District 11 boys track: Bombers’ Fredericks wins third straight javelin gold

WHITEHALL — That it wasn’t exactly what Chris Fredericks wanted was OK.

It simply served as a reminder that the decorated Palmerton senior can do better.

Fredericks captured his third straight District 11 Class 2A javelin title Wednesday, winning the event with a throw of 186-10.

The top seed by a wide margin – nearly 50-feet – Fredericks entered the competition not only with the expectation that he would win. But that he would do so in record fashion.

“I was pretty confident I was going to get first, but I wanted to make sure I didn’t take anything lightly,” Fredericks said. “It’s a little disheartening that I didn’t get the district record (202-0, set by Nazareth’s Ron Musselman in 1968), considering I threw further than it last week. But I was consistent, around the 185s, 180s. so I’m pretty happy with staying consistent.”

After surpassing 200-feet in consecutive weeks and breaking the Colonial League record in the process, Fredericks has been on a tear recently.

While he didn’t quite launch another record-setting throw, Fredericks knows he’s on track to get what he really wants next week in Shippensburg, where success has eluded him the past two years.

“I just have to put this week behind me, learn from it, focus on my technique and speed, and make sure I’m ready to go for states,” he said.

“I’m beyond excited. Words can’t really describe this. The past two years I’ve gone out there. Sophomore year, I missed finals by one spot. Last year, I missed placing by five inches, so I have a really big chip on my shoulder going into it this year.”

Fredericks has done the work and put in the time to become one of the most highly regarded throwers on a national level.

“I’ve been to bigger meets than states, going down to nationals, and I know I just have to stay in my rhythm, keep my head on straight, and do what I gotta do out there.

“It feels pretty good, but I’m just putting it in the bank. I still have more to get.”

Fredericks wasn’t the only area thrower to experience success on the first day of competition at Whitehall’s Zephyr Sports Complex.

After a runner-up finish in the Class 3A discus a year ago, Jim Thorpe’s William Munson won the 2A event with a throw of 132-4.

“It feels really good, but I felt like I could do a lot better than this today,” said Munson.

Munson threw 143-4 a year ago, and was the top seed this season at 141-04.

“There’s always pressure from somebody, because anybody could whip out a good throw at any time,” said Munson, who topped North Schuylkill’s Tristan Bolinsky (127-09), Pine Grove’s Trey Reynolds (127-00) and North Schuylkill’s Mike Reilley (125-06) for the title.

Munson got the winning throw on his first attempt.

“That one was probably my most relaxed one, if I had to say so,” he said. “First of all, you’re just trying to get one in, get a good mark, and then try to ramp it up from there. But I need to practice on the ramping.

“But it just lifted so much pressure off of me. It just made the rest of it really relaxing.”

With one more shot at states on the horizon, Munson is hoping the best is yet to come.

“I do have a number in mind, and it’s 143-9,” Munson said of his goal for states. “It’s our school record and my best friend’s, so I want to beat it.”

Munson was also second (158-0) in the javelin. Palmerton’s Eric Keck (154-07) was fourth.

Tamaqua’s Matthew Amodea turned a stellar performance with a runner-up finish in the Class 3A shot put with a school record 53-01.75.

“I am so excited,” Amodea said about his state qualifying throw. “After waiting so long and working so hard, it’s so relieving to know that it paid off, and I got a big bomb and it ended up turning into the school record.

“This is the most important meet, and I also felt the stress with it potentially being my last meet, too. I was able to come out here, and on my first throw, threw my best throw, and it was awesome.”

Like Munson, Amodea got his best mark on his first attempt, setting the tone for the rest of the competition.

“I felt an enormous weight lifted – quite literally, it felt like a weight being lifted off my chest, because since freshman year, I wanted the record,” said Amodea. “It’s 56 years old; 52-10.5. I had it memorized for so long. And finally, my last meet here and on my first throw to finally get it, it meant a lot to me.

“I felt the pressure, and I performed under it, thankfully, and came out with a big bomb.”

Tamaqua’s Khalid Holland (14-3) tied for second in the 3A pole vault and qualified for states. Holland was also a district runner-up a year ago.

The senior was eighth in the Class 2A event at states a year ago, though he knew a return trip was no sure thing.

“I’m pretty psyched,” said Holland. “I was a little nervous, because we moved from 2A to 3A this year, so qualifying here feels really, really good.”

Holland entered the event as the second seed with a mark of 14-2.

“I don’t put that much pressure on myself,” Holland said. “Everyone says, ‘You’re one of the top seeds going in,’ but I just do what I have to do, and jump how I normally do, and let the results take care of themselves.”

Holland is hoping that means he’ll land on the podium once again next week.

“My goal is just to medal,” he said.

Northern Lehigh’s Zachary Moyer qualified for states in the 2A high jump for the second straight year, hitting the state qualifying standard with a leap of 6-3 for a runner-up finish. Moyer tied for second last season, clearing 5-10.

MOVING ON … Palmerton’s Aaron Stasko (11.19), Jim Thorpe’s Jarrin Geisinger (11.44), Marian’s Gabriel Bauer (11.43), and Palmerton’s Cody Waterhouse (11.61) advance to boys 2A 100 finals. Geisinger is looking to make it to states for the third year in a row. Geisinger was seventh in the Class 2A 100 as a sophomore running for Marian. Stasko (22.99), Geisinger (23.0) and Marian’s Ean Chelak (23.79) also qualified for the 200 finals. Tamaqua’s Matt Kistler ran an 11.31 to qualify for the 3A 100 finals. Palmerton’s Jordan Nelson (15.47) and Jonathan Perloni (16.77), along with Jim Thorpe’s David Richards (17.21) and Justin Ellis (17.62) advanced to the 2A 110 hurdle finals.

MEDALS … Waterhouse (20-03.50) was fourth in the 2A long jump. Jim Thorpe’s boys were second in the 2A 3200 relay (8:43.30).

LEGEND

Allentown Central Catholic (ACC), William Allen (All), Bangor (Bang), Bethlehem Catholic (BC), Blue Mountain (BM), Catasauqua (Cat), Dieruff (Die), East Stroudsburg North (ESN), East Stroudsburg South (ESS), Easton (East), Emmaus (Emm), Freedom (Free), Jim Thorpe (JT), Liberty (Lib), Mahanoy Area (MA), Marian Catholic (MC), Minersville (Min), Nativity BVM (Nat), Nazareth (Naz), North Schuylkill (NS), Northampton (Nor), Northwestern (NW), Northern Lehigh (NL), Notre Dame Green Pond (NDGP), Palisades (Pali), Palmerton (Palm), Panther Valley PaV), Parkland (Park), Pen Argyl (PA), Pine Grove (PG), Pleasant Valley (PlV), Pocono Mountain East (PME), Pocono Mountain West (PMW), Pottsville (Pot), Salisbury (Sal), Saucon Valley (SaV), Schuylkill Haven (SH), Shenandoah Valley (ShV), Southern Lehigh (SL), Stroudsburg (Str), Tamaqua (Tam), Weatherly (Wea), Whitehall (Whi), Wilson (Wil).

DISTRICT 11

BOYS

at Whitehall High School

FINALS

CLASS 2A

(Top 3; plus locals)

3200 - 1. Wayne Reilly (Min) 10:12.02 q, 2. Brandon Stasulli (ShV) 10:14.84, 3. Jack Flynn (NS) 10:33.66; 5. Scott Zoscin (Wea) 10:51.81, 7. Anthony Maguschak (Wea) 10:59.80, 8. Noah Rodgers (JT) 11:17.91, 9. Kevin Earley (MC) 11:28.15, 12. Carlton Davies (NL) 11:46.44, 14. Blake Kilmer (JT) 12:03.24, 16. Jacob Lippincott (JT) 12:11.96.

3200 relay - 1. North Schuylkill (Sean McCabe, Jake Nahas, Jack Flynn, Luke Halko) 8:22.75 q, 2. Jim Thorpe (Samuel Hydro, James Schwartz, Blake Kilmer, Jacob Lippincott) 8:43.30, 3. Mahanoy Area 8:51.26; 7. Northern Lehigh 9:44.66.

300H - 1. Eric Lobb (PA) 40.71, 2. Chase Mazalusky (MA) 40.97, 3. Wilquon Clemons (Cat) 43.10; 5. Justin Ellis (JT) 43.74, 7. Adam Keselicka (MC) 45.05, 8. Jonathan Perloni (Palm) 45.22, 9. Dawson Schriner (JT) 45.53, 14. Jonah Coit (JT) 47.80.

Discus - 1. William Munson (JT) 134-4 q, 2. Tristan Bolinsky (NS) 127-9, 3. Trey Reynolds (PG) 127-0; 5. Matt Lalik (Palm) 119-9, 6. Josh Fritchman (NL) 115-6, 7. Josh Mooney (Palm) 114-11, 10. Seth Berk (PaV) 110-7, 11. Andrew Osilka (MC) 110-6, 13. Parker Nelson (Palm) 102-4.

Javelin - 1. Chris Fredericks (Palm) 186-10 q, 2. William Munson (JT) 158-0, 3. Craig Derr (MA) 154-10; 4. Eric Keck (Palm) 154-7, 7. Evan Zambo (NL) 136-5, 9. Andrew Osilka (MC) 129-9, 10. Carter Brettle (PaV) 128-11, 14. Josh Mooney (Palm) 123-0, 16. Jason Walck (JT) 114-3.

Long jump - 1. Josh Volak (Pali) 23-4 1/2, 2. Jaekwan Moodie (Cat) 21-0 1/2, 3. Delano Mckenzie (Sal) 20-9; 4. Cody Waterhouse (Palm) 20-3 1/2, 12. Trevor Amorim (NL) 17-4 1/2.

High jump - 1. Bryce Ellinger (Min) 6-3 q, 2. Zach Moyer (NL) 6-3 q, 3. Hunter Bleam (Sal) 6-1; 6. David Richards (JT) 5-9, 8T. Michael Quinn (Palm) 5-7, 8T. Trevor Amorim (NL) 5-7.

CLASS 3A

(Top 3; plus locals)

3200 - 1. Darlyn Fermin (Lib) 9:40.64, 2. Joseph Ozgar (East) 9:43.92, 3. Marco Cardone (East) 9:44.52.

3200 relay - 1. Parkland (Benjamin Esquieres, Nathan Reimer, Mustapha Salau, Riley Williamson) 8:06.86 q, 2. Emmaus 8:08.42 q, 3. Liberty 8:09.46.

300H - 1. Christian Tackett (Lib) 39.75 q, 2. Terrance Jones (All) 40.02 q, 3. Powell Posten (ESS) 40.21, 11. Xavier Garmony (PlV) 42.71, 20. Ryan Haas (NW) 46.00.

Shot put - 1. Thomas Kitchell (NDGP) 55-10 3/4 q, 2. Matthew Amodea (Tam) 53-1 3/4 q, 3. Elek Ferrency (East) 53-1 3/4 q, 15. Tyler Disbrow (Tam) 41-3.

Triple jump - 1. Maurice Whittle (PMW) 47-11 1/2 q, 2. Sander Sahaydak (Lib) 44-5 3/4 q, 3. Adam Klinger (Park) 44-5 1/4, 6. Barron Stauffenberg (Tam) 43-2.

Pole vault - 1. Derek Lasher (Bang) 14-9 q, 2. Khalid Holland (Tam) 14-3 q, 2T. Powell Posten (ESS) 14-3 q, 8. Pierce Demetriades (Tam) 12-3.

PRELIMINARIES

CLASS 2A

(top qualifier; plus other locals)

100 - 1. Aaron Stasko (Palm) 11.19*, 3. Jarrin Geisinger (JT) 11.44*, 5. Gabriel Bauer (MC) 11.43*, 8. Cody Waterhouse (Palm) 11.61*, 14. Trevor Amorim (NL) 11.88, 15. Ahmad Johnson (JT) 11.92, 16. Jacob Fenstermaker (MC) 11.96, 19. Dylan Dailey (JT) 12.14, 21. Shawn Hoben (PaV) 12.24, 23. Elias Tavares (PaV) 12.34, 24. Lucas Heydt (Palm) 12.58, 25. Collin Eidle (PaV) 12.64.

200 - 1. Timothy Buda (Sal) 22.98*, 2. Aaron Stasko (Palm) 22.99*, 3. Jarrin Geisinger (JT) 23.00*, 7. Ean Chelak (MC) 23.79*, 9. Mason Gerhart (Wea) 24.05, 11. Kory Marlatt (Palm) 24.57, 13. Shawn Hoben (PaV) 25.40, 15. Chris Strika (JT) 28.20.

110H - 1. Jordan Nelson (Palm) 15.47*, 4. Jonathan Perloni (Palm) 16.77*, 7. David Richards (JT) 17.21*, 9. Justin Ellis (JT) 17.62*, 10. Caleb Hankee (NL) 17.78, Adam Keselicka (MC) 17.98, 12. Dawson Schriner (JT) 18.04, 15. Matt Santore (PaV) 19.25, 17. Chase Jones (NL) 20.72;

CLASS 3A

100 - 1. Maurice Whittle (PMW) 11.03*, 9. Matt Kistler (Tam) 11.31*, 22. John Franko (Tam) 11.81, 24. Justin Rodda (NW) 11.96.

200 - 1. Devon West (Lib) 22.61*, 13. Matt Kistler (Tam) 23.34.