CLAFLIN — Central Plains track coach Dustin Robison had never seen as many question marks heading into a track season.
Robison knew multi-talented athlete Lawson Oeser would run track, but he never found out whether Zoe Potter, Brynna Hammeke or superstar Emily Ryan would compete in track.
“The state basketball tournament was canceled and we never got back to school,” Robinson said. “I never found out who would’ve run track. It was a tough decision, but a terrible deal for everyone. I had really high hopes for our girls team. Our boys team would’ve moved forward.”
Oeser, a two-time state tennis qualifier, was a diamond with immense potential.
“Lawson would’ve run 100, 200, long jump and triple jump,” Robison said. “He would’ve been a candidate for the state track meet.”
State qualifier Cole Lamatsch placed 12th in the 1A 3,200 (10:47.96). The Central Prairie League champion 3,200 relay (10:43.7) which placed ninth at state returned Jennah Jeffrey and Monica Short.
Other regional returnees expected were the fifth-place 3,200 relay (9:10.04) with William Laymon, Lamatsch, Jacob Oberle and Dawson McNeal returning; the sixth-place 1,600 relay (4:43.9) with Jeffrey, Addison Crites and Riley Thompson returning; eighth-place Tyler Holmes, javelin (141-0); ninth-place Short, 800 (2:53.07); ninth-place Thompson, triple jump (32-51/2) and javelin thrower Lexi Oeser and 800-meter runner Short.
“Our boys had great potential in the 3,200-meter relay with everyone back,” he said.
BOYS TENNIS – The Oilers featured two-time state tennis qualifier J.J. Heredia. Heredia (23-11) won two matches at state last year after previously winning two matches in 2018 with a 18-12 singles record.
Two-time state qualifier Lawson Oeser was expected to run track. Oeser teamed with Paxton Hammeke (24-7) to place ninth at state with a 5-3 record at the state tournament at Prairie Village. Oeser (11-4) finished 2-2 at state singles in 2018.
The Oilers placed fourth at state in 2019, missing a state trophy by one point. Doubles veterans Brett Liebl-Devin Ryan (26-1) placed runner-up with a 7-6 (7-3), 4-6, 7-5 loss to Wichita Collegiate’s Max Wheeler-Luke Swan.
The Oilers finished as 3A state runner-up in 2017 and 2018. Bittner celebrated his third Class 3-1A boys state championship trophy in 2016. Bittner coached Claflin High School to boys state tennis championships in 2003 and 2007.
SENIORS—J.J. Heredia, Andrew Maier
JUNIORS—Karter Beck, Michael Menges
SOPHOMORE—Hunter Green
