Can the Bradford Owls track and field team make it nine
consecutive District 9 Class AAA titles?
That’s the question being asked around the district as the Owls
continue to prepare for their season opener March 27 at St.
Marys.
“We have a decent turnout of 45 boys this year and we have 16
letterwinners returning so we should have quality and depth this
year,” Bradford coach Tom Tessena commented.ð
“Although we lost some exceptional seniors from last year’s team
we still have some very talented people. We have nine seniors,
seven of which are lettermen.”
Rob Bleem, the 2006 James Manners Award winner, returns as the
defending champ in all three throws. He recently placed seventh at
the indoor state meet.ð
“Rob has already thrown 55’5 1/2″ in the shot put indoors so he
should be fun to watch this spring,” Tessena noted.
Garrett McEwen also returns in the shot and javelin where he
placed second behind Bleem at districts.
“Ryan Mongillo also placed fifth in the shot at districts so we
should be very strong in all the throws,” the coach pointed
out.
C.J. Mackey returns in the throws with the discus being his
specialty.
The other four seniors have quite a resume.
“Shroy Mukerjee, Rich Bartlebaugh, Jared Feura and Colton
Langianese did well in the fall cross country season and excelled
on the indoor track circuit taking fourth place at states in the
4×800 relay,” Tessena added.
“They also won the New Balance Games race in New York City. They
broke eight minutes for this race and ran the second-best time ever
including outdoors.”
Mukerjee and Bartlebaugh will run the 400 and 800 races, while
Feura will run the 400 through the 3200 and Langianese will go from
the 200 to the 1600.ð
“Colton ran a 1:56 800 indoors and would like to break the 1600
record of 4:25 so he has his work cut out for him,” Tessena
admitted.
“All four of these guys are capable of running under the school
record of 1:57. To have four guys this good is something special.
We hope they take advantage of it. Shroy is also capable of
breaking the 400-meter record as well as the 800.”
A senior on the team for the first time is Frank Mazzelo (shot
put).
The junior group has seven lettermen.
Vanere Maynard returns as the top sprinter. He won the 200
meters and was second in the 100 at districts. He will also run the
400 and the sprint relays.
“Vanere is capable of breaking 22.0 in the 200 this year if he
really pushes himself and he should also challenge the 400-meter
record,” Tessena noted.
David Rivera won both the long and triple jumps at districts and
was fifth in the javelin.
“He has had a good indoor season and will add the 200 meters to
his events this season,” Tessena said.
Ben Walter returns in the sprints and relays. He placed fourth
in the 100 meters and was a key member of the record setting 4×100
team last year. Walter will also run the 200 meters and both
relays.
Nick Johnson returns in the hurdles and sprint relays. He was
third in both hurdle races last year and has his sights set on
becoming Bradford’s next dominant hurdler.
Matt Teribery and Dan McMurtrie return in the pole vault.
Teribery was the district champ with a best of 13′ and he should
be at least at that height this year. He is recovering from a
football injury and will sprint until he is able to get back to the
vault.ð
Dan Gonzalez returns in the discus where he was third last year
at districts. He should be over the 150′ mark this year.
Other returning juniors with experience are Vince Pascarella and
Rich Colosimo in the throws and Josh Yaworsky in the sprints.
The sophomore group is small but does have two letterwinners –
Shane Speaker (pole vault) and Tyree Bennett who placed fourth in
the 300 hurdles at districts.
Bennett will do both hurdles and some jumps. Speaker had a good
indoor season and will be over 12 feet early this year, the coach
said.
“We have some other guys who gained a lot of experience last
year who should help this year,” Tessena continued.
Steve Reinhardt returns in the shot and discus. He threw 45’6″
indoors and will have a good chance at the 50-foot barrier. Vinnie
Schiappa will run the hurdles and sprints. John Karrasch returns in
the distance events.
Devon Swatt will do all the throws. Shawn Burkhart and David
Ware will do the sprints and Kevin Cannon will run middle
distance.
The freshmen group is the largest with 17 boys.ð
“We have some who will help right away while the others will
need hard work and experience to help us fill in the weak areas,”
Tessena declared.
Matthew and Michael White will run the distance events.
Cody Nuzzo had a strong indoor season, running impressive times
in the 400- and 800-meter races.
Nate Burrow and Ryan Breznik will run the hurdles and do the
jumps. Evan Feura, Adam Barnes, Corey Little, Tynan Shannon and
David Albaugh will run the distance events. Jake McMurtrie and Gage
Bunker will pole vault. Mike Marasco will run the 400 and possibly
the 800. Kyle Yurkiwicz and Tyler Costello will throw the javelin
and Steven Munday will do all the throws and some sprinting. Aidan
Frombach will do the jumps and the 400 meters.
The Owls have another competitive schedule this season,
according to Tessena.
“We have a solid schedule of invitationals,” Tessena said. “We
try to get the very best competition to prepare us for the state
meet.
“We will go to Pittsburgh for the Tri-State Championship, the
South Hills Classic and the Baldwin Invitational. We will go to
Chambersburg for the Bruce Dallas Invitational. We will also go to
the Kane Invitational and the McDowell Invitational.ð
“We will be taking our 4×800 relay team and Bleem to the Penn
Relays which is the biggest and oldest invitational in the United
States. These guys have qualified to be in this event and it’s
quite an honor.
“We have some changes in the way we are coaching this year.
Instead of just boys and girls coaches, our staff will coach events
for both teams.”
Scott Mealy will handle the shot and discus. Bart Simpson will
work with the javelin and pole vault and Larry Stillman will take
the jumps. Tessena will coach the hurdles and help with the middle
distance while Bob Macfarlane will take the distance events. Mark
Kelley will have the sprints and relays.ð
“This makes sense because it allows us to use our coaching
knowledge to the advantage of our athletes,” Tessena concluded. “It
should be a very exciting season.”
