By AARON MANAGHAN

Sports editor

Track and field at Klahowya is fast becoming a family affair.

When former KSS track coach Leo Suzuki, who shared co-head coaching duties last season with Bob Detweiler, stepped away from the program last spring, Detweiler didn’t have to look too far to find a suitable coaching partner. Now, he shares co-head coaching duties with his son Steve, an assistant last year.

With Steve moving up along side his dad, the team needed a new assistant coach. Once again, the duo didn’t have to search far and wide, with Bob’s son and Steve’s brother, Junior, joining the fold.

“We definitely have fun, the three of us coaching,” Steve said. “And I think the kids enjoy it too when they’re not confused about which Detwiler they need.”

Marty Krafcik also is back on the coaching staff, working with the program’s distance runners. With a full staff, Bob is comfortable with the people around him.

“And the thing is, Marty’s so laid back,” Bob said. “As long as it’s for the team, he’s for it.”

With 49 turning out this season, the Eagles have a mix of talent in various events and the athletes willing to try them all.

“Basically we’re having fun,” Bob said, adding that the Eagles have adopted a new mentality for the new season. “We want the kids to have fun. We’ve also gone with the attitude that we’re not gonna make the kids do anything.”

As a result, they’re finding many of the kids want to do practically everything.

For example, new freshman John Ross who figures to make an impact for the Eagles this season.

“He does four events almost every time,” Bob said. “He’s willing to do any event. He’s a bundle of energy, he really is.”

Having so many kids willing to take on new challenges has only helped the staff evaluate where the team’s strengths lie.

“From there, we see where other kids in the district are, see if they have a chance, see where they can get the most,” Steve said.

But like most high school students, trying new things can sometimes be intimidating.

“We were seeing kids stressing out from the jamboree,” Steve said, adding that several athletes were nervous about how they’d perform.

That led the staff to come up with an exercise in both team building and stress relief, taking the whole team to Chuck E. Cheese’s.

“The idea was to compete and have fun,” Bob said. “While we were down there, they couldn’t believe we were there.”

While the Eagles have been having fun off the track, they’ve also been performing well on it in the season’s early going.

Leading the charge back for the boys team this year is Randy Schmittler, one of the team’s top throwers.

“He’s multi-talented,” Bob said. “He’s running sprints, throwing javelin and discus. He’s not satisfied. He’s never satisfied.”

Paul Kelly is throwing again for Klahowya as well.

On the ground, Cody Shaputis, who spent last season injured, is back in the 200-meter, 400 and 1,600 relay races. Freshman Tim Fuller also is going to play key roles, taking on the 100, 200 and 1,600 relay. Joe Takamure will also run the 200 and fill a spot on relays.

Stephen Hays is back on the distance running side, as is Noah Caffrey.

“He’s still trying to ‘Iron Man’ every event,” Steve said of Caffrey.

The boys team also has a new addition in French exchange student Aymeric “Frenchy” Prieur, who the staff said has lightened up the team.

“He’s a wild one,” Bob said. “He is pretty fast and he has got a sense of humor. He is fun. He’s got everyone laughing.”

On the girls side, Bob said he’s looking forward to seeing senior Sierra Cook finish what she began three years ago, when she first qualified for state as a freshman.

“Sierra is the big one,” Bob said. “I took her her first year. I had just started coaching.”

Now, Cook is looking for her fourth consecutive state appearance.

Fellow senior Sharon Cox returns as another of the multi-talented Eagles.

“And she’ll run any race we want her to run,” Bob said, adding she’s even thinking about trying the pole vault this season.

Bekka Schell is back as a sprinter, with Anna Stewart and Jenna Whetsel also returning. Hurdler Brittany Corley also is making early season progress.

“She’s getting her time down,” Bob said. “She’s doing really well.”

For throwers, the Eagles have sisters Danica and Rebecca Reisy as well as Maile All, who’s recovering from an ACL injury last year. Even with the recovery process ongoing, Bob said All is throwing the javelin 75 feet standing.

Jessica Cantu also is back, running the 400, 800 and 1,600 relay, an example of that same versatility on the girls side.

“It’s good to a) have them, and b) they’re willing to do that,” Bob said of his team.

Kristen Nafie is a newcomer in the high jump, while Emily Kreifels will run distance events. Marissa Olivo, running in the 800 relay, took a spill during the Bremerton Relays a week ago, but displayed toughness the coaching staff likes.

“She’s one of those gamers,” Bob said. “She scrapped up both her knees. Never a tear. She’s a pretty tough kid.”

Rebecca Lindgren is a speedster who will run the 100, 200 and anchor the 1,600 relay.

“She’s a deer,” Bob said. “And I think she’s faster this year.”

“She’s been doing some long jump too,” Steve added. “She is an athlete, almost in its purest form. She tries her hardest for whatever. She’s one of those rare kids who will run until she hits the ground.”

With the team’s strengths distributed amongst the team’s many individuals, Steve said the goals for this season are simple.

“Our goal is to get as many as we can to sub-districts, as many as we can to districts and then as many as we can to state,” he said. “If we get any kids to state, we’ll be happy.”

Klahowya traveled to Sequim along with Peninsula yesterday for an Olympic League meet. Results were unavailable at press time.

The Eagles won’t step back on the track until after spring break, taking on Port Angeles and North Mason on April 11.