It’s not easy replacing two perennial state placers, but that’s the task set before Plains’ first year track coach, Tony Banovich.

Banovich will lead a Plains team that for the first time in four years will be without either Dillon Fryxel or Trent Thompson. Both were regulars on the leader board during their careers, Fryxel as a jumper and Thompson as a thrower.

Believing that many heads are better than one, Banovich has brought in nine assistant coaches to help bridge the experience gap which was widen by the departure of two stars.

“I figured the more people we have the more attention we can give to the kids and the more they’ll learn and the better performance they’ll have,” Banovich said. “Everyone brings a little different skill set to the table so we have the technical aspects covered and I think the kids will be pretty well served.”

Lending their expertise will be James Jermyn, Ethan Harvey, Brian Taylor, Denise Montgommery, Justin Holmes, Kevin Meredeith, Karl Benson, Nathan Freeze and Marie Errecart.

This Plains team is not without talent, howver, as Banovich expects a number of athletes to advance to state in 2011.

Among those with high expectations are returning Horsemen seniors Taylor Firestone and Kenneth Beech and juniors Carter Montgommery and Robert Earhart.

Banovich thinks Firestone is simply too talented not to return to state in the triple and long jump and hopes he can place again this season while Montgommery is still looking for his first state medal despite qualifying in the mile and two mile last year. Hoping to make it to state for the first time will be Earthart, and Beech. Each is looking to build off of the momentum built up during cross-country this fall.

The Trotters will be led this season by a quartet of juniors. Diamond LaDeaux is the only returning Trotter with experience at state after qualifying in several distance races last year. Hoping to join her this year are Frankie Winebrenner, Nikki Kunzer and Kelsey Beagley.

Winebrenner and Kunzer are hoping to hurl their way to state, while Beagley likes her chances as a sprinter or jumper.

Plains also has a number of impressive freshman who will make their high school debuts at the team’s first meet of the season next Saturday in Frenchtown. Banovich is looking forward to big things from Wiley Winebrenner, Ben Gorham and Nicole Rehbein as they hope to get their careers off to a good start.

“This sport is my passion. I’m just excited to be able to get in and share it with the kids. Hopefully [I can] make it fun for them so that they will come back for next year,” Banovich said.