Baldwin aims for state track title

You could call them Bulldog quartet, but Baldwin’s four senior standouts don’t really dig nicknames.

But Eric Black, Eric Brown, Hugh Murphy and Matt Noonan love state titles to the tune of 12 if you’re Noonan, the leader of the purple posse, who has collected the combined mark with individual and team crowns in both cross country and track.

While Noonan says he’d be satisfied having won just one crown, he and the rest of the Bulldogs have their eyes on yet more prizes at this weekend’s state track and field meet at Wichita State.

“Of course, that’s what we’re all aiming for,” Noonan said, a little unsure of whether he wanted to admit he’s chasing five more titles at Cessna Stadium. “It would almost be a storybook-type ending. I guess, I really haven’t thought about it much, but when you look at all those titles it is kind of amazing.”

While both Baldwin’s boys and girls teams won last weekend’s Class 4A regional at Tonganoxie, it is the much-heralded boys squad, which will have a chance to repeat as 4A state champs.

“We kind of did the things we needed to do all season to put us in position to have a little control over this weekend,” said Baldwin coach Mike Spielman. “Still it all comes down to how they go out there and compete.”

In addition to Noonan’s distance events, Murphy will compete in the discus, javelin and shot. Brown will take part in the javelin and relays. Black’s specialty is the 800 meters.

The Bulldog girls also have a chance. Two multiple-event winners at regionals could win state titles.

Erica Olge claimed gold in both the 1,600 and 3,200, while Rachel Miles was a standout in the 200 and 400.

Sophomore Emily Brown, sister of Eric Brown, took the javelin title and finished third in the high jump.

But for as much success as the girls have had this season, it’s been the senior boys who have been unequaled throughout their careers.

“I’ve really enjoyed being around them,” Spielman said. “While every group is special, there may be a few more of the special ones in this class. The thing that makes these guys different is that they want to keep this tradition going, they’re trying to instill their mentality into the younger guys, so Baldwin can be successful in the future.”

Noonan, who will race in the 800, 1,600, 3,200 and 1,600 relay, agreed with his coach but said he was still “going to go out there and race my guts out.”

Yet even with all the trophies and a seemingly endless list of accomplishments, Noonan said a bigger reason he’s proud of his team is that it just goes about its business with dignity.

“We’re just a bunch of guys trying to live our lives the way we were brought up,” he said. “We’re not arrogant, but we do enjoy going out there trying to win.”

If DeSoto has a boys medallist, it’ll be probably be Pete Crall. He’s the Wildcats only individual qualifier, although the 3,200 relay team also qualified. The Wildcats girls’ squad is led by Julie Beck, who captured both the long and triple jump titles at regionals, Ryan Frame and Lisa Lambert.

Eudora has two relay teams and also two Tylers on the boys side as Tyler Matthews qualified in the 110 high hurdles and Zac Tyler made it in the 400. Three girls made the trip for the Cardinals (Jenny Durkin, Anna Fernandez and Rachel Abel). Fernandez won the pole vaulting crown at regionals.

Mill Valley’s Andrew Sudduth and Cody Ptacek both qualified in the hurdles, while Griffin Lee and Jay Matlack will compete in the 3,200. Lee also will run in the 800 and 1,600 while Sudduth and Ptacek will leap in the long jump. On the girls side, 10 athletes qualified.

Ottawa’s basketball standout Lindsey Dieterich will run in the 800. Other Cyclone qualifiers include Eric Corder, Josh Sigmund, Caleb Blakesley and Stephen Levins on the boys. Shirley Berr, Jayme Vance and Lisa Morrisey made it for the girls.

Perry-Lecompton’s Brandy Jones won the 100 low hurdles at regionals and she leads a long list of entrants. Jared Swafford will run the 100 and 200 dash while David Higgins will run the hurdles. Lloyd Dugan and Spencer Kennedy will take part in field events. Jackie Corcoran will throw the shot and discus while Nikki Black runs in the 400.

Santa Fe Trail has two individual qualifiers on both sides. Cameron Babb and Ryan Hulings for the boys and Karmel Powers and Lindsay Boss for the girls.

Tonganoxie had a regional winner in both boys and girls. Dustin Schutlz topped the pole vault, while Jennifer Reischman won the high hurdles.

Oskaloosa had no girls qualifiers, but Kyle Newell, Larry Subelka and Kyle Kelsay hope for individual titles for the boys.

Wellsville’s boys are led by three entrants, Mark Samsel, Tim Shields and Chris Caruthers. The girls include Whiney Bloss, Wendy Moore, Jami Samsel, Hope Inglehart and Libbi Fouts.

McLouth’s medal hopes lie on the shoulders of Mark Smelser and Clayton Garrow and Kortney Smith and Courtney Edmonds.