints and relays, sophomore Chelsie Cooper in the sprints and relays, sophomore McKaylin Getchey in the sprints and hurdles, and freshman Sophie Arnold in the distance events and relays.

Mellor said the team may not have as much depth this season but should still have strong performances from its top athletes.

“We will not have as much depth in our relays and distances, but our quality at the top of the order will be very good,” he said.

The Knights expect their strength to come in the distance events and throws.

Depth and sprint experience could present challenges early in the season.

“We are young and inexperienced,” Mellor said.

Mellor also noted a change to the postseason schedule, as West Holmes will no longer host an OHSAA district meet for the first time since the 1990s. Both the boys and girls teams will travel to the Division III district meet at St. Clairsville this season.

Wooster

Wooster returns a large group of experienced athletes as it prepares for the season after finishing 6-0 overall and runner-up in the Ohio Cardinal Conference last year.

Coach Chris Mascotti-Rasor said the Generals will again have talent across the lineup but will focus on building depth in each event.

“It is different in that we have strong competitors in all of our events, but we will be working to develop and/or add depth in each,” Mascotti-Rasor said.

Wooster returns several athletes expected to contribute this season including Elli Gordon (senior, distance), Jaiyana Pearson (senior, sprints/hurdles), Abi Strand-Fox (senior, sprints), Avery Topovski (senior, long jump/sprints), Emery Stahl (senior, high jump/long jump/sprints), Carmela Duta (senior, pole vault/sprints), Zion Pryor (senior, throws) and Amarah Painter (senior, sprints).

Other returning athletes include Anna Melrose (junior, throws), J’Anna Ohmit (junior, long jump/sprints), Landrey Russell (junior, hurdles/sprints), Gwen Selden (junior, middle distance), Tristen Shaffer (junior, middle distance), Madelynn Whyte (junior, distance), Lily Tudor (junior, distance), Noemi Bokrossy (sophomore, distance), Lily Robinson (sophomore, sprints/long jump), Jayden Rodriguez (sophomore, high jump/sprints), Ava Scott (sophomore, distance), Ella Scott (sophomore, distance), Taeyona Scott (sophomore, sprints) and Marie Senff (sophomore, sprints/pole vault).

Freshman Teagan Hafner is among the newcomers expected to contribute this season in multiple events including the long jump, hurdles and sprints.

Mascotti-Rasor said the team’s experience across events should be a major strength this season. At the same time, building additional depth will be an early focus.

Looking ahead to the OCC race, Mascotti-Rasor expects another competitive season but believes the Generals can again contend near the top of the standings.

“The league competition will be extremely competitive as always,” Mascotti-Rasor said. “Each team has outstanding individuals that will score well. We hope to finish strong and compete in every event. I believe we will be in the top three this year.”