Father-daughter team on track at Mattanawcook
By Larry Grard
LINCOLN – The last time Kerwin Whitney was head coach of track and field at Mattanawcook Academy, his daughter Sarah was the standout on the girls squad.
Both Kerwin and Sarah Whitney have served since as assistants under Dave Ham. This year, Kerwin Whitney is back as head coach, and he's more than happy to have his daughter working with him.
“She was a really good all-around athlete,” Kerwin Whitney said, “and that's what makes her such a good coach. She coaches the distance runners primarily, and also works with the jumpers.”
Sarah Whitney was MVP of both the outdoor and indoor girls teams in her senior year of 2006. She was outstanding in the 4-by-800, the long jump and the triple jump.
She competed in the Nationals in Indianapolis, and finished ninth in the 1,600 meter racewalk.
Now, the Whitneys are focused on the upcoming season, as the Lynx prepare for their April 20 season opener at Bangor. The coaches welcome back several good athletes on both the boys and girls teams.
On the boys squad, Isaac Ocana and Matt Guiod will be formidable. Ocana owns three school indoor records – in the 200, 55 hurdles and 400 run.
Standout distance runner Matt Guiod finished third last autumn in the Eastern Maine Class C Cross Country Championships.
In addition to Ocana and Guiod, Coach Whitney looks forward to good seasons from Jake Levangie and Jacob Pelkey, among others. Josh Wheeler and Wil Chesley qualified for the State Class C Meet last year.
Erica McPhail, Sam Miller, Mandy Ferguson, Courtney McAlpine, Marissa Jordan and Charlene Maynard will lead a strong Mattanawcook girls team.
2012 Mattanawcook track schedule:
April 20, at with Fort Kent, George Stevens, Hampden, MDI, Orono, PVHS, Ft. Fairfield and Greenville, 1 p.m.
April 28, at MDI Relays, 11 a.m.
May 4, at Bangor with Ellsworth, PCSS, Old Town, Washington, Greenville and Valley, 3:30 p.m.
May 17, at Orono with Hermon, John Bapst, PVHS, PCSS and Calais, 4 p.m.
May 23, PVC JV Championships at Brewer, 3:30 p.m.
May 26, PVC Small School Championships at Foxcroft, 11 a.m.