"The reason we did that is because we knew this team-this year-would have a chance," Word said. "We wanted to show them that it can be done in our town. It has been done, and we wanted them to see the guys who did it."
The team included All-American Jerry Wilson, who-until last summer-had the fastest 400m time in Northwest Louisiana history. Captain Shreve's Marquez Stevenson ran a 46.85 at the AAU Junior Olympics to unseat Wilson and take the No. 1 position in the all-time rankings.
Stevenson was at the Wolverine Relays and was able to meet the man who held the record for over two decades.
Mansfield won the Region I-3A Meet by scoring 136 points. 54 of Mansfield's points came in three events where they finished 1-2 - 400 meters, 300 hurdles, and long jump.
Word says he is more nervous now than he every was as a half-miler at both Airline High School and the University of Louisiana-Monroe.
"I know they can do it," Word said. "They just have to go out on Saturday and execute. That is what I am most nervous about."
Mansfield has used the momentum from an indoor season which saw the school's first individual state champion- freshman Jaden Youngblood in the 60 hurdles, and the school's first relay indoor time-the boys 4x200.
Of all of the impressive performances this year, Word said he has been most impressed with Nick Davis.
"I thought he was going to be a 400 guy," Word said. "I put him in the 200 in the Benton meet and he ran a 22.1. I decided to keep him it. He has also been a difference maker in our relays."
Davis is seeded No. 2 in the 200 going into Saturday's state championship. The race will definitely be one to keep an eye on as the No. 3 seed is E.D. White's Chris Gravois (22.11). E.D. White, as well as Iowa, look to be Mansfield's biggest threat in the race for team honors.
Gravois is also the No. 1 seed in the 100 meters (10.73).
Another "Nick" on the Mansfield team to keep an eye on is hurdler-jumper- Nick Bailey. Bailey is the No. 1 seed in both the 300 hurdles (39.34) and high jump (6-6).
Youngblood is seed No. 1 in the 110 hurdles (14.93) and No. 2, behind Bailey, in the 300 hurdles (39.61).
The long jump should be good to the Wolverines. Dequinton Robertson and Monquaviuos Wells finished first and second at the Region I-3A Meet. Robertson won with a 22-11.75. Wells finished second with a 22-3.
In the 400 meters, Kadarious Terrell and Jamarius Washington were able to accomplish the same thing-going first and second at regionals. Terrell won with 51.61 while Washington was runner-up with 52.06.
The sprint relays look promising for the Wolverines. The 400 relays has a No. 1 seed (42.24) and the LHSAA Division II State Indoor Champion 800 relay is seed No. 5 (1:29.26). Also, the 1600 relay is a No. 2 seed (3:25.60).
According to Word, this will be Mansfield's final year in Class 3A. Next year, the Wolverines will be dropping down to 2A.
