Kinnelon Track Enrollment Nearly Doubles

The was surprised to learn this week that enrollment numbers for the high school spring track team have nearly doubled this year. But Athletic Director Scott Rosenberg said the numbers are reflective of the strong recruiting effort put forth by track coaches, as well as the program's reputation.

"For a sport where you see a lot of new kids coming out for the first time, I think it has a lot to do with who is there," he said.

The track team, as well as all spring sports teams, will begin to practice Friday, and Rosenberg said there are 105 students enrolled in the program this year. At the end of last year's spring track season, Rosenberg said there were 62 students enrolled in the program and this year's winter track program had 46 students.

The majority of students enrolled also participate in another high school sport, fulfilling a goal of the high school athletic department to have students participate in multiple sports.

"Track is a little bit different, just by the nature of it," Rosenberg said. "It's a natural progression, it's going to help them in their other sports."

Celeste Denman, a teacher and track coach for nine years and head coach for the past five years, said the teammates are social and encouraging of each other which has helped the team be successful over the past few years. The team's success, she said, also contributes to new students wishing to join track.

"The girls have been undefeated for three years now and I feel as though that kind of builds the tradition as for why kids would want to show up," she said.

The track team has four coaches, two each for the boys and girls. But with the higher enrollment, the board of education agreed to allow the athletic department to bring on a fifth coach. Rosenberg said the new coach, once hired, will work with both the boys and girls.