Continuing the program...

POLSON — Things will be a bit different this year for Polson track and field. For the first time since 1976-77, legendary coach Bob Gunderson will not be at the helm.

However, new head coach Mike Ellis and a dedicated staff want to continue the direction Gunderson had set the program and build on the foundation he laid.

“Bob did a great job and we want to continue that,” Ellis said.

POLSON — Things will be a bit different this year for Polson track and field. For the first time since 1976-77, legendary coach Bob Gunderson will not be at the helm.

However, new head coach Mike Ellis and a dedicated staff want to continue the direction Gunderson had set the program and build on the foundation he laid.

“Bob did a great job and we want to continue that,” Ellis said.

Having been the throwing coach for the Pirates for the past four seasons, Ellis likes what he sees from the Polson track and field team. He’s hoping that the Pirates can be a power in the conference with the multitude of talented athletes they have on the roster.

A young Polson boys team took fourth last season at divisionals while an experienced girls squad placed second. With plenty of returners, both Pirate track teams should challenge for Northwestern A supremacy.

“I look for us to be in the top two of the conference,” Ellis said. “All around, I think we’re going to be fairly decent in every event.”

Polson had a great turnout of athletes with 68 kids coming out for track, including 28 girls. The Lady Pirates won their last track and field state championship in 2010. The girls were fourth last season at the state meet.

“So far the kids have come out with a great attitude,” Ellis said. “We want to have kids motivated to get faster and become better athletes. We’re trying to make our athletes better in other sports like football and volleyball.”

Ellis had a lot of kind things to say about his coaching staff, saying that they’re a good, devoted group of people. Ellis said his coaching style will be to let each individual focus on his or her own specialty.

Coach Rob Alfiero will oversee middle distance, sprints and relays, an area that Ellis thinks Polson will be very talented in.

“I think our sprints are going to surprise some people,” Ellis said.

The ultra-speedy Anna DiGiallonardo was fourth last season at state in the 100-meter race and third in the 200-meter race for the Lady Pirates. Paul McClurg, Chris Cote and Eric Williamson will anchor short-distance running events for the Pirates.

Ellis said that Zack Camel will also be a solid competitor for the Pirates in the 400-meter race. Coach Kris Sampson will look after the jumps, core strengthening and statistics for the track team. Ellis is very appreciative of what she brings to the team.

“With me teaching in the middle school, she helps with making sure we’re connected with the kids,” Ellis said. “She knows every kid.”

Coach Rob Kelley will oversee the high jump and pole vaulters.

Polson pole vaulters were dominant last season and Ellis expects to see more of the same this year.

“Our pole vaulting boys with Brock Bleazard should be strong,” Ellis said. “For the girls, Claudia Hewston, Kat Medland and Amelia Brooks should be good.”

Coach Chris Alfiero will help with the hurdlers, which includes sophomore Jared Rubel, the only freshman in Class A last year to make the state meet.

“That’s pretty impressive,” Ellis said.

Matt Seeley, who coaches cross country in the fall, will mentor Polson distance runners. One breakout runner this season should be sophomore Aja Starkey who is just coming off nordic skiing junior nationals in Utah and is in great shape before the season has started.

“If we look at her times in eighth grade, she would have placed in the mile and two mile at the state meet for high school,” Ellis said.

Young phenom Claudia Hewston should also be strong. She was fourth in the 800 and third in the 1,600 at the state meet last season.

Ellis, who will continue to focus on the throwers, hopes Clark Rubel can bounce back from an ACL injury during football season and continue to do well in the discus and shotput events.

He also likes the growth he’s seen from Riley Sampson in the shotput.

“He should place at state this year,” Ellis said.

With a new head coach, an enthusiastic coaching staff and plenty of talent, Polson should look a lot like its strong pole vaulting team — clearing obstacles and reaching new heights every week.