The indoor track and field team is excited to discover what the season has in store and to welcome their new coach, Edward Graves, to the program. The team is changing this year after losing key graduated seniors on both the boys’ and the girls’ sides. However, they are ready to work hard and started the season out strong at their first meet on December 4, following Thanksgiving break.

At the MCPS scrimmage meet, the Warriors held their own against 24 other schools from around the county. The team was competitive in events overall. Quality individual performances came from senior Karim Alexander, who placed second in the Men’s 55-meter, senior Isaiah Bobo-Amang, who tied for first in the Men’s high jump, and sophomore Sasha Moscol Morales, who ran consistently in both the Women’s 55-meter and Women’s 300-meter sprints. The team will continue to build on this in their upcoming meets in the remainder of December and throughout the rest of the season.

Graves enters the program with a strong resume, showcasing his extensive experience in indoor track and field. In the past, he took eight programs to the Potomac Valley Athletic Conference (PVAC) championships, composed of independent high schools in the DC Metropolitan area, winning four boys’ titles and four girls’ titles. He also coached many athletes who went on to compete at the collegiate and national level. Graves stresses the importance of being consistent and competing with intention to his athletes.

“We have true athletic depth — sprinters with speed, distance runners with grit, and throwers and jumpers with real power. That’s a strong foundation,” said Graves. He wants the team to focus on good technique, strength, and proper recovery this season.

Training for meets can be tough, as Sherwood does not have its own indoor track. However, the team has adjusted to training in hallways, the gym, and outside, and has not let this hold them back. The team is well-rounded with athletes competing in events ranging from sprints and distance running to throwing and jumping, and can be dominant across all events.

“We want to see balanced team scores and get on some podiums! We have a lot of talent. I know several athletes are aiming to qualify for nationals this season,” said senior runner Maddy Quirion. To bond and build a stronger team, the Warriors hope to participate in team-building activities throughout the season. They will also support each other as they face the challenge of balancing schoolwork while attending long track meets during the season. This will help the team compete as a unit at meets and push each other to be the best they can be.