Jonny Lipshin
Track and Field Preview
            As the calendar turns to February, one thing is on the mind of every dyestat junkie: the start of track season. No where is this fervor more evident than at Esperanza High School, where the program is poised for yet another successful campaign.
            While the girls and guys team could not be on more opposite sides of the spectrum, both squads have reason to believe that the last year in the Sunset League for the Aztecs will be one to remember. The boys return as a hands down league champion last year and have a multitude of athletes who possess the ability to be scoring members in a potpourri of events. Conversely, the girls team was not a league champion for the first time in a full decade, but may return more higher echelon individuals than the boys team. Either way, Esperanza Track and Field will be an interesting story throughout the spring.
            Manners aside, we will discuss the guys first. At the forefront of the Aztec arsenal is the field events where the team is led by the dynamic duo of senior jumpers: Hayden Pierce and Drew Huusfeldt. Pierce returns as the school’s record holder in the long jump at 23 feet and one inch and is fresh off a fifth place performance at the CIF State Indoor Championships on February 6th  in the aforementioned event. Unfortunately, Huusfeldt’s off season was not as smooth as Pierce’s. After an injury during the football season, Huusfeldt’s chances of improving on a Masters Meet appearance in the triple jump are in jeopardy, but he is working his way back into peak shape. Additionally, Huusfeldt’s mark of 22 feet and 11 inches in the long jump is second in school history.
            Traditionally a powerhouse in the throws, the story is no different this year for the Aztecs. Leading the squad will be senior Miguel Lopez who finished a miniscule inch from making it to the state meet last year in the discus. Returning as the number three thrower in Southern California, Lopez hopes to reach the state meet this year that narrowly eluded him last May. Junior Mason Miller (discus) and senior Dustin Derieg (shot put) also return as CIF participants from last season and Coach  Bill Pendleton is more than capable of developing another standout thrower as he has done several times in the past.
            Not to be out done by their counterparts, the Aztec runners seemed to be equally talented on the track. CIF returnee Eric Vetter is one of the top ten 200 meter runners in the county and is looking to become a similar standout in the 400 meters. The hurdles are led by the league’s fastest returnee Steven Nogues and the addition of junior Mike Hodis to the track from the soccer fields makes a one-two finish in league more than possible. Hodis, who was a top ten freshman in the State in the 300 hurdles as a freshman, may lead the Aztecs to potentially having two county scorers in a place that saw very little Invitational point production last year.
            On the distance side of things, the Aztecs are one of the deepest teams in the state. After an 8th place finish at the Cross Country State Meet this past fall, no one knows who will be the stars in the multiple lap events this year. Seniors Jonny Lipshin (CIF- 800 Meters) and Bill Pettus(CIF- 1600 meters) return as the number two league returnee in their respective events, however, many teammates are breathing down their necks. Seniors Danny Ledesma, Tyler Schieldge, Cody Viers, Randy Fierro along with sophomore sensations Brody Palmer, Amar Dholakia and junior Ryan Naylon are some other runners of note.
            Nevertheless, the biggest determinant of not only the distance portion of the team’s success, but the whole team’s success, is the addition of junior Elliot Myers. A top 15 runner in the state in cross-country, Myers has the track message boards buzzing after deciding to pursue track over swim during the spring season. “A once in a decade talent” as Men’s Cross Country Coach David Green professed, Myers dedication to running could prove to be pivotal in the Aztec quest to join the elite programs in the Golden State.
            In all, Head Track Coach Rich Medellin has an immense amount of talent to work with the guys’ team. Solely based on the returnees from last year’s Orange County results, the Aztec would finish in fourth place, but this is without considering Hodis and Myers in the scoring festivities. The upside of the male Aztecs is a sure story for the county track season.
            Moreover, equally intriguing is the girls track team that comes back hungry after a disappointing season last year. Sprinkled with both seasoned veterans and promising underclassman, it is easy to see why many are optimistic about the season ahead.
            As all who have followed the program become accustomed to, the heart and soul of the girls track team is the distance squad. Seniors Maggie Cummings and Jessica Chang are both coming off exceptional track seasons where each made it to CIF Prelims and saw huge improvements in both the 800 meters and the 1600 meters, respectively. Fellow senior Natalie Fyke ended her magical season last year at CIF Finals and is driven to catapult herself into the echelon of the state’s finest after a fantastic cross country campaign. Fyke returns as a top 20 800 meter runner in the state.
            Although it is difficult to pinpoint a face, a heart, and a soul of the Esperanza Track and Field team, senior distance star Teeny Adams may be the athlete in the program that encompasses all of the three. Returning as a top five miler in the state, Adams is hoping to leave the high school running scene on a high note with a first state title in hand.
            Strength in the lady Aztec track team can also be found in the hurdles where senior Beatriz Delgadillo returns after a season that ended with a 300 hurdle performance that left her one spot short if making it to CIF Finals. Delgadillo returns hungry to reach the pinnacle that eluded her last year and beyond. Senior Taylor Frank and Carolyn Schneiders also are looking to make contributions to the scoring scene this year.
            However, the multitude of talented returners that is found in the hurdles and distances is unfortunately not found in the sprints and  field events. Only senior soccer stud Erica Mazeau returns as an Aztec who ran sprints in a varsity League Finals race last year, but is still uncertain if she will compete in track this season. Look for senior Donna Oakland to make healthy contributions after taking a year off last season.
            The jumps return no true standouts but are hoping that a strong collective effort from a core group will earn some points in three events that saw very little production last season. On the positive side of things, Coach Jon Cusick has been known to muster the best out of his athletes, and this year should be no different.
            Similar to the jumps, the throws return no true standouts, but Coach Pendleton will push his athletes to the brink to achieve their potential.
            In all, the girls’ team has some work ahead to leave the Sunset League with a title. The team returns every athlete that competed in CIF last season, and this experience could be what revives the Aztecs from the bottom of the Sunset League. The road ahead is a tumultuous one, but could prove to be fruitful in the end.