Size isn’t everything for Warrior track and field

It’s not the size of the team but what’s around its members necks.

“The teams look pretty good again this year and small but mighty is our continued trend from last year,” coach Andrew Pfeuffer said.

The boys and girls’ track and field teams at Ozaukee only have a combined 27 athletes, but they’ve got plenty of quality.

Cross country star Elise Large is back for her senior season to defend her Division 3 state titles in the 1,600-meter race and the 3,200. She holds school records in both.

Emma Richards returns for her senior season, hoping to bounce back from off days in the shot put and discus last year at state. In 2016, she won discus and took second in shot.

Besides the two stars, the girls team returns most of its members of its 3,200 and 1,600 relay teams that scored points at the sectional meet last season. Among them are Ashleee Mueller, Allison Stahl, Brianna Bustamante, Becca Schauer and Hannah Beaber.

Three-time returning letter winners Rachel Liermann (high and long jump) and Caryn Hamm (shot and discus) will rack up points in field events.

“Along with a strong returning class of athletes we will be adding some good up and comers in both the distance and sprints this year,” Pfeuffer said.

For the boys, senior Gavin Dorrler is the lone returner from a quartet that scored enough points to take fourth as a team at state last season.

Dorrler took second in the high jump and fourth in the long jump, and was on the second-place 1,600 relay team.

In addition, Noah Johannes will help in the high, triple and long jumps, Trent Simpson will compete in the high jump and Zach Dieringer in the triple and long jump.

Among the challenges this season are replacing some of last year’s star graduates, and filling the events.

“Our biggest challenge is always getting more depth on our roster. With a small roster it can sometimes be difficult to put together relays or fill certain events,” Pfeuffer said.

Being in the Big East Conference doesn’t make things any easier.

“Our conference was very successful at the state meet across the board last season, and I would put the Big East Conference up against any Division 3 conference in the state. All the teams are coached extremely well and I’m glad we get to challenge each other’s teams throughout the season,” Pfeuffer said.

At the Pam Kjono Invite at Manitowoc Lincoln on Friday, the Warrior girls took fourth plae with 72 points. De Pere won with 117.

Large received Athlete of the Meet after winning the 1,600 in 5 minutes, 32.81 seconds and the 3,200 in 12:02.98.

Richards took first in shot put with a toss of 42.09 feet. Hamm was third with a 35.11.5.

Delanie McFadden won the 55 dash in 7.53 seconds and was second in the 200 in 28.07.

The 640 relay team of Mueller, Stahl, McFadden and Schauer was second in 1:34.36.

The 3,200 relay team of Mueller, Greta Klas, Jenna Schueller and Amy Hoffmann took third in 11:19.14.

Kelley Large was fifth in the 1,600 in 5:57.19.

The boys scored 25 points to tie for 11th place with Chilton at the Earl Herbert Invite at Manitowoc Lincoln on Thursday. De Pere won with 80 points.

Dorrler won the 200 in 25.8 and the long jump in 19-6. He took fourth in the high jump by clearing 5-10.

Ozaukee’s next meet is April 5 at Hilbert.