Jay boys boast talent, depth

The Patriots have one state medalist, and another state qualifier.

Almost as important, they have filled a hole that has plagued them for at least a decade.

Jay County's boys track team is looking toward a strong season, with both Brandon Reynard and Dexter Shreve back to lead the team and a vastly improved middle- and long-distance group.

"We're pretty excited about that," said JCHS coach Greg Garringer. "This is the team that we think can really challenge. We've been knocking on the door. We think if we're going to make a run at sectional, this is our year."

The Patriots were the sectional runners-up last year at Muncie Central, finishing just ahead of Winchester and Delta. Muncie Southside ran away with the title.

But JCHS accomplished its second-place finish, its best in more than 10 years, without its top sprinter because of a health problem. The bulk of that team returns this season.

The leaders of the bunch are Reynard and Shreve, a pair of versatile athletes who can compete in a variety of events and make the Patriots dangerous in the relays.

Reynard broke through in a big way last season, placing fifth in the state in the 300-meter hurdles. He is a two-time sectional champion in the event, and was also a regional qualifier in the 100 hurdles last season.

This year he will be back in the hurdles, but could also run the 200 dash.

"What we're hoping to do is get him back down (to state) and give him the opportunity to better his performance," said Garringer, noting that Reynard is looking to run at Indiana Tech in college. "He's pretty excited. I'm really looking forward to seeing how he does."

Shreve was also a state qualifier in 2008, finishing 19th in the long jump. He's a threat to make it back in that event, as well as the high jump and 400 dash.

He won sectional titles in all three of those events last season, dominating the field in each.

The senior may also run the 200 dash at times this year.

"He really wants to lower his time in the 400," said Garringer of Shreve, who already holds the school record in the event. "It was a little bit of a bitter taste in his mouth to not get to run the 400 at state. He's working really hard.

"To have two kids come back that are state competitors, that's pretty neat."

Garringer is also thrilled to have what he expects to be a vastly improved group of middle and long distance runners. Those positions have been major voids for the team for at least a decade.

From 2002 through 2008 in the sectional meet Jay County has scored just two points total in the 800, 1,600 and 3,200 runs. Out of 21 races, Patriots have placed in the top 10 just twice - Brady Mills was eighth in the 3,200 run in 2007 and the 800 run in 2008.

And their best finish in the 4x800 relay over that period of time was sixth last season.

Mills returns as a senior this year, and Tevan Nichols comes back much improved after qualifying for the regional in cross country this season.

In addition to that pair, senior Kyle Simmons and foreign exchange student Joe Rasmussen are out of the team.

That group will mostly handle the 800 and 1,600 events, with Nichols possibly bumping up to the 3,200 along with freshmen Austin Bentz and Brad Leuthold.

Garringer said he has been impressed with the work ethic and improvement from Mills and Nichols as well as the times the newcomers posted during the indoor season.

"In the 4x800, once in a great great while we've been OK," he added. "But this group of guys in the 4x800 is ... I think when people see us this year they're going to be shocked when they see our middle and distance guys. It shocked me."

Another pair of newcomers, Ben Vance and Dalton McGill, will start the season in the sprints along with sophomore Garrett Krieg, Reynard and Shreve. Zach Cash will pair with Reynard in the hurdles, and Blake Price will team with Shreve in the jumps. Krieg gives JCHS added depth in the long jump.

In addition to Reynard and Shreve, the Patriots bring back a third regional qualifier in senior Lance Franklin. He was third in the sectional in the discus and will lead a group of throwers that also includes Lance VanSkyock and Adam Michael.

Garringer said it will be difficult to take down state-ranked Anderson Highland in the Olympic Athletic Conference, but he's hoping JCHS can earn its first sectional title since 1984.

"This is the best that I've had in six years," he said. "It would be nice to get some hardware."[[In-content Ad]]