Penguins Track 2018

The Whitewater Penguins will be competitive this season despite losing a few athletes from last years team, including state performer Kayleigh Cummings to graduation.

The Penguins are five strong this season, returning seniors Trace Simonson and Cody Scheffelmear. The team welcomes three freshmen with plenty of talent and experience in track and field; Kelsee Cummings, Beau Simonson, and Kia Wasson.

T. Simonson, a fourth-year track athlete, will compete in discus, triple jump, high jump, javelin and shot put.

Trace competed at the 2017 State C Track Meet last year scoring six points in the discus placing third throwing 148'6". He also competed at state in high jump, tying for tenth place by clearing 5-8, two inches shy of his personal best. He just missed placing in the 300m hurdles event placing eighth with a time of 43.18.

“No one returning made it to state last year except for Trace,” Whitewater Head Coach Charlene Wasson said. “I look for him to return in at least three events if not four this year.”

Coach Wasson will try taking hurdle events off of Simonson’s plate in hopes that it will help him in other events.

“Taking the hurdles off his list will help his legs for triple jump and high jump which are two of his better events,” Coach Wasson said.

Scheffelmear has competed for Whitewater since his freshman year as well, punching a ticket to the 2016 Class C State meet in 2016. Scheffelmear will compete in shot put, high jump and triple jump.

“Cody has the opportunity to make it to state in either the high jump or the triple jump this year,” Coach Wasson said.

Last season, Scheffelmear tried his hand at discus and was a few places away from qualifying for the 2017 Eastern Divisional meet. He threw a personal best of 78-0. This will be his first season throwing shot put.

His most consistent event has been high jump in which he was able to record a new personal best last season of 5-6. Last year he also recorded a personal best in triple jump of 34-5.

B. Simonson will compete in shot put, discus, triple jump and run in the 200-meter dash once in a while.

“Beau comes in as a freshman as a seasoned thrower who should make a difference in the conference since he has been throwing the shot put and discus since he was a fifth grader,” Coach Wasson said. “He has grown in height and strength I look for him to be competitive in his throwing events this season.”

The younger Simonson brother was the District 3C Junior High Shot Put champion in 2017, throwing the eight-pound shot 39-3, which was also a personal best. He took second place in discus at the 2016 District 3C Junior High meet with a throw of 79-10.

Ke. Cummings will compete in shot put, discus, triple jump, long jump and javelin and will the rotate 200-meter run in every other track meet or so.

“Kelsee also comes in as a seasoned thrower in the shot put and discus and she is venturing out and trying some different events this season,” Coach Wasson said.

Ke. Cummings was the District 3C Junior High Shot Put champion, winning the girl's event with a throw of 34-1, a couple of weeks after posting a throw of 35-5.

She also won the discus event with a throw of 81-5.

Wasson will compete in 100 hurdles, 300 hurdles, and the 1600 meter run.

“Kia will be competing in her favorite events; hurdles and long distance,” Coach Wasson said. “I look for the mile to be very competitive this year in our district and area.”

K. Wasson was the 2017 District 3C Junior High runner-up in the 1600 meter run, with a time of 6:03.2. She was fourth in the 100-meter hurdles event with a time of 19.04.

The brutally snowy and cold winter of 2017 has made it impossible to hold outside practices, but the team has been working indoors.

“Weather will hold us up a bit from getting outside and in the throwing rings, but we are doing our best to make the most of it,” Coach Wasson said. “We are looking forward to spring to physically be here.”

Whitewater Schools Track & Field 2018 Schedule

DAY DATE EVENT SITE HS JH

Mar-29 Thursday Glasgow Invitational Glasgow X

Apr-7 Saturday Nashua Invitational Glasgow X

Apr-14 Saturday Havre Lions Invitational Havre X

Apr-16 Monday Scottie Qualifier Glasgow X

Apr-18 Wednesday Cal Wearley Invitational Havre X

Apr-20 Friday Nashua Invitational Glasgow X

Apr-21 Saturday Sidney Invitational Sidney X

Apr-21 Saturday Glasgow Invitational Glasgow X

Apr-24 Tuesday Malta Invitational Malta X

Apr-28 Saturday Whitewater Invitational WhitewaterX X

May-1 Tuesday Top 10 Glasgow X

May-5 Saturday Hinsdale Invitational Glasgow X

May-5 Saturday Malta Invitational Malta X

May-11 Friday District 3-C Track Meet Glasgow X

May-12 Saturday District 3-C Track Meet Glasgow X

May-17 Thursday Eastern C Divisional Track MeetGlasgow X

May 25-26 Fri - Sat State Class C Track Meet Great Falls X