By Bob Hamar
bob.hamar@theindependent.com

"I've been really happy with the kids so far," Kester said. "We've had some decent weather this week to get some quality work in."

The Crusaders open their season at the UNK Indoor Invitational today in Kearney. Both the GICC boys and girls teams won't really be at full strength because both Crusader basketball teams qualified for state.

Those basketball athletes who are on the track team haven't had much preparation time yet.

Kester expects some good things from his boys team this season.

"I think we have a good mix this year on the boys side," Kester said. "We have some veterans coming back and some talented young kids who will definitely contribute this year."

The Crusaders will be led by Brent Moravec, a senior who missed the entire basketball season because of shoulder surgery he had after football season.

Moravec was fourth in the 110-meter high hurdles at last year's state meet and also qualified for state in the 300 low hurdles.

"He had a very good year last year and continues to get better," Kester said. "He's just now getting back into shape. He wasn't able to do much conditioning during basketball season. He's definitely looking good."

Kester said Moravec will compete in both the long jump and triple jump at the UNK meet. Moravec was a triple jumper as a sophomore but jumped just once last year. Last year he ran the 100 and 200 and also on some relays.

"It will come down to trying to decide by district time which events he can be most successful in and will give him a chance to do as well as possible in districts," Kester said. "He's a great leader and a good kid to have on the team."

Senior Sam Bolton also returns to the track team after missing last year with a knee injury.

"It will definitely be nice to have Sam back," Kester said. "He had a really nice sophomore year when he qualified for state in the triple jump. He seems to be healthy. We're looking for good things from Sam."

Senior Aaron Soto will run sprints and relays for the Crusaders.

"We don't have a lot of senior boys, but the ones we have do have a lot of experience and have done a lot of good things for us," Kester said.

Kester is looking for good things from the junior throwers on the team including Tommy Howard, Kelly Zimmerman, Curtis Gnewuch and Zach Schroder.

"They love to throw," Kester said. "They're always the last to leave practice every night."

The Crusaders will be without their top returning pole vaulter in Jay Osterbuhr who will have shoulder surgery.

Junior Chad Pfeifer will compete on the relays while sophomore Dylan Redman should contribute in the 400 and sprint relays.

The GICC girls will be led by Tali Fredrickson. The senior has qualified for state multiple times and placed fourth at state in the 100 hurdles and was seventh in the long jump last year.

"It's similar to Brent (Moravec) in that we'll have to see as the season progresses which four events we'll go with come district time," Kester said.

Seniors Megan Bombeck (long jump, relays) and Alicia Statler (throws) also return as state qualifiers.

Senior Sarah Merithew also returns for the Crusaders.

Juniors Drew Kime (middle distance, relays) and Hannah Davis (distance) will contribute along with Cassie Lux in the pole vault.

Kester said sophomore Jillian Moravec had a good freshman year and should do good things this year in the sprints, middle distances, jumps and some relays.

"They just have a great attitude right now," Kester said. "We have about 50 kids out. That's our largest number in the last three years which is very good to see."

Schedule

March 15, UNK Indoor; 20, Hastings Invitatational at GINW; 28, GICC/Knights of Columbus Invitational.

April 5, Aurora Invitational; 11, Minden Invitational; 17, GINW Invitational; 21, Central Nebraska Track Championships; 25, Ord Invitational.

May 3, Centennial Conference at Columbus; 8, District at Elm Creek.