LAKEVILLE - As the 2025 girls track and field season begins, LaVille has 18 letterwinners and a nice collection of experience as a new season gets started. Coach Erin Ecker returns for her eighth year as the Lancer head coach and a solid group of quality athletes. LHS returns eight seniors, including Ava Barrett-Heaton (throws/middle distance), Reagan Bollenbacher (throws), Mackena Deason (sprints), Brooke Edison (high jump, long jump, utility), Jessica Keb (middle distance), Mikalah Kuskye (sprints/relays), Reagan Mitchell (pole vault/800), Moriah Richhart (throws/sprints). Ecker finds a nice mix in both field and running events this season. "Currently, Richhart and Markin are leading in shot put while Bollenbacher and Markin lead the discus. Ava-Barrett-Heaton is also in the top part of the mix so we have some solid weapons there. We have a lot of people jumping. Brooke Edison is leading the long jump and high jump. She will get help from Alyssia Johnston, Sarah Tharp, and Madison Singleton at the long jump pit. We have several ladies getting the hang of it so we have some depth there. Jillian Fansler looks to join Brooke at high jump, we have a few others we are going to try to add depth there. Reagan Mitchell is vaulting again for us this year, she had a great first season last year. Myleigh Tolbert is starting to get the hang of things, and we hope to see that progress." Graduation hit the running events a bit more as the Class of 2024 picked up their diplomas in Ava Fuchs, London Kwiatkowski and Lily Smith. "Losing those seniors will be tough," noted Ecker. "London was second in points earned, so she will be greatly missed. She was a fierce competitor. Lily was a key part of our relays & sprints until an injury finished her season ... Ava was one of our top long jumpers and a key part of our mid-distance team." Edison is the top returner with pit experience, advancing to the regional level at high jump last season. According to Ecker, with Edison concentrating more on high jump and long jump, LaVille is looking to fill in at some other events. "We have Brooke Edison in the long jump pits this year," said Ecker. "But that means we need to find someone to get those points she is shifting away from." Ready to step into the sprint events with the graduation of Kwiatkowski, coach Ecker says, "we have the same sprint squad as last year and they are all looking very solid (Singleton, Kuskey, Deason, Miller, Richhart). They will be joined by our lone freshman Olivia-Grace Harman." There is also a nice mixture of athletes in the middle distance and distance events. "Right now, Edison is also leading the middle distance runners in the 800M, but Jess Keb is right on her heels and leads the 1600M and can go down to the 400m," said the Lancer skipper. "Ava Barrett-Heaton will come down from the throwing hill to help out with a few races. Gracie Garrett, Alyssia Johnston and Kendra Brandt look much stronger this season. Some of these girls are still learning their races and once they get comfortable, they could become solid contributors." When asked about some athletes to 'watch' during the season, Ecker concluded, "Brooke Edison is a jack-of-all-trades, she is killing it at the jumps, and whatever we put her in, she will compete. The same goes for Maddi Singleton. Mikalah Kuskey is starting the season off very strong and will be fun to watch this year. She makes everything look so effortless. Honestly, I could list the entire team. Our numbers are lower than what we would like, but what we do have is quality. This will make for some very exciting races/events." The LaVille tracksters will open the 2025 season with a home meet with Culver Academy and North Judson-San Pierre. Other key events for the Lancer track program include Goshen Relays (April 26), Lancer Relays (May 2), Rippy Invitational (May 9), Indiana Northern State Conference Championships (May 14) and then the start of the Indiana High School Athletic Association state tournament (May 20). LAVILLE GIRLS TRACK FIELD 2024 dual/triangular record: 5-3 Head Coach: Erin Ecker (8th year at LaVille) Assistants: Isaac Eash, Bill Hulsey Letterwinners Lost: 7 - Ava Fuchs, London Kwiatkowski, Lily Smith, Allonah Baker, Hallie Hulsey, Maria De Las Heras Lucena, Ragen Wagoner Returning Letterwinners: (18) Seniors - Ava Barrett-Heaton (throws/middle distance), Reagan Bollenbacher (throws), Mackena Deason (sprints), Brooke Edison (high jump, long jump, utility), Jessica Keb (middle distance), Mikalah Kuskye (sprints/relays), Reagan Mitchell (pole vault/800), Moriah Richhart (throws/sprints). Juniors - Kendra Brant (middle distance/long jump), Alyssia Johnston (distance), Kenzie Menting (hurdles), Ava Miller (sprints), Madi Singleton (sprints/jumps), Myleigh Tolbert (hurdles/pole vault). Sophomores - Gracie Garrett (distance), Charlee Gonzalez (throws), Denni Markin (throws), Sarah Tharp (sprints/long jump). Newcomers: (3) Junior - Jillian Fansler (high jump/hurdles/sprints). Sophomore - Amal Amouri (throws). Freshman - Oliva Harman (sprints/long jump). Opener: April 8 v Culver Academy, North Judson-San Pierre, 5 pm Outlook: "Overall our numbers are a bit lower than what we would like for them to be, but we have high-quality athletes. We have very solid athletes in all events and we are working on shuffling the pieces and trying to get depth across the board. We have been working very hard and are ready to compete." - Erin Ecker, LaVille Girls Track & Field coach