Panthers aim to defend SEC titles

MT. PLEASANT - It's almost that time again in Mt. Pleasant. The defending Southeast Conference champions are just a few days away from their first indoor meet, and it's time to look at what this year's Panther teams have to offer.

Mt. Pleasant returns almost all 21 of their points from the state meet last year, losing just one leg of their sprint medley and distance medley relay teams, which earned one point apiece.

Lexie Magnani is the top name for the Panther girls, returning after a dominant performance in the Class 3A state shot put competition. She threw a 42.05.25 last season, the only Class 3A throw that eclipsed the 40-foot mark.

The Panther girls also return Abby Ryon, Class 3A's fourth-place finish in the 3000-meter run, as well as Maggie Cristoforo, who took fourth at state in the 400-meter hurdles.

Mt. Pleasant's girls team will also bring back four state relay placewinners, Maggie Jennings, Kenna Lamm, Karsyn Lamm and Avery Sutter, along with six other athletes who qualified for state last season.

The Panther boys will have to replace quite a bit from a squad that took sixth place at the state meet last season. Among those losses are state high jump runner-up Sam Beatty, 3200-meter run runner-up Cody Mertens and state placewinners Zach Beason (thrower/relays/hurdles), Chase Lamm (relays/hurdles), Jacob Stukerjurgen (distance), Tate Shull (hurdles) and Dalton Moyle (distance).

Mt. Pleasant will return Rylan Seberg, who took fourth place in the state long jump last year and was also a member of the state-placing distance medley and 4X100 teams. Other key returners include state placewinner Khang Truong (relays), state place winner Konnor Peterson (shuttle hurdle), state placewinner Brody Bender (4X800) and state qualifier Henry Lutovsky (shot put)>

The Panther girls will be looking for their eighth-straight SEC title this year. The boys are going for their seventh-straight crown, as well as their 14th championship in the last 15 seasons.