Depth, talent won't be issues for Canton's boys track & field squad

BY ED WRIGHT
April 3, 2010, 6:15 p.m.

  With a roster stocked with close to 120 athletes, Canton's boys track-and-field team will attack opponents in waves this spring.

  And based on early results, those waves will be swift, strong and mighty.

  "Last year at the EMU Relays, we finished 15th out of 32 teams and this year we were seventh out of 40 teams, so we've already seen some improvement over last year," said Chiefs head coach Bob Richardson.

  "I'm very upbeat about this team. It's the biggest team we've ever assembled here and I'm going to do everything I can to get every one of them varsity experience. I tell the kids every day that their four years of high school go by so fast so you have to enjoy every minute of it."

  The Chiefs will be deep in the leadership department, too, thanks to a half dozen captains who will lead by example and vocally.

  Among the front-runners of the Chiefs' corps of sprinters will be senior captains August Garrett and Cal Coplai.

  "August will help us a lot in the sprints and relays this year," said Richardson. "He's kind of a quiet captain -- you don't hear a lot out of him -- but he has really earned the respect of his teammates. They think the world of him and how hard he works.

  "Cal is a very hard worker who I think will make a wonderful captain. He's a great influence on the younger kids on the team."

  The Chiefs' contingent of middle-distance performers will be spear-headed by senior captains Keith Zech, an All-State wrestler, and Paul Rakovitis, who excelled on Canton's cross country team this past fall.

  "Paul is the final Rakovitis in a long line of Rakovitises who have been part of our program over the years," said Richardson. "He's been coming to our meets since he was a little kid and he wants to experience the success he watched his older brothers experience.

  "Keith ran cross country for the first time in the fall and really had a nice season," said Richardson. "We're looking for that success to carry over to track. He'll run middle distances, anywhere from the 400 to the mile."

  Last but not least, filling out the captaincy roles will be multi-talented Jordan Wisniewski and Zack Spreitzer.

  "Jordan's not real vocal, but he has great leadership qualities, like all of our captains," said Richardson. "We're expecting a lot out of Zack in the longer distances and from a leadership standpoint.

  "I can't say enough good things about all of our captains. We let the kids vote on them at our picnic every season and they always do a great job."

  Other top point-earners are versatile junior Nick Alaniva,  who long jumps, pole vaults and sprints; senior distance runner Josh Osinski and hurdler Winston Roberts.

  The team's deep and powerful junior class includes Marty Brudzinski, Austin Golles, Austin Mach, Ben Poirier, Alex Marsh and Ben Spreitzer.

  Top sophomores include Bradon Conley, Mitch Pepper, Mitch Posuniak, Tyler Winningham, Matt Schacht, Kevin Buford and Zac Merillat.

  Joining Richardson on the Chiefs' coaching staff are Matti Kilpelainen, Paul Bedford, Brad Waidmann, Joe Zugaj and stat-man Hiren Patel.

  "I couldn't ask for a better group of coaches," Richardson asserted.