Staff photo by Caleb Brinton. Front Row L-R: Ainsley Gronewald, Beau Madsen, Jalyaa Claxton, Kyla Benck, Kamden Schwebke, Kayla Mattson, Londyn Bowers, Aiden Lightfoot 2nd Row: Lylah Becker, Ceci Nowicki, Aubrey Benoit, Brian Schwebke, Phoebe Madsen, Norah Chase, Ashley Singleton, Ava Rathman 3rd Row: Mason Williams, Maddison Schulenburg, Layla Johnson, Vannah Madsen, Lynsie Salic, Brahm Sill 4th Row: Aiden Stith, Cohen Byrne, Rex James, Alex Benck, Jacob Mattson, Colton Donohue, Jonah Moeller 5th Row: Coach Alex Roorda, Brayden Becker, Tim Foster, Brock Steinbrink, Jaxon Bellecourt, Vaughn Thompson, Coach TJ Williams

GRANADA — The Granada-Huntley-East Chain/Martin Luther/Truman Jaguars track and field team is ready for its inaugural exclusive season. With 16 returning athletes and 24 newcomers, things are shaping up for a solid season.

“This is the first year of the Jaguar exclusive co-op between GHEC, Martin Luther, and Truman,” said Jaguars head coach Alex Roorda. “We have 16 returning athletes, including senior Jackson Madsen and Addison Sill, juniors Kayla Mattson, Londyn Bowers, Ashley Singleton and Layla Johnson, sophomore Lynsie Salic, freshmen Vaughn Thompson, Ainsley Gronewald, Bowan Sill and Lylah Becker.”

Adding 24 new athletes this season, the program shows good growth, with many first-time participants joining the team. However, new members present challenges, and the coaching staff is focused on overcoming them.

“Our focus this year is on speed and mechanics,” said Roorda. “As a coaching staff, we are all on board with the idea that speed is the catalyst to success in all athletics, and if we can increase speed for all our athletes, it will benefit all our Jaguar athletic programs like football, volleyball and basketball.”

This being the first year of the program, it is about establishing the culture of the young program and working towards success this season and beyond.

“With it being the first year of the program, we are focused on building our ‘Jaguar Culture,'” said Roorda. “We want to build a firm foundation for success not just this year, but for many years to come. We have huge numbers in our seventh to 10th-grade classes and if we can continue to build them up, the future will be bright for the Jags.”

With a fresh new look it is not all about the wins and losses but constant and consistent improvement, but most importantly having the right attitude.

“Attitude is everything,” said Roorda. “Ability is something that can be tweaked and built, but a good attitude and a willingness to work hard is something that cannot. In the first few weeks of the season I’ve been so impressed by all our athletes. They are motivated, dedicated and determined to be great and I couldn’t ask for any more as a coach.”

The Jaguars program is set for an exciting first season and will take to the track for a 5:30 p.m. meet on Monday against Mankato Loyola in Mankato.