The Cassville boys track team is shifting its focus some this year, going from a distance running team to one more adept at sprinting and throwing.

Clay Weldy, Cassville boys track coach, said 11 Wildcats return to the team this year, and 14 have joined.

Returners include: Kyle Bailey (Sprinter/Jumper), Nic Fierro (Thrower), Jacob Hudson (Long Distance), Jackson Lindley (Distance/ Jumper), Tyler Rattigan (Sprinter/Hurdles), Corbin Rhoads (Pole Vault), Ethan Sizemore (Thrower), Malcolm Terry (Thrower/Jumper), Jacob Walker (Sprinter/ Jumper), Ashton Wheeler (Sprinter/Jumper) and Kaid Williams (Distance).

Newcomers to the squad include: Bradyn Alley (Distance), Kamden Beebe (Sprinter), Wyatt Bohanan (Sprinter), Ethan Bohmke (Distance), Carson Cash (Sprinter), Benjamin Elliott (Thrower/Jumper), Wesley Garner (Thrower), Trever Garnett (Distance), Bruce Hilburn (Thrower/Jumper), Isaac Luney (Thrower), Ricky Norris (Thrower), Michael Phillips (Thrower), Cannon Rose (Thrower) and Zayne Uzlik (Sprinter).

A trio of seniors will be tasked with leading the team this season — Wheeler, Lindley and Ethan Bohmke.

“We are hoping our seniors are good leaders for the underclassmen,” Weldy said. “We are also hoping our seniors have great seasons personally, as well, as they enter their last season as a Cassville Wildcat athlete.”

Cassville’s returning sprinters bring back most of the points from last season, and Wheeler is a returner with high-level experience.

“We return quite a few sprinters that scored points for us last year,” Weldy said. “We bring back most of our throwers and have gained a few more. Ashton was a state qualifier in long jump last year and has a chance, along with several other of our athletes, to go to the state meet this May.”

Shifting from long to short distances, Weldy said the Wildcats will have to improve throughout the season.

“We graduated a really good class of seniors last year, and they were predominantly distance runners,” Weldy said. “So, that is an area that we will have to replace a lot of points from. I think our distance group will get better throughout the season.”

The Wildcats hope to see the largest turnout on April 16, when they will host the Wildcat Relays.

“It’s an enjoyable group to be around and I’m excited to see them compete this spring,” Weldy said.

Cassville has competed in two meets already, Aurora and McDonald County. In Aurora, the Wildcats took second place as a team. Individual results include:

1st Place

Long Jump: Ashton Wheeler, 6.18m

Discus: Nic Fierro, 35.16m

800m: Ethan Bohmke, 2:10.33

1600m: Ethan Bohmke, 5:00.04

3200m: Ethan Bohmke, 11:27.25

2nd Place

Pole Vault: Corbin Rhoads, 2.90m

Shot Put: Ethan Sizemore, 11.04m

Discus: Ethan Sizemore, 31.69m

4×100 Relay: Jacob Walker, Kyle Bailey, Kamden Beebe, Ashton Wheeler, 45.55

4×200 Relay: Jacob Walker, Kyle Bailey, Kamden Beebe, Ashton Wheeler, 1:36.57

3rd Place

Shot Put: Isaac Luney, 11.01m

100m: Jacob Walker, 11.62

200m: Kyle Bailey, 24.20

1600m: Kaid Williams, 5:30.24

3200m: Jacob Hudson, 12.03.48

4th Place

400m: Bradyn Alley, 1:06.95

800m Kaid Williams, 2:25.86

5th Place

Triple Jump: Jesse James, 8.99m

High Jump: Jesse James, 1.47m

Shot Put: Ricky Norris, 10.47m

3200m: Malcolm Terry, 14.26.35

6th Place

Triple Jump: Zayne Uzlik, 8.60m

High Jump: Zayne Uzlik, 1.42m

7th Place

High Jump: Bruce Hilburn, 1.42m

100m: Kamden Beebe, 12.33

8th Place

200m: Bruce Hilburn

At McDonald County, results included:

1st Place

Long Jump:  Ashton Wheeler, 6.32m

3rd Place

4×100 Relay: Jacob Walker, Kyle Bailey, Kamden Beebe, Ashton Wheeler, 45.73

4×200 Relay: Jacob Walker, Kyle Bailey, Kamden Beebe, Ashton Wheeler, 1:35.93

800m: Ethan Bohmke ,2:08.12

3200m: Ethan Bohmke, 11:00.82

4th Place

Shot Put: Isaac Luney, 12.19m

6th Place

Shot Put: Ethan Sizemore, 11.47m

Pole Vault: Corbin Rhoads, 2.90m

200m: Jacob Walker, 23.67