2013 Region Champs

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2012 Season Recap

The Stratford Boys Track Team completed another fantastic season with its second consecutive state championship. The Eagles started the year with high expectations. A record total of 51 athletes came out for the team, including an experienced group of 16 seniors. Many of these veterans had key roles during last year’s championship run.

Following an undefeated regular season, they dominated the Region 2-AAA track meet, beating the 2nd place team by more than 20 points. A total of 23 athletes earned spots in the state meet in 27 events, by far the largest number of athletes to qualify in a single year.

The Eagles continued their dominance at the AAA State Meet in Albany, Georgia. Over the course of the three-day meet, they had 22 athletes or relays make the finals in 13 events. The Eagles were led by three state champions - Greer Smith in the shot put, Emery Longan in the 800 meters (along with runner- up Jasper Cowart,) and Rodney Noel in the triple jump. Noel also set the school record in the triple jump. Charlie Grossnickle, Caleb Samuel, Ken Spears Jr., Tyler Payne, Patrick Schroder, Jonathan Dean, Daniel Groselle, Mac Baggarley, Chris Tillitski, Kareem Harvey, Austin Simmons, Skylar Graham, Connor Corbitt, Eli Russett, Austin Reagan, Hayden Graham, James Thwaite, Sean Grossnickle, and Thomas Williams all qualified for the state meet and had key contributions. The final total was 116.5, far ahead of the state runner-up score of 75. The Eagles’ score of 80 after the second day would actually have been enough to win the meet outright.

It was a great finish to a great season, and many of the longtime coaches in the crowd counted this year’s team as one of the greatest to ever run in the GISA. They competed hard, they supported each other, and they finished together as a team. They were very worthy champions, and great representatives of what our school is all about.