For coach Kirk Scharich, the 2012 season was another step forward for Woodstock’s still-developing girls track and field program.

With a young group featuring a number of promising freshmen, the Lady Wolverines dominated the county meet and finished a strong fourth in Region 5AAAAA.

For leading Woodstock to the top of the county scene, Scharich is the 2012 Cherokee Tribune Girls Track and Field Coach of the Year.

Along with returning standouts Maya Ramsey (sprints), Brianna Lakes (throws), Liz Hamilton (sprints, jumps, relays) and Morgan O’Toole (distance), Woodstock was boosted by a strong freshman class that included Colleen Cromer, Arielle Hunter and Lexi Hunter in the relays and sprints and Alexandra Melehan in the distance events.

“We had a good group of freshmen coming in, and that helped us with depth,” Scharich said. “We’re bringing in more talented people every year, so we’re getting better year after year.”

The Cherokee County meet belonged to Woodstock as the Lady Wolverines racked up 201 points to finish far ahead of defending champion Creekview (114 points). It was their win their first county title since 2009.

“It was a big improvement from last year,” said Scharich, whose team finished a close second to Creekview in 2011. “We finished second, third and fourth in the 400. We didn’t win the 1,600 and 3,200, but we finished second, third and fourth in that. It was a good, solid effort by all the girls.”

Woodstock put together another strong showing at the Region 5AAAAA meet, scoring 72 points to place behind champion Marietta (159), eventual Class AAAAA state champion Walton (153) and Wheeler (113).

The Lady Wolverines were led there by runner-up finishes from Ramsey in the 100 and 200 and DeAsia Carter in the discus.

Scharich was encouraged by the development of his freshmen and said Woodstock took another step forward in 2012.

“Our freshman girls really stepped up and contributed,” Scharich said. “This was a good group of freshmen that we had. We just have to continue to bring in more talented athletes and build our depth and continue to build our program.”

Scharich is looking for the Lady Wolverines to take another step forward next year and contend for the region title as they move to the new Region 6AAAAAA.

However, he acknowledged that Woodstock will be contending in a challenging region featuring the likes of Walton and formidable north Fulton teams Roswell and Milton.

“Our goal is to win our first region title,” Scharich said, “but we’re in a tougher region. Roswell is coming in, and they’re a very good team, and, of course, we have Walton coming back. But we have just about everybody coming back, so we’re excited about that.”