Clovers putting pieces together for promising track season

Cloverdale senior Andy Lane competes in the long jump event at last year's West Central Conference meet. Lane and the other Clovers have big goals for this year. (Banner Graphic Archive/CAINE GARDNER)

CLOVERDALE -- The spring is early and coaches are still learning what they have to utilize this season.

Cloverdale boys' track coach Andy Tyler knows he has all the pieces -- there are plenty of solid athletes and hard workers -- he's just trying to fit them together.

"We lost some big-time runners with Devon Nees and Joe Rumley," Tyler said, "but we have a lot of pieces back. We have Wade Warren back in the hurdles. He was a conference champion and he's a pretty good athlete.

"Brett Brumfield is back. He got us a lot of points last year."

Several others, including seniors Chris Worthington and Glenn Sanders, will be counted on, Tyler said.

As the Clovers work to get in shape for the season and figure out how to fit everything together, they're also working to get better each day.

"The kids have been coming and putting in the work," Tyler said. "The kids have bought in to working hard and building upon the skills that we've preached. With track, it's just hard work.

"The kids have got to come in and practice hard. That's the only way that they're going to get any better."

Cloverdale is a fairly young team, but having athletes buy into the program and work hard is helping them move up in the conference and achieve greater team success.

If things break right, the Clovers will be in contention for a West Central Conference championship, Tyler said.

"The last couple years we've finished second in the conference. One of the big goals this year is picking up a conference title," Tyler said. "Greencastle is tough every year. I know coach Coons (at South Putnam) has always got a solid team. We'll just have to see what we can do."

The Clovers know they'll have to stay motivated and work hard each day, and Tyler believes he has the leaders to do just that.

It's not just seniors that are keeping people working hard, though, it's underclassmen as well.

"Jake Waycott is a sophomore and he's stepped up and taken a leadership role," Tyler said. "Track is one of those sports that, the ball is in your court, basically. If you put in the work, you will get better. ... We had a good preseason program this year. I'm hoping we're going to do well."