By TOM ZEBOLD
USF Senior Writer
TAMPA - A solid mix of youth and veteran talent is on tap when it comes to the USF track and field team's pole vault and throws squads.
The Bulls get their indoor schedule going Friday at the Bob Eubanks Open in Grand Rapids, Mich., where coaches will be eager to see how newcomers and veterans fare.
USF excelled in the pole vault last season and welcomes the return of Wyatt Metzger, who missed the majority of 2011 with an injury. The redshirt sophomore ranks as one of the top five pole vaulters all-time at USF and made a splash in 2010 by placing sixth at the Big East Championships with a leap of 15-9.
Metzger will be joined by an impressive group of freshmen this season starting with Drew Volz, who is a two-time Indiana state champion in the pole vault like his father and has a personal best jump of 16-8. The team also has added Tampa Plant High School graduate Brian Baird, who is a Florida state champ.
On the women's side, USF has reloaded in the pole vault after losing three Bulls who finished in the top five at the Big East championships last season. Junior Nicole Smith does return, however, after finishing 11th at Big East in 2011.
Assistant coach Don Marsh promised USF has brought in some good freshmen and among them is Carissa Leonardi, a state champion from New York. The team also has Britanny London, a state champ from Michigan, and Melissa Wilson, a state runner-up from Virginia.
"To replace those girls from last year is going to be hard, but these young girls are working hard. I think they're going to do a good job for us," said Marsh, who is in his 14th season with the Bulls.
USF is loaded with talent in throws and returns senior Jared Thomas, who earned second-team All-American honors last season while finishing second at Big East in the shot put.
"My expectation is for him to improve on that," said assistant coach Toby Colyer, who is in his sixth season at USF.
Freshman Justin Osking enters his first season as a Bull after winning multiple state championships in the shot put and discus out of John Carroll High School in Fort Pierce, Fla.
The USF women's squad is boosted by the return of senior Casey Wagner, who broke the school record in the javelin last season with a throw of 160-4 at the Big East Championships. Wagner also comes in with a wealth of national level experience, including a 17th place finish at the NCAA East Prelims last season.
Senior Sarah Canter also is back and will be looking for a return trip to the NCAA East Prelim, where she took 39th place in the javelin in 2010.
Atasha Warren is back and the senior gives USF talent in numerous throw events. She finished eighth in the shot put at Big East last season and also is a nice weapon to have in the weight throw.
USF was looking to add depth in throws and accomplished the feat by getting Hannah Gospodinsky and Shelly Dulman.
Gospodinsky, a freshman, competes in the shot put, discus and weight throw. Dulman, a sophomore, was the second-highest scorer last season at College of DuPage North Central.
Be sure to check GoUSFBulls.com the rest of the week for previews on the remaining parts of the squad leading up their their meet Friday, Jan. 13.
