Dec 05, 2008 - 04:05:31 CST
University of Mary track and field coach Mike Thorson wouldn't mind seeing a smile from Tyler Zacher once in awhile.Zacher assured his coach that he loves his daily routine as a jumper for the Marauders.
"I enjoy it a lot,"the sophomore from Beulah said. "It's the best thing I have going right now. You don't see me joking around as much. I'm a little too internal at times. It's something I don't take lightly, but it's something I enjoy, too."
Zacher is one of the bright spots returning for the men's team. He was the Northern Sun indoor triple jump champion, qualified for the NCAA national meet and was named the NSIC newcomer of the year.
Zacher finished last season with a personal-best jump of 47-4½. He and the Marauders will open up the new indoor season at MSU-Mankato on Saturday.
Zacher's last season mark was an improvement of about 2 feet from his high school best.
"The adjustment to college was the biggest help,"said Zacher, an athletic training and physical therapy major. "Getting more technique, more solid and more patient. The difference in coaching was the biggest difference. They are breaking things down easier in college."
U-Mary coach Mike Thorson has noticed improvements in Zacher from last season.
"He's bigger, stronger and faster," Thorson said. "We're looking for big things from him in the jumps, especially the triple. He's a hard worker and a dedicated athlete."
Zacher believes that the first phase of his jump needs the most work. He's hoping some fine tuning in that phase can help him reach his goal of 49-0.
"Ineed to be more patient,"Zacher said. "I'm landing with my leg out in front of me instead of underneath me, so I'm losing a lot of momentum. I'm trying to get to my second phase too early, and I'm losing momentum."
The men's and women's teams will both be missing team depth through athletes leaving school and a plethora of injuries.
"The years we were in transition (from NAIA to NCAA), we didn't recruit well," Thorson said. "It has caught up with us. The blame lies with me because we didn't do as good of a job recruiting."
For the men, Josh Obrigewitch, an NSIC champion shot putter, will not compete because of back problems.
The Marauders do return Jesse Piper (national qualifer, indoor and outdoor conference champ); Jake Alexander (an indoor and outdoor conference champ in the pole vault) and Matt Neff, a heralded distance runner.
Gone from last season's team are middle distance runner Tony Wood and sprinter Luke Schander.
For the women, Cassie Blazer, one of the top hurdlers and sprinters in the NSIC, and sprinter Josie Reiner will leave school at semester break.
Michelle Huxtable (middle distance, hurdles), a conference champ, won't compete because of an injury.
Mishay Weber (sprinter) and Kacie Sweep (100, 200 conference champ) are all slowed by injuries. Weber, Sweep and Kristen Stewart were are all returning All-Americans from the 400 relay.
Hannah Moen (middle distance), Destinee Keller (jumper) and Melissa Ramirez (thrower) have used up their eligibility. But Kristen Neumiller (distance) and Alyson Piccolo (10K conference champ), Holly Hassler (javelin conference champ) are solid returners.
The losses and injuries will threaten the women's two-year hold on the conference title.
"It's not a good time for a rebuilding year when the conference just got twice as tough," Thorson said in reference to the four North Central Conference teams that have joined the NSIC. "We don't have the normal quality people that we have had in the past, and we don't have the depth. If every year was great year, everybody would coach and do this stuff."
The NSIC meet will score the top eight placers, instead of the top six, because the conference expanded.
"Maybe I'm being too pessimistic," Thorson said. "We have a good freshmen crew for the men and the women, but those are some pretty big shoes to fill. It's tough to count on freshmen that first year."
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