West Central Valley junior Willow Ray is looking to build on her sophomore year for track and field, especially in the high jump event.

Ray just concluded her wrestling season, where she advanced to the state tournament for the second consecutive year. Now she will focus solely on the upcoming track and field season, as Ray came in second to Emmetsburg’s Rachel Schany in the high jump last year, with a mark of five feet and four inches. She is using that performance as motivation to go a little further this year.

“Getting that runner-up at state, it upset me a little bit, but also it’s a great opportunity. I’m hoping to go for the gold this year and I’m also going to have fun with it and not take it too seriously, because being upset while doing anything ruins me being able to do it well.”

Other goals that Ray points out is that she’ll work on her open 200 meter dash as well as the open 100 meters. The first meet for the West Central Valley Girls Team will be on March 10th in Cedar Falls for the Dickinson Relays.