WEBSTER CITY BOYS TRACK RETURNING LETTERWINNERS are, front row (left to right): Luke Blake, Joseph Alexander, Jaxon Griffith, Jack Barner, Jayme Stansfield, Aiden Hrnicek and Kaleb Hansen. Back: Zach Lahr, Justin Callahan, Cole Nohrenberg, Jayden Weinzetl, Beau Nohrenberg and Arlen Lake. (DFJ photo by Britt Kudla)

The Webster City boys track team will rely on a strong group of juniors along with a large collection of underclassmen this spring.

Gone for head coach Chad Hisler are state qualifiers Jaxon Cherry and Keegan Hisler, as returning qualifiers Jayden Weinzetl and Justin Callahan look to shoulder the load for an inexperienced squad.

“We will definitely be leaning on both Jayden in the sprints and Justin in the distance events,” Hisler said. “They are both exceptional leaders who have put in the work and are ready for big seasons.

“We’ll fill in the pieces around them with some other key returning runners as the season goes on. I think we have the chance to be pretty good in the distance events with some solid 800 runners.”

Weinzetl, one of two seniors on the roster, finished 18th in the prelims of the 200-meter dash in Class 3A last spring while also running on the qualifying sprint medley relay that was 21st with Callahan.

“Jayden is just a stud,” Hisler said. “Justin is a kid who comes in and lifts with anybody in the gym. We typically don’t have a lot of cross country kids that lift, but he never misses a workout.”

Max McGilligan is the other senior for Hisler, with juniors Jack Barner, Jaxon Griffith, Aiden Hrnicek, Arlen Lake, Carter Mickelson, Beau Nohrenberg, Cole Nohrenberg, Adison Punkham, Jamey Stansfield, Gabe Thumma, Jesse Toftee, Hunter Vue and Ben Youngdale joining Callahan as juniors.

Sophomores Luke Blake, Kaleb Hansen, Joseph Alexander, Leland Eggers and Zack Lahr all got varsity experience a season ago as newcomers to the program. Joining them from the 10th-grader class are Efrain Calles-Arnaiz, Ayden Elliott, Jackson Olmstead and John Wilwerding.

“Gabe Thumma was at Humboldt last year and had a good season,” Hisler said. “Jack Barner had a really good year for us and Carter is coming back out after running as a freshman.

“Jaxon Griffith and Aiden Hrnicek are two kids in the sprints that we can put around Jayden, while Cole and Beau Nohrenberg have potential in the field events.”

Freshmen on the team include Zakiah Christensen, Kaleb Draeger, Boston Farley, Jason Griep, Dane Hansen, Daniel Murillo, Harrison Scheuermann, Malachi Streigle, Rylan Stroner and Peyton Weisberg.

“There are some young kids that we’ll work to develop,” Hisler said. “We’ll need them to come on as the season progresses so we can piece certain events together.”

Hisler will be assisted by Derek Turner, Clint Howard and Tyler Mosbach.

Webster City competes one final time indoors on March 28 at the North Iowa Indoor Championships in Clear Lake before taking it outdoors on April 8 in Eagle Grove.

2025 WEBSTER CITY BOYS TRACK AND FIELD

Roster

Seniors — Max McGilligan, Jayden Weinzetl.

Juniors — Jack Barner, Justin Callahan, Jaxon Griffith, Aiden Hrnicek, Arlen Lake, Carter Mickelson, Bean Nohrenberg, Cole Nohrenberg, Adison Punkham, Jamey Stansfield, Gabe Thumma, Jesse Toftee, Hunter Vue, Ben Youngdale.

Sophomores — Joseph Alexander, Luke Blake, Efrain Calles-Arnaiz, Leland Eggers, Ayden Elliott, Kaleb Hansen, Zack Lahr, Jackson Olmstead, John Wilwerding.

Freshmen — Zakiah Christensen, Kaleb Draeger, Boston Farley, Jason Griep, Dane Hansen, Daniel Murillo, Harrison Scheuermann, Malachi Streigle, Rylan Stroner, Peyton Weisberg.

Schedule

March 28 — at North Iowa Indoor Championships in Clear Lake.

April 8 — at Eagle Grove; 11 — at Humboldt; 14 — at Southeast Valley; 17 — at Saydel; 22 — host Lynx Relays; 25 — at Pocahontas Area; 29 — at North Polk.

May 1 — at Boone; 8 — at NCC Championships in Clear Lake.