Boardman runs away with Federal track crown

By Joe Scalzo

The Spartans scored 1511‚Ñ8 points to beat GlenOak, while Fitch placed seventh.

NORTH CANTON — Boardman High boys track coach Dave Pavlansky held the stopwatch in his hand, watching one of his seniors, Mike Lesko, jump out to a lead in the first leg of the final event of the night, the 4x400-meter relay.

“Look at Lesko,” Pavlansky said, smiling in admiration, “and we beat him into the ground tonight.”

Three legs later, Spartan senior Matt Moore put the finishing touches on back-to-back Federal League titles by helping Boardman place second in the relay, nearly catching the Canton McKinley anchor down the stretch.

“I went against him [the McKinley anchor] before and that guy destroyed me, so I had to at least somewhat redeem my name,” said Moore. “I knew my team had been working hard the first three legs, so I said, ‘I can’t let them down.’”

The finish gave the Spartans 1511‚Ñ8 points, helping them run away (pardon the pun) from second-place Canton GlenOak (113 1/2) at Friday’s Federal League meet at North Canton Hoover High stadium.

Fitch finished seventh.

“It’s a great Division I track conference,” said Pavlansky, who was named the league’s boys coach of the year and helped the Spartans finish undefeated during the regular season as well. “To have guys compete this well is a real testament to their talent and ability.”

The Spartans utilized a talented group of throwers (senior Evan Beard and juniors Corey Linsley and Alex Lipinsky combined for 34 points in the throws) and a deep and versatile group of runners to win.

“Some people say it’s quality over quantity, but we have quality and quantity,” Lesko said.

Lesko finished second in the open 400 and also helped the Spartans place second in the 4x800, 4x400 and 4x200 relays. Moore, meanwhile, ran in the 4x800 and the 4x400 and ran a personal-best time of 1:55.84 to win the 800. Boardman’s only other individual running victory came from junior Caleb Matthews (110 hurdles).

“We knew it [the team title] had to be a team effort,” said Moore. “It’s not the [individual] championships that matter. It’s the depth and the team. It’s the guys who come in and are consistent and get those fourths and fifths that really pull this team through.”

Of course, those individual titles don’t hurt. Klepec won the discus with a throw of 160 feet, 10 inches and Lipinsky took third (146-6) behind Fitch sophomore George Thomas (149-9), who has been promised a steak dinner by his coach as soon as he hits 150 feet.

When asked about Klepec’s reward for throwing 160, his coach, Ed Lewis, quipped, “He doesn’t have to walk home.”

Linsley, an Ohio State football recruit, won the shot put with a throw of 57-101‚Ñ2, missing the Federal League record by less than a foot. Linsley would have had it on his last throw had he not fouled. He clearly wanted the record and was visibly pumped up before each throw. One of the things Linsley’s coaches love about him is his ability to psych himself up during competition, then turn it off afterward.

“I’ve had very few kids who can do that,” Lewis said.

Linsley’s part of the meet was over around 6:30 p.m., which was about 21‚Ñ2 hours before its finish. When asked if he was going to stay, he nodded and said, “I’m staying the whole meet. I want to carry that trophy around the track.”

Jackson senior Carlin Isles won boys MVP after winning the 100, 200, 400 and long jump.

“Carlin Isles is superhuman,” Pavlansky said.

On the girls side, Boardman placed sixth and Fitch was seventh in the team standings. Jackson edged GlenOak for the title.

Fitch freshman Alexandra Tolich was the area’s only individual champion, winning the shot put with a throw of 122-11 — more than 13 feet better than the second-place throw.

McKinley freshman Kandace Thomas was the MVP and Jackson’s Rick Neitzelt was the coach of the year.

But the story of the meet was Boardman’s boys, who aren’t done yet.

“We’ve got enough guys coming back next year that we can make a run for three,” Pavlansky said. “It’ll be really difficult because we’re losing some really good seniors, but we’re talented enough that we can make a run for it.”

scalzo@vindy.com