Talawanda track and field has high hopes ahead of SWBL debut

This story was produced by Miami University journalism students Myron Barker and Zach Fremder in partnership with the Oxford Free Press.

Following second and first place finishes in their final season in the Southwest Ohio Conference (SWOC), the Talawanda boys and girls track teams have high expectations heading into their first season in the Southwestern Buckeye League (SWBL). Along with the change in conferences, the Brave track and field teams will also move down to Division II this spring.

First-year head coach Brad Mills, who has 18 years of experience as an assistant, says the changes in conference and classification should give his athletes more opportunities to compete at the regional and state levels.   

“For the last generation, we’ve had to race against the juggernauts … but now our competition has completely changed and that’s exciting,” said Mills. 

2026 roster 

After losing a majority of its top performers to graduation, including three who signed to Division I schools, the Brave will look to athletes who have been with the district throughout their middle and high school careers. 

“We’ve got two strong teams that are coming back from last year… I do have high expectations,” Mills said.

The girls distance squad will turn to Abra Mills, who has been in track since the seventh grade. Mills took ninth in the state cross country meet in the fall. The senior also comes off a 2025 season where she was voted second team all-conference in the 1600m. The SWOC’s top 2025 runner in the 800m, 1,600m and 3,200m, Talawanda graduate Lucia Rodbro currently attends the University of Miami (Florida) on a track scholarship. 

“I feel like I wanna make it to the state meet, especially now because we’re division II, so it will hopefully be a little bit easier for us to make it,” Abra Mills said. 

Abra Mills will attend Ball State on scholarship for cross country this coming fall. 

Senior teammate Madi Abney, a mid-distance runner with a focus on the 400m, says she expects to step into a leadership role this year. 

“It’ll be fun to lead that group a little more; just leading the younger athletes will be a lot of fun,” Abney said.

As for the boys, Nolan Hodgson, a senior pole vaulter, has similar expectations for this coming season. Hodgson is still competing in the indoor track season and hopes to make it to the state meet in early March. 

Hodgson hit the mark of 13 feet 6 inches during his indoor season, which would have placed him first place in the SWOC by a foot and a half. He holds a goal of hitting 14 feet this outdoor season.

“I hope to go to state for outdoor, it’s a little harder, and hopefully get a mark that will help me go to a better college,” said Hodgson. 

Hogdson is also a national merit scholarship finalist, but aims to vault at the collegiate level.

The throwing team returns a leader in senior Tad Polly, who has seen action in the past two years, and ended 2025 with a personal record of 43 feet, one-half inch in shot put, the fourth longest in the SWOC. 

Forward momentum

As the 2026 season approaches, Mills says that the team has been generating a lot of excitement from within. 

He said that a lot of kids have signed up, and he’s looking forward to seeing how this strong freshman class can fill in the gaps that have been left behind. 

“If you want to get into coaching, and you want to be around something special, then this is your group,” said Coach Mills.

The Brave spring season kicks off March 28 at Harrison. Talawanda will host the annual Dale Plank invitational on April 21.