The Desert Vista boys look to be competitive in the the sprints this spring. Photo by Margot Kelly.
With it being Super Bowl week it is only fitting I start off my preview series with the Desert Vista Boys team. While Coach Chris Hanson professes to be no Bill Belichick, his results might beg to differ. The good news for his kids though is that he is decidedly friendlier than the gridiron legend.
Normally the focus for most team is on results, and winning races. Not so the Thunder. Coach Hanson prefers to focus on the process. “Individual products can be all over the place. If you stay with the process though, products will become more consistent. If kids fulfill the process the rest will take care of itself."
Last season Coach Hanson's philosophy certainly played out, as the Thunder enter the 2015 track season as the defending state runner-ups. Maybe one of the biggest surprises of the season, at least for an outsider was the fact that they won a large school division 4x100m relay with two freshmen and two sophomores. Sprinting more than any other event in high school track and field tends to be dominated by upper classmen due the natural development that takes in teenage boys. Coach Hanson's process helped Ryan Bender, Kendon Walker, Connor Watson and Isaiah Ford overcome any maturity disadvantages that might have faced. This year they will catch no one by surprise as now they are two sophomores and two juniors and looking for a repeat. If any of them falter Steve Hartshorn West is waiting in the wings. It will be hard to match up with Desert Vista in the short sprints this spring as the quartet only looks to get faster. The sprint crew is not the only portion of the team looking to improve their speed though.
Believing is often the first step to doing. Coach Hanson said he also want to get his state championship cross country guys believing in their speed. “They think they have a lot of endurance, and that's true, but we want to get them racing some 800's this spring as well." Senior Ben Davis leads a strong crew that looks shake things up at all three distance races despite the graduation of Jacob Walimma. Xavier Esparza, DJ Harris and Matt Beeks look to join Davis at the front of the longer races this season. Coach Hanson even indicated that a strong 4x1 mile relay showing might be in the cards for this team at Arcadia if all goes well.
Strong showings in the pole vault are almost as reliable as death taxes and Christmas for Desert Vista. With national coach of the year Jeff Guy on board, they don't rebuild, they reload. Despite losing Jake Alme from last year, Coach Hanson expects big things from this crew. Senior Troy Delaney is currently the favorite to replace Alme at the top of the stick for the Thunder.
Another crew that was hit hard by graduation were the throws. Losing All-State performer Jordan Rezac will not be easy. Another key losses for the Thunder was graduating Jarrell Lister and Adam Ortega. Coach's kids Torrey Hickel and David France will look to fill that void.
Connor Watson, Adonis Battle and Steven Hartshorn West look to lead the Thunder in the jump this spring. Each of the three return experienced and accomplished hoping to score big points for the Thunder. Another strong trio for Coach Hanson's squad comes with the hurdlers. Cole Tippit, Ty Vlaming, and Jack Sampson all have the speed and coordination necessary to put some hurt on the completion and they come hungry for a podium finish at the state meet.
It is likely to see Desert Vista chasing Corona Del Sol again for the state title again this spring. The competition will be fierce, and certainly worth spending a Saturday in May to watch. Arizona Milesplit wishes the Thunder the best of luck this spring.
Editors Note: Since I am new to Arizona Milespit, I have not had the chance to get to know a lot of coaches well. This series will be of coaches I do know and have contact information more. So coaches, if you want your team profiled, please shoot me an email and lets set up a time to chat. I am looking forward to meeting you this spring!