Pennridge boys, North Penn girls claim SOL Continental crowns

WARRINGTON >> Just as a celebratory bucket of ice water splashed down on coach Bob Hosier, the entire Pennridge team erupting in cheers, Tucker Desko was asked to describe his 800-meter run, the one that typified the kind of grit and determination that the Rams brought to Central Bucks South this weekend.

“That last 200, I was like ‘I’m just gonna go. I gotta go for it,’” the senior said of the amazing kick that launched him from fourth to first place. “There were all those guys in front of me and I was like ‘I can go. I have enough left in me.’
“I did it for these guys,” Desko said, gesturing to his teammates, recently crowned kings — once again — of the Suburban One League’s Continental Conference. “Senior year, I gotta go hard, and I just went for it.”

Desko pushed across the finish line three hundredths of a second before Central Bucks West’s Jake Claricurzio, overcoming a tremendous race by the Bucks’ sophomore, to capture gold in the 800 and help send Pennridge along to its second straight conference title.

Title repeats the theme of the day, the North Penn girls also won their second straight Continental trophy, compiling 261.5 points, their closest competition Central Bucks East, with 169.

Pennridge was also overwhelming on this breezy day at Central Bucks South, racking up 240 points, with Central Bucks West earning second with 169.

“Last year was completely by surprise,” said Hosier, whose team squeezed past the Bucks by two and a half points a year ago. “Last year, I thought we were a year away from competing, with this year being the year we’d be ready, which it turns out we obviously were. Back-to-back was one of our goals.”

Pennridge decorated the track and field with several outstanding efforts, including Griffin McMann’s victory in the discus (141 feet, 4 inches) as well as relay wins in both the 4×1 (Carson Van Hart, Owen Eisen, Matt Firuta, Josh Pinkney) and 4×4 (Alex Dimon, Jeff Espinal, Nico Araneta, Ryan Benner).

“It’s just awesome. Two years in a row is absolutely crazy — it’s unreal,” Desko said. “Going into it, we had a lot of confidence, but we lost a lot of guys over the past two weeks.

“It’s been kind of hard but we’re so pumped for it. It’s been really humbling for all of us.”

Desko raced to a pair of victories, going 4:19.62 in the 1,600 and 1:55.19 in what should be a very memorable 800.

“That 800 race that he ran was complete courage,” Hosier said. “It was just a fantastic job.”

North Penn threw, jumped and sprinted to multiple gold medals, and also dominated the long-distance events: Ariana Gardizy and Phoebe Clowser went one and two in the 1,600 and Olivia Dyer, Gardizy and Clowser crossed the finish line as a pack in the 32.

“The girls were looking forward to trying to win it again. We did a lot of good things,” coach Richard Swanker said. “We ran well, and that’s good. I think we’ll be ready next week to run some even faster times.”

Uche Nwogwugwu won both the 400 dash and anchored the 4×4 team to victory. She earned silver in the triple jump, with teammate Allison Williams setting a meet record with a leap of 37-2.25, replacing the previous mark of 37-1.75, by former Lady Knight Sydnee Jacques, back in 2012.

Dela Matthew won the javelin for North Penn, and the 4×4 team typified North Penn’s resolve, with Morgan Brett and her bandaged-wrapped hamstring pulling through to the end.

“She can run,” Nwogwugwu said. “She can run. And when the pressure’s on like that, she pushes herself.

“It means a lot to us,” Nwogwugwu said of the team title. “This season, we had a lot of injuries, so we were nervous, especially in the sprints. But we came through. I think everyone performed really well. We all pushed ourselves and I’m really proud of everyone.”

North Penn’s 4×4 foursome of Natalie Kwortnik, Mikaela Vlasic, Brett and Nwogwugwu won comfortably in 3:52.71, sending NP charging into districts.

“I want districts and states now,” Nwogwugwu said. “I just wanna get there now while my legs feel good.”

Williams’ meet record was one of five on the girls side, as Kouri Peace of Pennridge blazed 24.20 in the 200, the Rams’ 4×1 went 47.84, Central Bucks West’s Maddie Villalba set a new mark in the 800 (2:12.06), and Souderton Area’s Moira O’Malley cleared 5-9.25 in the high jump.

Souderton’s impressive day in the jumps continued when Shamar Jenkins set a meet record in the triple, getting out 47 feet, 11 inches.