The Big Sandy Mountaineer -

Head Coach of the Big Sandy Pioneer Track team Melanie Schwarzbach asked me to interview the assistant coaches this year. She believes their commitment to the kids is incredible. There are 20 athletes out for varsity track this year and she appreciates all of the volunteer effort the assistant coaches give the athletes.

Bernie Ellingston has been involved in Big Sandy Track for 15 years. “I love every minute.” He didn’t want to talk, except to say, “it keeps him young and involved.”

Shersteen Cline has been the coach for the javelin for three years at Big Sandy. She threw the javelin in high school and excelled at it. She loved it. “It’s fun and I have seven students trying it. I asked her why she volunteers? “The kids. They make it worthwhile.”

Charlie Klimas comes down from Havre every day, but his interest in Big Sandy Track started when he went to school in Big Sandy. He didn’t tell me what year he graduated, but he still is a Big Sandy boy. His involvement as a throwing coach for Big Sandy started at Districts last year. Charlie said, “A coach usually challenges you, if you’re a person of any size, towards the throwing events, but really it is a sport any person, of any size, can do because it is highly technical. It’s hard to learn it and it takes time.” He was the throwing coach at Havre High and he had an athlete, Scott Steckel, who broke a 25-year-old Montana record. He followed that with a National discus winner.”

“We (Big Sandy) did not have a shotput ring. We talked to Brad Moore, he was pouring cement and he agreed to build a ring to specifications. Frank Leeds (Construction) and Jimmy Johnson donated their time and their expertise in creating a model ring for throwing. The school district didn’t pay anything (other than the cement) for that model ring.” He wanted to acknowledge his old students and thank them for their help in creating the ring for Big Sandy. Jim Ray bought us a discus.

“They have opportunities now to succeed and that’s what I want for them.” The last count is four girls and three boys doing the throws this year. “There is great potential among them. Generally speaking they throw both. It is highly skilled event that requires repetition.”

They started throwing some soft balls the weight the same as shot put ball. Med balls—because of the weather.

It is kind of funny how he made a commitment to Big Sandy. Bernie was talking to MSU Coach Kennedy, Scott Steckel’s coach, and he mentioned that Charlie would be a good resource. He didn’t know Charlie was from Big Sandy. “I can’t just show them I had to teach them. So, I committed. So here I am. And I love it! The kids are terrific kids.”

Serena Cator also joins the coaching staff working with athletes who want to try the high jump. Serena held a divisional record for a time in the high jump. “I love the kids,” and I want to help anyone who would like to try the high jump.

Even with the snow-covered fields, they have been holding practice indoors so they were as ready as they could be for the first track meets of the year.