18 lettermen back to lead Humboldt boys’ track

When it comes to North Central Conference boys track, the Humboldt Wildcats always have a say in the outcome.

This spring will be no different for the Wildcats, led by veteran coach Greg Wickett. Wickett and his coaching staff greeted 18 returning lettermen out of a squad of 43 when pre-season practice began.

The Wildcats placed third in last year’s NCC meet and advanced six events to the Class 3A state meet, where the 4x800 relay took 10th and departed senior Tyler Carlson placed fourth in the high jump. Humboldt also returns key performers in the field and hurdling events.

“We have a good group of seniors and juniors. Out of our 10 seniors, four of them are returning state qualifiers, along with two juniors who competed at state last year,” Wickett said. “We have a good group of guys back with experience.”

“In the throws, we have to start with senior Jack Guy, who qualified for state last year with a 50-foot throw in the shot. Joe Constable is a move-in from Fort Dodge. He’s a really strong kid who will contribute in the shot or disc,” Wickett said. “Senior Cael Donahe is a veteran who looks good early in the year. We have a good group of upperclassmen who will make good contributions.”

“Last year in the high jump we graduated a good senior in Tyler Carlson, who placed at state. This year we have some good performers ready to move up and contribute,” Wickett said.

“Levi Rieck has done a lot of good things in the strength and conditioning program we have in school. He has great leaping ability but we have to teach him how to high jump. We’re optimistic about him in that event,” Wickett said.

“Carter Reed and Hunter Brodale have looked really good in the high jump so far this pre-season. We’ve got good competition there,” Wickett said.

“In the long jump we graduated a good one in Elliot Carlson but we return a good one in Cash McIntire, a junior. Cash jumped 20-9 last year. I expect big things from him in that event,” Wickett said. “We’re going to try Levi Rieck in the long jump as well.”

“Gabe Newell is a sophomore showing promise in the long jump. We have to have enough of those younger guys to fill in and also gain valuable experience for the future,” Wickett said.

“In the hurdling events we lost some good athletes last year, especially in the shuttle hurdle relay event. We had a really good JV shuttle last year and so we expect those guys to step up and contribute. Valley Davis is a senior returning in the hurdles. Griffin Groat is a junior who also returns experience. Luke DeWinter is a strong hurdler who will figure. We have some freshmen and sophomores who have looked good in pre-season whom I expect to contribute well,” Wickett said.

“Our hurdling events and our sprinting events will be among our strongest events. In recent years we were stronger in the middle distance events but we have a lot of good sprinters back this year,” Wickett said.

“Valley Davis, Chase Flaherty and Jackson Flaherty are three seniors who will figure in the sprints, even though they ran some middle distance races last year,” Wickett said. “Jacob Girres is a senior who will be out this year and competing in the sprints.”

“Griffin Groat is a strong athlete who improved a lot over the winter in our strength and conditioning program. For a big linebacker-type of kid he’s got good speed,” Wickett said.

“Cash McIntire is probably the fastest kid on the team. He’s a junior who will help out in those events,” Wickett said. “Others who will figure for us include Nash Palmer, Levi Rieck and Carter Reed.”

“In the sophomore class Brayden Dahl has really impressed us this year with his speed. Dane Clark has worked really hard in the weight room. He’s put on some good weight and good speed and is a lot stronger,” Wickett said.

“Brady Roth will figure in the varsity events for us. He has looked good in the hurdles,” Wickett said.

“Our freshman class is somewhat of an unknown going into the new season but I feel good about that class of 15 kids. They are going to contribute. It’s a good group of kids I look forward to working with,” Wickett said.

“I think we have the guys who can fill in where we need people and help us score points all throughout each meet this season,” Wickett said.

“I think we’ll score points right away in the field events and even win some of those events and then we’ll hit the ground running as we get into our running events,” Wickett said.

“We’re not going to be a powerful team that will win every meet but I feel we have enough talented and hard-working kids that we will be competitive and make some noise this spring,” Wickett said.

Wickett picks Algona as the favorite to win the North Central Conference. There will be talent throughout the league. Last year Algona (184), Clear Lake (170), Humboldt (110) and Iowa Falls-Alden (91) comprised the top four teams. Webster City (61) and Hampton-Dumont-CAL (58) followed. Fort Dodge St. Edmond (36) and Clarion-Goldfield-Dows (25) rounded out the scoring.

“Algona returns everybody from all of their key events last year when they won the conference championship. Clear Lake has a bunch of really good kids. They had a sprinter move in from South Hamilton who is really fast,” Wickett said.

“Hampton has some good kids back and I can see them moving up. We had a good year. Those four teams will likely challenge for the upper half of the conference,” Wickett said.

Wickett’s coaching staff returns intact. Wickett work with the sprinters and hurdlers as well as the high jump and long jump athletes. Coach Doug Van Pelt will work with the distance, middle distance and also sprinting athletes.

“Joel Hoogland will be working with the distance and middle distance guys. He coaches cross country in the fall and so he knows what the kids can do and does an awesome job,” Wickett said.

“Derrick Elman is our throws coach and does a great job with it. He also helps out in the weight room,” Wickett said.

“Overall, we have a great staff and a bunch of guys who have been around the block and I’m blessed to have them,” Wickett said.

Humboldt will host the annual Charlie Bunn Relays on Friday, April 10, starting at 5 p.m. with the field events.

Look for daily news and sports updates online at www.humboldtnews.com.

2026 WILDCAT BOYS
TRACK SCHEDULE
Mar. 20 Humboldt Indoor meet
April 7 at Eagle Grove
April 10 Charlie Bunn Relays
April 13 at Fort Dodge
April 16 at Adel
April 21 at Webster City
April 23-25 at Drake Relays
April 23 at Algona
April 24 at Pocahontas
April 28 at Emmetsburg
April 30 at Storm Lake
May 7 NCC meet, Algona
May 15 Regional meet, TBA
May 21-23 State, Des Moines