E. P. caps big weekend for ITCL

By Joe Scalzo

The Bulldogs were the only school to grab gold in Division III on Saturday.

COLUMBUS — On Friday, the East Palestine boys 4x100-meter relay team broke a 59-year-old school record, then lowered it in championship fashion on Saturday, capturing a state title in the event to give Tier One of the Inter Tri-County League its fourth (and final) state title of the weekend.

Afterward, as his teammates walked to the medal stand, senior Dalton Cope yelled out, “That’s gonna be up there for 90 years!”

Cope joined senior Jeff Farkas and juniors Shane Peterson and Trevor Patterson atop the medal stand, following in the footsteps of league members Jakob Leon of Crestview (Div. III high jump title), Dan Skiba of Mineral Ridge (Div. III long jump) and Victoria Bates of United (Div. II shot).

“It shows how strong our league is,” said Peterson. “We knew were capable of doing this, but it’s another thing to come out and do it.

“Our expectations were pretty high.”

The Bulldogs were the only Mahoning Valley school to capture Division III gold on Saturday, but there were plenty of silver linings.

In Tier Two of the ITCL, McDonald’s 4x400 relay team of Devon Colburn, Adrien Tillery, Nick Accordino and Corey Lunn placed second to cap a tremendous sports year for the Blue Devils. McDonald’s football and boys basketball teams both went undefeated in the regular season and the boys and girls track teams both won district titles.

“We had a great senior class,” said Colburn, who also placed third in the 300 hurdles. “They’re just a great group of guys.”

The school’s success, particularly in track, was due to its love of competition this spring, Colburn said.

“I’d rather finish sixth against a Division I school than go to a smaller meet and crush everyone,” he said. “It just makes you better.”

Mathews senior Mike Davis fought off a disappointing (for him) second-place finish in the 100 to earn silver in the 200 with a personal-best time of 22.29, losing both events to Garfield Heights Trinity senior Jonathan Bobak. Davis beat Bobak in the 100 at last week’s regional.

“I was looking for the win in the 100,” said Davis, whose 11.17 was nine-hundredths of a second behind Bobak. “I could have won it. I don’t know what happened. I know I was winning at the 80-meter mark but he passed me.

“He’s a helluva athlete.”

Warren JFK senior Michael Perisa placed third in the 800, Columbiana junior Nick Melone was fourth in the 100 and Maplewood senior Eric Rupe was second in the 1600.

Rupe was actually leading the race entering the last 200 meters, but couldn’t match North Robinson junior Carson Britton down the stretch, finishing one second behind.

Rupe is a terrific 800 runner and tried to make it into a two-lap race, but said he made his move to the front just a little too soon.

“I should have waited a little longer, which is easy to say now,” said Rupe. “I’d do it over if I could, but I’m happy with second.”

scalzo@vindy.com