Laslavic reached SV HOF by excelling in 2 sports
HARMONY — Anthony Laslavic entered the WPIAL Track and Field Championships in 1998 with a full head of steam.
His efforts in the long and triple jumps had earned him Field MVP awards at the Mars, Moon and Baldwin invitationals, breaking the school record in both events several times during the season.
His success could have ended there. More than a few athletes have had their momentum broken while competing at a meet as big as a district championship.
But Laslavic did not succumb to the pressure, he embraced it. He won a WPIAL Class 3A title in the boys triple jump with a distance of 45 feet, six inches, and earned another medal by finishing fifth in the long jump (21-9½).
To close out his high school career, he took sixth at PIAAs with a then-school record 45-10 in the triple jump in May of 1998.
“Jumping just came naturally for me,” said Laslavic. “I started competing in track and field in the seventh grade, but being the best in any event never crossed my mind."
His spring of success in the sport, coupled with a decorated scholastic soccer career, have earned Laslavic induction into the SV Sports Hall of Fame as part of the Class of 2023.
His father, John, was also a jumper at Seneca Valley, but Anthony picked up soccer first thanks to his older brother, Jonathan.
“We grew up playing soccer together,” said Anthony. “He’s a couple of years older than me, so I played on a team in my age group, then turned around and played up on a team in his age group in the same season.
“I was really into soccer. While I was in high school, between indoor and outdoor soccer, I played for three or four different teams.”
Laslavic earned four letters in soccer as a midfielder, was a two-year captain and was selected to the Olympic Development Program’s Region 1 team.
He competed in both track and field and soccer at La Roche College, the former as an independent as the school didn't have and still doesn't field a full track and field squad.
"I started as a midfielder in soccer my freshman year at La Roche. At that time, I was playing the best soccer I've ever played," said Laslavic. "I had received offers to compete in track and field at several schools — Penn State, Tennessee, Maryland, Bucknell, Slippery Rock University ... I have no regrets, but I do wish I had accepted one of those offers. When I was in high school, I never regressed with my jumps, kept getting better and better every year."
Laslavic graduated in 1998 as SV's record holder in the triple jump and long jump (22-4) and still ranks second and fourth, respectively, in the events.
"My jumping coach in high school was Dan Sample," he said. "We would both stay after practice and that's when I got 1-on-1 training.
"Playing up the team aspect in track is tough because it's largely an individual sport, but (head coach) Wayne Roccia made it a team. We pushed each other, watched each other compete and all the kids on the team would cheer for and support everyone else."
Laslavic is currently the vice president of equipment finance for First National Bank. His stepson, Miles, is a senior diver at Seneca Valley.
"I was talking about this with someone recently. Everyone in school knew what was going on, but none of what I accomplished as a senior made the yearbook just because it happened so late in the school year," Laslavic said.
"I'm honored to be recognized by the Hall of Fame. I loved sports and things I took from playing, hard work and a competitive spirit, have stayed with me ever since."
