Mercury-Area Girls Track & Field Season Preview

BOYERTOWN

Head coach: Dave Hartman, sixth season (13th overall)

Last year’s record: 5-4 PAC-10

Bears to watch: Distance–Junior Gillian Kasitz, senior Sara Suever. Mid-Distance-Sophomore Natalie Stabilito. Hurdles–Sophomores Geneva Moore, Courtney Moyer. Throws–Seniors Sarafina Valenti, Anajulia Blanch. Sprints/jumps–Junior Rebecca Hemingway.

Outlook: The Bears look to be led in the field events with the return of junior Rebecca Hemingway and three-sport standout Sarafina Valenti. Hemingway was last year’s PAC-10 champion in the long jump and qualified for districts in the high jump and long jump. Valenti qualified for the District 1 Championships in the javelin and discus.

 

DANIEL BOONE

Co‐Head Coaches: Bob Reismiller, first season (33rd overall) and Russ Keith, sixth season (18th overall)

Last year’s record: 4-3 Berks I, 4-3 overall.

Blazers to watch: Sprints–Seniors: Marissa Christiana, Courtney Kohler. Junior: Lauren Christiana. Sophomore: Cassidy Carroll. Freshmen: Madelyn Knerr, Hailey Schinski, Kenzie Wookey. Jumps-Senior: Alayna Roesener. Hurdles: Junior: Caitlin Macgregor. Distance: Senior: Rachel Eidson, Jules Wanner. Juniors: Hannah Moyer, Lauren Reightneour. Emily Scott. Sophomores: Ashley Cimino, Belle Okkerse, Maeve Picariello. Freshmen: Maggie Nygard, Grace Richey, Jocelyn Shank. Throws-Seniors: Courtney Kohler, Elise DeFalco, Elena Chodowski. Juniors: Rylee Crozier, Megan Breidgan. Freshmen: Hailey Schinski, Laura Taraboletti.

Outlook: Daniel Boone must cope without record-setting javelin standout Steph Sievers, but are in position to improve in 2016 as the Blazers look to make a greater dent on the county and district level.

 

HILL SCHOOL

Head coach: Patrick Lake, fifth season

Blues to watch: Sprinters: Gabby Bendall, Amanda Willett, Kat Barron, Maddy Lutwche. Hurdles: Rachel Schaaf, Maddy Newman. Distance: Monica Redfern, Jumps: Hannah Cummings. Pole Vault: Maddie Lutwyche. Throws: Hannah Cummings, Redfern.

Outlook: The Blues are fortunate to return a number of last year’s top performers in Gabby Bendall, fourth in the 400 at the PAISAA Championships, and Rachel Schaaf. Schaaf was fifth in the 100 hurdles, fourth in the high jump and golden in the triple jump at the PAISAAs. Discus champion Hannah Cummings also returns.

 

METHACTON

Head coach: Ruth Akintoye, first season

Last year’s record: 9-0 PAC-10

Warriors to watch: Sprints–Seniors: Caroline Duffy, Kelly Groth. Juniors: Rainah Dunham, Gianna Fazio. Sophomores: Amy Domenick. Lauren Prusacki. Hurdles-Senior: Nikki Rimlinger. Mid-distance–Seniors: Abby Konkoly, Lauren Engleman. Juniors: Angela Ramsden, Ryan DeOrio. Sophomore: Olivia Hoover. Distance–Seniors: Abby Konkoly. Jumps: Sophomore: Fallon Brown. Throws–Senior: Emily Nice. Sophomore: Lauren Eubank. Pole Vault–Senior: Sarah Burry. Sophomore: Fallon Brown.

Outlook: Akintoye takes over the Warriors program that reached great heights for 12 years under former head coach Rob Ronzano. Methacton should still feature plenty of depth, especially in certain events. Duffy will close out a brilliant career in Fairview Village as a sprinter and jumper. She should lead the Warriors in the PAC-10 and then have another banner run through the postseason at the District 1-AAA Championships and then another probable trip to the PIAA Championships at Shippensburg University. Duffy has been a consistently big medal-winner throughout her career with the Warriors.

 

OWEN J. ROBERTS

Head coach: Eric Wentzel, eighth season.

Last year’s record: 7-2 PAC-10

Wildcats to watch: Sprints–Juniors: Katelyn Bernotas, Taneisha Myers, Angela Feiser, Sophomore: Morgan Shronk. Hurdles-Seniors: Harini Cherupalla, Kierra Macleod, Genevieve Donahue, Sophomores: Caroline Thompson, Rowan Donnelly. Distance–Seniors: Andrea Shade, Katie Profitt, Megan Bernotas. Juniors: Ali Brunton, Emily Hansell. Sophomore: Alex Glasier. Freshman: Emma Torak. Jumps–Senior: Maggie Duffy. Junior: Savanna Sachar. Sophomore: Carly Jennion.  Throws–Senior: Harley Ginnona. Juniors: Mady Alvaro, Mackenzie Davis.

Outlook: Owen J. Roberts should be strong in the sprints with Katelyn Bernotas, Myers, Feiser and Shronk (4th in 400 at districts) leading the way. The Wildcats should also be strong in distances with returnees and solid cross country seasons turned in by Brunton (8th in 800 at districts) and Glasier and freshman Emma Torak along with seniors Megan Bernotas and Katie Profitt. Strong core of distance runners makes the Wildcats quite strong in relay events, too, in dual meets and at the championship meets.

 

PERKIOMEN VALLEY

Head coach: Joseph Petsko, 10th season.

Last year’s record: 8-1 PAC-10

Vikings to watch: Sprints–Seniors: Cheyenne Churchville, Karleigh White, Erin Paquette, Juniors: Rachel Pendrak, Rebekah Bondi. Hurdles–Senior: Bryn Maiden. Distance–Juniors: Annie Glodek, Michele Daniels; Senior: Hannah Stolpe; Sophomore: Teagan Scheinbeck; Freshman: Jocelyn Rotay. Jumps–Seniors: Amia Boone. Throws–Seniors: Amia Boone, K.T. Armstrong, McKenna Kohler.

Outlook: Glodek had a monster cross country season in the PAC-10, District 1 and PIAA Class AAA that should carry over to distance events this spring. She was 6th in the 3,200 at districts a year ago. Churchville (6th at districts in the 100 in 2015) will again be one of the league’s top sprinters and a number of other Vikings to support her and push her in practice and at meets. Basketball star Armstrong, headed for St. Joseph’s, emerged as a top thrower last year and should continue that role. Senior Amia Boone should fare well in the jumps and throws.

 

PHOENIXVILLE

Head coach: Justin Winters, third season

Last year’s record: 3-6 PAC-10.

Phantoms to watch: Sprints–Senior: Kerri Marini. Sophomores: Jillian Rotman, Heather Brannan. Junior: Johnnie Cunningham. Hurdles–Seniors: Kerri Marini, Susanah Shier, Junior: Kali Masciangelo. Sophomore: Heather Brannan,  Mid-distance/Distance–Seniors: Erin Morris, Liz Cavan. Juniors: Alaina DeLeone, Emily Lemon,  Natalie Serwatka. Jumps–Senior: Kerri Marini. Sophomore: Heather Brannan. Pole Vault–Seniors: Rachel Bierly, Susanah Shier. Throws– Sophomores: Peyton Graham, Ashlyn Duda.

Outlook: As usual, pole vaulting will be a strength at Phoenixville, with Bierly and Shier providing a solid 1-2 punch for the Phantoms as they did last year during the PAC-10 Championships. The Phantoms have grown in numbers for the last few years and that should help them compete better in the PAC-10. Serwatka had strong first season running cross country in the fall, and she should bolster the Phantoms’ distance running events this spring. Marini is a versatile junior and so is Brannan, who is a sophomore.

 

POPE JOHN PAUL II

Head coach: Lisa Cagliola, first season.

Last year’s record: 2-7 PAC-10

Golden Panthers to watch: Sprints–Senior: Katie Roncase. Juniors: Jackie Lerro, Kendra Sykes, Jenna Lucki, Bridget Plate. Sophomores: Madison McNamara, Elizabeth Kropp, Lexi Dilanni, Carson Tracy. Hurdles–Juniors: Bridget Plate, Jenna Lucki. Sophomore: Katie Shrum. Mid-distance–Seniors: Nicole Moreland, Morgan McNamara, Bernadette Barone, Katie Lockbaum, Katie Ronca. Pole Vault–Senior: Alise Deveney.

Outlook: Cagliola takes over both the girls and boys parts of the Pope John Paul II program following a storied run of 40 years by the retired Ed Dobry, who directed the St. Pius X program prior to the switch to Pope John Paul II in Upper Providence. The Golden Panthers will be led by returning district qualifier Bridget Plate.

 

POTTSGROVE

Head coach: Mike Romeo, third season

Last year’s record: 4-5 PAC-10

Falcons to watch: Sprints–Junior: Diana Randleman. Senior: Imanye Delay. Sophomore: Miazziah Rose. Distance–Sophomore: Amia Slade; Senior: Dyani Hairston, Ariana Neiman. Junior: Madison Thierry. Jumps–Sophomore: Miazziah Rose. Senior: Imanye Delay. Throws–Seniors: Kerry Brennan, Kerri Carter. Juniors: Jazlyn Carter, Holly Monroe.

Outlook: Miazziah Rose looks to follow up her impressive freshman season where she was second in the high jump in the PAC and ninth in the triple jump. Randleman and Hairston will be out to improve on their top 10 finishes at last year’s PAC-10 Championships in the 100 and 3,200, respectively.

 

POTTSTOWN

Head coach: Missy DiBlasi, first season

Last year’s record: 0-9 PAC-10

Trojans to watch: Sprints and hurdles–Seniors: Jazmen Green, Zika Paschall, Bhrittany Bosko. Jumps–Seniors: Mya Pope. Junior: Danielle Slody. Throws–Senior: Ayramis Covington. Junior: Angelique Olvera.

Outlook: Pottstown will be out to show improvement under new coach Missy DiBlasi, who assisted veteran boys track head coach Mary Ann Hill previously with the Trojans. Pottstown athletes always display a lot of heart whenever they compete. The Trojans’ top returner is Mya Pope, who placed fifth in the PAC in the high jump and seventh in the triple jump in 2015.

 

SPRING-FORD

Head coach: Danielle Stauffer, second season.

Last year’s record: 6-3 PAC-10

Rams to watch: Sprints–Junior: Nia Muhammad. Sophomores: Ally O’Connor, Lily Nowakowski. Hurdles-Sophomore: Jordan Sigler. Freshmen: Jaime Green, Cara Broderick. Mid-Distance–Senior: Jenna Vledder; Junior: Courtney Marte, Lyrique Green. Sophomore: Julia Vledder. Freshman: Nandini Patel. Distance–Junior: Bella Marchini. Sophomore: Gabriella Bamford. Freshman: Emily Smith. Jumps–Juniors: Aleigha Johnson, Samantha Watkin. Freshman: Devin Rawley. Pole vault–Senior: Lily Baker; Sophomore: Madeline Turosinski. Throws–Freshmen: Kyra Jones-Scanlan.

Outlook: “We are a very young team with a lot of talent who are hoping to move up from our final standing last year,” Stauffer said. “We are looking forward to our first meet and seeing what kind of performances we get from both our team leaders and our younger athletes. This year, it would be nice to see the girls finish in the top three. Our goals are to make the final four, challenge for a team title and advance as many as possible to districts and states.” The Rams are rich in the field events, led by Aleigha Johnson, the PAC champ in the high jump last year, Lily Nowakowski (6th in long jump) and Lily Baker (4th in pole vault).

 

UPPER PERKIOMEN

Head coach: Steve Keyser, second season

Last year’s record: 1-8 PAC-10

Indians to watch: Sprints–Seniors: Gabby Marinelli, Julia Duemler. Juniors: Lydia Buckwalter, Gabby Martin, Addisen Martin, Teresa Swartley, Brytney Wornham. Hurdles–Senior: Megan Ritting. Distance–Seniors: Jamie Homan, Haley Martin, Juniors: Madi Phipps, Sam Hannon. Jumps–Senior: Gabby Marinelli. Junior: Addisen Martin. Pole Vault–Junior: Lydia Buckwalter.

Outlook: Indians appear to have some talent in some areas. Coach Steve Keyser is well-acquainted with this group of athletes after serving with the Indians as an assistant coach before taking over the head coaching position. The Indians will rely heavily on some of their girls to score points each time out. Leading the way will be Teresa Swartley, who placed 7th in the 400 at the PAC-10 Championships a year ago.