Smaller team turns out for South Whidbey track | SPRING SPORTS PREVIEW

Doug Fulton should be deemed a master craftsman.

Not only is he working on building a new home, he’s rebuilding the South Whidbey track and field team, too.

“It’s going to take us some time to recover and rebuild,” Fulton said.

In the Falcon head track and field coach’s 12th year running the program, he maintained his soft-spokenness about the team’s aspirations and expectations.

“It’s an expectation that we’ll get some people through [to the state tournament],” Fulton said.

Fulton named a handful of his athletes whom he expects to qualify for the state meet. Silvi Anderson in the 100-meter hurdles; Angelina Berger and Kelsey Engstrom in the shot put; Lillianna Stelling in the 1,600 meter and reigning 2A triple jump champion Will Hallberg.

“They all have shots,” Fulton said of his top talent.

One reason the Falcons have a decent chance to qualify for state is that District 1 was awarded four individual entries per event, versus three in previous years.

Less than 40 student-athletes are registered for the team, Fulton said.

It’s the fewest track and field athletes he’s ever had at South Whidbey. Some switched sports, others work and some just didn’t return for another season. Fulton also pointed to the school district’s decrease in enrollment as a reason for fewer athletes.

A small consolation for the fewer athletes is the grade distribution, which Fulton said was almost even between freshmen, sophomores, juniors and seniors.

“We’re hoping kids will surprise us,” Fulton said.

He had one notable addition: Ben Saari, the senior cross country captain.

Saari previously played golf, but came out for the distance events in track and field. Saari didn’t qualify for the state cross country championship after falling ill the week before.

“He’ll be our top distance guy immediately,” Fulton said.

Fulton predicted Archbishop Murphy and Cedarcrest would be the top Cascade Conference teams. Then he acknowledged the distance between those programs and South Whidbey’s.

“This year, we won’t be a contender for a league title,” he said.

Fulton added: “We don’t have those rare, star-type athletes.”

Last season South Whidbey’s boys team placed sixth and the girls team placed second at the conference championships. Neither the boys nor girls teams won a conference meet.

Winning meets isn’t an emphasis for the South Whidbey team, though. Instead, Fulton and his team of assistant coaches work to individually challenge and prepare their athletes to reach districts and hopefully state.

Chad Felgar coaches sprints (100, 200, 400 and hurdles) and jumps (high jump, long jump and triple jump). Mark Eager volunteers as a jumps coach. Jeff Greene works with the throws (shot put, javelin and discus). Craig Stelling volunteers with the javelin throwers and pole vaulters. Dean Hat also volunteers with the sprinters.

An already small team will be pared down further for the five invitationals South Whidbey is scheduled to attend, including the Westling Invite at South Whidbey.

The Falcons will take flight soon enough. Spectators’ first opportunity to watch the Falcon track and field athletes compete is at the South Whidbey jamboree on Thursday, March 17 at South Whidbey High School.

Track and field

Thursday, March 17, SW Jamboree:Coupeville, Oak Harbor, Lakewood, Friday Harbor*

Thursday, March 24, Granite, Lakewood, Coupeville

Saturday, March 26, Don Holder Relays, Yakima 10 a.m.

Thursday, March 31, Archbishop Murphy, Coupeville*

Thursday, April 14, Cedarcrest, Granite Falls

Saturday, April 16, Larry Eason Invite Snohomish (10 a.m.)

Thursday, April 21, King’s, Sultan, Cedarcrest

Saturday, April 23, Westling Invite* (10 a.m.)

Thursday, April 28, Cedarcrest, King’s, Granite Falls

Saturday, April 30, Girls-Lake Washington Eastlake HS (10:30 a.m.)

Saturday, April 30, Boys-Shoreline Invite Shoreline Stadium (12 p.m.)