Whitehall's track teams are ready for action after an opening tri meet at home March 31. For the Viking boys, it's another year of taking aim at the best teams in the state, and the girls hope to continue their growth with a young team.
The Whitehall boys team lost several top scorers from a year ago, most notably Camden Thompson and Mason Mulnix. Thompson achieved the rare feat of being all-state in three different events last season, and Mulnix, who entered the season with limited track experience, left it as the team's No. 3 sprinter in history on time behind only Tony Fountain and Malcolm Earvin. Also graduated are star long jumper Kal Koehler and two top distance runners, Stewart Waters and Drew Boeringa.
However, Whitehall also is blessed with an infusion of talent in the form of Bobby Jazwinski. Already a star distance runner when he arrived as a transfer from Hart, Jazwinski has picked up where he left off as a Viking, winning the state cross-country title last fall. Over the winter, Jazwinski broke the Whitehall record in the 1,600-meter run with a time of 4:11.7 at an indoor meet, breaking Guy Jacobson's mark from 1978.
Certainly Jazwinski will lead the distance crew, but there's plenty to back him up as well, with returners Rex Pumford, Hunter Parsons, Jevon Hilliard and Javi LeBlanc ready to run. Ian Dennis and Scout Freiheit lead a promising freshman group.
In the sprints, Elijah Smith, a transfer from Ithaca, and sophomore Tim Vieira will lead the way, but the Vikes have some returning veterans there as well. Ayden Mendoza is already a superstar high jumper, with the Whitehall record in that event, but he's also a capable sprinter. Cole Essebaggers, Corde Anderson, Jud Musk, Brayden Brown and Jacob Lewis are back as well. Freshmen Brayden Brown and Liam Cook supplement that group. Anderson, a hurdles state qualifier last year, and Musk will lead the hurdling crew.
In the field events, Mendoza obviously anchors the high jump, and Essebaggers is a strong long jumper, along with Smith. In the throws, Caden Bowyer had a very solid 2025, and Jamison Jeffery will look to put up comparable numbers. Whitehall brings back all three of its pole vaulters - Graysen Olstrom, Keegan Frees and Isaiah Lewis - creating a formidable trio.
"Our lineup is very strong, so the freshmen will add depth and work on developing into the next team," Whitehall boys coach Kirk Mikkelson said.
The Vikings have a decades-long run of winning the West Michigan Conference Lakes to uphold, and are always hopeful of being a factor in the team state finals meet at the end of the season and bringing home MHSAA finals medals as well.
"City and regional titles are within our reach as long as we can stay healthy," Mikkelson said. "Beyond that, we always want to be competitive at as high of a level as possible. State titles are hard to win, requiring a lot of talent and a touch of luck."
Like their boys' counterparts, the Viking girls graduated some of their top athletes from last year, such as distance stars Cami Kraai and Adalyn Britton and thrower Evelyn Darke.
However, like the boys, Whitehall's girls will benefit from transfer additions, as junior Gabrielle Chevez, previously at Reeths-Puffer, will help boost the Viking distance runners, and Giselle Burbridge, who came over from Fruitport, will run sprints and add long jump to her repertoire. Coach Jeff Bassett said Chevez scored personal best times in the 800 and 1,600-meter runs at the Grand Valley State indoor meet.
Freshman Mallory Johnson is another new face to look for and is poised for a big season in the sprints.
"The thing that gives me confidence in our team this year is that everyone is putting in their best effort at practice daily," Bassett said. "We have a very positive outlook on this season with many girls willing to try new events and are excited to improve."
The Vikings also bring back some leading performers from last year. Lexi Poulin is back at high jump, Aaliyah Jamison returns in the throws after recovering from a knee injury, Tiyahna Robinson is back in discus, and Ryleigh Hershey will compete in pole vault. On the track, Morgan Wade returns in the sprints, and the distance crew will include Kassidy Parmley, Ella Nicholson and Ryanne Ellsworth.
"Our big goal this year is improvement," Bassett said. "We want to be chasing personal bests this season and have that lead us to some more conference dual wins."
