Rival Knights, Planets now in same section

By SAM TALLARICO Eagle Staff Writer

March 21, 2009 Last Updated: April 15, 2009 05:04 PM High School

Vinny Smith is one of the seniors the Mars boys track and field team will lean on this season.

Geographically, Mars and Knoch are neighbors.

They've been in the same conference in some sports, but now the two will square off as section foes in track and field.

Mars, the WPIALClass AA runner-up last season, has been moved up to Class AAA while the Knights earned a reprieve after being moved out of a killer section that included North Allegheny, Butler and Seneca Valley.

Knoch and Mars will be joined by Hampton, which also was in the Knights' previous section, Kiski Area, Highlands and Avonworth-Northgate.

The move gives the Knights the ability to compete with teams closer to their size.

"We definitely have what it takes to win the section," said Knoch coach Wess Brahler. "I have mixed emotions because I love to compete against the big guys, but we're all excited. We have a chance to compete for a section and WPIAL title.

"This is also the 50th year of track at Knoch, so we're celebrating that as well,"he added.

Tim Tyler, the long-time girls track coach who assumes the reins for the Planets boys team this season, is just hoping to have his team ready when the section meets roll around.

The boys team had heavy losses due to graduation, so Tyler is biding his time to get his athletes geared up for section play.

"I made the comment to the kids that if we were still in Class AA, we'd be out of sight," said Tyler.

"We went out and did some tough practices to see what the kids could do. We had a scrimmage (Wednesday) and I wasn't really looking for good times. We run (nonsection) Fox Chapel and Quaker Valley next week, and, to tell you the truth, I'm not worried about that. We're looking at the big picture,"Tyler added.

Here's a look at the Butler County area boys track and field squads:

Coach: Rick Schontz, eighth yearLast season: 12-2 overall, 6-1 in the section for second place; fourth at WPIALClass AAA championshipsTop returners: Seniors Mason McLaughlin (sprints), Nathan McCandless (sprints), Nathan Neff (middle distance), Ben Porter (middle distance, distance), Matt Crawford (middle distance, distance), Bryan Vavro (hurdles), Josh Reddick (jumps); Rick Gladd (throws), Jake Skunda (throws) and Adam Wolfe (throws); juniors Logan Renwick (hurdles, jumps), Eli Christy (sprints), Tyler Jaillet (400), Corbin Seesox (sprints), Lance Dugger (middle distance, distance), Grant Baron (distance), Jeff Tompkins jumps), Adam Marzullo (pole vault), Dylan O'Donnell (throws) and Chris Ricker (throws); sophomores Darius Hightower (sprints), Evan Gomez (middle distance, distance), Matt Pribis (hurdles), Vinny Schmidt (jumps), James Gregor (jumps) and Jordan Allen (throws)Strengths: Sprints, hurdles, middle distanceWeaknesses: Depth in some eventsCoach's comment: "We have a lot of new faces and every meet is going to be tough. The ultimate goal is to win a team championship. Anything less is a good season, but it's not the goal."

Coach: Ray Peaco, second yearLast season: 7-3 overallTop returners: Seniors Jon Boyd (jumps), Cam Stauffer (distance), Eric Geddis (distance), Matt Marchese (distance), Grant Evans (pole vault), Andy Skaggs (middle distance, distance), Cory Kramer (discus) and Jordan Williams (throws); juniors Andrew Razanauskas (distance), Andrew Kriley (jumps, sprints), Evan Hetzel (sprints) and Mitch Codd (pole vault); sophomores Alex Mascio (distance), Evan Mitro (jumps, hurdles), Mike Martin (sprints), Brent Kendrick (distance), Steve Swanson (javelin), Hunter Williams (400, jumps), Tim Wolfe (jumps, throws) and Jordan Glasier (sprints, jumps)Strengths: Middle distance, distanceWeaknesses: Hurdles, throwsCoach's comment: "Two years ago, the boys made the (WPIAL) final four and last year the girls made the final four. Graduation hit us pretty good. The weather has cooperated this season and the scrimmage has helped us find out where kids can help us. It's tough. It seems like it's gone back and forth between Butler and North Allegheny. It always seems like they're the final two and here we are. We just don't get to show what we can do unless we get to the WPIALfinals."

Coach: Wess Brahler, sixth yearLast season: 3-4 in the sectionTop returners: Seniors Mitch Andrews (sprints, jumps), Steve Bandi (sprints, pole vault), Dylan Beck (jumps), Tim McCorkle (throws), Chris Stock (throws), Brian Tackett (distance) and Owen Venesky (distance); juniors Van McCarren (distance), K.J. McCrea (distance), Garrett Shaw (jumps), Adam Tuzikow (throws), Anthony Williams (sprints, jumps), Grayson Hixon (sprints, jumps), Paul Kletzli (hurdles), Dylan Schwertz (distance) and Steve Snow (sprints)Strengths: Distance, middle distance, jumpsWeaknesses: Inexperienced depthCoach's comment: "We have returning athletes all over and a very talented freshman class. Once they learn the ropes, they'll be right in the mix right away."

Coach: Tim Tyler, first yearLast season: Section champion, placed second at WPIALClass AA championship meetTop returners: Seniors Chris Alikhani (distance), Mick Edinger (distance), Vinny Smith (hurdles), Shane Kaclik (jumps, sprints), Cory Slater (jumps, sprints), Ian Schauer (throws) and Nolan Nearhoff (throws); junior Marc Funderlich (distance)Strengths: Distance, hurdles, jumpsWeaknesses: Throws, sprintsCoach's comment: "We have a lot of young kids, 17, 18 freshmen. Some were good in eighth grade, but that's a big jump from junior high to high school."

Coach: Bill Dillen, 16th yearLast season: 8-2 overall, third in sectionTop returners: Seniors John Douglas (throws), Miles Smolic (throws), Matt Marshall (throws) and Matt Lucas (javelin); juniors Alex Isenberg (jumps), Tyler Collins (jumps), Mitchell Shaw (400), Andy Teorsky (sprints) and Cory Tague (hurdles); sophomores Derek Durand (hurdles, relays) and Nick Gentile (middle distance, relays)Strengths: Throws, jumpsWeaknesses: DistanceCoach's comment: "We have a nice group of boys back. Apollo-Ridge will be tough. They have some good boys back and it was a real close meet last year. Riverview has done a great job, so they'll always be tough. It's a real good section."

Coach: Rich Monti, fourth yearLast season: 0-8 overallKey athletes: Carlos Bickel (pole vault, distance), Brandon Brock (sprints), Martrell Mitchell (sprints), Micah Porter (throws), Bilal Brown (throws), Rick kemp (sprints), Brandon Toney (distance)Strengths: Sprints, jumps, middle distance, throwsWeaknesses: Distance, hurdlesCoach's comment: "I think we'll put a couple of wins in the win column. I expect my guys to go pretty far in the WPIAL. Last year, we had a state qualifier in the 400 relay and 200. ... I'm pretty happy with the amount of athleticism we have. In previous years, we had a few athletes help out, but we've got a lot of variety in our athletes."

Coach: Mike Kish, 30th yearLast season: 6-0, Region 2 championsTop returners: Seniors Dave Caldwell (pole vault, jumps, hurdles), Ethan Geisler (hurdles), Drew Grills (discus), Derrick Orlsoski (javelin, sprints), Isaac Osborne (hurdles, sprints, jumps), Brant Sloan (jumps), Doug Upton (discus) and Ethan Wadowski (shot); juniors Jack Cravener (sprints), Sam Lotz (jumps), Jacob Spurk (distance), Nick Steele (800, pole vault), Jackson Udy (distance)Strengths: Distance, hurdles, jumpsWeaknesses: Lack of depth in middle distance, distanceCoach's comment: "The loss of Ian Campbell and three distance guys (Dan Hartzell, Nate King, Ed Schreiber) will be tough. Udy and Spurk will do well, but there's not a lot of depth. Ian Campbell was a 20-point-a-meet winner. That puts us in a position to stretch things out."

Coach: Mickey Hardenburg, second yearLast season: 6-4 overallTop returners: Seniors Tom Bollinger (distance), Ryan McGeehan (middle distance), Jordan Gruber (throws), and Ryan Sestak (hurdles); sophomore Jake Kildoo (distance)Strengths: Middle distance, distanceWeaknesses: SprintsCoach's comment: "We have a nice blend of athletes, a lot of new kids although they're not all freshmen."

Coach: Don Black, 22nd yearLast season: 11-0, KSAC championsTop returners: Seniors Aaron McGarvey (distance), Anthony Stimac (sprints), J.J. Grenninger (sprints), Josh Callender (hurdles), Cody Williams (jumps), Markus LaVan (jumps), Tyler Barger (jumps), Nick Sypulski (throws), Corey Gifford (throws), Shane Dillion (throws), Earl Everetts (throws) and Brett Callihan (pole vault); juniors Ethan McGarvey (distance), Bryce Foreback (distance), Cameron Harp (distance), Nick Lopresti (sprints), Jesse Garing (hurdles), Tim Johnston (jumps), Zack Kepple (throws) and J.R. Yough (throws); sophomore Darren Best (distance)Strengths: Depth in every event; almost entire team from last year's undefeated team returns intactWeaknesses: Shot putCoach's comment: "Obviously, we hope we can continue that streak. We should be very competitive. Last year we sent two of our three relay teams to the state meet. The only replacements are Chris Harmon in one and Reed Terwilliger in another."

Coach: Mark Kosick, 26th yearLast season: 7-2 in the KSACTop returners: Seniors Tyler Armagost (throws), Dylan Kristufek (long jump, sprints, hurdles), Nick Marino (pole vault), Andrew Edmonds (middle distance, distance), Lucas Rodgers (middle distance, distance), Cody Johnson (hurdles) and Zak Franiewski (hurdles); juniors Jacob Boy (throws), Nathan Guterry (throws), Victor Santoyo (jumps, sprints), Tony Miller (middle distance, distance) and Phil Kristufek (middle distance, distance)Strengths: Throws, distance, middle distance, jumpsWeaknesses: SprintsCoach's comment: "They should be really competitive. We have strong throws, jumps and pretty good distance. ... We have some nice kids and in a couple of years, they'll do very well."

Coach: Denny Stewart, 35th yearLast season: 5-4 in the KSACTop returners: Seniors Neil Scott (javelin), Zac Traister (sprints), Colby Davis (sprints), John Zanot (hurdles), Cameron Adams (distance), Cory Best (hurdles), Trent Switzer (sprints), Travis Anthony (jumps), Ed Stewart (throws) and James Slease (throws); juniors Brennan Bliss (throws), Dylan Heasley (pole vault), Adam Myers (distance), Scott Booth (jumps), Chase Carmichael (jumps) and Logan Mortimer (jumps); sophomores Chris Deitz (distance), Chase Johnston (jumps) and Shawn Booth (pole vault)Strengths: Throws, hurdles, sprints, jumpsWeaknesses: Distance, middle distanceCoach's comment: "There's Karns City (in the KSAC) and then there's just about everyone else. The last time Karns City lost Moby Dick was a guppy. I just try to get my kids to qualify for the district meet. The wins will come. I don't worry about that. I work more for improvement. I want them peaking in the middle of May, not in March. I've done this for 35 years. This is what I've done and this is what seems to work."

Coach: Bruce Beichner, second yearLast season: 0-10 overallTop returners: Juniors Jordan Miller (distance), Brett Hindman (middle distance, jumps) and Evan Wagner (throws)Strengths: Plenty of young athletes (31 in all)Weaknesses: Throws, just one senior, inexperienced depth in every eventCoach's comment: "We can put people in every event, but most kids are underclassmen. Last year, we won on the track side, but we were weak in the field events. last year we won about six meets on the track portion. This year, we hope to get more points from the field."