BILLINGS – Weather permitting, high school’s spring sports season is attempting to launch this week.
That includes track and field at Billings West.
The West girls are coming off a third-place finish at state and should be just as strong both on the track and in the field this season.
Don’t underestimate what Maddie Brockel can do for the Bears if she’s healthy. Last season, after recovering from a torn ACL, she won state titles in the 200- and 400-meter races, while also running a leg on the Golden Bears’ championship-winning 400-meter relay team.
Now a senior, Brockel also makes a pretty good coach.
“Even last year we had some kids come in and I remember a conversation distinctly with one of them, and they were basically still in junior high mode. I sat down with Maddie and her and we basically mapped out how it’s supposed to be,” recalled West head coach Rob Stanton. “So if our younger girls do exactly what she’s doing — her routine, warmup, cool down, preparation, her mental toughness — that’s more than what I can give them as a coach.”
Brockel’s take on helping her younger teammates is similar.
“Just welcome them in, don’t scare them away,” she said, smiling. “Just show them how to do everything and how to succeed instead of stepping over them.”
The West boys and girls are scheduled for a home meet Thursday afternoon.
