There is a prevailing theme for track and field teams this season – inexperience. With the loss of the entire 2020 season to the COVID-19 pandemic, most teams have a limited number of experienced performers returning this season.
For area teams in the Colonial League (Palmerton, Northern Lehigh and Northwestern) and Eastern Pennsylvania Conference (Pleasant Valley), the other common theme is youth. All four teams will be counting heavily on underclassmen this season.
Following are the boys and girls previews for those teams:
BOYS
NORTHERN LEHIGH
MOVING ON
… The Bulldogs lose standouts Zach Moyer (jumps) and Carter Smith (sprints/throws) to graduation. Moyer tied the school record in the high jump as a junior, clearing 6-6. Moyer cleared 6-2 to tie with two other jumpers and place eighth in the Class 2A high jump at states that season. He qualified for states in the high jump for the second straight year, hitting the state qualifying standard with a leap of 6-3 for a runner-up finish at districts. He also cleared 6-3 to capture the Colonial League title. Those marks were huge improvements over his sophomore year when Moyer cleared 5-10 at districts to place second from last. That came on the heels of a fifth-place finish at the Colonial League Championships that season. Moyer’s mark of 6-6 is tied with Jon Heberling for the school record in high jump. Heberling set the mark in 2008 – and Moyer had hoped to top it last season, which was eventually canceled by the coronavirus pandemic. He committed to Division I Rider University last spring to continue his track and field career.
BACK IN ACTION
… Caleb Hankee (senior, hurdles), Hunter Zehner (senior, hurdles/distance), Brady Hanzarik (pole vault/jumps) and Jared Thomason (junior, distance/hurdles) are primed to enjoy big seasons of their own this spring. “Although numbers are smaller than normal, the boys team has been working hard early in the season and look forward to showing off these efforts as the meet schedule begins quickly,” said Northern Lehigh head coach Mike Lehtonen. “Hurdling coach and NL alumnus Drake Pristash will direct the strength of the team in the hurdles department. He returns the experience of Jones, Hankee, Zehner, and Thomason.”
MR. VERSATILE
… Chase Jones (junior) and Kenneth Dyer (senior) are both expected to contribute in the hurdles and a variety of other events.
ROOM TO GROW
… After going 1-10 in the Colonial League two years ago, Lehtonen likes the youth and ability of this year’s squad to continue to grow and develop. “The team will be young this year,” he said. “Multi-event athletes such as Chase Jones, Jared Thomason, Brady Hanzarik, and Hunter Zehner take a lead by example role, eager to fill any event the team needs and showing a work ethic that refuses to back down from any challenge.”
NORTHWESTERN
HAPPY TIGER TRAILS
… Rhys Fenstermaker (pole vault), Mike Marrazzo (throws), Joe Pleban (long distance), Michael Rebert (mid-distance), Matthew Renner (mid-distance), Deven Bollinger (sprints), Luke Hallman (throws) and Gabe Miller (throws) have all departed the Northwestern program.
ON THE PROWL
… While those losses will be tough to overcome, the Tigers do return Tony Beidler (senior, sprints and hurdles), Andres Garrido (senior, jumps), Rhys George (senior, pole vault), Brandon Smeltz (senior, sprints), Jared Stitzel (senior, mid-distance, javelin and hurdles), Justin Rodda (senior, sprints, high jump and long jump), Cole Chukoskie (junior, distance), Josh Heilman (junior, mid-distance), Cayden Kuhns (sophomore, hurdles and pole vault), and Nate Vincent (junior, mid-distance) to the pack. “We will be looking to get points in sprints, long jump, and high jump from Justin Rodda,” said fourth-year boys coach Chuck Groller. “One of our strong areas this year should be our mid/long distance group, which includes key returnees Jared Stitzel, Cole Chukoskie, Josh Heilman, and Nate Vincent. Rhys George in pole vault should be one of the top pole vaulters in the Colonial League. We are a very young team. We will challenge these young men to do their best, but ultimately have some fun and enjoy their season.”
MAKING THE BEST OF IT
… Like other spring sports programs that were unable to compete last season, Groller and the Tigers were devastated to be kept away from competition. But the lost time has brought renewed purpose and perspective for both the program. “Our goal was to come out of the regular season as champions and to have a strong showing at the Colonial League Championship meet,” he said. “Unfortunately, due to COVID-19, it’s very sad to say we will never know what could have been. On a positive note, we cannot wait to christen our new track and field facility with a home meet, on March 30, against Bangor and Palisades. Our athletes, parents, and community are very excited.”
GOING DEEP
… Northwestern also has talent in Joe Chukoskie (junior, distance), Sam Bower (sophomore, distance), Matt Santana (sophomore, distance), and Zachary Santana (sophomore, distance), many of whom helped the Tigers capture their second straight District 11 Class 2A cross country team title this past fall. Bower was also named the Times News/Lehigh Valley Health Network Male Cross Country Athlete of the Year. A mixture of youth and experience could have Northwestern’s track and field program in line for similar success this season after going 5-6 in the Colonial League in 2019. “We are hoping to be competitive, and we are looking at our senior leadership to pave the way for our underclassmen,” said Groller. “We are still a young team with a lot of unknowns. Time will also tell how these young men respond to the challenges that lie ahead.”
PALMERTON
FLYING AWAY
… The Blue Bombers will have to replace Jordan Nelson (jumps, hurdles, sprints), Matt Lalik (throws), Josh Mooney (throws), Andrew Sabo (sprints), Trent Geist (sprints), Mike Quinn (jumps) and Braden Gower (throws) from a team that went 10-1 in the Colonial League in 2019. Nelson was the Times News/Lehigh Valley Health Network Male Track Athlete of the Year in 2019 as a junior, when he finished third at states in the Class 2A 110 hurdles, his first state medal. Nelson also won league and district titles in the event. He was a district champion in the triple jump and on the 400 relay team as a junior.
COMING BACK
… Jon Perloni (senior, hurdles, jumps), Michael Noyola (senior, distance), Corlan Wood (senior, pole vault, jumps), Brody Muniz (senior, throws), Tim Iles (senior, throws), Lucas Heydt (junior, sprints, jumps), Dominic Kintz (junior, sprints) are expected to be among the team’s key contributors this season. “The boys are very coachable, have a great attitude, and are looking forward to a return to competition,” said Palmerton head coach Mike Gombert. “We are very inexperienced, having only a few athletes who competed at leagues and districts as sophomores and freshmen. Jon Perloni will be one of the top hurdlers in the area and provides the most experience of any athlete on the team. He returns as a two-time district medalist in the 110 hurdles, and we will count on him heavily for points. We believe there is potential for much success in certain areas.”
READY TO ROLL
… Look for Kody Kratzer (senior, jumps), Harrison Dailey (junior, pole vault), Owen Hibell (sophomore, distance) and Devon White (sophomore, sprints) to also be in the mix this season. Kratzer is coming off a stellar basketball season that saw him reach the 1,000-point plateau and guide the Blue Bombers to a deep postseason run.
WHAT’S NEXT?
… Gombert isn’t sure how this season will play out, but he feels the pieces are in place for Palmerton to once again be a contender throughout the spring. “Aside from a handful of athletes who competed at the league and district meets two years ago, the team is very inexperienced,” he said. “However, we are looking forward to seeing how our athletes, particularly the seniors, have improved since their last meet two years ago. Consistency from all of the upperclassmen and continued improvement from the underclassmen will determine our team’s success.”
PLEASANT VALLEY
TAKING OVER
… George Fair is set to begin his first season as the head coach of the track and field program, taking over for Michelle Piontkowski. Fair is also the head coach of the cross country team.
WHO’S OUT
… Tyler Bobb-Duberry and Owen James have both departed after helping the Bears go 5-3 in the Eastern Pennsylvania Conference in 2019.
WHO’S IN
… Tyler Akob (mid-distance) and Connor Makara (mid-distance) will be among the team’s top contributors this season though there are still many unknowns. “The team is made up of freshmen and sophomores that have never run varsity before,” said Fair. “The veteran returners who missed 2020 are excited to get back to competing. This, combined with the enthusiasm of 9th and 10th graders, is a combination that I hope continues all season.”
REMEMBER WHEN
… It was just a few years ago (2017) that Pleasant Valley posted an 11-0 record last season, finishing as co-champions with Parkland in the Eastern Pennsylvania Conference.
WHAT TO EXPECT
… “We can be successful if the returning veterans are able to set the tone for first-time varsity freshmen and sophomores,” said Fair.
GIRLS
NORTHERN LEHIGH
MOVING ON
… Reagan Pender earned her first medal at the PIAA Championships with a fourth-place finish in the 2A 3200 (11:10.50) in 2019, her final season competing for the Bulldogs before last spring was wiped out by the coronavirus pandemic. As a junior, she was a Colonial League champion and a district runner-up before picking up her first state medal.
EXPERIENCE ON THEIR SIDE
… Hailey Evans (senior, throws), Kristen Guelcher (senior, hurdles/sprints), Emily Moyer (junior, jumps/sprints) and Carly Mikulski (junior, jumps/sprints) will be counted on to score valuable points for the Bulldogs this season.
PRIMED FOR SUCCESS
… Guelcher was a District 11 Class 2A champion in the 100 two years ago, qualifying for states, while Evans leads a young group of throwers. “Both Guelcher and Evans should have goals of the podium at the league and district championship meets,” said Northern Lehigh head coach Mike Lehtonen. “Early in the season, the girls team has seen a spark of young talent with a nice group of underclassmen. Coaches and athletes will look to take advantage of skills sets and find events that match strengths of these athletes.”
KEEP AN EYE ON
… Natalie Keller (senior, jumps), Alexia Mankos (senior, hurdles/sprints), Aricka Creyer (freshman, mid-distance) and Delany Szwast (freshman, distance) will also be key to the team’s success and improving on 2019’s 2-9 record in the Colonial League. “The girls team is working hard in the early stages of the season,” Lehtonen said. “The team might surprise some people with a balanced attack of Guelcher in the sprints/hurdles and Evans in the throws, along with Moyer and Mikulski in the jumps. Multi-sport athetes, Delany Szwast (field hockey), Cadence Whalen (basketball), Aricka Creyer (field hockey) and Victoria Hanna (soccer) highlight a freshmen class that may have a big impact for the Bulldogs in the coming years.”
NORTHWESTERN
TOUGH TO REPLACE
… Kristen Brown (mid- and long distance), Allison Costa (mid- and long distance), Jillian Fink (sprints), Carly Fogal (sprints, long and triple jump), Alexandra Hallingstad (sprints), Allyson Myers (sprints) and Sydney Sevrain (javelin) have all departed from a squad that went 9-2 in the Colonial League in 2019.
TIGER PACK
… But Tigers’ head coach Chuck Groller, now in his seventh year leading the squad, still has plenty of talent on this year’s team. Kate Betz (senior, sprints), Lauren Hinks (senior, mid-distance), Caitlyn Miller (senior, throws), Lauren Schellhamer (senior, sprints), Molly Boushell (junior, hurdles), Jakayla Holmes (junior, mid-distance), Kirsten Mauer (junior, jumps), and Emma Nelson (junior, jumps) will be counted on to help the squad maintain its high level of success.
REINFORCEMENTS
… Amy Andreoli (sophomore, pole vault), Ashley Haas (junior, pole vault), Kailyn Jones (senior, mid-distance), Angelina Klein (sophomore, distance), Sarah Yeakel (junior, jumps), and Faith Yost (sophomore, hurdles and jumps) will also be key contributors for Northwestern. “Overall, we have few girls that ever participated in a varsity track meet,” said Groller. “We will need to count on Kate Betz, Lauren Schellhamer (the Times News/LVHN Field Hockey Player of the Year), Lauren Hinks, and Caitlyn Miller to lead with their experience and senior leadership. We are a very young team with a lot of unknowns, but we do have good athletes coming from other Northwestern Lehigh sports teams. With the inexperience we have as a team, we will have some challenges, only time will tell how good we will be. Most importantly, I want them all to have fun and enjoy the season since we didn’t have one last year.”
MAKING THE BEST OF IT
… Like other spring sports programs that were unable to compete last season, Groller and the Tigers were devastated to be kept away from competition. But the lost time has brought renewed purpose and perspective for both the program. “Our goal was to come out of the regular season as champions and to have a strong showing at the Colonial League Championship meet,” he said. “Unfortunately, due to COVID-19, it’s very sad to say we will never know what could have been. On a positive note, we cannot wait to christen our new track and field facility with a home meet, on March 30, against Bangor and Palisades. Our athletes, parents, and community are very excited.”
MOVING FORWARD
… Time will tell what this season brings for Northwestern, but Groller is excited for the opportunity to find out. “Unknowns and challenges will be the theme this year for our girls. We have a few returning athletes with experience, as well as some younger inexperienced team members with athleticism,” the coach said. “Our senior and junior leadership to those younger girls has been awesome. Time will tell how quickly the younger, inexperienced athletes can build their confidence to face the challenges that lie ahead in meet competition.”
PALMERTON
THE DEPARTED
… Maddison Beahm (jumps), Abby Everett (throws), Chloe Oldt (jumps), Maggie Morgan (pole vault) and Katie Easton (throws) have all moved on from Blue Bombers’ program, which went 4-7 in the Colonial League in 2019.
WE’RE BACK
… Abby Reis (senior, throws), Delaney Frank (senior, sprints), Emma Christman (junior, jumps/sprints) and Abby Fredericks (junior, throws) are among the team’s experienced returnees.
YOUNG AND TALENTED
… Ana Recker (junior, pole vault), Natalie Mosier (sophomore, distance), Emma Martinez (sophomore, distance), Jessica Heydt (freshman, jumps/throws) and Danielle Mertz (freshman, jumps/hurdles) are also set to make their presence felt this season. “The girls have been working hard and are excited for the season to begin,” said Palmerton head coach Mike Gombert. “We have only four athletes who competed in a high school meet, so we are young and inexperienced. Junior Emma Christman returns as the lone medalist, placing fourth in the triple jump at districts two years ago. Sophomore Natalie Mosier, the Colonial League Cross Country Champion and District 11 runner-up, will be one of the top distance runners in the area.”
GETTING BETTER
… While there might be some unknowns for the Blue Bombers this season, Gombert is encouraged about the team’s outlook. “The girls have a great attitude, and are looking forward to our first meet,” he said. “We have some athletes who worked hard in the offseason, and we expect them to be great leaders and role models for their teammates. These athletes have to perform at a high level in every meet, and our newcomers must develop quickly for the team to enjoy success.”
PLEASANT VALLEY
IN CHARGE
… George Fair is set to begin his first season as the head coach of the track and field program, taking over for Michelle Piontkowski. Fair is also the head coach of the cross country team.
GREAT HEIGHTS
… As a senior in 2019, Armani Dunkley finished tied for 24th in the Class 3A high jump at the state meet. Dunkley was also fourth in the District 11 3A 200 finals with a time of 26.15 in 2019, though she did not qualify for the state meet.
MOVING ON
… Rebecca Makrides, Luci Mesce and Alana Porter have also moved on from the Pleasant Valley program, which went 3-4-1 in the Eastern Pennsylvania Conference in 2019.
YOUTH ON DISPLAY
… Fair will be looking to Mikayla DeReinzi, Jade Kautzsch, Lily Mingora and Madison Wilson to step up and fill key roles this season. “The team is made up of freshmen and sophomores that have never run varsity before,” he said. “The veteran returners who missed 2020 are excited to get back to competing. This, combined with the enthusiasm of ninth and 10th graders, is a combination that I hope continues all season.”
WHAT TO EXPECT
… Fair knows the right mixture of youth and experience will be key in helping the program take another step forward. “We can be successful if the returning veterans are able to set the tone for first-time varsity freshmen and sophomores,” Fair said.
Northwestern sprinters work on coming out of the starting blocks. NANCY SCHOLZ/SPECIAL TO THE TIMES NEWS
Northwestern runners get in some distance work during a recent track practice. NANCY SCHOLZ/SPECIAL TO THE TIMES NEWS
A member of the Palmerton girls track team practices the shot put as coach Bill Brong looks on. RON GOWER/SPECIAL TO THE TIMES NEWS
Palmerton’s Owen Buck works on his form in the discus. RON GOWER/SPECIAL TO THE TIMES NEWS
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