The snow may be flying, but second-year Tyrone track and field head coach Brad Kanuch and his athletes are already thinking spring. Every Tuesday and Thursday they are lifting and running the halls of TAHS and several members of the team will compete at indoor meets this winter.

Last season the boys and girls teams both saw different levels of success. The girls sent a relay team to states and several other relays and individuals on both teams placed at the Mountain League Championships.

For his first year as head coach, Kamnuch felt that it was a fairly successful season.

“We didn’t achieve everything I wanted to, but we were able to establish a new culture and some expectations we can build off of moving forward,” said Kanuch.

One of the standout moments of the previous season for Coach Kanuch was the girls 4 x 100 relay of Natalie Saltsgiver, Mackenzie Latchford, Brianna Foy, and Elise Gailey, that won districts and qualified for states.

“Seeing the excitement on the girl’s faces after the race is part of the reason why I coach. It is amazing to see the kids reach their season goals,” said Kanuch.

In addition to the girls relay, junior Nick Vasbinder qualified for states by placing third in the triple jump at districts, with a jump of 42 feet and 2 inches.  For the girls, freshman McKenzie Latchford placed second in the 100m dash with a time of 13.14, just .02 seconds off of the first-place finisher.

Despite some big losses in the distance events to graduation, Kanuch still has a good core of returning athletes and is looking forward to the spring season.

“I am expecting big years from Nick Vasbinder, Matt Clifton,  Matt Brooks, Noah Zimmerman, Nathan Walk, and Kyle Silva that group of returners for the guys did great last year,” said Kunuch, “For the girls, I am really expecting a great year from Mackenzie Latchford, Bri Foy, Bri Decker, Marissa Lewis, Chesney Saltsgiver, and Natalie Saltsgiver, they should also be having a great year.”

Last year being a startup year he didn’t know fully what he was looking at coming into the season. Now with a better look, his overalls goals are clear: to become Mountain League champs and take more athletes to states.

“I really want to keep establishing the culture and the expectations of everyone,” said Kanuch.

Last year the team excelled in the sprinting and jumping events, winning most of the 100 and 200 dashes, the long and triple long jumps. Coach Kanuch believes that will continue.

The long-distance runners also stepped up after an early loss of Zach Kholer for the guys and the girls had strong pushes by the sprinters and a solid long-distance corp.

However, despite the constant success in these events, the team still has a few other events to work on.

“The 4 by 400 relay has been an issue. For the boys, the loss of Zach Kohler means we have to have more consistency in the distance events. As far as the girls go we need to improve in the throwing events, 400m and the 300m hurdles. If the girls make those improvements it has the potential to be an exceptional season,” said Kanuch.

Each season brings about change and new challenges. However, when asked about things to change for the upcoming season, Kanuch does not envision any big changes.

“The changes mostly have to do with staff. However, as far as the kids go I just want them to work their hardest and continuously try to improve. Track is a sport that can translate into every other sport. It can help you get faster, jump farther, and improve your endurance and explosiveness which you need in all sports,” said Kanuch.

Kanuch is excited to start his second season as the head coach of the Golden Eagles. He particularly appreciates the support of the community and the booster club, something he did not have with his previous team at Bishop Guilfoyle.

“The booster club has been an amazing help. We just got new uniforms and they look great. At BG I was the boosters and I did the fundraising on my own. Everyone at Tyrone has made my job much easier. The athletic department, the kids, and the parents have all been so much help. I love being part of the Tyrone family.”