WELLS &045; As one of the most successful boys’ track and field programs in the state, the United South Central Rebels are usually among the last squads to compete each season.

They also like to get an early start.

The Rebels open the 2003 season Friday with the indoor Shakopee Quadrangular at Minnesota State-Mankato. Mankato East and Marshall will also compete, with the first event set for 6:30.

The Rebels, who won the South Central Conference, True Team Section 2A, and the Sub-Section meets last spring, lost a lot through graduation, both in terms of leadership and quality performers, but expect to field a competitive team.

“We lost some real first-place punch in Casey Christensen and Brandon Alphs,” commented head coach Kent Viesselman. “Trevor Rollenhagen, Eric Langsev and Dusty Niebuhr all scored a lot of points for us. Those guys will certainly be missed, but we have some proven performers returning. We hope to be competitive by the end of the season.”

The roster includes 10 returning letterwinners plus 13 athletes in their first year of varsity track.

“In many ways, we’ll be a little different type of team than we have been,” said Viesselman. “We may lack a little of the first-place punch we’ve had in the sprints, but I think we’ll be a little stronger in the hurdles and weights, and deeper in the distances. Another very definite difference is that we’ll be very young and inexperienced. The past few years we’ve been a little top-heavy. With just five seniors and five juniors, the majority of our team will be freshmen and sophomores and inexperienced.”

The season looks to be an interesting one for the Rebels. “Our rookies appear to have the ability and determination to develop into pretty good track men by the end of the season,&uot; said Viesselman. &uot;Our returning lettermen are a year older and quite a bit stronger. Our first year in the Gopher Conference will be a new challenge. I’m not sure what to expect there, but we certainly hope to be competitive.

“Another exciting thing is that an old friend, Wayne Feder will be joining our coaching staff,&uot; added Viesselman. &uot;Wayne has 25 years of very successful experience in coaching track and field, and has a great deal of expertise.”

This will be Viesselman’s 39th season as a head track coach, the last 33 at Wells-Easton and United South Central. Feder will handle the jumping events, and Darin

Allis is in his fourth year coaching the weights. Rick Feist will be the boys’ middle school coach.