There’s a new competitor in Noxon these days, a high school baseball team. But the existing spring high school sports program is also still there.

And as the 2024 season gets underway, sharing will be an important ingredient for the school’s track and field team.

Junior Ricky Williams, a 6-1 multiple sport standout for the Red Devils, was a state caliber competitor in the high jump last year before an ankle injury slowed his roll, but he was also a state qualifier in the long and triple jumps.

Williams came out for the school’s new co-op baseball team with Thompson Falls, but as is the case with a growing number of student athletes, he is also competing for the Noxon track team.

Williams’ decision to pursue both sports was no doubt welcome news to track coach Matt Havens.

“We have a lot of new kids out for track this year,” Havens said. “What we are lacking in experience we will make up for with a good work ethic”.

One of the biggest losses, perhaps the biggest of all from last year’s Red Devils is due to the graduation of senior Emily Brown, who moved on to college this Fall. Haley was a big point getter for the track team and a vital cog in the school’s basketball and volleyball teams the past few years.

Havens said the Red Devils have been using the first few weeks of pre-season practice to sort out and match players with events they show an aptitude for.

“We are looking for a few kids who can step up and take charge this year,” he added.

Noxon opens its 2024 track season this Thursday (Mar 28) with a trip to Frenchtown for the Frenchtown Invitational meet. The first event begins at 9:30 a.m.