Scouting Report: Chiles Girls & Boys


Coach Philip Browning enters his second year at the helm of the Chiles track and field program. In 2016, the Timberwolves boys were the 3A state champions to continue their streak to three in a row, while the girls team sent eight athletes to state and finished in a three way tie for sixth. We caught up with Browning to get an inside look at this year's team.

Who are your top returners?

Girls: Emily Culley (10th), Olivia Miller (10th), Erin Phelps (11th), Ana Wallace (11th)

Boys: Xander Gruenewald (12th), Connor Hansen (12th), Zach Jackson (12th), Jeremiah Jones (11th), Matthew Newland (11th), Robert Nowak (11th), Michael Phillips (11th), Jordan Poole (12th), Jordan Roberts (11th), Tyrek Robinson (11th), Rock Wester (12th)

Do you have any key losses from last season?

Girls: Emma Tucker, Alex Wallace, Elizabeth Cunningham

Boys: Cole Upthegrove, Austin Dodson

What impact transfers or incoming freshmen do you have coming in this season?

We are thrilled to have our numbers up across the board including many freshmen who have come in and shown great promise that we are developing. A few that have stood out are Caitlin Wilkey and Emily Molen on the girls side who will both continue to progress in the quarter and middle distance races. The boys also have several talented freshmen including Bryson Cooksey who will emerge as a strong quarter miler. Isaac Beauchem is a senior who transferred to Chiles this year after moving with his family from Illinois. Isaac has shown great promise in the hurdles and sprints.

What has the preseason training been like? 

We have had a fantastic turnout for preseason, increasing our numbers from 75 to 100 athletes this year. The athletes have been training hard and accepting the challenges they have been given.

What are you focusing on and what have you been the most impressed with?

Right now, we are focused on preparing for our time trials and making sure the athletes are preparing themselves for the season both mentally and physically. We know we lost big points with athletes graduating, but our athletes have always had a next man up mentality. A few years ago, the question was who would make up for Justin Cromartie's points, the next year, who would make up for Avery Bartlett's points, this year, who will step up and make up for Cole Upthegrove's points? We have a number of athletes on both the girls and boys teams who are ready to step up and have taken ownership of this team and their preparation for the season. I've been very impressed with our athletes work ethic and energy level. The expectations are clear and our boys and girls have accepted them and are ready to compete.

Are there any specific meets you are keying in on?

We love competing at home so our three home meets, Chiles Relays on February 25, Chiles Freshmen-Sophomore Championships on March 9, and Chiles Capital City Classic on April 8 are ones that we look forward to each year. We are traveling twice this year, once to Jacksonville for the Bartram Trail Bear Classic on March 3, then the Craig Speziale Memorial Invitational at Ponte Vedra on March 4. Lastly, we will travel to Georgia to compete at the Westminster Schools Invitational on March 15. Westminster has won 53 combined boys and girls cross country state championships in Georgia as well as 7 combined in track and field so we are looking forward to great competition from some elite Georgia programs.

What are the goals of this year's squad?

Our teams are focused on improving from week to week. I'd be lying if I said the boys team wasn't working towards winning a fourth consecutive 3A State Championship, that is the ultimate goal. We know there will be stiff competition on both sides, with the girls competing against elite programs like Miami Northwestern, Northeast, Fort Myers and others and I believe our girls are up to the challenge of giving it their best effort each week. The boys team is looking to prove themselves against elite competition. We're well aware of who we will compete against and I think it fuels our young men to prepare themselves each and every day at practice to get one step better each day.

How would you describe this year's team?

Young, hungry, and eager to prove they belong.

Is there anything else you want to add?

I feel very blessed to have the opportunity to work with such a talented and hard-working group of student-athletes and it is an honor to be their Coach.

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