Kelsey Ackerman | Sports Co-Editor

As the football and soccer games wind down, the Buena Vista University (BVU) track team begins their indoor season.

The biggest challenge the team will face this winter is small numbers. With not as much depth, keeping everyone healthy and injury free is the goal.

On the women’s side, the Beavers return many key athletes as well as add talented new freshmen to the roster.

“The coaching staff believes we could have be top-5 at the conference meet. We have a great group of girls that love to work hard,” head coach Ryan Schroeder said.

Many of the girls have worked hard not only over the summer, but also with fall workouts. Along with fresh faces in incoming athletes, the team also has two new coaches to add knowledge to practices.

“The combination of new athletes as well of the two new coaches will no doubt be in our favor as this season progresses,” sophomore Shania Wunschel said.

On the men’s side, the team is still growing. The numbers are small, but the athletes that are here have been working hard through the summer and fall in preparation for the season.

“We have a potential to have multiple All-Conference performances, but not quite the depth when it comes to team scoring,” Schroeder said.

Once concern that comes with having small numbers, is being able to fill all the events at the meets compared to the other teams in the conference.

“We will have to rely a lot more on our fitness and mental toughness rather than large numbers in order to score points. If we continure to work hard at practice and in the weight room, I think we can do some special things this year,” junior Mark Eberly said.

The Beavers open their season on Saturday, Jan 16th at the Dordt College Indoor Meet.

Photo by Taylor Staab