As Jesuit High School’s track season approaches, coach Kessler is excited about the team’s potential. Building off last season’s Metro League title, the Crusaders are set for another successful season, with aspirations of state titles.
“There’s a good group this year, a lot of strong athletes. Winning seems to be in our future and I can’t wait for the season to ramp up,” Kessler said.
Athletes like Grant Valley ‘25, a sprinter in the 100m, 200m, 4×100, and 4×400 races and Max Baricevic ‘25, a 400m, 200m, and 4×400 runner, are setting high personal goals while also keeping their sights on a bigger picture.
“Really I am looking to go below 10.7 [seconds] and honestly try and beat the school record. It may be far fetched but I think it’s doable,” Valley said.
“Our 4×400 team is very strong. And yeah, winning state is definitely a goal of ours this year,” Baricevic said.
The Crusaders remain confident in their athletes, with many people capable of filling varsity positions on short notice. Whether it’s sprinters, jumpers, or throwers, the team can compete at the highest level in all departments.
Jesuit maintains a constant level of leadership, especially through the Leadership Council, which guides the large team (approximately 350 students) in both training and meets. Composed of all events, the array spans across the whole team.
“We work in a pod system. They’re broken down into smaller groups so there are enough coaches to help the athletes maneuver around each other to complete their workouts,” Kessler said.
Kessler keeps up the morale on the team by promoting a mantra of becoming “unafraid.” The mentality encourages athletes to take risks and push themselves, supporting growth and experience.
“We promote this notion of becoming ‘unafraid’, you know. That people should be unafraid to go out there–be unafraid to try something new, regardless of the result,” Kessler said.
To close out his speeches and add on to the value of being unafraid, Kessler tells the whole team to “smile and have fun,” followed by three claps in unison on the break.
“Smile and have fun, be passionate about what you do, and get as good as you can,” Kessler said.
While the ultimate goal for Jesuit’s track team is to secure state titles, Kessler emphasizes the importance of hard work, camaraderie, and personal growth. These values are a foundation for the team and with strong leadership, the Crusaders are set up for a successful season.
Stay tuned for more information regarding Jesuit’s track team this season through Jesuit Media.
