Running start
The Seneca Valley boys track and field team is ready for a playoff run.
After finishing 7-2 last season, the Raiders want to knock down the playoff door with the help of returning state medalist Forrest Barnes, who finished eight in the 100-meter dash, and 1,600 relay teammate Brad Banks.
Barnes and Banks are two of many experienced athletes at SV’s disposal.
“It’s a very senior-laden team,” said Raiders coach Ray Peaco. “It’s their year.”
Knoch has made the WPIAL Class AAA playoffs four straight seasons. But even with 20 freshmen and 15 sophomores, the Knights expect to be contenders.
“We lost some key athletes,” said Knoch coach Wess Brahler in his 10th year at the helm. “We’re young, but hopefully we’ll get some good leadership. It’s a nice group of young gentlemen.”
Dan Jaskowak — who finished second at the PIAA Class AAA championships in the 3,200-meter run and 11th in the 1,600 — will pace a strong Grove City squad.
The Eagles will be led by first-year head coach Lou Mariotti. Longtime assistant Randy Armagost has been promoted to head coach at Moniteau and Brison Twyman has taken over the Summit Academy program.
“I’m very fortunate to have this opportunity,” said Twyman. “It’s a chance to work in a more intimate setting with the kids and if they come out as better people, then mission accomplished.”
Following are preview capsules for the Butler County area boys track and field teams:
Class AAAButlerCoach: Rick Schontz, 12th seasonLast season: 4-3Impact athletes: Seniors Jake Alston (sprints), Cole Campbell (throws), Jordan Cratty (sprints, mid distance), Jeromee Geibel (sprints, mid distance), Levi Leyland (hurdles), Travis Reed (throws), Canan Roskovski (sprints), Bob Vernick (sprints), Steve Shoemaker (throws), Sean Rundle (mid distance), Anthony Yukovich (jumps, sprints); juniors Jared Blakeley (throws), Jake Lenhart (throws), Tyler Roudybush (jumps), Chris Short (distance), Dane Smith (throws), Vinnie Lowerre (jumps); sophomores Bobby Burdine (sprints), Brandon Critchlow (mid distance), Derek Gengler (throws), Mike Herschl (pole vault), Adam Knaver (distance), Nikolai Peterson (pole vault), Josh Rader (mid distance)Schontz says: “I think we’ll be strong in throws and middle distance. We have a nice combination of boys grades nine through 12.”
KnochCoach: Wess Brahler, 10th seasonLast season: 8-5 overall, 5-1 section, lost in first round of WPIAL playoffsReturning state qualifiers: Alex Cetnar (senior, 3,200 relay), Stefan Carlsson (senior, 3,200 relay), Luke Brewer (junior, 3,200 relay)Impact athletes: Seniors Alex Campbell (sprints, jumps), Carl Shaw (pole vault), Ron Cooper (throws); juniors Jared Geist (jumps), Colin McTighe (throws); sophomore Ty Gornick (throws)Brahler says: “We’re going to be very competitive in the section. We have a nice balance and the goal is to get guys through to the state meet.”
MarsCoach: Dale Boring, second seasonLast season: 4-4 overall, 3-3 sectionImpact athletes: Seniors Scott Slaney (distance), Josh Goetz (throws), Chris Smith (mid distance); juniors Frankie Petrini (distance), Mason Bair (sprints), Joel Glomb (throws), Jake Kronenwetter (jumps), Eric Kingsley (mid distance), Alec Battin (pole vault) Sonny Zangaro (jumps, hurdles); sophomores Brendan Knox (distance), Steve Crawford (sprints), Brandon Marchese (jumps), Ori Rinaman (hurdles)Boring says: “We want to challenge for the section championship. We’ll try to win the section and get as many kids to the state championship as we can.”
Seneca ValleyCoach: Ray Peaco, fourth seasonLast season: 7-2Returning state qualifiers: Forrest Barnes (senior, eighth in 100 dash, 1,600 relay) and Brad Banks (junior, 1,600 relay)Impact athletes: Seniors Andrew Mascio (mid distance), Ben Nickel (distance), Phil Anderson (jumps), Dan Cashdollar (pole vault, throws), Erik Lee (jumps), Tory Wrice (jumps), Jordan Brown (sprints), Zane Augustine (throws), Dean Ketterer (throws); junior Brett Foster (distance); sophomores Bryce Benjamin (mid distance, distance), Tanner Quiggle (distance), Matt Schallus (jumps), Zach Snyder (jumps), Tyler Sheehy (sprints)Peaco says: “We have a lot of experience. I expect them to do very, very well with our senior leadership.”
Grove CityCoach: Lou Mariotti, first seasonLast season: 7-0, region champions, second of 14 teams at District 10 meetReturning state qualifiers: Dan Jaskowak (senior, second in 3,200, 11th in 1,600, 3,200 relay), Kyle Trinch (senior, 13th in triple jump), Ian Brown (senior, 3,200 relay), Ryan Whiteman (junior, 3,200 relay)Impact athletes: Seniors John Somora (distance), Brandon Wise (distance), Seth Armstrong (jumps), Shawn Seybert (throws); junior Grant Craig (throws); sophomores Aaron Benka (distance), Ryan Budnik (distance)Mariotti says: “The boys team should be very strong in the 400 meters on up throug the 2 miles. The field team will be much improved over last year. Their goal is to try to repeat as region champs and try to get guys to the state meet.”
Slippery RockCoach: Tony Consbruck, 14th seasonLast season: 3-3, finished sixth of 14 teams at District 10 meetImpact athletes: Seniors Andrew Furrh (jumps), Dylan Gerlach (pole vault), Travis Kroner (throws); juniors Pat Anna (distance), Caleb Bickey (distance); sophomores Josh Jones (distance), Brady Kadlubek (sprints), Shane Kirkwood (sprints, jumps), Zac McCue (hurdles, sprints)Consbruck says: “We’ve never had so many ninth-graders on the team in recent memory. This program is going to pop in a couple of years. It’s a building year in once sense, but in another sense they’re going to perform, too.”
Class AAFreeportCoach: John Gaillot, second seasonLast season: Lost in first round of WPIAL playoffsImpact athletes: Seniors Brendan Lynch (sprints), Brian Welsh (throws), Zane Geist (throws), Alec Stivers (pole vault); juniors Cole Hepler (throws), Josh Brestensky (mid distance)Gaillot says: “Take it one meet at a time and do better than you did last meet — whether it’s 1 inch of one-tenth of a second — better yourself and we’ll see where we are at the end.”
Karns CityCoach: Don Black, 28th seasonLast season: 10-0-1, finished 14th of 18 teams at District 9 meetReturning state qualifiers: Glenn Toy (senior, 400 relay), Tyler Kepple (junior, 400 relay), Nathan Weckerly (junior, 400 relay)Impact athletes: Seniors Matt Slagle (distance), Evan McGarvey (distance), Tex Mennor (throws); juniors Tom Garing (distance), Zach Moore (sprints), Wyatt Everetts (hurdles), Adam Whited (throws), Mike Olkowski (throws), Dan Filges (jumps); sophomores David Olszak (distance), Christian Rhoades (sprints), Ethan Conto (hurdles), Dakota Mohney (sprints), Logan Moroney (sprints), Cooper Shepard (sprints, jumps)Black says: “We want to win the league again, that’s always the primary goal for us, and we want to advance as many guys to the state championships as we can.”
MoniteauCoach: Randy Armagost, first season as head coach, 14th with programLast season: 7-1, finished ninth of 18 teams at District 9 championshipsImpact athletes: Seniors Evan Miller (distance), Kyle Davidson (throws), Jarrod Hull (throws); juniors Stephen Hagg (throws), Trevor Shaffer (sprints), Cody Keene (distance), Jake Taciuch (jumps)Armagost says: “They’re working hard and we want to compete for the league title just like we have for the past 12 years.”
Summit AcademyCoach: Brison Twyman, first seasonLast season: Missed playoffsImpact athletes: Anthony Cruz (sprints), Damon Favor (mid distance), Tahir Brown (hurdles), Cody Shaffer (mid distance), Andrew Valdez (mid distance), Andre Barrow (sprints), Michael Knowles (distance), Preston Waddekum (distance), Vincent Sicuro (throws), Trey Butler (hurdles), Justin Hothen (hurdles), Robert Burns (hurdles), Rammir Jones (jumps)Twyman says: “We want to learn, get better and compete when we go to a meet — do the best you can.”
UnionCoach: Bob Ruffner, fourth seasonLast season: 2-7, finished 17th of 18 teams at District 9 meetImpact athletes: Seniors Aaron Graham (sprints), Kaden McGregor (sprints, jumps), Darren Seary (throws), Keenan Rankin (throws); junior Chase Shirey (sprints); sophomores Tyler Wiser (jumps, mid distance), Jordan Krear (hurdles), Devin Murray (hurdles, sprints), Beau Rankin (distance), Devin Aughton (distance), Dominick Aughton (distance)Ruffner says: “We’re looking to peak around districts and see how many we can qualify. Then we’ll try to move them on to states. We’ll do what we can. We have good, enthusiastic kids.”A-C Valley coach Bruce Beichner could not be reached for comment.
