Apr 22, 2017 4 min read

CANONSBURG – A common trend for Ringgold senior Brian Vandusen has been turning a blind eye to the hype built up by those closest to him.

While receiving praise from parents, coaches, teachers and teammates, Vandusen stood without much attention being paid to the talk until he heard his name being broadcast over the loudspeakers at the Washington-Greene County Coaches Track Meet at Big Mac Stadium Saturday afternoon.

After first-place finishes in both the 200-meter dash (22.96) and long jump (21-7), Vandusen might now believe the hype may also come with some validity after taking home the boys Overall MVP award.

Vandusen was also a member of the Rams’ 400-meter relay group, which finished fourth, and finished in second-place in the 100-meter dash behind Canon-McMillan’s Kamden Martin. The latter was the race Vandusen thought put him out of any running for MVP contention.

“My coaches kept telling me that I had a good shot at it but I really didn’t believe them,” Vandusen chuckled about a day when he didn’t break any personal records. “I heard my name being called, and to be quite honest, I’m still shocked.”

While Vandusen was weighed down by several medals, the importance of the unexpected plaque not only eclipsed those but each one he has earned in his career at Ringgold.

“There really wasn’t a strategy coming into today but it came down to something our coach told me,” he said. “Your attitude will take you further than your talent ever will. It was all just about staying focused. Even when I might have had a bad start today – or a bad event in general – it all came down to forgetting about it and moving on to what’s next. This means more to me than any medal I’ve ever earned. It tells me that when my coaches, my teammates or whomever it may be tell me all those positive things, it wasn’t just all hype. There was truth to behind what they were telling me.”

Vandusen’s 33 points contributed toward Ringgold’s team total of 57 points, good for fourth place out of the 12 teams to compete.

Nipping at the heels of Vandusen was the strong showing from Waynesburg senior Ben Bumgarner, whose first-place finishes in the 800, 1,600 and 3,200 runs, allowed the Raiders to finish second overall.

Canon-McMillan’s strong performance totaling 171.5 points won the overall team title.

The strong showing earned Bumgarner the Track MVP award.

“My first goal was to win all the events I competed in but I didn’t want to lead any of the races early on,” said the experienced Bumgarner, who won PIAA gold at the Class AA cross country championships last fall.

“I have Penn Relays in a few days and didn’t want my legs feeling too heavy for that. It was all about coming out and trying to close hard in my races. I think I was able to do that.”

Bumgarner, the Penn State recruit, chose his familiar tactic of kicking 400 to 600 meters out for a strong finish in the 1,600- and 3,200-meter races.

“Ben has a work ethic above and beyond anything I’ve ever seen,” Waynesburg coach Rick Layton said. “For the last year that I’ve got to watch him, he has a motor like you wouldn’t believe. He is a gifted athlete but it’s a lot about hard work. He is the example I use when I talk to our other athletes.”

Sharing the honor as co-MVPs for the field events was Washington senior Isaiah Robinson and Canon-McMillan freshman Devin Fortna.

Robinson finished first in the triple jump (46-05 1/2), nearly passing his record in the event last year and placing second in the high jump (6-0). He also separated the Little Prexies from the pack for a first-place finish in the 1,600 relay (3:37.32) and third place in the 400 relay (45.43).

“I could have done better but it was still a good day,” Robinson said. “I have a lot more work to do though. That’s for sure. It feels good winning that award but it’s about continuing to look for bigger and better.”

Fortna finished second in the triple jump behind Robinson, fourth in the high and long jumps. He also placed fourth in the 110 high hurdles.