The West Sedona School Wildcats dominated the opposition in the Tri-Valley Track and Field Championships on May 2.

The West Sedona School Wildcats dominated the opposition in the Tri-Valley Track and Field Championships on May 2.

This was the fourth year in a row the Wildcats have won this event.

“I thought the meet went really well. We’ve done it for four years now and this was the best one. We get better every year,” Head Coach David Hoover said.

If you think the high school has a good track team, start paying attention to these kids in the lower grade levels at West Sedona.

These kids left every competitor they faced in the dust, winning all four age-level divisions.

“We did as good as we ever have before,” Hoover said.

The girls fifth- and sixth-grade division scored a total of 81 points, the next closest was Camp Verde at 63.

Sixth-grader Jillian Bradshaw was most impressive, scoring 34 of the 81 points for her team.

Not only did Bradshaw win the 100-meter hurdles and the long jump, but she finished second in the 200-meter dash and third in the 100-meter dash.

Sixth-grader Tiana Hatler was just as impressive as she scored 26 of the 81 total points for her team.

Hatler won the shot put and the discus fairly easily and she finished third in the 800-meter run.

Bradshaw and Hatler together scored 60 points, or 75 percent of their total team points.

“This has been the most awesome group of girls we’ve ever had,” Hoover said.

In the girls seventh- and eighth-grade division, the Wildcats posted 50 points to beat Beaver Creek’s 33.

Eighth-graders Rachel Cook, Hope Goimarac and Sarah Schlenler carried the Wildcats, finishing no lower than fourth in any event in which they participated.

“We dominate everybody. We are so much better than everybody in the small schools,” Hoover said.

As for the boys, the fifth- and sixth-grade division scored 99 points. The next closest was Camp Verde at a measely 20 points.

Cesar Pedroza won the 1,600-meter run with a 6:05, and Josh Serin finished right behind him with a 6:07.

Also, Steven Sundberg finished second in the shot put with a 31’ throw.

Of all the divisions, the boys seventh- and eighth-grade divsion from West Sedona was the most dominating.

They finished with 44 total points, the next closest was Beaver Creek with 4.

“We had a pretty good team last year, but this year’s team beats them, we have more depth,” Hoover said.

Along with Troy Loparco’s long-jump victory, A.J. Garnello finished second in the shot put with a 38’2” mark.

Hoover has been at the helm of the Wildcats track program for 11 years, and he says this group is something special.

“Overall, this is probably the best team we’ve ever had here at West Sedona,” Hoover said.

“We set a goal this year to be the best school, period,” he said.

Not only this year, but every year the Wildcats have produced quality track teams and athletes.

“What impresses me the most is that we can compete at a high level and we compete consistantly every year,” Hoover said.

Can you say dynasty? Chalk up another title for the Wildcats.