Howland’s Pachol goes out with gold

By Joe Scalzo

Fitch sophomore Ali Tolich earned All-Ohio in two Division I throwing events.

COLUMBUS — With the details of the past year swirling through her mind — from her painful rehab from hip surgery that cost her last track season, to the grueling training and diet of the last few months, to her fans in the stands on Saturday, including her grandfather from Pittsburgh who drove several hours to watch her race — Howland senior Nicole Pachol fought back tears as she entered the starting blocks for the final race of her high school career: the 300-meter hurdles.

“I just kept saying, ‘Oh man, this is my last year; I deserve this,’ ” said Pachol, the only senior in the field. “It was my last chance.”

And over a 42-second stretch, she made the most of it, capturing a Division I state title in the event at Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium, completing her improbable comeback from a torn hip labrum.

She started with tears. She finished with tears.

“At the beginning of the season, I was thinking, ‘It would be so cool to make it to state,’ ” said Pachol, who also placed fifth in the 100 hurdles and will run at YSU next year. “But I have a great coach who got me places where I never thought I could be.

“That’s when I started reaching further.”

Fitch sophomore Ali Tolich, meanwhile, found inspiration in her throwing coach, T.J. Koniowsky, who wasn’t sure he would make it to Columbus this weekend. His wife delivered their first baby, a son, on Wednesday and as soon as she was released from the hospital Friday afternoon, Koniowsky got in his car and drove south.

Tolich was a little stressed, but another one of her coaches calmed her down during her two days of preparation and she set personal-bests in both the discus (where she placed second) and the shot put (fourth) on Saturday.

“Everything just ended up working out in the end,” she said. “I felt good and everything clicked.

“What more could you ask for?”

Although the Valley’s boys overshadowed the girls this weekend, there were plenty of terrific performances, from Mooney earning Division II All-Ohio honors in two sprint relays, to West Branch senior Emilee Zets taking second in the 800 in the same division, to Jackson-Milton senior Samantha Hamilton, another YSU recruit, finishing fifth in the Div. III 3200.

But, ultimately, Pachol stole the show.

“It’s a good way to go out,” she said, “to say the least.”

scalzo@vindy.com