The College of Wooster men's track and field team returns nearly every key scorer from the Fighting Scots' first top-two North Coast Athletic Conference Championships finish in over two decades. Now, the team is looking for more across-the-board consistency to ensure Wooster regularly challenges for a top spot with the NCAC.

"We need to build off the success we had last year," shared head coach Dennis Rice. "We had a pretty young team last year. If this group can put the whole package together, we can have great team success with the outstanding talent that is on this team."

Wooster's top-tier talent starts in the pole vault, where the Scots return two-time national qualifier Dylan Garretson and junior Davis Patterson, a decorated all-conference pole vaulter, multi-eventer, and relay performer. Garrettson broke the program's 23- and 33-year-old records in the outdoor and indoor pole vault, respectively, last season, and is a four-time conference champion. Patterson was part of Wooster's one-two NCAC pole vault finish a season ago, broke the program's 4x400 relay record, and was an all-region heptathlon performer.

"Dylan and Davis have great opportunities to challenge at the highest level at the conference championships," summed up Rice. "Davis is close to making that jump to get to the NCAA Championships level in the pole vault and multis."

Fifth-year senior Will McMichael – a College Sports Communicators Academic All-American®, four-time NCAC champion, and eight-time All-NCAC performer – anchors the track side of things. He is one of the program's top long sprints and middle-distance runners, who is "looking to take it to the national level this winter and spring," per Rice. He will have a strong complement in the distance events, where rising sophomore Will Callender continues to showcase rapid improvement, which culminated with all-region cross country honors this fall after finishing as the second-highest NCAC competitor at the Great Lakes Regional Championships.

"Will Callender's growth in training and development continues to put him in a great position to challenge the best runners in the conference," added Rice. "He is looking to eventually take it to the national level. We are really excited to see what he is capable of doing in track and field following his breakthrough cross country season."

Relays represent another area of strength for the Scots, who return everybody from the school record-setting 4x400 that fell just short of winning the conference title last year. The 4x200 continues to be primed to challenge the top teams in the conference, and Rice is confident the Scots "will be able to put together an excellent 4x100 this year."

A veteran sprints, hurdles, and relays group, which includes letterwinners and seniors Harvey Briscoe, Justin Jones, Joe Shilts, and Nick Scherson complement McMichael and Patterson well and give the Scots a core unit to lead and up-and-coming group of first-years, sophomores, and juniors.

"We are excited for the potential some of the younger team members in the sprints and hurdles bring to the program," explained Rice. "Developing consistency, like our senior leaders showcase, will enhance our overall success as we progress through the season."

Sophomore Echo Kidd swept the NCAC long jump titles last year, and the Scots return a pair of all-conference high jumpers in seniors Nate Andrews and Luke Henke. Sophomore Vell Robinson is part of a talented sophomore core who can challenge the top jumpers and multi-eventers within the conference.

"Echo is another one of those big-meet performers," said Rice. "He shines when it comes to competition and really loves the challenges at the championship meets. Overall, we are super strong in the jumps and have several opportunities to really challenge at the conference and national level."

Led by Callender, Wooster's middle distance and distance core is built around the sophomore class, which includes all-conference cross country harrier Ben Nichols, Eric Johnson, and Drew Robertson. Junior Duncan Hardy is the returning leader in the steeplechase.

"We set the tone this fall with the training and competition aspects for our distance and middle-distance groups," said Rice. "We have the opportunity to have great success at the championship meets with the additional experience these groups have."

Wooster's throwers are still an up-and-coming group, but one that continues to "improve weekly," per Rice, who notes "some young potential will mix in with our seniors Connor Greene and Neil Storey."

A sizable returning group and a large first-year class will make a "sold impact on the program in a positive way to enhance the team experience," per Rice.

Wooster's season starts with three straight home meets, the first of which is the Wooster Indoor Invitational on Saturday, January 14.

"We are fortunate to stay on campus the first three weeks of the season," said Rice. "This gives us the opportunity to really evaluate our team before we head into the championship portion of the indoor season."

Photo by Abbi Tarburton '22