TRACK FACTS & TIMELINE
by Mickey Story

• I have been coaching track for 25 years at Onekama School, 2 years as junior high boys’ coach and 23 years as high school boys’ coach.
• Since 1990, over 1,000 students have participated in track and field.
• We average 80-85 students in grades 7-12. Largest group: 105 students. This year, we have 45 high school students and 40 middle school students.
• We have at least one senior each year, on average, who goes on to run track or cross country in college. Several have received scholarship offers, including senior Tony Thomas from this year’s team.

1981: The Onekama Lions Club agreed to purchase the pole vault and high jump pits. We are still using these same pits.

1981 — 2003: Volunteers have been used to score the meets, time the runners, run the clocks and announce at the events. The only paid official has been the starter.

1983: First year of the Onekama Ward Invitational, which annually raised funds for the track program.

Craig Peterson State Champion in the Shot Put (still has school record)

1987: First conference championship (smallest school in Northwest Conference). Conference championships repeated in ’91, ’95, ’96, ’98, (Northwest Conference).

1988: John Bull State Champion in the High Hurdles

1990: Track was resurfaced. First year of co-operative program with Bear Lake School (an example of an excellent working partnership with another small school that benefits students.)

1992: Todd Mrozinski State Champion in the Intermediate Hurdles

1994: First regional championship. Regional championships repeated in ’96, ’98, ’01, ’02.

1994: Coach Bonnie Brown and myself raised over $2000 to purchase hurdles and pay for an assistant coach.

1994: Ryan Fink State Champion in the 800

1998: Onekama hosted regional track meet for the first time. Prepping track to meet state specs done entirely by volunteers..

2000: Join West Michigan D Conference. Conference Champs 2000, 2001, 2002.

2000: Jeff Johnson State Champion in the high jump (still has school record)

2001: Advised the administration that lack of maintenance to the track would incur increasing costs, and asked again to begin fundraising.

2001: Having directed the Onekama Days 5K race for 14 years, I asked the Onekama Lions Club to consider donating any profits in future years from the race towards the track team.

May-June, 2002: Last year for Onekama Ward Invitational; other schools were expressing concern over safety of the track for their athletes. Both boys & girls teams won their conference and regional championships, becoming the only school in the state to do so. The superintendent gave the approval to begin raising funds. Volunteer effort spearheaded by Matt Stedman raised over $2,000; then we learned that the entire surface of the track, including the asphalt underneath, would have to be replaced, not repaired. This would mean a cost of approximately $70,000.

August — Nov., 2002: The Lions Club allowed us to use the 5K as a fundraiser for track team supplies; we raised over $1200. The Lions Club held a pancake breakfast in November, 2002 which raised over $1500 specifically earmarked for the track replacement fund.

June 2003 Tony Thomas was state champ in the pole vault.

August 2003: The track has been completely redone . The old surface has been removed and new surface has been installed and is waiting for striping. $1500 was raised during the Onekama Day's 5K run/walk. This money will go to the replacement of the pole vault pit. Anyone who has ideas about raising enough funds($10,000 will be needed) could call me 889-5984 or Jerry Brown 889-4708. Of course, we would gladly accept donations!! ...Mick Story.