Marian’s McClafferty ready to finish strong

Marian’s Tina Capparell is gone.

The now-University of Delaware athlete made headlines on a regular basis last season, winning two district titles and grabbing two medals at states to cap a remarkable career.

But a wealth of talent returns to area track and field programs this season - and it starts with the Fillies.

Marian senior Emma McClafferty is coming off her first state medal, placing sixth in the Class 2A discus a year ago. McClafferty, who has signed to attend Division 1 Holy Cross on a track scholarship in the fall, also won her second District 11 title in the discus last season.

Weatherly’s Emily Zoscin won her second district gold in the Class 2A 100 a year ago, and looks primed to finish her career with a bang and another ‘Trip to Ship,’ where she was ninth last year.

Jim Thorpe’s Lydia Wallace enjoyed a breakout freshman campaign, winning the Class 2A 400 and placing second in the 800, while Debbie Loyd won district gold in the pole vault.

Lehighton’s Isabella Meckes shined in Class 3A competition a year ago. The senior was the district champion in the event, and just missed medaling at states, placing ninth.

JIM THORPE

BACK FOR MORE ... Debbie Loyd (senior), Kylee Dulski (junior) and Lydia Wallace (sophomore) return after qualifying for states a year ago, with Loyd and Wallace doing so in multiple events. Loyd was the Schuylkill League and District Clas 2A pole vault champ, while Wallace was the district champ in the 400 and was second in the 800 at leagues and districts. Dulski, Loyd and Wallace were members of the 400 relay team that qualified for states. The 400 relay was also second at leagues. The Olympians will also return Marnea Wise (senior, third at leagues in long jump), Taylor Craigie (junior), Kristen Scott (junior) and Holly Skrimcovsky (junior) from a team that went 4-2 last season. Wallace’s 1:00.31 in the 400 was an area best a year ago, while Dulski’s time of 17.17 in the 100 hurdles and Loyd’s height of 11-0 also was tops in the area.

KEEP AN EYE ON ... Others to watch for Thorpe this year will be Macayla Almeida (senior), Brielle Long (senior), Anna Shigo (junior), Tessa Bevilacqua (sophomore), Caprice Lynch (sophomore), Abbey McGinley (sophomore), Brandy Montemuro (sophomore), Laura Clarke (freshman), Riley Solt (freshman) and Hailey Fiorito (freshman).

MOVING ON ... The Olympians will have to replace Emma Dunbar, Makenzie Rosenberger, Devon Lignore, Monae Bullock and Alex McGinley. Dunbar was second in the 100 at districts and qualified for states, while Lignore was a runner-up in the shot put and advanced to Ship. Dunbar was also on the 400 relay team, third in the 200 at leagues, and fifth in the 100. Lignore was fifth in the shot put at leagues. “Loyd, Dulksi, and Wallace bring Championship meet experience to the team based on their participation in the State meet of last season. Replacing Emma Dunbar in the sprints will be a tall task and is an area where development of athletes is a must. Pole vault will be a strength of the team due to returning Loyd, Shigo, and Bevilacqua,” Jim Thorpe head coach Frank Miller, now in his 13th season leading the program.

WATCH OUT FOR ... Look for Macayla Almeida (senior), Brielle Long (senior), Anna Shigo (junior), Tessa Bevilacqua (sophomore), Caprice Lynch (sophomore), Abbey McGinley (sophomore), Brandy Montemuro (sophomore), Laura Clarke (freshman), Riley Solt (freshman) and Hailey Fiorito (freshman) to step in and fill the voids left by some of the departing athletes. “Overall the team is still extremely young with only six seniors in which two of them are brand new to track and field. The goal is continued development of all event groups and demonstrate daily improvement,” said Miller.

MOVING FORWARD ... After going 4-2 a year ago, Miller will judge this season by more than just the team’s final record. “Wins and losses will not determine the overall success of the team. Of the 32 girls on the team, only six are seniors, so development and progress throughout this season should lead to success in the future for the program,” he said.

LEHIGHTON

BIG TEAM… The Lady Indians will have a big team this year. “We have a larger girls team this season, probably about the same number as last year,” head coach Jim Blakeslee said. “A lot of returnees that were sophomores and are now juniors and some of our seniors like thrower Isabelle Meckes. We have a couple sprinters back in Karissa Hough.”

TRIP TO SHIP ... Meckes is back for her senior year after qualifying for states last season, winning the District 11 Class 3A discus with a throw of 125-10.00, an area best. Meckes was also a league champion in the discus. Meckes just missed the podium at states, placing ninth. Junior Kaia Slaw’s mark of 37-03.00 (area best) in the triple jump at districts met the state qualifying standard and was good for third place. Slaw was also sixth in the long jump at districts. Slaw was also stellar at leagues, placing second in the long and triple jump, and finishing third in the high jump. The junior’s mark of 17-1 in the long jump was also an area best.

LOOKING FOR MORE ... Senior Isabella Baka was second in the pole vault (10-0) at leagues last year. Though she no-heighted at districts. look for Baka to be ready to make more noise once the postseason rolls around this year.

YOUNG KIDS… “We have lots of young kids,” Blakeslee said. “I’m not quite sure how we’ll do. We’ll establish a lot of points, but I don’t know if we’ll be able to score enough with some of the bigger Schuylkill teams to take care of things.”

MARIAN

SUCCES BREEDS SUCCESS… Justin Huegel is now in his fourth season with the program, and his second as the guy who pulls the trigger. Huegel lost one of the finest runners in the history of the Schuylkill League in Tina Capparell, as she departed for the University of Delaware. Also graduating were Julia Hoben and Zoryana Duda.

MOMENTS TO REMEMBER… The Fillies posted a 4-2 record, highlighted, of course by Tina Capparell’s two medals at states as a runner-up in the Class 2A 1600 and with an eighth-place medal in the 800. Capparell was also big in the District 1I 2A champions with gold medals in the 800 and 1600. Capparell also won a Schuylkill League championship in the 1600 and 800, Senior Emma McClafferty’s sixth-place finish in the Class 2A discus capped a stallar season, one that also included a district championship in the event. McClafferty was also second in the discus and shot put at leagues, The 1600 relay team placed fourth at leagues.

COME BACK FILLIES… Huegel says the cupboard isn’t bare, especially with the talented McClafferty returning for her swan song. There is Nicole Capparell, sister of Tina, gearing up for her final season, and a top flight middle-distance runner. Grace Mussoline is a veteran sprinter, while Ariel Stanalonis will garner key points in the jumping events. Other letter winners that should add to the Fillies scoring include Kaitlyn Lowery (hurdles and jumps), Andraya Pikitus (sprints), Rachel Casella (throws), Carolyn Mehallo (distance), Jamison Wheeler (sprints and hurdles), Rebecca Dzuranin (jumps) and Abbey Digris (middle distance).

WHO’S WAITING… The Fillies will look to a few youngsters to help bolster the squad. There’s Grace Curnow and Haley Curnow in the middle distance, with the later figuring into the jumps. Sprinters and jumpers find Kelly Sullivan and Macie Mazalusky, with Annika Hahn looking to score in the jumping events, while Lily Kelly will add to the throwing.

NORTHERN LEHIGH

YOUNG TEAM… Mike Lehtonen’s squad will be mostly young for the 2019 season, more so on the girls side of things. “We got a lot of young bodies,” Lehtonen said. “We’re trying to see where we kind of fit with events for the newer people. We have some throwers that will be back. They have some experience.”

FITTING IN… Many of the Bulldog athletes have set goals for the year, while the newcomers are still trying to find their way. “Good work ethics for the kids that we have, and some returning people have set individual goals that they’re definitely eyeing up,” Lehtonen said. “The new kids are trying to learn where they fit best.”

SHE’S BACK… Junior Reagan Pender returns for the Bulldogs after a stellar cross-country season last fall, where she was sixth at states. Pender will turn her attention to the long-distance events for the track-and-field team. Joining her in returning will be the Guelchers, Katie and Kristen, along with Abby Merkle. Kristen will be important as a sprinter in the 100-and-200 meter dashes. Merkle represents the team in the pole-vaulting portion. Senior Franki Dibilio also returns after qualifying for States in the shot put.

JUST LIKE THE BOYS… The Northern Lehigh girls also finished 3-8 as a team like the boys, and with the younger team, they’ll look to improve on their record for the 2019 campaign.

NORTHWESTERN

CONTINUED SUCCESS… The Lady Tigers capped off a 9-2 season in 2018, and look to build on the continued success for this year. “We are still putting the pieces of the puzzle together, but our girls should be competitive,” coach Chuck Groller said. “We have experience and talent in some events, but are not as strong in other events as we have been in years past. These girls continue to work hard at every practice.“

KEY LOSSES… Northwestern lost Abby Chisdak (javelin) and Hannah Herzon (long distance) to graduation, along with Jordan Lowthert (triple jump), Molly Tarvin (mid and long distance) and Leila Toth (pole vault). “Time will tell how quickly our younger, inexperienced athletes can build their confidence to meet the challenges that lie ahead in meet competition,” Groller said.

COMING BACK... Senior Sydney Derr will return to pole vault, while Sage Christopher plans to participate in the throwing events. Seniors Madeline Consuelos, Sarah Supplee and Alyssa Zack will all partake in the mid-and-long distance events. Junior Allison Costa joints the senior trio in the distance events. Emma Fogal handles the hurdles, with Carly Fogal participating in the long and triple jumps. Northwestern captured the Colonial League title in the 3200 relay in 2018.

KEEPING AN EYE ON… Senior Sara Hathaway plans on tackling the sprints for Northwestern. Hurdler Allyson Hinks and high-jumper Jessica Wertman will be two other girls to watch throughout the season. The Tigers also have junior Sydney Sevrain throwing the javelin, as well as sprinter Kate Betz and distance runner Lauren Hinks.

GROLLER ON OUTLOOK... “Our mid and long distance group of athletes, led by Alyssa Zack, Madeline Consuelous, and Allison Costa will be the strength of this team,” Groller said. “We’re also looking to get points out of Sage Christopher in shot put, Emma Fogal, Sarah Supplee, and Allyson Hinks in hurdling, Sydney Derr in pole vaulting, Carly Fogal in jumps, and Sara Hathaway in sprints.”

PALMERTON

REBUILDING THE PROGRAM… The Lady Blue Bombers finished 2018 4-7, but have been in a rebuilding phase since 2016. “The girls program has been a work in progress,” head coach Mike Gombert said. “A few years ago, the team ended the season with only six athletes in 2016. Since then, it’s kind of been a rebuiliding process. The team has shown improvement each of the last few years. Hopefully, they’ll continue.”

ONE MORE TIME… Madison Martinez will return for her senior year after placing third in the 300 hurdles and fifth in the 100 hurdles at districts. Martinez, who had an area best in the 100 hurdles, will continue her career at Ithaca College. Another senior, Chloe Oldt, was tied for the area best in the high jump a year ago.

GOALS ... Gombert also talked about how some of his athletes are focused on individual goals. “As far as individuals go, we were hoping for a few more successes, but we have some really good athletes that are returning from last year that we hope will continue to see improvements on the girls team,” he said.

PANTHER VALLEY

NEW SKIPPER ON BOARD… Bob Thomas has taken over the program, and is looking to bring the unit together and become competitive as quickly as possible. Thomas says build it and they will come; and come they have with 102 track competitors out for the season, which includes seventh and eighth graders that will be the future. Thomas was absent due to health reasons, thus missing the 2018 season.

STRONG CORE OF LADIES… The Lady Panthers have numerous veterans ready to hit the track and hopefully make an impact as the season moves forward. Shelby Hill, Gabriel DeMatto and Hailey Shreffler are returning to the fold. Toss in the likes of Hailey Henninger, Jacqueline Kokinda, Rebecca Jones, Autumn Steibler, along with Andrea Tizzeker and Emily Macaluch, which makes for depth for this side of the ledger.

PLEASANT VALLEY

BEING COMPETITIVE… Pleasant Valley head coach Michelle Piontkowski is looking for big things out of the 2019 season. “We expect to be competitive in the EPC this year, and need contributions from key athletes,” Piontkowski said. “They will need to continue to work hard and improve throughout the season to be a factor in the EPC”

KEY RETURNERS… Sprinter Julia Butchkoski (sprinter) and distance runner Trisha Dominick (distance) lead the Pleasant Valley seniors. Joining them for their final year will be sprinter/jumper Armani Dunkley and thrower Sophia Johnson. Juniors Rebecca Makrides (thrower) and Cameron Caffrey (distance runner) will also be in the mix. Dunkley was also tied for the area best in the high jump, clearing 5-1.

NUMBERS GAME… “Numbers are down this year, with respect to the girls’ team,” Piontkowski said. “Pole vault and high jump is a concern for because of the technical aspect of each event. Young athletes will need to be fast learners in order to make up for the lack of numbers.”

NEWCOMERS... Hurdler Denair Drew and sprinter Nyia Moon, both freshmen, are new faces for the Lady Bears squad. “We have some key athletes representing each event, so as long as we can step up and fill the shoes left by the seniors from last year, we should be competitive in the EPC this year,” Piontkowski said.

TAMAQUA

KEY LOSSES ... Gone are Alyssa Campomizzi (javelin), Kirsten Jones (shot put), Olivia Stanek (400/800), Shanna Brinkworth (pole vault/100), Kailee Carroll (1600/3200) and Angela Ceci (discus) from a squad that went 4-2 last season. Campomizzi’s 117-3 in the javelin was an area best a year ago, an event she was second in at districts, which qualified her for states.

COMING BACK ... The Raiders have several key returnes who have been integral parts of the team. Sarah Maue (senior, 1600/3200), Emily Titus (junior, javelin, shot put), Francis Kabana (sophomore, 800/1600), Brianna Dumond (junior, 400/800), Kayla Sherry (senior, 100/200), Sophia Boyle (sophomore, pole vault), Tressa Barron (sophomore, 100/200), Molly Murphy (sophomore, 100/300 hurdles), Makenna Kane (sophomore, 100/300 Hurdles), Caitlin Smith (sophomore, 100/200), April Gerber (senior, 200/400), Megan McArdle (senior, discus) and Megan Rolko (sophomore, long jump) will be counted on to score points in their respective events this season.

RELAY SUCCESS ... Maue, Kabana and Dumond were on the Raiders’ 3200 relay team that placed second at districts last season and posted the area’s best time of 9:50.54. Tamaqua will have to find someone to replace Stanek, but the team seems perfectly capable of doing so with a strong middle-distance core returning. Maue was third in the 3200 and fourth in the 1600 at leagues, while Dumond placed fourth in the 800.

READY TO TAKE OFF? ... While Tamaqua loses Brinkworth, who was third in the pole vault at districts, Boyle returns after placing fourth in the event as a freshman. She’s primed to build on that success as a sophomore.

WATCH OUT FOR ... Grace Stegemerten (freshman, 800/1600), Jillian Tite (freshman, javelin) and Maura Walker (freshman, 400/800) should also make valuable contributions in the Raiders’ quest to contend for a Schuylkill League Division 1 crown. “The girls team is complete in each area with a few new faces. Returning some strong distance runners from cross country and more experienced hurdles and jumpers will make the team very competitive. (They) may be a year away but several freshmen that come from successful fall and winter sports could develop into competitive forces earlier than anticipated,” said Tamaqua head coach Tom Kanger.

BRIGHT FUTURE ... Kanger likes what he’s seen from several of the team’s key returnees, along with many of the squad’s newcomers. “Several of the team members were award winners at leagues and districts, so the season is looking bright,” said Kanger.

WEATHERLY

FRESH START ... Weatherly will be competing as a full team this year as a member of the Schuylkill League for the first time. The Wreckers will be a Division II program in both boys and girls competition.

SPEED RACER ... Emily Zoscin returns for her senior year after winning her second district title in the 100 and placing ninth at states. Zoscin, who was second in the 100 at leagues, also posted an area best 12.2 in the event a year ago.

SQUAD ... In addition to Zoscin, Wreckers’ head coach Paul Schertrumpf is also going to be counting on Abby Hernandez (senior, 400), Nicole Gordon (senior, 100/200), Megan Peifer (senior, 400), Makenna Bankes (sophomore, 100/200), Elizabeth Marshman (sophomore, 800/1600), Lexi Berger (junior, 100 hurdles/relays) and Isabella Wagner (sophomore, 100/300 hurdles) to make big contributions this season. “Just like our boys, our girls are short on numbers, but with two-time district champ Emily (Zoscin) and qualifiers Nicole (Gordon) and Abby (Hernandez), we should add a few more this season. I can realistically see all 10 girls making districts with relays and individual events,” said Schertrumpf, who is in his third season leading the program.

LOOKING AT YOU ... Schertrumpf will also be looking to Rhianne Markovchick (freshman, 100 hurdles/jumps) and Kaleigh Barnes (senior, 100/200) to provide depth for this year’s team.

HERE, THERE AND EVERYWHERE ... Though the Wreckers will be contesting their first season as a full-fledged member of the league, they will be doing so without a track. The team is practicing at Eurana Park, making the most of the facilities available to them.

NOW HEAR THIS ... “We could realistically qualify all three of our hurdlers, which would be amazing being that we practice with homemade PVC hurdles! Emily is shooting for three in a row, and our every girl has a chance for districts. That’s our goal,” said Schertrumpf.

Kyle Magda and Sam Matta also contributed to this story.