The current version of the Aberdeen Roncalli track and field squads will likely look much different at the end of the season if all goes to plan.

The Cavaliers will try to improve from week to week with a goal of peaking at the right time of the season.

“We don’t necessarily pay attention to times and distances, yes it’s a measuring stick, we certainly don’t really pay attention to place,” said Roncalli co-coach Mark Stone. “Our goal is not to see how many medals are in the bag at the end of the year. … We set goals and we’re trying to be better than we were last (meet).”

The ultimate goal is that with weekly improvement the athletes will be able to reach their full potential for the biggest meets of the season.

“We always hope that our kids compete hard and improve every week on their personal goals, maybe their season goals, and just develop some of that confidence,” said Roncalli co-coach Jackie Braun, “and hopefully each week they get a little bit stronger, mentally tougher and are proud of the work that they do during that week.”

The Cavaliers will feature young squads this spring, but possess a high ceiling.

“We’re a bit inexperienced, on the other hand, we have some athletes on our boys’ team that I believe over the course of the season … will really blossom and really grow and really develop in the events that we’re sort of sliding them in and they’re really working hard at,” Stone said.

That work ethic will be the foundation of the programs this spring.

“Our guys are working really hard. We put some workouts in front of them that they probably wouldn’t have signed up for,” Stone said. “In life, generally the things that are most satisfying are the ones that really require some effort, even more effort than you thought you could give in order to accomplish that.”

The boys will be led by the likes of Austin Fisher, Quentin Shelton and Jean Anthony Thomas. Stone also pointed out one individual in particular.

“Ben Bradley is a tremendous leader,” Stone said of the senior. “Nobody works harder than Ben. Nobody leads prayer more often than Ben, nobody high fives people more often than Ben.”

The girls will be led by a group that includes distance runners Addison Cassady and Hazel Kannegieter, and thrower Rylee Voeller.

“We’re even younger on the girls’ side,” Stone said, “but with girls that isn’t necessarily a liability.”

Kannegieter, known for her running, is also developing into a solid jumper.

“Everybody knows Hazel can run a good 400 and a good 800,” Stone said, “but she’s in the 15’s now in the long jump.”

Voeller is ready to cap off a stellar senior season in her final prep sport.

“Rylee’s kind of sneaky athletic,” Stone said. “She just had a great volleyball and great basketball season, and I’m confident that she’s going to have a good spring season, too.”

Stone said that track and field often forces younger athletes to compete against older more experienced competition.

“Track is unique in the sense that there’s really no JV division,” Stone said. “In a lot of other sports, freshmen and sophomores get opportunities to compete and learn and grow in a JV division. In track and field you’re almost instantly in the mix with the older and most experienced and talented group.”

Braun noted that regardless of the age or skill set, there is always a place for people to compete in track and field.

“There’s a place for everyone. Everyone can contribute,” Braun said. “I want each athlete to find an event or some way to challenge themselves, and really what we focus on too is track prepares athletes for all other sports. We all want to jump higher, we all want to run faster and throw farther.”

In addition to working on the physical side of the the sport, the Cavaliers pay close attention to the mental component as well.

Braun tries to get each athlete to focus on positive mental imaging.

“There’s times that when they may be struggling I always have them envision their greatest achievement, and it doesn’t have to be on the court or on the field,” Braun said, “it can be in the classroom, it can be in the choir room or the band room, and what that felt like.”

The Cavaliers have a rich history in track and field with numerous banners hanging in the school gym, but for Stone it goes well beyond the numbers and accomplishments.

“All kids, no matter the generation, no matter the year they competed, no matter the sport, they all deserve to be valued for who they are as a young man or a young lady,” Stone said, “not necessarily at all as an athlete.”