Preseason Practice at Parker High School

Monday, March 3, 2008 at Janesville Parker High School



Coaches must improvise. With roads and sidewalks covered with ice coaches must determine where their runners can safely run. Using a snowblower to cut some running lanes into a snow covered track was one idea. But Wisconsin's record setting winter had other ideas as an early morning snow fall made the track an off-limits practice area. The Parker Girls basketball team was in the gym preparing for its sectional basketball game with Janesville Craig. On the first day of the 2007 season track coaches had to be creative in devising practice areas. Parker High School will have outstanding athletic facilities in a year and a half. Building cranes at Parker and a foundation for the new addition to Parker signal progress. The J. P. Cullen and Sons Construction Company is making amazing progress despite the harshness of this years winter. But until the construction is completed the track team will use the wrestling room and hallways to prepare for the season.


The throwers are not as restricted in practice areas as those in the running and jumping events. D'Merius Holbrook [L], Erica Moen, Sam Drummer, and Harold Lloyd are the veterans returning who will lead the boys and girls team in the shot put and discus events. On the left is Erica Moen shown performing her weight room workout.


Dave Lehmann [L] is the girls coach at Parker. He is assisted by his wife Cathy [above] who is also the head girls gymnastics coach at Parker



Nikki Bakke [above left] is a junior distance runner at Parker. Regardless of weather the distance runners somehow find a way to get a workout outside. Bakke running picture by Parker student Alex Benedict.
There are no secrets to success in athletics. Attention to the fundamentals is a key ingredient used by all teams. Dynamic warm-up drills get athletes ready for the drills to follow. Below: [L-R] Pole vaulters Alex Oines and Katelyn Presti use ropes to develop the strength and rotation that vaulters must have. Below right: Amanda Belden in the jump and reach test. Athletes perform a variety of tests early in the preseason as coaches try to fit the pieces of the puzzle together in filling each event. Below: Athletes participating in weight room and footwork drills.





Shelby Demos [L] and Cassie Niles in the HH event at the Janesville Parker High School Track and Field Invitational held April 20, 2007. Demos and Niles are two veterans who will lead the Vikings this year. Demos was a high hurdler qualifier at the 2007 WIAA State Meet. Picture by Parker student Alex Benedict.
Junior Shelby Demos placed fourth in the D1 HJ at the 2007 WIAA Track and Field Meet in La Crosse.


Parker competes in the 'Big Eight' conference consisting of Beloit Memorial, Janesville Craig, Madison East, Madison La Follette, Madison Memorial, Madison West, Middleton, and Sun Prairie.

Cassie Niles - Junior at Parker High School


1. Is there someone who you enjoy watching compete in track?

I enjoy watching everyone on my team. It is fun to see how much better an athlete gets at his or her event.

2. What events do you most enjoy competing in?

The events I most enjoy competing in are the hurdles. I run both the 100 High Hurdles and 300 Low Hurdles. I must say though that the 300 Low Hurdles are my favorite because it is an odd distance to run and it is considered the hardest race in track. I also participate in the 4x4 Relay.


3. What part of your performance has improved the most since your ninth grade year?

Since my freshman year I have improved more in the lows than the highs.

4. What are your goals for the rest of this season?

My goal for this years season is to make it to state in the 300 lows. If not just get my personal best in my last race.

5. Do you want to compete at the next level? Where? If so what is your projected major and why did you pick it?

I am undecided if I am taking my athletic career to the next level but I am certain that I am going to college.