Senior on track to complete project for graduation

When it comes to reaching the finish line for graduating, Devlyn Campbell's ambition is definitely not running on empty.

Campbell's senior project is starting a high school track program to give student-athletes a springtime sport, something that's been lacking since the last baseball team was fielded in 2017.

"I was on the state championship cross country team, so that made me want to run more," he said. "I realized we have a lot of kids with a high potential in running. We also don't have a spring sport. It would help keep kids out of trouble and keep their grades up the last couple months of the year."

Since he got the notion to help create the program, Campbell has worked on budgeting in his economics class and has written a proposal and plan of what would be necessary to create the track program. "It shows me what I need to hash out and what I need to do," he said.

The teen realized he missed running with his team after cross country ended because it gave him goals to focus on. "I like right when I finish. It feels good," he said. "I remember a couple of weeks after cross country, it sucked not being able to run with my team every day and run at the races. I just wanted to be puking at the end of the finish line. That was the goal."

As for next steps, Campbell's mentor, Mason Villarma, cross country coach and the activities director for the school district, spoke to the school board on Feb. 20 to determine what that might come next. Board president David Wilson requested a written plan presented at the next school board meeting on March 20.

Villarma planned to meet with students last week to gauge interest in either a track program, baseball, fast pitch, golf or anything else. Ultimately, it's the student body who dictates which springtime sports they would like to participate in.

"They're the driver of what they want," Villarma said. He added that he was impressed with Campbell's drive to pursue a track program. "It's really cool to see his passion for running, as well as the rest of the team this year. I only see that growing down to the sixth grade. Those kids are the driver for change. We're just trying to provide the opportunity in an area that doesn't typically provide a lot of opportunities in the springtime."

Many Southeast high schools have a track program, Villarma said, so there would be no shortage of competition. It's also a relatively inexpensive program that doesn't require a lot of equipment or an actual track to train on.

"We can work out a way to train without a track," Campbell said. "Petersburg does that. Haines has a track but it's only gravel. Craig has a track team with no track, so it's possible."

The spring sports season begins March 6, so any training or activities would be unsanctioned by the school district until the board approves the program. Funding, approved time away from classes or the ability to compete as a Wrangell High School team wouldn't be possible without board approval. However, the team could operate as a separate entity like the swim club does.

Even if that's the case, Campbell said he would like to see the program build over the coming years, with the possibility of expanding to a full track and field team with a track built above the sledding hill behind Evergreen Elementary school.

Beyond high school, Campbell is planning on attending Gonzaga University in Spokane, Washington, to become a nurse. He took the certified nursing assistant program offered through the high school this year, and he'd like to continue his education to help others.

"I like helping people," he said. "I have some more thinking to do, but I really like the (nursing) field and the people in it."

Campbell, who is currently on the varsity basketball team, said he will definitely miss high school, traveling for competitions and seeing his friends every day, but there isn't anything he won't miss.

"I've never really hated school," he said. "I kind of, to some extent, enjoy it. There's nothing I despise about it."