Boys track capsules
JIM THORPE
Head coach - Frank Miller (fourth year)
Assistant coaches - Jason Jacobs, Eric Moore, Patty Rehrig, Christine Rosenberger, Matt Taylor, Jamie Tatusko, Mike Tatusko
Last year's record - 5-2 overall (3-2 SL)
League - Schuylkill League, Division I
District 11 classification - AA
Key losses - Tom Ferguson, Tony Mistretta, Dale Aretz, Bill Rieck, Shawn Lignore, Tre Sullivan
Key returnees - Carl St. Hill (Sr., Sprints/Jumps), David Barrientos (Sr., Distance), Scott Lignore (So., Mid-Distance), Ben Moore (So., Throws), Kareem Mickens (Sr., Sprints/Jumps), Matt Curran (Jr., Distance), Shane Edwards (Jr., Sprints/Jumps)
Others to watch - Talon Fogal (Sr., Sprints/Jumps), PJ Johnson (So., Sprints/Jumps), Pat Beers (Jr., Throws), Conner Jamison (Jr., Throws), Jay Marsden (Sr., Distance), Alex Garcia (Sr., Mid-Distance)
Strengths - Miller stated the Olympian boys have an excellent attitude and work ethic. The Olympians work to their max daily and want to get better each day. So, coach believes that will drive his team to get better.
Weaknesses - The Olympians will struggle in many events this year, especially in the jumps and hurdles. Jim Thorpe will be fielding athletes with minimum to no experience in the events.
Quotable - "With the loss of 9 seniors from last year on a team that finished the year with 26 athletes, experience is a major concern. However, if the athletes continue to work and progress as we did last season, we should be extremely competitive as the year progresses towards the end." Jim Thorpe head coach Frank Miller.
LEHIGHTON
Head coach - Randy Frey (first year)
Assistant coaches - Bill Brong, Jim Blakeslee, Dennis Semmel, Jake Marushak
Last year's record -
League - MVC
District 11 classification - AAA
Key losses - Brian Horn, Dan Semmel
Key returnees - Nate Black (Sr., Hurdles), Leon Adams, Cory Kresge (Sr., Long Jump/Sprints)
Others to watch - Ian Christman (Jr., Jumps), Jon Rabenold (Jr., Mid-Distance/Long Jump), Billy Angst (So., High Jump), Eric Whiteman
Strengths - The Indians should be solid in the hurdles with Black returning. He won the 300 hurdles at the MVC championships last season.
Weaknesses - The field events took a hit on both of Lehighton's track teams this year. The boys lost Horn, who won the MVC discus gold medal two years in a row.
Quotable - "With the new coaches working with the veteran coaches, we are looking forward to another great season. We would like to have a lot of personal-bests and a lot of state qualifiers." Lehighton head coach Randy Frey.
MARIAN
Head coach - John Boyle (first year)
Assistant coaches - Brain Rogers, George Ferko, Jeremy Dormer, Maria Hoppes, Pat John
Last year's record - 6-1 overall
League - Schuylkill League Division II
District 11 classification - AA
Key losses - Frank Lally, Nick Julian, John Sincavage, Even Whildin, Shawn Gates
Key returnees - Paul Martin (So., Sprints), Justin Huegel (Sr., Mid-Distance), Mike Stauffer (Sr., Hurdles), James Ramer (Sr., Distance), Dylan Baranowsky (Jr., Throws), David Paul (Sr., Distance), Matt Yaich (Sr., Throws), Robert Kelly (Jr., Hurdles/Jumps)
Others to watch - Alex Garber (Sr., Throws), Justin Jacobs (Sr., Throws), Patrick Leitzel (Sr., Throws/Jumps), Corey Rutch (Sr., Throws), John Ryan (Sr., Throws), Mike Legath (Sr., Distance), Kyle Garber (Jr., Jumps), Matthew Graga (So., Mid-Distance), Frank Hutta (So., Sprints), Cyril Shickora (So., Jumps), John Julian (Fr., Mid-Distance), Philip Marzen (Fr., Distance), Dominic Montero (Fr., Throws), Dylan Quirk (Fr., Sprints), Julian Mick (Fr., Hurdles), Dynan Rush (Sr., Throws), Shane Mulligan (Fr., Jumps), Chris Barletta (Jr., Sprints/Jumps)
Strengths - Thanks to the likes of Martin, Huegel, Stauffer, Ramer and Paul returning for another year, Boyle believes the Colts will be strong in the majority of the events that happen on the track itself, especially in the 100, 200, 800, 1600, 3200. With Stauffer, Kelly and Yaich experienced in their respective events, the Colts are seasoned in the hurdles, discus and the relay events.
Weaknesses - The Colts are concerned a bit about their play in the field events. Boyle is looking to the returning individuals to work along with the newcomers to improve in every aspect of the shot put, javelin and all three jumping events.
Quotable - "We are trying to up our standards to perform better at the big meets. We are not defending anything; we are going out there to work for it day in and day out," Marian Catholic head coach John Boyle.
NORTHERN LEHIGH
Head coach - Michael Lehtonen (third year)
Assistant coaches - Mike Bonner, Scott Gerould, Derek Long, Dave Oertner
Last year's record - 3-9 overall (2-9 CL)
League - Colonial League
District 11 classification - AA
Key losses - Jon Heberling, Jon Corcoran, Kyle Bender
Key returnees - Zach Fleming (Sr., Distance), Austin Danish (Jr., Distance), Joe Wirfel (Sr., Sprints), Christian Freudenberger (Sr., Throws), Aaron Rarick (Sr., Distance), Ryan Fronheiser (Sr., Distance)
Others to watch - Cody Remaley (Jr., Sprints), Caleb Johnson (Fr., Hurdles/Throws), Dalton Johnson (So., Sprints), Darien Middaugh (Fr., Mid-Distance)
Strengths - Northern Lehigh has a lot of distance runners back in Fleming, Danish, Rarick and Fronheiser - just to name a few. Look for the Bulldogs to be strong in the 800, 1600 and 3200 because of them.
Weaknesses - The 'Dawgs will be weak in the jumps. Heberling, last year's TN Track Athlete of the Year, is gone and has left a big hole in the jumping events.
Quotable - "After a trip to the PIAA cross country championship meet this past fall, the distance events look to be our strength. If we can ride those guys, especially our state-qualifier Fleming, then we should be able to compete with the other teams in the league." Northern Lehigh head coach Mike Lehtonen.
NORTHWESTERN
Head coach - Brian Xander (seventh season)
Assistant coaches - David Kerschner, Bob Horner, Henry Distler, Mike MacLaughlin
Last year's record - 8-3 overall
League - Colonial League
District 11 classification - AAA
Key losses - Kyle Stelmack, Joe Nemeth, Nathan Schoffstall, Michael Koenig, Adam Lynn
Key returnees - Joe Hall (Sr., High Jump/Throws), Tim East (Sr., Hurdles), Trevor German (Sr., High Jump/Sprints)
Others to watch - Matt Naugle (So., Sprints), Marc Khalil (Jr., Pole Vault), Alex Castellano (So., Discus), Tyler Stelmak (Fr., Distance), Curtis Cappuccino (Jr., Distance)
Strengths - Although the Tigers are a little young, head coach Brian Xander likes the amount of talented athletes that he has. The three main ones, all seniors, should take the lead and provide the team with leadership.
Weaknesses - There are some areas where the Tigers are not as deep as Xander would like. Still, it is early in the season and there are several athletes who may settle into new events.
Quotable - "The coaching staff is looking forward to another great year of track. We are excited that we have a lot of young talent and anticipate being a strong team in the league." Northwestern head coach Brian Xander.
PALMERTON
Head coach - Michael Gombert (third season)
Assistant coaches - Jim Hay, Jeff Minnich, Bethany Rowland, Lanny Buck, Dwight Henninger, Kris Hoffner
Last year's record - 5-6 overall
League - Colonial League
District 11 classification - AA
Key losses - Austin Cseh, James Butcher, Mitch Paulinho, Kevin Booth, James Hunsicker, Anthony Plocinik, Justin Bernhard
Key returnees - Troy Anewalt (Sr., Hurdles), Lanny Buck (Sr., Pole Vault/Javelin), Tyler Holland (Sr., Pole Vault), Ryan Kleintop (Sr., Mid-Distance), Mark Andrews (Sr., Throws), Aaron Papay (Jr., Distance), Kevin Seemiller (Jr., Mid-Distance), Levi Serfass (Jr., Throws), Derek Walck (Jr., Throws), John Achtermann (So., Distance), Travis Wolfe (So., Sprints/Hurdles)
Others to watch - Trevor Kirchner (Jr., Throws), Derek Furry (Jr., Sprints), Monty Szukics (So., Sprints/Jumps), Cody Eckhart (So., Distance), Alex Vignone (Fr., Sprints/Jumps)
Strengths - With Buck and Holland leading the way, the Bombers look to be strong in the pole vault.
Weaknesses - Palmerton has just five main seniors leading the way, leaving it with a lot of inexperience throughout the team.
Quotable - "We will have a lot of unproven athletes who we hope will continually improve throughout the season. Their development, along with our veteran talent, will dictate our team's success in the Colonial League." Palmerton head coach Mike Gombert.
PANTHER VALLEY
Head coach - Frank Damian (fourth season)
Assistant coaches - Terry Bonner, Morgan Jones, Michelle Markovich, Francie O'Gorman, Adrianne Bonner
Last year's record - 0-5 overall
League - Schuylkill League, Division I
District 11 classification - AA
Key losses - Bejtullah Mehmeti
Key returnees - Josh Vega (Jr., Sprints), Ryan Richards (Sr., Sprints/Throws), Jason Harrison (Sr., Sprints/Throws), Andrew Tucker (Sr., Throws)
Others to watch - Dylin Smith (Jr., Throws), Justin Christman (Sr., Distance), Morgan Jones (Jr., Distance)
Strengths - Panther Valley is hoping its returning experience will help it grow and compete as a team this year. Head coach Frank Damian believes it will also lead to some great individual performances.
Weaknesses - Although the Panthers have good numbers, it will be tough for them to compete as a team. The Division I of the Schuylkill League has schools twice the Panthers' size and that alone will make it tough for them to score points.
Quotable - "Our league is very tough, but we will try as hard as we can. I am hoping our returning seniors can provide the leadership we need and that our underclassmen will follow." Panther Valley head coach Frank Damian.
PLEASANT VALLEY
Head coach - Michael Wertman (fourth season)
Assistant coaches - Tom Crosby, Michelle Piontkowski, Wayne Davenport, Woody Metzger
Last year's record - 2-3-1 overall
League - MVC
District 11 classification - AAAA
Key losses - Kyle Bauman, Corey Carter, Vinnie Early, Willie Early, Trevor Gilleece, Adam Margelot, Ryan Symancek
Key returnees - Jalen Blot (Jr., Hurdles), Curran Kneebone (Sr., Distance), Evan Makuvek (Jr., Distance), Cody Matlock (Sr., Sprints), Dekimbe Smith (Jr., Throws), Doug Kenely (Sr., Throws)
Others to watch - Ben Desotelle (Sr., Vaults), Hiram Woodruff (So., Sprints), Josh Desriviere (Sr., Jumps), Anthony Ruiz (So., Distance)
Strengths - Pleasant Valley has many letter winners returning to the track for 2010. The Bears, according to to head coach Mike Wertman, should be competitive in every event.
Weaknesses - One thing the Bears lack is leadership. They need individuals to immerge as leaders throughout the course of the year. Pleasant Valley has athletes with a lot of potential, but potential alone does not bring home championships.
Quotable - "We will be successful if we can develop our newcomers in the field events so we can scratch and claw for every point possible." Pleasant Valley head coach Mike Wertman.
TAMAQUA
Head coach - Tom Kanger (seventh season)
Assistant coaches - Sam Schaffer, Mike Sakash, Chuck Fayash, Andy Smarr, John Kochmar, Jerry Zubey
Last year's record - 1-4 overall
League - Schuylkill League
District 11 classification - AA
Key losses - Cody Brode, Donovan Miller, Brett Valentine, Caleb Shilko, Robert Guth
Key returnees - Zach Lakitsky (Jr., Sprints/Mid-Distance), John Scheitrum (Sr., Pole Vault/Sprints), Joe Rudy (Jr., Distance), Mike Kabana (Sr., Throws), Jeff Sincavage (Sr., Sprints), Philip Christman (Jr., Sprints/Hurdles), John Ansbach (Jr., Throws), Will Breiner (Sr., Throws/Mid-Distance), Ben Tuckett (Sr., Throws/Distance), Ricky Clemson (Sr., Distance)
Others to watch - Lance Williams (So., Mid-Distance), Justin Delp (Fr., Sprints), Pete Conforti (So., Throws), Tyler Krell (Fr., Hurdles/Sprints), Eric Hertzog (Fr., Hurdles/Sprints), Josh Guscott (Jr., Sprints)
Strengths - Tamaqua has a lot of upper class sprinters back and that should help the team get some points in those events. Also, the pole vault seems to be a strength with John Scheitrum leading the way.
Weaknesses - The Raiders lack depth and numbers. Most of their opponents may be able to score more points than them by simply having more kids on the track.
Quotable - "We lack the numbers to be competitive as a team, but some of our individual athletes will be very competitive in the league." Tamaqua head coach Tom Kanger.
