Having reached the top for five of the past six years, the Bravettes track and field team knows the glory of success and the rush of winning a state championship.
This year, however, the team will have to win without the services of '96 grads Summer Whitehead and Jody Ruby, who combined for 61 of the Bravettes 119 points at state last year in Bozeman.
"It's always tough to lose kids like that," said Bravettes track coach Joe McKay. "But we have a lot of good kids coming back."
Many of the Bravettes think this year's team will have more depth and won't need to rely as heavily on a few outstanding athletes, such as Whitehead, to be successful.
"There will be a wider variety of placers in events instead of just one athlete, of just one athlete," said junior Renee Azcas, who was a member of last year's state champion 4x400 relay team. "It will be more of a team contribution."
Senior Kelly Fosberry agreed: "We're going to miss Summer Whitehead, and that will hurt us, but we will make it up in other areas."
In fact, the Bravettes will have a lot of athletes with varsity experience back this year.
"We will have about 38 letter winners from last year's team," said McKay. "That gives us a really strong nucleus of athletes to build around."
Among the returners from last year is the majority of the cross country team, which will compete in the distance events, said senior Keegan Rumsey.
"I think we should do pretty good," said Rumsey. "We have more returners from state than we did last year."
In the field events, junior Lindsay Hopkins is hoping to improve on a sixth-place javelin finish at state last year.
"Most of my competition was seniors last year so they will have graduated," said Hopkins. Placing "in the top three is my goal."
As the only returning individual state champion from last year, senior Lusha Alzner has a chance to repeat as state high jump champion.
"She went 5'4" last year," said McKay. "I'd say right now she has a good chance of winning again."
Seniors Shannon Grace, Tia Rhodes, Kelly Hayden, Alzner and Rumsey are expected to provide leadership for the rest of the team, said Mckay.
One concern for the Bravettes this spring is whether the season will begin on time due to snow.
"I am excited for the track season, if we ever have one," said Hayden. "How are we suppose to have track with two feet of snow on the ground?"
Assuming the snow does clear, the Bravettes track team is looking forward to another year of success.
"I can't wait to get back out there," said Kari Hill. "I am totally pumped."