Lutheran West returns several talented athletes and has strength in numbers as the Longhorns look to compete for a conference title this spring.
Last season, Lutheran West’s girls’ team placed fourth at the Chagrin Valley Conference championships while the boys’ team was fifth.
“The team overall has many new faces and is one of the largest teams we have enjoyed in a while,” said ninth-year head coach Anjanette Arabian Whitman. “We have some key returners who will help spark success with our newcomers. We especially are excited for the opportunities in the field events and relays with our depth. We look forward to seeing how we can put together everyone’s talents to enjoy a successful season ahead.”
Key returners include seniors Evelyn Albers, Morgan Jenkins, and Manny Diaz.
Albers, who will compete in college at the University of Dayton, is the school record holder in the high jump (5-3). She qualified for the regional meet in 2021 and was an indoor state qualifier in the event in 2021 and 2022. She previously qualified for the 2019 outdoor state meet in the high jump and won the 2019 Patriot Athletic Conference title in the event.
Jenkins, a Concordia University commitment, qualified for the 2022 New Balance Indoor Championships in the weight throw and also qualified for the Ohio indoor state championships in the event in 2020, 2021, and 2022.
Diaz, who won the CVC title in the 300-meter hurdles last spring, was a regional qualifier last spring in the 4×200-meter relay and also qualified in that event for the 2022 indoor state championships.