With a new but familiar face piloting the Valley Regional girls’ outdoor track team this season, the Warriors are housing all the right intangible traits and tangible times to continue to trek and trend upward with regard to their stature within the Shoreline Conference.

Longtime Valley track Assistant Coach Jake Bocian is now at the helm as the Warriors’ head coach this spring. Thus far, in terms of wins and losses in the dual-meet decisions, Valley is above the .500 mark by sporting a healthy 4-2 record.

Bocian explained that spring may be in the air, but any even potential cases of Spring Fever have been non-existent thanks to a hard-working group with a veteran upper class setting the pace of production towards terrific times and numbers.

“As a coaching staff, we have been very proud of this young team,” said Bocian. “Our upperclassman leadership has really strived to shape a positive and supportive climate, and the response from the rest of the team has matched that goal. The student-athletes we have on the team have been willing to work, to learn, and to get better everyday. The spring can be a challenging time of year with a lot happening as students make the final push towards summer. Despite this, the athletes have remained focused and dedicated.”

At the top of that upperclassmen leadership brigade is lone captain in senior Bailey Hilliar, who takes part in the 200, both hurdle events, along with being one leg of the 4x400 relay squad. While putting her full effort forth every single day around the program, she additionally exhibits great proficiency as a medium between athletes and coaches.

“Bailey is very positive and holds teammates to expectations,” said Bocian. “She is very supportive in communicating with coaches and teammates, and she always lends a hand with whatever is needed. She is an extremely hard worker on the track.”

Additional senior standouts include Lily Freese, who is a long and triple jumper and relay racer for the 4x100, plus fellow leaper Audrey Board in the long and high jumps. Both have already made their mark and have punched their postseason tickets to the Class MM State Championship in emphatic fashion.

“Lily is new to the jumping events but has already qualified for states in long jump. She also leads our girls’ 4x100 team,” said Bocian. “Audrey is a state-qualifying high jumper at 4’10 and is working to break the school record this season.”

For the junior class, Sam Vile is an essential core piece of the field event rosters with the javelin, shot put, and discus. Abby Reardon is also making major strides in short-distance and relay runs.

“Sam is a two-time Shoreline Conference Championship qualifier in the javelin and is on the verge of qualifying for states. She is the leader of our girls’ throwing unit,” said Bocian. “ Abby anchors both the 4x400 and the 4x100 relay teams. She has a great attitude and works very hard.”

Lastly for sophomores, Cecilia Wilkens is an anchor for the 100 and 300 hurdles, while flashing her flare in the air with the high and long jump competitions. Holly Board ignites via her endurance by taking part in the 800, 1600, and 3200, along with the 4x800 relay.

“CeCe [Wilkens] is a promising young athlete that has qualified for Shorelines in every event that she competes in despite just recently returning from an out-of-season injury,” said Bocian. “Holly brings a very enthusiastic attitude to the team. She is our ‘coach in training.’ She is currently one of our top point scorers and has qualified for Shorelines in all of her events and is part of the state-qualifying 4x800 relay team.”

The girls also defeated Hale Ray and took a loss versus host Coginchaug back on April 25. The Warriors were led by Holly Board, who won the 800 meters with a time of 2:41 and performed her season best for the 1600 with a time of 6:03. She was also on the winning 4x800 relay team (along with Grace Aberderhalden, Maddie Riebold, and Emilee Surber) with a time of 10:58 which qualified for states. Lily Frese won the long jump with a jump of 15’2. Freshman Kaleigh Duggan won the triple jump with a jump of 26’2. Campbell Massey won the pole vault and qualified for states with a vault of 7’6. Audrey Board won the high jump with a jump of 4’6.

Following a tri-meet against host Haddam-Killingworth and Morgan, the Warriors were home for Senior Day on May 16 against Westbrook and Portland to finish off their final postseason preparations.

When asked about the squad’s targets for the remainder of the 2023 campaign, Bocian details that those can be very subjective, though the ultimate main objective for the program is to continue to gain confidence and success on various levels while garnering more respect and admiration in the conference.

“Our goals this year are success both for individuals, which can be as simple as beating a personal record or all the way up to a victory at the state-championship level, and as a team, such as winning dual meets and being competitive in the conference,” said Bocian. “We always aim to grow the program and to be more competitive both in the conference and at the state level. The future looks bright at Valley.”

The 2023 Valley Regional girls’ outdoor track team roster is comprised of seniors Abderhalden, Board, Freese, Isabella Giuliano, Hilliar, Lorena Preston; juniors of Madison Barfield, Molly Manco, Reardon, Madeline Siegel, Surber, Morgan Toth, Vile; sophomores in Lily Belcher, Board, Rubee Cecchini, Kendall Costello, Olivia Dart, Chloe DeFelice, Jasmine Ferguson, Danna Lopez-Criollo, Delny Marsden, Massey, Wilkens; and finally freshmen with Dugan, Bethany Erkkila, Corallina Giuliano, Rowan Herlihy, Nyla Maignan, Anahi Matute, Madelyn Riebold, Carly Sonn, and Sonya Xaypanya.

Bocian, who was a Warriors’ assistant coach for six previous seasons, is assisted this spring in his first campaign as head coach by Kathryn Ryan, who is in her sixth campaign in that capacity.

2023 Valley Regional Girls’ Outdoor Track Team Schedule

Wednesday, May 24: Shoreline Conference Championship at East Hampton at 2:30 p.m.

Tuesday, May 30: at Class MM State Championship at Willow Brook Park at 10 a.m.

Monday, June 5: at State Open Championship at Willow Brook Park at 1:30 p.m.

Monday, June 12: at State Hammer Throw Championship at Willow Brook Park at 4 p.m.

Tuesday, June 13-Wednesday, June 14: at State Heptathlon Championship at Willow Brook Park at 10:30 a.m.

Tuesday, June 13: at State Steeplechase Championship at Willow Brook Park at 3:30 p.m.