Merged Medina/Lyndonville track squads prep for first season

Photo by Mike Wertman – A number of veteran members of the now merged Medina and Lyndonville track teams meet before the start of practice. In the front row are Briana Bellan, Elizabeth Newman, Taylor Miller, Martha Gardner, Holly Heil and Leann Balcerzak. In the middle row are Molley Gross, Rowan Hamner, Hannah Travis, Steven Anderson, Alexander O’Keefe, Austin Heil and Dalton Cerbone. In the back row are Drake Grabowski, Forrest Harper, Patrick Roberts, James Michael Soha, Matthew Cochrane, Ajai Strickland and Anthony Pane.

It’s a new era on the local high school track and field scene!

Boasting a lineup of some 80 student/athletes the now merged Medina and Lyndonville boys and girls track teams have begun practice in preparation for their debut meet in the April 10 Niagara-Orleans League opener.

The track squads now join boys soccer, football and cross-country as merged teams under the shared services agreement between the two school districts.

“Our numbers are great and the Lyndonville kids have been absolutely great,” said Medina’s Ken Haak who is serving as head coach of the merged squads. “The kids know each other and the good numbers we have breeds competition which is very positive.”

The coaching staff also includes Jeff Dole, Eric Gross, Fredricca Fuentes and Kevin Laskey.

The teams are practicing at Medina but will also be utilizing Lyndonville’s fitness and weight room facilities for workouts.

Medina’s veteran contingent includes Holly Heil, who won the 800 and 1500 at last year’s N-O All-League meet, along with Taylor Miller who was second in the pentathlon, Forrest Harper who was second in both the 100 and 200 and Martha Gardner who was fourth in the 800.

Lyndonville’s contingent includes Dalton Cerbone ,who placed second in both the steeplechase and the 3200 at last year’s Genesee Region All-League meet, and Steven Anderson who placed seventh in the 110 hurdles.

“Lyndonville brings some high quality athletes and Medina has some high quality athletes so we are looking to be successful” said Haak. “This merger helps Lyndonville and it helps Medina so it is a win-win for both schools.”

The Medina/Lyndonville N-O schedule is as follows:
April 10 – at Roy-Hart, 4:15 p.m.
April 22 – Barker, 4:15 p.m.
April 24 – Akron, 4:15 p.m.
April 29 – at Wilson, 4:15 p.m.
May 1 – Albion, 4:15 p.m.
May 8 – at Newfane, 4:15 p.m.
May 14 and 15 – All-League meet at Roy-Hart, 4 p.m.