Rangers eager to show their worth at states
Eleanor Bailey/The Almanac
Notice: Undefined variable: article_ad_placement3 in /usr/web/cs-washington.ogdennews.com/wp-content/themes/News_Core_2023_WashCluster/single.php on line 128
Fort Cherry track & field coach Ben Maxin can’t recall the last time the Rangers had 11 qualifiers for the state meet, but his team was able to ride in style heading to Shippensburg on Thursday in preparation for the PIAA Individual Track & Field Championships that will be held today and Saturday at Seth Grove Stadium on the campus of Shippensburg University.
Fort Cherry took a coach bus and got to the school a day before competition for practice on the track, jumping and throwing pits at the facility to get ready for Day 1 of action at 9 in the morning.
“The parents and boosters set it up nicely for us to have some comfort and ride in style,” Maxin said. “We took three alternates for the relay events because you never know what’s going to happen, so we have 14 kids here. Fort Cherry has had at least one state qualifier for 19 straight years, which is something we are proud of. I believe 11 qualifiers has been the highest, but I know it has been some time since we had that many.”
The Rangers’ Emily Frankovich won’t have much time to think about the nerves of being on the track in the biggest meet of the year, as the junior will compete in the girls Class 2A 1,600-meter run in the first of two sections of timed finals.
“Emily will be looking to break the school record and win her heat,” Maxin said. “She won’t have to sit around and think too much about it. We won’t be competing in the event until Saturday, but our girls 4×800-meter relay team is ranked in the top eight as well as the 4×400-meter relay team.”
Fort Cherry’s boys 400-meter relay team of Dylan Wudkwych, Tegan Henke, Shane Cornali and Matt Sieg won the WPIAL title last week in 42.59, and the Rangers’ quartet had the top time in the state for several weeks before Mercyhurst Preparatory (41.91) and Mount Carmel (42.54) turned in two faster times.
Fort Cherry must win its heat today at noon or finish with the next three best times to advance to Saturday’s finals.
“We just have to get out of that first round, and the best way to do that is win the heat, which we have a good shot at doing,” Maxin said. “We will be in lane four, which is good, and we had a solid week of practice.
“We ran a 42.59 last week and had a bad handoff on one of the exchanges, so we feel that we can be in the 41s. The state record is 41.75 and there is a good chance that three teams could do it with us, Mercyhurst Preparatory and Mount Carmel. It looks like the weather is going to be nice and sunny, which is great for sprinters.”
Henke qualified for states in the 100 and 200-meter dashes after winning the 200 and placing third in the 100 at the district meet.
The Rangers’ Jonah Pfender qualified in the shot put and discus. Teammate Corey Bouchelle will compete in the javelin.
Fort Cherry’s Ava Menzies will race in the 200, and is part of the Rangers’ 1,600 relay alongside Raney Staub, Jazlyn Martino and Bella Bianchini.
Frankovich subs in for Menzies in the 3,200 relay, as Martino, Staub and Bianchini complete the quartet.
Canon-McMillan will be well represented at states in Class 3A competition, as the Big Macs’ Colton Dean looks for a state championship in the 100, 300 hurdles or long jump. Dean won the 200 at the WPIAL championships, but will not compete in the event at states.
“I have been here (at states) before, so I am comfortable with the venue, but you still have nerves,” said the junior Big Mac. “I have to get through the preliminaries in the 100 and 300 hurdles, which are both going to be tough because I am in there with some good competitors. I just have to worry about what I do. In the long jump, I would like to jump 23-5 and be in the top three.”
Dean likes the runway and sand pit at Seth Grove Stadium, but stated the pit doesn’t give too much when he lands.
Teammate Rose Kuchera is looking for her first state gold in her final season after winning the long jump, triple jump and 100 hurdles at the district championships. She will also compete in the 400-meter relay.
The Big Macs’ Abby Tucker won the javelin at the WPIAL championships and is a favorite for a medal at states as a top-eight finisher.
South Fayette’s Olivia Renk won the 100 and 200 to qualify for states last week.
Burgettstown’s Zack Schrockman won the boys high jump in Class 2A at the WPIAL finals and comes in as one of the top-five in his event. Trinity’s Zachary Noble won the pole vault in boys Class 3A, and should be a threat for a place.