Timber Creek Boys' Track Wins Fifth Straight Title

For some, Timber Creek’s Olympic Conference Patriot Division championship-clinching win over Winslow was business as usual. For others, it was an opportunity to experience a thrill never before achieved.

Whether the emotions were cool and calm, or downright giddy, they were all based around a sense of accomplishment as the Chargers won their fifth straight Patriot Division title.

“It feels good,” said Mike Dickerson, who got the meet started with a win in the 400 hurdles. “I’ve never experienced this in my life. I’m grateful to have Coach (Chris) Grottini, Coach (Rob) Hinson and all the other coaches. They are like fathers to me. If it wasn’t for them, I wouldn’t be the guy I am today.”

Timber Creek senior Calvin Lowe knows plenty about performing in big moments. As a quarterback, he led the Chargers football team to a state title. On Monday, he helped the school collect more hardware with a first-place finish in the javelin.

“It’s always special when it’s Timber Creek and Winslow,” Lowe said. “Our main goal is to just get the job done as the team and we did.”

Winslow arrived at Timber Creek tied for the Patriot Division, but never came close to threatening the Chargers in what became a 103-33 result. Timber Creek (5-0) got contributions up and down its lineup. Winning events were Greg Block (400), Cameron Allen (1600), Ryan Wolf (3200), Josh Gray (100 hurdles), Quanzell Lambert (shot put, discus), Lowe (javelin), Jon Payne (triple jump), Davis Rozyda (pole vault), Larry Russell (high jump) and the 4x400 relay team.

“We have kids that just work hard and don’t take anything for granted,” said Grottini, the head coach. “It’s kind of nice to win another title.”

Dickerson got it started with a personal best time of 1:00.4 in the 400 hurdles— an event he just learned this year.

“It feels kind of scary, but when you get into it, you get in the zone,” Dickerson said. “When I first started doing hurdles I was kind of scared, but then I started doing alright at it.”

While Dickerson was clearing hurdles, Lowe was throwing his personal best in the field, launching the discus 168-1 feet.

“Pretty much all week coach (Chuck) Newsome showed me a new form to use in the javelin and I practiced it hard,” Lowe said. “I came out here and I used it, and it worked well for me.”

Lowe is one of a host of track members that also play football. He said the togetherness the group shares goes a long way.

“It’s a great bond we share, a great brotherhood,” Lowe said. “We all carry that over from the football field to here. We all make sure that no matter what happens we all stick together as a team because that’s what a bond is, really.”

The Chargers still have plenty to look forward to this season with the Olympic Conference Meet scheduled for Wednesday and Sectionals less than two weeks away. Grottini is hoping the strength that carried them through the conference schedule will show through down the stretch.

“Winslow is a good team and they are definitely ahead of where they were last year and they are going to be good again next year,” Grottini said. “I think we are just a little bit deeper and we are going to hope that depth carries us a little later in the season when we are looking at sectionals.”

NOTE: The Winslow girls’ track team defeated Timber Creek to win the Olympic Patriot title in a meet also held at Timber Creek.