Rather than focus on the fact that nearly half the student body has joined the small-school team, Sheffield head coach Jason Snell would prefer to focus on the number one, as in one team for “one last ride” in the high school’s final year.

“The coaching staff and myself have been so blessed by the kids that have come out for track and field in my tenure in the last five years as a head coach,” said Snell. “From day one, I wanted to surround the kids and myself with a staff of coaches that have the same visions as me. Kids first, loves Sheffield, hard work ethic, and creating a safe place for any and all athletes that come forward, no matter what their athletic ability may be. We want every kid that may of always wanted to feel like part of a special group to do just that. The kids that may have feared to come out because of bullying, not being as athletically competitive as others, or just possibly rejection from a team in general. Kids will be kids, but no matter how athletically gifted you are, you treat every one of your teammates with the same respect you desire or else you aren’t part of the culture we desire plain and simple. The message of ‘we want you’ to each and every kid at Sheffield High School.”

The roster includes 11 seniors: Madison Connolly, Emily Davidson, Sarah Hoffman, Michah Kelley, Katie Powell, Colby Barr, Andrew Hoden, Andrew Kyler, Marc Lewis, Alex Marfink and Braylon Winslow.

“The great thing about track and field is that everyone is a starter,” Snell said.

Returning letter winners for the Sheffield girls track and field team include, in front, from left: Raelyn Wightman, Kaitlyn Finch, Maddy Snell and Chloe Robinson. In the middle are: Rachel Farnsworth and Alanna Warrior. In back are: Emily Davidson, Sarah Hoffman, Katie Powell and Madison Connolly.

“Everyone gets to compete and, as coaches and Wolverine athletes, we have prided ourselves on and almost made it our identity of standing and cheering every athlete that comes out for our program from seventh through 12th grade, during competition and beyond. And I say ‘program’ proudly because that is exactly what it is. Junior high and varsity may compete at different levels, but we practice together as a whole, we meet and communicate together as a whole daily, and we support each other as a whole daily. Put all of those recipe ingredients together, and kids that never knew they could compete athletically — let alone successfully compete, and be part of something for the greater good, the success just began revealing itself.”

Juniors are Rachel Farnsworth, Addisen Heeter, Bailey Hutchinson, Dajanay Thomas, Nevaeh Valentine, Alanna Warrior, Zachary Barnes, Aamond Bowman, Jack Chapman, Nicholas Hagg, Isaac Hammerbeck, Hayden Holden, Ben Lindberg, Emre Morgan, Wyatt Newark, Noah Nuzman, Landon Snell and Will Zdarko.

“Track & field may have individual accolades, but having a team-first mentality and seeing the smiles, confidence earned, community support, and the huge numbers for a small school compete together, is why I am so passionate about this program and what makes it so unique,” Snell said. “Something the small Sheffield community gave me and my brothers as kids that didn’t always have the perfect, best-scenario childhood. Us coaches are just lucky enough to get to witness it daily and hopefully help reveal to each and every one of them that they are special, cared about, and bring something to our table. Through all the new confidence and camaraderie, all we can hope and ask for is that when they leave Sheffield, they leave with tools against life’s hard lessons of adversity. That just maybe, through sports participation and being a good teammate, they will have possibly cemented in their brain, that they will believe that life is about overcoming and that anything is possible when you believe in yourself.”

Sophomores include Sydney Barr, Kaitlyn Finch, Avri Hornburg, Chloe Robinson, Kelsi Silves, Madison Snell, Raelyn Wightman, Noah Callander, Chase Fetzeck, Tra’Von Jackson, Caleb Steffan and John Whipple.

“We have so many leaders and great role models returning for one last ride to lead by example and set great expectations,” said Coach Snell. “We have lost some of our talented and great athletes and students this season due to the simple and uncomplicated ability of transferring to Warren full-time, or the many, many travel sports programs that have begun the overtaking and sinking of small-town sports. We still have 90 kids out from grades 7-12 that want to be here and want to make as many bittersweet Wolverine memories as possible as fate will permit and allow.”

The freshman are Viola Anderson, Tymber Barr, Peyton Heeter, Kelci Kiser, Lily Richards, James Chapman, Travis Childress, Garrett Copley, Cayden Davis, Landen Faul, Grayson Harper, Joby Hilyer, Orion Ihme, Keianu Kelly, Gordon Vinopal and Owen Winslow.

“Our expectations are the same every year — a Northern Tier League championship,” added Snell. “The boys have been so, so very close the past few years and the forfeiting nine points for pole vault always is a huge factor in that scenario. The boys’ toughest obstacles will be, as always, Coudersport and Port Allegany. They always both return an army of talent. The girls always struggle with lower numbers and trying to field a team that can compete all across the board and participate in all events. This year, through lots of leadership by some returning Lady Wolverines upperclassmen, we are looking better than ever to be able to compete with anyone. Besides an NTL title, every year, especially it being our last season, we as a program want to qualify more athletes to the District 9 Championships than the prior year or ever for that matter. I think we are in a great position to do that as well. We have some very athletic underclassmen that have moved up this year and will immediately be competitive at the varsity level.

“It, being the last season, changes everything,” said Snell. “As coach Michael Barr said during football season, we are going to ‘make memories’ — that we can cherish forever. We are going to put it all out there and whatever results come our way at the end, we will be proud of the work, efforts, time we had, and memories we have all made together on Wolverine Mountain.”

Sheffield returns 28 letter winners and 14 District 9 Championship qualifiers.

“In the last few seasons, on the boys side, all three relays have qualified for districts and the girls 4-by-100 has made the trip as well,” said Coach Snell. “It is looking good to maintain our success with strong relays with many key parts returning.

“On the girls’ side, sophomores Madison Snell and Raelyn Wightman return to lead the ladies in sprints. A senior and 300-meter hurdle record holder, Sarah Hoffman returns to lead the hurdles with the up-and-coming talented freshman Tymber Barr joining her. In the 400 and up, sophomore Kaitlyn Finch leads the pack with some awesome additions and newcomers this season in junior Addisen Heeter, and freshmen Peyton Heeter and Lily Richards. In jumping events — a multi-sport star also playing softball for the Warren Dragons — senior Emily Davidson and sophomore Chloe Robinson return to lead the jumping duties while mentoring a few new faces in those events as well. Senior Madison Connolly is a returning leader in all three throwing events. In shot put and discus, she is joined by Madison Snell, a 2024 D9 qualifier in the shot, and in javelin, Connolly is joined in dominance with fellow senior Emily Davidson. Lots of promising young lady Wolverines in the mix as well in throwing.

“On the boys’ side, senior captain Colby Barr returns to lead the sprints and relays.

Joining him in the sprints is returning junior Jack Chapman and oncoming and

speedy freshman Landen Faul. In the hurdles, Sheffield returns a plethora of talent, including some district qualifiers. Senior Alex Marfink is a quiet but unsung leader in the hurdle events. His stellar partners in these hurdle events include sophomore Chase Fetzeck and juniors Isaac Hammerbeck, Hayden Holden, and Zachary Barnes. Freshman James Chapman joins them bringing lots of potential. In distance, senior Marc Lewis and junior Emre Morgan bring their exceptional stamina and endurance back for another season. Senior vocal and lead by example treasure Andrew Kyler also joins them occasionally as well as adding his talents to the throws. Freshman Garrett Copley is new to the ranks of distance this year, but is showing lots of great effort and potential. When speaking of the jumping Sheffield tracksters, a couple of juniors stand out, one a returning ’24 D9 qualifier. Juniors Aamond Bowman and Will Zdarko hope to continue success in the pits and clearing the high jump bar. In the throwing events for the Wolverines, the talent isn’t just a couple guys dominating it all. Every event has its own leaders. In the shot put, Alex Marfink and freshman Joby Hilyer are standing out. The discus, juniors Landon Snell and Emre Morgan aim to please in the netted sector. And, in the javelin, senior Braylon Winslow and juniors Wyatt Newark and Ben Lindberg have been getting better distances daily. Junior Nicholas Hagg also adds a lot of depth and talent to the Wolverine throwers.”

Sheffield starts on Tuesday, April 1, at Otto-Eldred, and its home opener is scheduled for April 3 against Johnsonburg.

“Memories and meaningful moment lessons to prepare our athletes for the real world are our focus this year,” said Snell. “Many tears will be shed this year, but they will be shed together. Most importantly, everything happening this year, it will be done together.”