“I would say part of it is that we have a lot of younger kids,” said Warriors head coach Loren Looft. “Probably more of the mental toughness part of getting ready for track and field at a varsity level. In track and field, you have many ups and downs and stuff like that. So working with the young kids, working through some of the mental part of track and field where we’re trying to keep our kids on an even keel and handle some adversity.”

Getting the athletes mentally ready for the year will be a big part of the Warriors’ season as they work to convince the new competitors to buy into the program. The end goal is to send as many kids to state as possible.

“Our top goal is always to get as many kids to state as possible,” said Looft. “But conference-wise, we have a pretty good conference on both the boys and girls side. So I would say the goal is to finish in the top half of the conference as far as the boys and girls sides of all things, we’ve got a pretty good conference. A lot of teams got medal kids back from state. So it will only make us better to compete against those kids. That’ll help us along the way.”

Returning for the Warriors are Brennan Bollinger, Josh Harmon, Landon Manwarren, Aidan Bauer, Kade Madden, Cooper Hoye, Greyson Colegrove, Ava Steinberger, Sienna Hansen, Jacey Welbig, Jennifer Carranza, Brylie Deim, Adeline Kollasch, Alexis Cummins, Alyssa Welbig, Peyton Jenkins, Cloey Anderson, and Jameele Reyes.

Staff photo by Caleb Brinton. Front Row: (left to right) Samuel Kirkegaard, Jackson Hutchinson, Donnie Stevens, Colin Kruse, Carson Crouch, Caden Walders, Josh Harmon. Middle row: Kyan Walter, Brayden Peta, Landon Manwarren, Cooper Hoye, Gabe Whaley, Kade Madden, Zane Vaske. Back Row: Max Merrill, Greyson Colegrove, Brennan Bollinger, Hunter Geitzenauer, Aidan Bauer, Nick Hanson, Drake Nelson. Not pictured Caden Zotz.

Despite a veteran cast of returning athletes, the key is making sure that the younger athletes are prepared for competing at a higher level and not putting everything mentally into the results but personal growth and development.

“We tell our kids attitude affects your effort,” said Looft. “Your effort affects your performance, your performance affects your results, and your results affect your attitude. That’s what we tell our kids. So it all starts with attitude. Everything else falls into place after that.

Developing the younger team members will be key to the Warriors’ success this season. North Union opens the season on Saturday at South Dakota State University with a 10 a.m. meet.