 |
Butler vs. Knoch |
| |
| Tornado track teams outpace Knoch in season opener
|
| Meet Photos |
 By Sam Tallarico
Eagle Staff Writer
BUTLER TWP — Butler coaches Rick Schontz and Rod Harris were hoping to get in their first meet of the season, then take time to assess where to place some of their athletes.
In Wednesday's meet against Knoch, they seemed to be ahead of schedule.
The Butler boys team won 15 of 18 events in defeating the Knights 117-33 while the Tornado girls picked up a 95-55 decision in the season opener for both teams.
"It was absolutely great weather, so it was an opportunity to see where we need improving," said Tornado boys coach Schontz. "We have 115 athletes to compete. We want to see what we have."
A key mainstay from last season was Logan Renwick, a sophomore who won four events. Renwick captured the second race of the day, the 110 hurdles, with a time of 16.3 seconds.
He followed up by sweeping the jumps — 6 feet in the high jump, 21-3¼ in the long jump and 42-9½ in the triple jump.
Mason McLaughlin won the 400 (52.1), took part in the winning 400 relay (45.3) and closed out with the winning 1,600 relay (3:39.2).
McLaughlin's 400 relay teammates of Nate McCandless, Darius Hightower and John McAvoy grabbed the top three spots in the 100, respectively, with Hightower winning the 200.
"Our sprints did very well. I'm very pleased with that," said Schontz. "We had seven or eight kids run mid 55s or better (in the 400), which is excellent."
Dylan O'Donnell won the shot put and Mike Schontz the discus, with Matt Cooper finishing second in both and Schontz finishing second in the javelin.
"Overall, we did a good job, but we need to look at some things and move some kids around," said Schontz.
The Knights had a double winner in sophomore Brian Tackett, who won the 1,600 (4:53.7) and the 800 (2:04.3), while Zach Gross was Knoch's other individual champion in the javelin (150-3).
"It's pretty exciting to get started back to competition," said Knoch coach Wess Brahler. "Our boys are pretty young and we'll take some lumps in the beginning, but we'll get it together later this season."
Just like Schontz, Brahler also is looking to strengthen his team by using what he witnessed Wednesday.
"We have a lot of holes to fill," said Brahler. "We have a big invite Saturday at the Franklin Relays, then two meets next week against Hampton and Pine-Richland."
In the girls meet, Butler has 88 freshmen and sophomores combined and 34 juniors and seniors. Still, the squad used a mix of both to hold off an improving Knights team.
Butler received wins from seniors Amanda Malecky (400, 1:03.7), Erica Miller (300 hurdles, 50.5), Katherine Sylvia (discus, 101-3) and Skye Sankey in the pole vault (10-0).
Malecky and Miller also helped the 1,600 relay to victory while the rest of the relay lineups were made up of promising Tornado athletes.
"We're a really young squad" said Harris. "I told the girls in the locker room before the meet that 'You have to step up. We need to see what you have to offer, and today's the day to do it.'
Sophomores Tara Lowe (100), Adair Robinson (200), Olivia Bresnahan (high jump) and Maria Gracik (javelin) also chipped in with individual wins.
"We're young in the sprints, but Tara Lowe won the 100, (junior) Katie Wahl was second and (freshman) Kathryn Spingola got third," said Harris.
Knoch had success of its own, thanks to three wins by sophomore Gina Robb, who won the 100 hurdles (16.9), the long jump (16-1) and the triple jump (34-2).
Freshman Jolene Kunkel won the 1,600 (5:27.6) and 800 (2:34.9), while her sister, junior Alyssa, won the 3,200 (12:31.9).
"We're a young team," said Knoch coach Tom Hoffmann. "We scored 55 points against Butler, which is pretty good for us compared to teams in the past."
Robb's sister, Sarah, is injured and did not compete.
Senior Carol Cress, the defending WPIALClass AAA champion, won the shot put (38-10Z\x) and was second in the discus while her sister Allyson, a sophomore, was runner-up in the shot put.
"We have a sister act going," said Hoffmann. "Sarah's been hurt and she cleared 35 feet in the triple jump last year, and Gina's already cleared 34 feet this year. We have some very good athletes, but not a whole lot of depth."
Still, it was an impressive showing for the Knights, who hope to keep the momentum going.
"I don't think (the Knights) realize what they did against Butler," said Hoffmann. "(Today), we'll talk about it. It's a good measuring stick." |
| |
| Back |
|
|
 |
Boys
Butler 117, Knoch 33
3200-meter relay: Butler (Ben Porter, Lance Dugger, Logan Elias, J.T. Fleming) 8:35.7; 110-meter hurdles: Logan Renwick (B) 16.3; 100-meter dash: Nate McCandless (B) 11.8; 1,600-meter run: Brian Tackett (K) 4:53.7; 400-meter dash: Mason McLaughlin (B) 52.1; 400 meter relay: Butler (Darius Hightower, Mason McLaughlin, Nate McCandless, John McAvoy) 45.3; 300-meter hurdles: Mike Martin (B) 43.9; 800-meter run: Brian Tackett (K) 2:04.3; 200-meter dash: Darius Hightower (B) 24.0; 3,200-meter run: Wayne Dailey (B) 10:18.7; 1,600-meter relay: Butler (Mason McLaughlin, Eli Christy, Jeremy Taylor, Josh Reddick) 3:39.2
High jump: Logan Renwick (B) 6-0; Long jump: Logan Renwick (B) 21-3.25; Triple jump: Logan Renwick (B) 42-9.5; Shot put: Dylan O'Donnell (B) 47-1; Discus: Mike Schontz (B) 126-1; Javelin: Zach Gross (K) 150-3; Pole vault: Eric Braun (B)11-6
Girls
Butler 95, Knoch 55
3200-meter relay: Butler (Danica Snyder, Lisa Balestrino, Alyson DeFurio, Jess Lytle) 11:33.9 100-meter hurdles: Gina Robb (K) 16.9; 100-meter dash: Tara Lowe (B) 13.2; 1,600-meter run: Jolene Kunkel (K) 5:27.6; 400-meter dash: Amanda Malecky (B) 1:03.7; 400 meter relay: Butler (Mindy Miller, Tara Lowe, Casie Cygan, Adaire Robinson) 53.3; 300-meter hurdles: Erica Miller (B) 50.5; 800-meter run: Jolene Kunkel (NB) 2:34.9; 200-meter dash: Adaire Robinson (B) 29.2; 3,200-meter run: Alyssa Kunkel (K) 12:31.9; 1,600-meter relay: Butler (Katie Wahl, Erin Malecky) 4:28.5
High jump: Olivia Bresnahan (B) 5-2; Long jump: Gina Robb (K) 16-1; Triple jump: Gina Robb (K) 34-2; Shot put: Carol Cress (K) 38-10.5; Discus: Katherine Sylvia (B) 101-3; Javelin: Maria Gracik (B) 106-4; Pole vault: Skye Sankey (B) 10-0 |
|
| |
| |
| |
|
