By Justin Sokeland
WBIW.com
BEDFORD – Bedford North Lawrence track will have plenty to cheer about in 2026.
First, the roster has been bolstered by the welcome addition of six cheerleaders, who decided to showcase their athletic skills in the spotlight of competition. Second, the Stars have experienced depth – including three returning regional qualifiers.
That’s quite the mix among the 26 athletes, both known commodities and unknown, on the roster.
”We’ve got a lot of new faces in the sprints, with freshmen, and some cheerleaders who have come out,” BNL coach Jason Webb said. “It will be interesting to see.”
The obvious starting point is the returning talent. Paige Voigtschild is a two-time defending sectional champion in the 800 meter race, she won the sectional last season in the 1600, and she set the school record in the 3200. That’s the triple crown of distance.
”Anything we ask her to do in distance, she’s always going to do it and do the best she can,” Webb said.
Avery Brown, one of the few seniors, is a returning sectional winner in the pole vault, and sophomore Lily Mishler was a regional qualifier in the 400.
“Lily has worked hard,” Webb said. “Seeing that success, for someone who just came out to have something to do and stay occupied, you could tell she wants to get there again.”
The depth will come from senior Gracie Simmerman, junior Emma Heinzman and junior thrower Madalyn Mason, while senior Madison Chandler and junior Claire Voigtschild are fixtures in the distance races. Kendall Pittman, one of the cheer recruits, has been strong in preseason sprints.
”There’s a lot of unknowns, with young kids and new faces,” Webb said. “We don’t really know what to expect with some of them. We’ll try to figure out where we can put them, try to be as good as we can be for the sectional.”
BNL will open the season on April 2 at home against Barr-Reeve, Mitchell and Orleans.
