Mattawan track team breaks school records
MATTAWAN, Mich. — Mattawan’s Head Varsity Track Coach Jarrod DeGroff says the group of kids he’s coached this year in track and field has been pretty special. “This entire team, all 112 of them, came in and changed the perception of what Mattawan track can be,” he says.
And they’ve broken a couple of school records along the way! In early June, Hugh Ford set a personal record and placed All-State in the pole vault after jumping 14 feet during the MHSAA Division 1 Track and Field finals in Rockford. He finished in sixth place, earning a spot on the winner’s podium.
Coach DeGroff says the incoming senior has been a great leader for the team.
“Hugh’s personality and amazing work ethic are what make this special. He is one of the nicest kids you’ll meet but has a ferocious focus and drive when it comes to competition. At the state meet, we saw him PR by 9″ to finish with a jump of 14′ on a sweltering hot day.”
Senior and two-time captain Sawyer Devenport also provided some stellar performances this season. Sawyer led the relay team the first time they ran the 4×100 to break the school record.
“Having success like that at the start really helps with confidence and instills the belief that we can go much faster. The team continued to break their own record even though many were hobbled with lower leg injuries.”
Unfortunately, Sawyer experienced the worst injuries and had to sit out the regional meet. Junior Landon Craig stepped in and helped the team move forward shattering two of the school’s records at regionals. Landon, along with Ty Atkinson, Connor Daggett, and Wyatt Hicks beat the old school record by over a half second (which is a lot of time!) in the 4x100m relay race.
The 4×200 relay team of Trey Bennett, Kaden Steensma, Connor Daggett, and Ty Atkinson also broke the school record (2011) in that event. Unfortunately, the 4×2 team was just outside the time needed to qualify for states.
“These four boys are the ones who have qualified and done some amazing things, but it’s the entire team that has helped raise the Mattawan program to where it is,” explained Coach DeGroff. “It means a lot to see all of these kids work so hard. It’s exciting that three of the four on the relay team are juniors. This is such a valuable experience for them and will only push them harder to get back here again and realize what’s possible.”
And, he says, it was a fantastic season despite the relay team’s rough day at the state meet when they dropped the baton in the second exchange.
“The highs and lows are a perfect example of life and its trials. I know that the 4×1 relay did not end the way we expected it to. Training for so long for one race is so much more about the mental aspect than the physical one. We’re using the dropped baton as a new beginning and a chance to learn, grow, and come back to the ultimate stage stronger, faster, and more prepared.”
Meet the Athletes
Connor Daggett, Senior
Track and Field, second year
Other sports: Football
What are your personal goals within your sport?
Daggett: To do well and try my hardest.
What is your biggest challenge?
Daggett: To stay healthy. I make sure I stretch and do a lot of recovery.
What was the best advice you have received?
Daggett: Never give up and keep striving to be the best I can be at everything I do.
What do you love about your sport?
Daggett: The atmosphere and hanging out with all of my teammates.
What has being a member of a team taught you?
Daggett: Sometimes it’s not always about ourselves but more about the team.
How do you overcome mistakes?
Daggett: A false start is a mistake I’ve made. I make sure to wait for the gun.
Landon Craig, Junior
Track and Field, second year
Other Sports: Football, Track, Martial Arts, Gymnastics
What are your personal goals within your sport?
Craig: I want to run track one day in college.
What is your biggest challenge?
Craig: The biggest challenge would be the shin splints; to get over them with ice baths and ice packs.
What was the best advice you have received?
Craig: Anything you put your mind to, you can accomplish.
What do you love about your sport?
Craig: I love the adrenaline as you line up.
What has being a member of a team taught you?
Craig: It’s taught me that communication with coaches and elders is important.
What is the best piece of advice you received from a coach?
Craig: Everyone has potential.
How do you overcome mistakes?
Craig: In my 200 meter, I would tense up at the last 60m, and it would cause me to slow down. I overcame it by staying relaxed and focusing on my form.
Anything else?
Craig: I’m proud of our 4×100 group of boys. Competing at state was such a great experience, and I’m so thankful for the opportunity.
Hugh Ford, Junior
Track and Field, third year
Other Sports: Soccer and Swim
What are your personal goals?
Ford: My personal goal is to break 16’ in my senior season of pole vault. At some point, I would’ve figured this goal unrealistic, but after my junior season and improving my personal record by 2 1/2 feet, I can confidently say that it’s very obtainable.
What is your biggest challenge?
Ford: My biggest challenge is silencing any negative thoughts that may come to mind at the end of the runway. When you have a lot of pressure on you to make a jump, you start to go through all of the things that could go wrong. Training myself to overcome these thoughts took time and dedication and with the help of my coach and other team leaders, we came up with methods as a group.
Do you have a pregame ritual?
Ford: I always go through the vault in my head. Visualization is key to success because you do not have enough time to think about everything that you are supposed to do right as you are about to jump.
What has being a member of a team taught you?
Ford: The team aspect has taught me a lot of patience. I have to wait on a lot of people and the races to be over with but once they are done it was cool to watch.
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