By BRAD BAUGHMAN, for The Democrat

Brown County High School boys track Coach Kirk Wrightsman remembers March 13, 2020, all too well. That was the last day that he was able to conduct a practice with his squad before the spring sports season crashed to a halt due to COVID.

So, like all current spring sports coaches, Wrightsman is not just dealing with the normal laundry list of early season responsibilities; he is also trying to make sense of and recover from a season that never was.

“First, it has opened our eyes to the fact that we should never take anything for granted,” Wrightsman said about the lost opportunities.

“From a performance standpoint, we have some ground to make up. It will especially be true with our field events where we just were not able to get much practice before the season was shut down. I don’t see it being as much of an issue with our running events since kids could still get out and train on their own,” he added.

Wrightsman sees a 2021 season full of hope and promise for the Eagles. “We have a lot of new faces, but there is potential,” he said.

A solid group of seniors will play significant roles on this year’s squad. Ricky Stanley will run the sprints and provide experience in the pole vault. Cameron Fox, a former middle distance runner, who according to Wrightsman, “has put a lot of focus in the weight room,” will also be running the sprints, along with fellow senior Nick Ponzo.

Reid Davis returns as a thrower, the lone area where Wrightsman says “we have a good amount of depth this year.”

Underclassmen who should contribute include sophomore distance specialist Chase Austin and jumpers Isaac Roberts, a freshman, and Chris Trotter, a sophomore.

Wrightsman says he has “been impressed with the attitude and effort of our team over the first couple weeks of practice” and believes his athletes should be able to compete solidly in each event. His biggest concern for the season is depth. “We have a very slim margin for error. We have to do the little things to stay healthy because we can’t afford to lose anybody to injury,” he said.

While the threat of COVID still exists, Wrightsman has taken a proactive approach to practice planning. “We have put in several precautions to try and minimize exposure to the virus and minimize the impact a positive case might have on our team,” he said.

He also believes the track meets may have a different look as well. “I think you will see team camps outside the facility sometimes, and the only time you might be in the track facility is when you are competing. There’s a lot you can do outdoors to minimize exposure.”

If all goes well, the Eagles will see their first competition Tuesday, April 6, when they travel to Bloomington North for a three-way meet with the host Cougars and Bedford North Lawrence.

“Last spring was difficult on the kids and coaches. Being able to be outside practicing has helped us realize that we are heading in the right direction,” Wrightsman said.