VINDICATOR ALL-STARS Area athletes bound by state prominence

KEVIN STONESTREET
School/grade: McDonald, senior.
Statistics/accomplishments: State champion in the 800-meter and state runner-up as member of 4x800 relay; placed fifth in the 4x400 relay at state; MVP of the Cuyahoga Heights relays; received Bogan Reed Award.
Name someone who has been a positive influence in your athletic career: My dad. No matter how many kidney stones he has, he always bounces back and can hang with the young guys in sports. He beats most of the guys on my basketball team in a game of 1-on-1. He always kept me motivated to do my best.
Best memory from the season: Getting ready for my last 4x800 down at state with the guys that I have worked all year with for that one race. It's a great bonding experience.
Something people don't know about you or would be surprised to learn: I have a sweet fish tank in my room with some cool fish in it.
DEREK ARMSTRONG
School/grade: Maplewood, senior.
Statistics/accomplishments: State champion 4x800 relay team (1:55 800 split). State qualifying 4x400 (50.0 split). 4:32 mile.
Positive influence: Coaches and family helping me get through a career threatening injury, and to come back and make a state appearance.
Best memory: Winning the 4x800 for the third year in a row, even though we missed the record by less than half a second -- again.
Surprised to learn: Starter on the high school baseball team, which made it to the regional finals. Almost went to state in two sports at the same time.
MATTHEW FEASTER
School/grade: Lisbon, senior.
Statistics/accomplishments: Won district, regional and state titles in Division III 4x100 relay, breaking the school record and becoming the first relay team in 66 years from Columbiana County to win a state title.
Positive influence: My mom. She has always been my greatest supporter and motivator. She always impressed upon me to believe in myself and my abilities.
Best memory: After being interviewed at the regional meet, I said, "We won't accept anything but gold." Standing at the podium receiving our goal medals was proof of our dedication. Being able to do it, not only for ourselves but for our families and community, was the best.
Surprised to learn: I enjoy golfing.
SHANE T. GOLDEN
School/grade: Warren JFK, junior.
Statistics/accomplishments: Placed second in 200 in Division III at state meet; district and regional champion in 100 and 200; Trumbull County MVP.
Positive influence: My father. He has been so supportive in my athletic career and I've learned so much from him. I thank God for my father and my athletic ability, and my father helped me and influenced me to be the best person and athlete I can be.
Best memory: Coming in second place at the state meet. I really worked hard this season and I'm proud to come in second. Hopefully I can turn that second place into first place next season.
Surprised to learn: I think people don't know that I love music and I sing all the time. If I couldn't sing or dance or listen to music, then I don't know what I'd do.
MARK LIPINSKY
School/grade: Boardman, junior.
Statistics/accomplishments: In 110-meter high hurdles, he placed first at the district meet, second at the Optimist Meet and Steel Valley Conference Meet, third at the state meet and fourth at the regional meet. In the 300-meter intermediate hurdles, he placed first at the Steel Valley Conference Meet and third in the district meet. His personal bests were 14.53 in the 110 HH and 39.89 in the 300 IMH.
Positive influence: My hurdles coach, John DePitro, has been extremely important to me throughout the past season. He helped me to train hard, set my goals high and never give up. We've been able to laugh together, hang out some and be serious when the time's right. I doubt I could have made it all the way to state without him.
Best memory: Though I've had many great experiences this season, going to the state meet in Dayton was the best. Not only did I get a chance to compete with the state's best athletes, but I had a great time doing it and I placed well. I finished third overall and set my personal best of 14.53 in the 110-meter high hurdles.
Surprised to learn: I play goalie on the Boardman High soccer team and I play trombone in the Spartans Marching Band.
LUKE MCCLUGGAGE
School/grade: Jackson-Milton, junior.
Statistics/accomplishments: Mahoning County and Inter-County League and district champion in 1600 and 3200; set ICL record in 3200; tied district record in 1600; MVP of Mahoning County meet (Div. III) and Western Reserve Invitational; placed third at state in 3200; placed second at regional in 3200.
Positive influence: My coach, Ron Malmfeldt, for supporting me and helping me through my speed workouts. And my coach, Walt Vrable, for keeping me level-headed and picking a sweet hotel for state.
Best memory: Meeting a lot of really cool runners from different parts of Ohio.
Surprised to learn: I was a sprinter my freshman year because I was in football.
PAUL MOSER
School/grade: Maplewood, junior.
Statistics/accomplishments: Member of state champion 4x800 relay team; Trumbull County 3200 champion.
Positive influence: Dave Pykare -- the greatest team captain anyone could ask for. Dave has been a friend and an inspiration.
Best memory: Enjoying my last road trip down to the state meet with all my senior teammates. I love you guys.
Surprised to learn: I attended the American Legion Buckeye Boys State program this past June.
DAN NEMERGUT
School/grade: South Range, sophomore.
Statistics/accomplishments: Won the 3200 and 1600 at the Liberty Invitational. On the winning 4x800 relay at the Mahoning County meet, where he was also second in the 3200. Placed second in the 3200 and 1600 at the Inter-County League meet. District champion in the 3200. State qualifier on the 4x800 relay that placed fifth in a school-record time of 8:06.33. State qualifier in the 3200, where he placed third, with area's top time of 9:44.91.
Positive influence: Jim Kusiowski, Ritchie Schuler and Jared Oliver. The seniors, with their positive attitude and determination, led our 4x800 team all the way to the podium at state.
Best memory: Running the 4x800 at state.
Surprised to learn: Playing the bass guitar while watching "The Simpsons" is the greatest pastime.
JOHN PALMER
School/grade: Maplewood, senior.
Statistics/accomplishments: At state, second place in the 800. Anchored first-place state 4x800 team. Regional 800 champion. Broke 25-year school record in the 800 (1:55). District 800 champion. NAC league MVP.
Positive influence: My teammates over the past four years have been a major influence in my athletic career. We pushed ourselves to perform better for the team because we did not want to let our teammates down. When I ran, I realized I not only was running for myself and my current team members, but also for the alumni of the program that showed up at practices and meets to support the team.
Best memory: Winning the district 800 race with a time that shattered the old school record. In our league meet the week before, I felt a pain in my hamstring and was worried about it all week. I didn't even run the 4x800 before it, out of fear that I would pull it. I knew that I would have to run under 2:00 to qualify to regionals, so I went out aggressive and felt fantastic.
Surprised to learn: I am currently at West Point and will be competing on the track team next spring.
NICK PANEZICH
School/grade: Springfield, sophomore.
Statistics/accomplishments: Finished second in the shot and fourth in the discus in Division III at state meet; holds school records in shot (57-43/4) and discus (172-6); won both events at district and regional meets; member of USA Youth World team.
Positive influence: Coach Ed Wilson, who has been my throwing coach since eighth grade. I also need to give credit to my high school track coaches, Don Evans Jr. and Glen Windram. They have supported and pushed me throughout the season. I thank all of them.
Best memory: The Navarre regional. I had a PR (person record) in the discus (172-6) and shot put (57-43/4).
Surprised to learn: I play the piano, alto and tenor sax.
LOGAN POZENEL
School/grade: Lisbon, senior.
Statistics/accomplishments: Anchored district, regional and state champion 4x100 relay; set school record in 4x400 relay; TCL track meet MVP; academic all-Ohio.
Positive influence: My parents have had the largest positive influence in my athletic career. They have not missed a single meet in my entire career. I know I am so lucky to have them and their support. Words don't begin to describe what they have done for me.
Best memory: Passing the Findlay Liberty Benton anchor and crossing the finish line first in the 4x100 relay at the state finals. I remember how happy my teammates and I were and what an amazing feeling it was. I also remember receiving our gold medals and standing atop the podium.
Surprised to learn: I almost chose to play baseball rather than run track my freshman year. I was torn between the two spring sports. I am very glad I ultimately chose track and field.
TODD RAMSEY
School/grade: Lisbon, junior.
Statistics/accomplishments: Part of the 4x100 relay that won championships at the county, Tri-County League, district, regional and state meets. The relay had a school-record time of 44.17. Part of the regional qualifying 4x400 team that finished eighth in a school-record time of 3:32.34. Named All-Academic Tri-County and All-Academic State.
Positive influence: Coach Randolph, because she is always there for me if I need help and will do anything to help make me better.
Best memory: Winning our school's first relay state title.
TERRY RUSH
School/grade: Maplewood, senior.
Statistics/accomplishments: NAC mile champion, Trumbull County mile champion, district mile champion. State seventh place in the mile, making the awards stand. Leadoff leg of the state champion 4x800 team.
Positive influence: My father has been a major influence in my athletic career. He was the first runner from Maplewood to qualify for a state meet. He ran the 400 in the 1960s. I have always looked up to that and wanted to qualify myself. Along the way he has encouraged me and did whatever he could to help make my dream a reality.
Best memory: The last 500 meters of the 1600 at regionals. At the time I was in ninth place and looked to be out of the race. It was the spot that my coaches and I had determined I would surge, so I put my focus on the fourth-place guy and tried to pull him in. One hundred yards into the surge I was about to give up, but then I caught the eighth- and seventh-place guys. It gave me a major rush, and from that point on I felt awesome.
Surprised to learn: At the moment this is being printed, I am at Army boot camp.
DERRICK STEWART
School/grade: Ursuline, sophomore.
Statistics/accomplishments: State meet, third place in 300 hurdles; regional runnerup, third in SVC meet, school MVP.
Positive influence: My grandfather, [former Olympic hurdler] Willie Davenport, who passed away at age 59 in June, 2002. He really supported me in everything I did. He and my dad, Willie Davenport Stewart, told me to try the hurdles, so I said OK.
Best memory: When I went to state in the 300 hurdles and came in third. I was so scared to run because I never ran in from of a crowd like that.
Surprised to learn: This year I really didn't want to run track because I just wanted to play football. But my dad made me run track. I didn't want to run the hurdles, but my dad made me.
KEVIN WEST
School/grade: Lisbon, senior.
Statistics/accomplishments: Tri-County League champion in the 100 hurdles and 300 hurdles; district champion in the 300 hurdles; state qualifier in 300 hurdles; district, regional and state champion as member of 4x100 relay.
Positive influence: My father. He went to all my meets to watch me run and he was always searching for new information for me to improve and be a better runner.
Best memory: Winning the 4x100 relay at state and celebrating with the other three (Todd, Matt and Logan) and my family and wonderful girlfriend, Kristen Wilks, who also competed at state (for Columbiana).
CAMERON WIDGET
School/grade: Chaney, senior
Statistics/accomplishments: Division I long jump champion; two-time all-Ohioan; two-time district long jump champion; Mahoning County performer of the year; City Series MVP.
Positive influence: My parents. My mom really pushed me to play sports and give it my best. My dad was the one who wouldn't let me give up and stressed the importance of the Lord and hard work.
Best memory: When I became the state long jump champion. It really felt good to know all the hard work and long hours paid off.
Surprised to learn: Basketball is my first love. I give a lot of credit to basketball because I think it really helped me develop my jumping skills in track.
COACH OF THE YEAR
JACK TOMINEY
School/grade: Howland, 29 years.
Statistics/accomplishments: Under Tominey's guidance, the Tigers won team championships at the Cope Invitational, West Branch Invitational, Girard Relays, the Trumbull County Meet and the Metro Athletic Conference Meet. Howland also finished third at the Ward Invitational and the district meet.
Positive influence: Walt Duricy, who was my high school coach, taught me what it meant to be a coach. And Mike Garcia, an assistant coach at Howland, has a great love of the sport.
Best memory: My best memory is the success of this year's seniors, who worked extremely hard for four years.