May 15, 2024 By Jonathan Guth 4 min read

SLIPPERY ROCK — No track, no problem for Fort Cherry’s 400-meter relay team.

The Rangers’ quartet of Dylan Wudkwych, Tegan Henke, Shane Cornali and Matt Sieg took home the gold medal in the boys Class 2A race Wednesday in the WPIAL Track & Field Championships at William C. Lennox Track at Slippery Rock University.

Fort Cherry had the lead when Sieg received the baton from Cornali and the sophomore crossed the finish line in a season-best 42.59 to not only win the race but qualify for next week’s state championships at Shippensburg University.

Neighborhood Academy was second in 42.89 and South Park was third in 43.17.

Sieg, who also plays football, basketball and baseball, has to balance his schedule even more in the spring with baseball season occurring at the same time as track and field, but he felt prepared coming into the race and was pleased with his exchange with Cornali to take the Rangers home to the victory.

“There really hasn’t been any conflicts with baseball games and meets,” Sieg said. “If it comes to practice, I just split time before both sports. We were in first place when I got the baton, and I just gave it everything I had.”

Cornali, like Sieg, is a four-sport athlete, and doesn’t want the year to end, as the Rangers have had a school year in athletics that will be remembered for years to come.

“It is a good feeling to win this one for a small school like yours,” Cornali said. “We have had a great year in sports and work on our steps after baseball games or practice.”

Henke is also headed to states in the 100 meters, as he finished third in 10.99, which is a personal record. Henke doesn’t compete in any other sports, but he is relishing his time on track.

“I broke 11 in the 100 for the first time ever,” Henke said. “I think I left a little early in the relay, but Dylan has an amazing first leg and he is able to start really well, give me the baton and allow me to perform the way I do.”

As the opening leg in the relay, Wudkwych’s responsibility is to get a good start out of the blocks and pass the baton to Henke without any trouble. Wudkwych is no stranger to running, as he plays soccer, but has worked on getting out of the blocks and passing the baton.

“I felt good coming out of the blocks,” Wudkwych said. “Matt’s (Sieg) dad, Jeff, works with me all the time getting my blocks-start down. We went down two days ago on our long jump runway doing block starts. I felt good in my practice, then I passed a few people and I got it to my second leg in a good spot. We want to get another (win) next week.”

Canon-McMillan’s Colton Dean won the 300 hurdles in a personal record (PR) of 38.85. He was the runner-up in the 100 at 10.74. The junior set a PR. He was fourth in the long jump at 21-11. Dean qualified for states in all three events.

California’s Lee Qualk topped the field in the Class 2A long jump with a leap of 22-2 1/2. Qualk will be joined at states by Charleroi freshman Braedin Lunger, who was second (22-0 1/2).

Qualk was seventh in the 100-meters in 11.24, which met the state-qualifying-standard by one-tenth of a second.

South Fayette’s 3,200 relay team of Tim Danziger, Evan Dawson, Griffin Martin and Alaa-Eddine Guetari finished fourth in 8:03.14 to qualify for the state championships in Class 3A. The Lions were second in the state last year.

Washington’s Dane Asbury wasn’t able to win his second-straight gold in the 100, as he was second in 10.98. Asbury will make the trip to Shippensburg.

Ringgold’s Ryan Pajak was second in the Class 3A 1,600 with a time of 4:07. Butler’s Drew Griffith, and Pajak’s future Notre Dame teammate, won in 4:03. Both are headed to states.

Fort Cherry’s Jonah Pfender qualified in the shot put, finishing second with a throw of 52-11 1/4. He also advanced in the discus (134-9).

Teammate Corey Bouchelle will join Pfender at states after placing fourth in the javelin (145-0).

Peters Township’s Reston Lehman qualified in the Class 3A javelin with a fourth-place finish (170-01).

The meet was delayed twice due to lightning, with the latest coming at approximately 8:45 in the evening. Please visit www.observer-reporter.com for a rundown of all the local athletes.