Four years ago, the high school boys track team had no wins and only seven athletes on the team. Now, a core group of seniors and a young coach are trying to change the culture of the once dominant program by winning meets setting records.

The Vikings are led by shot putter Johnny Irving, who missed the standard for the National Championships by four inches during this past winter's indoor season. That, coupled with his disappointment at being seeded first yet finishing seventh at Division 4 State meet this past winter, has fueled Irving for his senior campaign.

"My goal is to win Division 4 states, place at All-States and New Englands and go to nationals," Irving said.

He said he's seen an increase in participation and effort of the guys who have joined the team since his freshman year and his goal for the team this season is to break even at 4-4 or possibly get above .500.

"We haven't had a winning year since I've been here," said Irving, who will be heading to Stonehill College in the fall to study environmental science.

"I love the throwers, the campus life--I could really see myself there," he said of Stonehill, where he plans to add the hammer throw to his repertoire, in which competitors spin and throw a 16-pound ball connected to a chain.

"He works at his craft and works his butt off throwing," said boys track coach John Sousa.

He said he's had to chase kids down in the hallways to get them to come out for the team, which now sits at 23, four years after it was nearly extinct.

"We've got a good core of sophomores and seniors on the team, that's the leadership," he said.

Sousa also pointed to senior Mason Vasconcellos as playing a major role in the rebuilding of the team.

"A lot of the younger kids have latched on to him--he leads by example."

Vasconcellos is a track and field jack-of-all-trades, competing in everything from sprints to distance on the track and jumps and javelin in the field.

Out of all the events he competes in, he said the mile was his best and would like to set the school record this year. There is extra incentive in that event for Vasconcellos, as he's chasing the record of 4:34, set by his basketball coach, Kevin Brogioli, back in 1979. Vasconcellos' best time in the mile is 4:41.

The team's top miler, Vasconcellos was the team's fastest 100 meter runner at Monday's meet against Greater New Bedford Voc-Tech, clocking in at 11.7 seconds.

"I told coach I was fast but he didn't believe me," he said.

He cites his cousin Jared as the inspiration for getting him to join track last year.

"I wish I was doing it since I was a freshman," said Vasconcellos, who will be heading to Bridgewater State University in the fall.

For the team, Vasconcellos said the idea is to work toward individual goals and continue to build the program.

"Last year we got one win against Bourne, we're just trying to progress."