After finishing 1-7 two seasons in a row, boys spring track and field coach John Sousa thinks this year’s group could be the one to turn things around at Wareham High School.

The numbers alone show why the third year coach’s feelings are valid — the group’s gone from 19 members in 2014-15 to 27 this year — a jump Sousa attributed to five basketball players joining the team, including seniors Andy White and Xavier Foggie.

“Compared to last year, it’s a really good group of kids,” he said. “They’re kids I can really trust.”

Sousa said he’s been aided by older students like Cameron Decas, Josh Onujiogo, and Nate Moore. The group helped teach younger and first-time team members the basics of events such as the discus, shot-put, and javelin.

Sousa said he thinks the team is well-rounded, and if they’re able to identify a second distance runner after Jesse Sarkisian, they should be able to go at least 4-4.

“He can get us a first (place) in the mile or the two-mile, but we need another distance runner to step up [to run one or the other],” he said, noting when Viking Mason Vasconcellos graduated the team lost an excellent distance runner.

Another huge loss from last year’s team was successful shot-putter Jonny Irving, but Sousa said he’s confident Onujiogo can qualify for the state tournament in both shot-put and discus.

He said Moore, a senior, will likely be one of the team’s top sprinters, and he’ll also be competitive in the javelin along with Brad Harunkiewicz.

Sousa is also looking for  a big year from senior Mathieu Griggs, and he’s hoping the two other seniors from the basketball team will help the squad at long jump, triple-jump and the high jump.

“They certainly have the ability,” he said of White and Foggie.

Other newcomers include Cory Harunkiewicz and T.J. Barboza, who will help out a shot-put and discus.

Sousa, who teaches at the high school, said he and others — including athletes and parents — worked hard all off-season to get new faces on the squad.

“Having the parents’ support is huge,” he said. “It’ll be one of the best teams we’ve had in years.”