Sports

high school track & field

JAMIE A. RAUB jraub@timesleader.com

It’s been a long offseason for teams looking to get back in the saddle for another run at Wyoming Valley Conference track and field glory.

Finally, the real action begins this week, as 16 boys and girls teams work themselves into their best shape during a regular season jammed into five to six weeks. The season climaxes with the District 2 and PIAA championships the last few weeks of May.

League meets begin today with Nanticoke Area hosting GAR and Northwest Area hosting Wyoming Area. The season gets in full swing on April 8 with a full four-meet slate.

There have been decidedly few changes in the league since last season ended, with the formation of Holy Redeemer in the past summer’s Catholic school merger from Bishop Hoban, Seton Catholic and Bishop O’Reilly riding at the forefront.

Across the board, the Royals haven’t seen the influx of student/athletes that the school had expected to see from the merger, but Holy Redeemer coach Ed Roman said the track team has been an exception, seeing a positive influence from the former schools already this season.

“Students from both of these schools (Seton Catholic and Bishop O’Reilly) are already contributing positively to the team,” said Roman. “We expect to be very competitive in each of our meets.”

Holy Redeemer will be competing in Division II of the WVC and Class 2A for the district meet.

TEAMS TO WATCH

Here’s a look at five boys and five girls teams that should be in contention to win the Wyoming Valley Conference:

BOYS

Pittston Area: The defending WVC Division I champions, Pittston Area lost a few of its key pieces from last season but retains a great deal of talent. The Patriots shouldn’t have a problem putting wins under their belt.

Lake-Lehman: The key to this season for the defending WVC Division II champions is going to be balance. The Black Knights have plenty of it. With most of Lake-Lehman’s athletes returning, it should be in contention for another title.

Crestwood: Crestwood was only one win away from grabbing the Division I title last season. With numbers on their side and a load of talent in the distance and sprint events, the Comets can figure into the division race once again this season.

Wyoming Area: Wyoming Area had one of its most successful seasons in 2007, grabbing a bunch of wins in the tri-meets to finish 6-1 in Division II. Under the direction of ninth-year head coach Joe Pizano, the Warriors are heading in the right direction.

Dallas: After a 4-0 start to last season, Dallas had a rough finish and dropped its final two Division II meets. The Mountaineers have some new faces on the boys squad in 2008 and only time will tell if the changes hold.

GIRLS

Dallas: The defending WVC Division I champions reaped the benefits of running a Class 3A schedule last season, edging out Lake-Lehman in the District 2 meet on the final event. This season promises more of the same excitement with most of the same athletes back.

Lake-Lehman: The defending WVC Division II champions, Lake-Lehman was undefeated heading into the district meet, including a win at the elite Shippensburg Invitational. This season, the Black Knights have numbers and most of their athletes have returned, making another run at the title a likely possibility.

Hazleton Area: The Division I Cougars don’t have balance, but they can kill you with their numbers. Hazleton’s strength lies in the field events, and having 46 girls on the roster is going to score many team points along the way.

Hanover Area: Under the direction of 25th-year head coach Al Weston, Hanover Area has the pieces in place to win meets -- numbers and talent. Hanover finished second in Division II last season and should have no problem repeating or bettering that performance.

Crestwood: With two defending district track champions and the defending Class 3A cross country champion on the Division I Comets’ roster, it’s hard to ignore the potential of the Crestwood girls.

ATHLETES TO WATCH

Sprinters, jumpers, distance runners, throwers, the Wyoming Valley Conference certainly has its share of talent all around. Here’s a look at just a few of those athletes to keep an eye on as the season wears on:

BOYS

Owen Wignot, Sr., Holy Redeemer: Wignot made a natural transition from the basketball court to the high jump pit last season, winning the Wilkes-Barre Invitational and the District 2 meet. He then left his mark on the PIAA meet, clearing 6-feet, 3-inches to land a third-place medal. With a year of experience under his belt, the only way to go is up.

GAR, 4x100 relay: Breon Phillips, Sr.; Akiel Gary, Sr.; Godson Tandoh, Jr.; Ryan Womack, Jr.: GAR won this event at the District 2 meet last season and carried its success to the state meet, where it placed seventh overall. But the loss of graduated senior Rob Hadvance is going to hit the foursome hard. Each sprinter is going to be exciting to watch as individuals, but together the combination is hard to beat.

Don Pollitt, So., Hazleton Area: In only his freshman season, Pollitt was a huge surprise for the Cougars, taking second place in the 110-meter hurdles. Pollitt solidifies a field-event heavy Hazleton team and should have no trouble making another run at a district title.

Randy Pajovich, Sr., Berwick: A 100- and 400-meter specialist, Pajovich lasted the entire season with the fastest time in the WVC, but when it came down to a head-to-head race with Tunkhannock’s Tiaghee Daughtry – since graduated – in the district 100-meter championship, he finished a close second. That won’t be the case this season as Pajovich should have no trouble shaking off last season’s second-place finish and resuming his place as the fastest man in the WVC.

Nate Zondlo, Sr., Pittston Area: Keep an eye on Zondlo this season as the Pittston Area distance runner attempts to defend his District 2 Class 3A 1,600-meter title. Zondlo wasn’t the fastest in the league last season but proved to be the smartest racer, wearing down competitors through a grinding pace.

Robert Micikas, Jr., Crestwood: If Zondlo relies on his brains to win races, then Micikas is the complete opposite. The Crestwood distance runner has gathered a reputation for gritting his teeth and taking the front of the pack for an entire 1,600 or 3,200-meter race. Micikas was second to Zondlo last season at the district 1,600, but the two have forged quite the friendly rivalry.

GIRLS

Marina Orrson, Sr., Lake-Lehman: Orrson now leads the Lake-Lehman distance squad, taking the momentum from a sixth-place finish in the PIAA Class 2A 4x800-meter relay at Shippensburg last season into 2008.

Paige Selenski, Sr., Dallas: Selenski had the fastest 100-meter time in the WVC for most of last season but finished second in the district meet to Montrose’s Julia Koloski. The 200-meter race was an entirely different story, where Selenski took out Bishop Hoban’s – now Holy Redeemer’s – Mercedes Yanora, leaving enough left in the tank for the anchor leg of the winning 4x100-meter relay and 4x400-meter relays.

Mercedes Yanora, So., Holy Redeemer: Although only a sophomore, Yanora built quite a reputation last season as the premier sprinter from the Bishop Hoban track program. She sparred with Selenski at the district meet, finishing second in the 200 and third in the 100, and had a good showing at the PIAA Championships.

Ashley Ward, So., Meyers: Ward was probably the lone bright spot for the Mohawks last season and figures to be one of the only stars of a small roster in 2008. The sophomore jumper and thrower won the high jump at the district meet and settled for a tie for eighth place at the PIAA Championships. This season should be no different.

Ellen Arnaud, So., Dallas: Arnaud was a surprising winner for the Mountaineers in the District 2 Class 2A javelin last season and an even bigger shock taking seventh in the PIAA meet. A mutli-sport athlete, Arnaud also plays on the defending state champion Dallas girls soccer team as well as the basketball team.

Mandissa Marshall, Jr., Crestwood: Marshall returns as the District 2 Class 3A champion in the pole vault. What’s more impressive is the height she is able to clear. Marshall set a school record in the vault at 11-3 last season, which is on par with what most male vaulters are able to clear in the WVC. Marshall also contributes for the Comets on the track, sprinting and hurdling.

NEW FACES

There are a few new faces walking the track this season. Here’s a look at the WVC’s first-year coaches:

Anthony Dicton, Wyoming Valley West, boys: Dicton takes over the reins from Collin Snyder, who coached the Spartans while he was serving a tour of duty in Iraq.

Harlon Tabron, Meyers: Tabron takes up the task of coaching a struggling Meyers program from three-year head coach Bill White. He seems to be headed in the right direction, though. He’s set up some strict rules for his team this season.

Dennis Zurawski, Crestwood, girls: Zurawski is taking over a talented Crestwood girls program after the departure of four-year head coach Reginald Thomas.

Mark Otterbine, Hazleton Area, girls: Otterbine has some big shoes to fill after taking over the position held last season by 25-year veteran Fred Barletta. Barletta moved on to become the athletic director of Hazleton Area but left behind a talented girls team.

Joe Struckus, Pittston Area, girls: Struckus was an assistant to eighth-year veteran John Haas last season, so should have no problem taking over the reins of the Patriots program.

Mike Munzing, Wyoming Valley West, girls: Munzing returns after a one-year hiatus. Dave Bond filled in during his absence, leading the Spartans to a 3-4 record.

CIRCLE THE CALENDAR

The District 2 championships return to Scranton Memorial Stadium. The Class 2A meet will be held May 13 while Class 3A will take place May 15.

Right off the bat, Hazleton Area will face a tough task, opening up its season at Coughlin on Wednesday. Dallas, the returning District 2 Class 2A girls champions, also offically opens up its season with a meet against a resurgent Tunkhannock girls team on Wednesday. The Mountaineers will also see some tough opponents in Coughlin (April 9), Hazleton (April 30) and Pittston Area (May 7).

Last season saw a great deal of shuffling around in the WVC standings when the tri-meet portion of the conference schedule came around. This season, it kicks off April 29.