Teammates Again
BUTLER TWP — Chelsey Kabel and Autumn Pettinato aren't through being teammates just yet.
The Butler senior cross country and track and field standouts are continuing their academic and athletic careers at Clarion University. They are majoring in nursing and will compete in both sports.
“It's going to be nice having a good friend from high school up there with me,” Kabel said. “I'm happy it worked out this way.”
Pettinato was a first team Butler County all-star selection by the county cross country coaches in the fall. Kabel was a second team choice.
Pettinato considered Edinboro and Waynesburg before deciding on Clarion. Kabel considered St. Francis and Waynesburg before opting for the Golden Eagles.
“It's just a good fit all the way around,” said Kabel, who carries a 3.7 grade point average. “The nursing program is exceptional and I like the direction the teams are going in.”
Pettinato carries a 3.8 GPA and is so undeterred as a runner that she ran an indoor track event her sophomore year with a broken arm in a sling.
Eric Laughlin, a 1995 Slippery Rock University graduate who was a Division II All-American distance runner there, is in his sixth year as cross country and running coach at Clarion.
“Eric has that program on the upswing,” Butler cross country coach Rick Davanzati said. “He will get the most out of these girls. Their best years are definitely ahead of them.
“Autumn and Chelsey are dedicated, disciplined, self-motivated runners. Those traits are needed in cross country and they have them.”
Mike Seybert, one of Butler's track coaches, agreed.
“Just the fact she competed with her arm in a sling tells you all about Autumn,” Seybert said. “Chelsey runs our 4x800 relay and ran a 2:15 in her split. That's a good 800 time.
“She has lofty goals. Chelsey believes she can break Maggie Welty's school record in the mile. That's her target. In the final 200 meters, she has as strong a finishing kick as any miler I've seen.”
Kabel said she hopes to become an All-American runner in college. Only three of Clarion's 14 cross country runners last season were seniors.
“I just want to improve and get better as I go,” she said.
Pettinato plays softball at Butler as well as runs track. She will not play softball at Clarion initially.
“Autumn put together an outstanding senior cross country season. She totally dedicated herself to the sport,” Seybert said. “She is a driven athlete. When she devotes her (athletic) time solely to track in college, there's no telling what she can accomplish.”
One of the draws to Clarion for Pettinato was flexibility.
Although she isn't playing softball — a sport she has participated in since she was 3 — the door is open for her to pursue that sport at Clarion if she wishes in the future.
At Butler, Pettinato was a standout shortstop and one of the leading hitters for the Golden Tornado.
She only went out for the cross country and track teams at Butler because of a friendly wager.
“Chelsey told me I couldn't beat her in a 5K,” Pettinato said. “If it wasn't for Chelsey I wouldn't be where I am today.”
