Saugatuck girls track and field a unique and well-rounded squad heading into regionals

SAUGATUCK - The Saugatuck girls track and field team has been a powerhouse for two decades, most often led by a plethora of distance specialists.

This year's Trailblazers are again one of the top teams in the state, but are led by sprinters and field events, something unique in recent program history.

"The past two years we have been in the rebuild phase. We have been clawing our way back. We have always been a distance school, and we still have a lot of up-and-comers there, but this is a different distribution than we are used to," Saugatuck coach Angelina Bauer said. "We have some stars in field events and that is different for us. It has been fun for us to see that."

The Trailblazers have a lot of new faces contributing and they will look to lead Saugatuck to a regional title at home Friday, while qualifying for state in their individual events.

Freshman Novella DeGraaf has been one of the top pole vaulters and hurdlers in West Michigan in her first varsity season.

Meanwhile, junior Niki McNeil broke the school record in the discus and has thrived in her breakout season.

Senior Brook Simpson joined track not having run since freshman year because of basketball and injuries, but she is one of the top 400-meter runners in the state and thrives in the sprints.

That trio added to junior Mazie Robison, an all-state hurdler, has brought together a new dynamic to the Trailblazers.

"It is so amazing to see the team be so diverse with events," Robison said. "This year, I have a different mindset. Last year, I was ranked first at state and got second. That took a big toll on me. After that, I put in a lot of work for hurdles. Luckily, I have Novella. I would not have the times I have now without her. She pushes me in practice and in the meets. That is why I was able to get PRs."

DeGraaf feels the same way.

"With hurdling, it is going amazing for me. I feel like that is where I have improved the most this year. Having Mazie there, she pushes me to go faster every race. The 4x100 broke the school record, which was pretty amazing," DeGraaf said. "I am pumped, and I feel like we are going to still get so much better. It is really thrilling because even though I am just a freshman, I have brought a lot to the team. It is so great to meet so many people and contribute."

In the 300 hurdles, DeGraaf's 50.13 is just behind Robison's 48.98 and in striking distance of Lily Francis' school record of 47.27. In the 100 hurdles Robison holds the school record at 15.26, with DeGraaf just behind at 15.86.

DeGraaf has been as high as 10 feet, 3 inches, on the pole vault this season, the second best in school history behind former state champion Sydnie Avery (10-6).

DeGraaf and McNeil have brought a new level of field events to Saugatuck. For McNeil, it happened almost by accident. Now she is the school record holder at 116 feet, 8 inches. She has been as far as 30-1 in the shot put.

"I did track in eighth grade, and I didn't run very well. One of my friends was doing shot put by herself and I decided to join her," she said. "My height really helps. I have a lot length to be able to through and it gives me extra leverage that helps. It is so cool to have the school record. It is so much fun. I never would have guessed that I could get to this level. I am excited to keep on pushing."

So is Simpson, who is looking to finish her career with her best race before heading to Bowling Green for basketball next year. She has been as fast ast 59.11 in the 400, breaking the school record. She is second in Saugatuck history in the 200 (26.99) and third in the 100 (12.94).

"I haven't ran track since freshman year and I had to adapt to a lot. Track is really building up my muscles for basketball and that is why I am doing it. But I am really competitive, and I love track. I love the 400 and I am better at that distance," she said.

It all adds up to a unique team with unique capablities - some the athletes might not even realize yet, something Bauer is excited to see.

"We have a lot of kids who don't know what to expect, and there is a lot of magic in that," she said.

Contact sports editor Dan D’Addona at Dan.D’Addona@hollandsentinel.com. Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter @DanDAddona or Facebook @HollandSentinelSports.