Final farewell: Burgettstown sends most to PIAA’s in Ward’s final season

Kelly Ward helped start the track program at Burgettstown High School.
Now, it’s fitting the 15-year track coach for the Blue Devils – 17 if you count two intramural years – will go out with the school’s best representation at the state meet.
Burgettstown has eight athletes competing in the PIAA Track & Field Championships scheduled for Friday and Saturday at Shippensburg University, the most the school has ever had since the program returned to the WPIAL in 2004.
The eight Blue Devils competing are James Choff, Bobby Kozares, Gage Monette, Cyle Conley, Seth Phillis, Emily Prasko, Miranda Schramm and Madeline Newark.
“I remember having three one year,” Ward said. “It just says a lot about our athletes. All of them have been involved. (Reaching states) has been the goal for them all year. As it has gotten closer, it’s gotten more exciting.”
Choff will be the busiest of the Blue Devils, qualifying in three different events. The senior is in the 110-meter high hurdles, 300-meter intermediate hurdles and part of the 400-meter relay team. Monette, Conley and Phillis complete the rest of the relay team that finished fifth at the WPIAL Class 2A Championships last week at Slippery Rock University.
“What James has done has been really impressive,” Ward said. “He is a workhorse. He just doesn’t say much.”
Phillis is competing in two events. Along with the 400 relay, he will run the 100 dash.
Kozares and Newark qualified for the high jump, Prasko will run the 400 and Schramm will throw the discus.
Track originally started in Burgettstown in 1960 at the old Union High School. It carried a track program until it was eliminated in 1979, when Ward was a junior in high school. When Hill Memorial Stadium finished renovation that included an all-weather track in 2001, Ward and Burgettstown football coach Mark Druga started an intramural program.
Ward is retiring from teaching and coaching after this year. He stepped down as the cross country coach last year after 27 seasons. He has been a teach for the last 31 years.
“It was a hard decision,” Ward said of retiring. “But I told the kids I am just at the point where I lose my temper quicker and my patience is gone. I’m stepping away because I don’t want to put them through that.”
Choff, who ran the 110 hurdles in 15.37 seconds at the district championship, is in the same preliminary heat as Waynesburg High School’s Daniel Layton. Layton has the fastest time in the Class 2A field (14.58).
Phillis is tied with the eighth-best time in the 100 dash, qualifying with a time of 11 seconds.
Schramm is seeded eighth in the discus with a distance of 121-2.
“I just really hope they all do their best,” Ward said. “If they all have their best days, they will be up in the top eight and can medal. I’m just hoping they enjoy the experience.”