AMBOY –The Amboy boys track and field team has a lot of positives coming into the 2024 season.

There is senior leadership coming from throwers Ian Sundberg and Zach Dunne, the only two seniors on the squad.

There are nine juniors in Joel Billhorn, Caleb Yanos, Tyler Huggins, Kabe Daniels, Josh Mckendry, Michael Shoemaker, Trent Ellis, Jack Heinzeroth, and Ed Fry who have shown talent in the past are being asked to step up.

“We’re looking at 24 kids on this year’s team. The numbers are up a little bit and I’m happy about it,” Clippers coach Jeramey Wittenauer said. “Ian has the potential to be one of the best discus throwers in the Northern Upstate Illini Conference. He’s been close to qualifying for state the last two years, but it just didn’t materialize in sectionals. I hope he can overcome this year and make it.

“Joel Billhorn will be strong this year and I’m hoping he has a breakout year in the 400-meter dash. He could be a potential state qualifier. He’ll be mixed in some relays with other juniors. We had our 4x4 relay advance to state last year. We lost two of the four runners, but we have Joel and Caleb Yanos still with us. We will mix and match some of the other juniors with Joel and Caleb to fill the other two spots.”

There is power in numbers and youth as sophomore Landon Roth is joined by 11 freshmen (Westin Wittenauer, Jose Lopez, Jack Thomas, Gavin Nichols, Henry Nichols, Michael Ackert, Lucas Gascoigne, Caden Hermeyer, Wyatt File, Logan Ketchum, and Jhett Cowser to strengthen the underclassmen ranks.

“We ended last year as the freshman/sophomore NUIC champions,” Wittenauer said. “We’re excited to see what we can evolve the lower-level conference championship into at the next level.”

Coach is looking to plug athletes into field positions behind Sundberg and Dunne in throws, Billhorn in the long jump, and Frey in the high jump.

The triple jump is currently void of a Clipper contestant, but Wittenauer knows he has guys he can try in the event.

Actually, he has guys he can shuffle around until he finds the right fit for every event.

“Early on, the excitement is we’re going to be able to cover every event except pole vault because we don’t have pole vault,” Wittenauer. “I have some kids who are willing to jump hurdles. I haven’t had a hurdler in a few years. I’m excited to fill the events with the numbers we have.

“It’s probably going to take a few meets in the outdoor meets to see what we have and where I can mix and match the kids to see who is going to step up in what event.”