As the start of the 2023 Lowellville Rocket Track Season begins, there are many key athletes returning to the team and new players and coaches joining. With the hopes of going to state this year and bringing more people than last year, many people are wondering what motivates the team and what goes on during the season to give the team such hope.
Coach Bobby Ballone, a five year track and field coach, expressed he is really looking forward to seeing how well the team and individual athletes improve, especially at the bigger track meets such as county, league, and state . When asked what the team goal is for this upcoming season Coach Ballone stated, “Our biggest goals this season will be to compete for the Mahoning County and MVAC League Championships, and also improving the number of kids that we have moved on from Districts to Regionals, and then to State. If we could increase the number of athletes moving on to regional and state, we could possibly compete for those championships as well.”
Coach Ballone also mentioned that the team really wants/needs to focus on things like the weight room during the season and in the offseason. As well as taking each part of track practice seriously, (especially the hydration and stretching), and putting the extra time in to prepare our bodies to be in top shape so they can accomplish all of our goals. When asked why he became a track coach, Coach Ballone expressed, “I wanted to become the track coach to help build a program and to be a major part in shaping and improving the overall athleticism of our student athletes, along with competing all the way to the state level. In my opinion, track and field is the most important sport you can do to help improve speed, strength, and make you better in every other sport that you do.” Coach Ballone also included how he enjoys watching the student athletes succeed in a sport he enjoys watching/coaching.
Michael Ballone, a junior on the Lowellville Rocket Track Team, is one of many track athletes who believes that this season will be one of the best track seasons we’ve had. Michael says that the reason this season is different for him than past seasons is because, “The clock is running down, I only get a couple seasons left to reach my full potential. I’m stronger, more focused and faster than I’ve ever been.”
Michael also added that he hopes to do better this season than he did in the past. He is hoping to accomplish getting the 110m Hurdle Record and Resetting the 300m Hurdle Record again. When asked what makes the preparation for track different from other sports, Michael stated, “It's more detailed than any other sport I play. From block starts, the angle of my feet, my stride length, everything. I record and rewatch how I practice every time I work on sprinting. As well as the foods I consume in my body. Obviously being an athlete you need to eat right and drink plenty of fluids but in track you really need to stay dedicated and disciplined with that.”
As the Lowellville Rocket Track Team continues to prepare for their first meet on March 25th at Mineral Ridge, we wish them the best of luck on their upcoming season.
Comments