By Matt Browning
Cunningham track and field coach Eric Kerschen always enters a season with high expectations, but he has found that his athletes always find a way to exceed them.
“We are running faster individual times, running faster relay times and throwing and jumping farther,” Kerschen said. “This is the best group we have had in my six years coaching at Cunningham for both the girls and boys teams.”
The Wildcats had one of the top boys teams in Class 1A this season, which is why one of Kerschen’s top memories of the year featured the boys squad.
“Our season highlight this year was twofold,” Kerschen said. “Will Wegerer, our senior pole vaulter broke the school record by 11 inches at the South Barber Invitational several weeks ago jumping 16 inches. Along with that the boys team came away with the win at that track meet. The last time we came away with the win at the South Barber Invitational was back in 2008 with our state title boys team.”
Along with Wegerer was Nate Sterneker, who was a thrower for Cunningham.
“Will is the number one pole vaulter for the state this year in 1A and looks to defend his title,” Kerschen said. Nate has been a steady and consistent thrower for us for the past four years.”
For years the boys track program had a difficult time being competitive, but thanks to Wegerer, Sterneker and the rest of the senior class, Cunningham boys track is alive and well.
“For a long time Cunningham boys athletics were in a slump and this is the first class that has experienced success in athletics most all the way through school,” Kerschen said. “This class helped tremendously bring Cunningham boys athletics out of the slump we were in.”
