Boy's Track & Field Preview: James Wood

Coach: Matt Stegmaier, 7th year

Last year: Northwestern District regular season and meet champions; tied for 10th in Region II meet

Key losses: Mason Smith, Ben Jenkins

Top returning athletes: John Simms, Sr., sprints; Cody Wright, Sr., distance; Anthony Ingle, Sr., jumps; Joey Bynog, Sr., throws; Joe Davet, Sr., distance; Chris Gardner, Sr., throws; Sawyer Michelitch, So., multi-event; Dylan Wilson, Jr., middle distance; Matt Vitagliano, So., multi-event; Logan Shiffler, So., thrower

Newcomers: Matt Ray, So., multi-event; Owen Bales, So., hurdles; Whitley Duncan, So., multi-event

Outlook: Stegmaier knows it's going to be difficult to stay on top of the district, but he also knows how much it means to his team to retain that title.

"The only thing these guys have ever known is winning district championships," Stegmaier said. "They want to go out on top. But we want our guys to think about more than that though. It's nice to to win a district title, but we've got to start thinking about doing well at regionals."

In addition to Simms - who swept the 100, 200 and 400 at the district meet and won the Region II 100 - James Wood's efforts will also be led by the district champions Wright (800) and Ingle (triple jump).

Someone who's really impressed Stegmaier though is Bynog, who was third in the district in the discus last year.

"He went to camps in the summer, and he's put in a lot of hard work," Stegmaier said. "I think he can have a big year."