As the UW-Platteville indoor track and field season comes to an end, the teams are trying to stay healthy and prepare for their last few meets.

“At this point in the season we are just trying to get everyone healthy,” head coach Jim Nickasch said. “We can accomplish that with the appropriate amount of work and rest.”

With the upcoming WIAC confernce championships Saturday, Feb. 28 through Sunday, March 1 at UW-Stout, the Pioneers are taking practices easy to rest their bodies in prepare for the meet.

The WIAC championships take the top 24 individuals in each event throughout the conference. Coaches can attempt to wildcard individuals who could possibly perform well and help the team at the meet.

In preparation for the WIAC championships, the teams are mentally preparing and working on perfecting their technique. They are practicing with the mentality of quality over quantity.

Senior Scott Howard won conference last season in pole vault and he is hoping to repeat this season. Howard believes the team has set themselves up well to make a strong finish in the end.

“You always want to go out on top,” Howard said.

Nickasch hopes everyone will be ready for the important meets.
As the season ends, the teams look back on very strong and solid performances with many individuals setting personal records. Senior Kim Piggott attributes the team’s success to the coaches.

“The coaches set a high example for performance,” Piggott said.

The coaches are good role models and the teammates really motivate each other to strive for their best. Piggott explained how the women’s team would get together the night before a meet and have a spaghetti dinner to motivate one another.

That motivation and practice will hopefully give the UW-P a successful placing in their last meet.