Central Girls Track and Field Preview: Warriors ready to rebound from last year’s adversity
The Central girls track and field team includes (front, left to right) Hannah Friedlein, Payton Stannard, Makenzie Thorson, Tenley Bormann, Maci Keppler, Savannah Orr, Isabella Schmitt, Aspen Rork, Reese Berns; (back) assistant coach Jamie Reimer, Mya Gregerson, Lilly Becwar, Kaylie Wilson, Blair Scherf, Ella Frieden, Alivia Wiley, Aspen Rork, Alexis Thiese, Layla Embretson, Natalya Singleton, Brooke Tieden and head coach Martha Bauder. (Photo courtesy of Central Tatler)
By Willis Patenaude | Times-Register
Last season was one of adversity for the Central girls track and field team. But whether it was battling the elements, low team numbers making it difficult to fill every event or a multitude of injuries sidelining potential state contenders, the Warriors persevered, as all teams coached by Martha Bauder are wont to do.
It’s why, despite the trying season, the Warriors finished districts with 11 personal records, four season bests, a state qualifier and a team willing to step onto the track and race when called. It’s such a highlight that stood out to Bauder last season, when four runners stepped up to race the 4x800-meter relay, something the team hadn’t done all season until districts.
There, Alexis Thiese, Hannah Friedlein, Audrey Palas and Madylen Gregerson stood in the blocks, waiting for the gun to sound and the baton to be handed off to make two trips each around the track. In fact, it was a race Gregerson and Palas had never run at all, so they relied on their cross country experience to get the job done—because there is no “I” in team.
Through the adversity, the Warriors came out the other end stronger, laying groundwork for more success this season. They return a large contingent of seniors, which Bauder noted was something to be “positive and excited about.” Among the group is former state qualifier Brooke Tieden, who is coming off an injury and looking to round back into form for one last run at state.
There are also stalwarts like Thiese, Aspen Rork, Coral Rork, Reese Berns, Savannah Orr, Tori Sylvester and Bella Schmidt rounding out the seniors.
“It’s a group that includes great leaders, a lot of experience and they’re highly motivated with goals for their last season,” Bauder said.
Though the juniors and sophomores are small in number, Bauder said they “bring experience and motivation to the team.” The juniors are represented by Alivia Wiley, who overcame an injury last season to help the shuttle hurdle relay team set a season best at districts. Joining Wiley is newcomer Maci Keppler and Layla Embretson, who ended her 2024 season with a season best in the discus. Sophomores Lily Becwar and Friedlein bring a season of setting multiple personal records as freshman into 2025.
One highlight of the season from the start is the largest group of freshmen the team has had in some time, which spells great things for the future. The cast of runners includes Blair Scherf, Mya Gregerson, Payton Stannard, Ella Frieden, Kenzie Thorson, Tenley Bormann, Natalya Singleton, Lyla Burns and Kaylie Wilson. Though they will “spend several weeks getting acclimated” to competing at the varsity level, Bauder said they will “contribute at a high level this season.”
“From a coaching standpoint, our main goal is always to provide as many opportunities as possible for the girls to be successful—through practice planning and implementing, meet preparation, and other side factors such as nutrition, positive thinking, teamwork, work ethic—with success not always meaning winning but just getting better each day,” Bauder explained.
The Warriors have talent and experience in every category of track and field, with the sprinters and distance runners comprised of Berns, Thiese, Orr, Sylvester, Schmitt, Wiley, Keppler, Becwar, Frieden, Stannard, Gregerson, Thorson, Bormann, Scherf, Friedlein, Embretson, Coral Rork and Aspen Rork. Pulling hurdle duty are Frieden, Stannard, Gregerson, Bormann, Wiley, Berns and Thiese.
In the field events, Central carries three throwers: Singleton, Embretson and Scherf. In the jumping events, the team will send out Tieden, Frieden, Berns and Schmitt.
Through veteran leadership, the confidence of youth and a large number of athletes making it possible for Central to fill more events, Bauder has sizeable expectations, like placing in the top five at conference and being in contention in several events for the state meet.
The only thing left to do is overcome the yearly challenge of coaching a track and field team at Central: the lack of a track and field complex, or a track at all. But that somehow makes Bauder’s previous state accomplishments all the more remarkable.
To combat this challenge, Bauder focuses on being as efficient as possible with practice spaces available, spreading coaches and volunteers around and even trying to find safe and productive places to run team workouts. The fact Bauder even has a team to coach without a track is a testament to her ability as a coach and her dedication to the sport.
The team is also dedicated, and in the words of Bauder, is a “great group of girls” who show up, work hard and progress toward season goals, whether a personal record, season best or trip to state. The Warriors also take advantage of the opportunities and “enjoy being a part of this team,” Bauder said.
Central started the season with a fifth place finish at the Upper Iowa Conference indoor meet at Luther College and competed April 1 at West Delaware. The Warriors also have a pair of meets next week: April 8 at Postville, then Starmont on April 10.
