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Track teams look to continue winning tradition
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By Greg Gulas
Coach Gabby Massey begins her 12th season overall and her fourth as head coach of the Bulldogs’ track and field program, cautiously optimistic about her team’s chances in 2011.
“We’ll be very competitive this year and while we have been in a rebuilding mode the past two seasons, we are a much more balanced team this year. The throwing events will be our biggest challenge, having lost state discus champ Allison Rice. But overall, this is a team determined to do its best each time out,” Massey said.
The Bulldogs finished third behind Canfield and Howland last season in the All-American Conference Red Tier. Of this year’s 44 team members, returning to the fold is senior Stephanie Andrews, who will handle the hurdles.
Last season, Andrews finished fifth in the district meet after advancing to regionals as a freshman and sophomore.
Another senior, Amanda Molaskey, was with the throwers last season, but will be moved to the sprints.
“Amanda [Molaskey] won our Iron Woman Award last year so you can see how much of a competitor she is,” Massey added.
Other seniors include Alyssa Shields (a four-year performer in the sprints); Leanne Wainio (also a four-year performer in the long jump); Mary Carchedi (hurdles) and Annie Markota (distance).
Boys coach Ryan Williams enters his fourth season at the helm of a team that placed fifth in the state last season in Division II.
Graduation has stripped the program of those three-year leaders and while the team might be short on experience, they’re long on heart and ready to get the season under way.
“I have a good feeling about this year’s team and the many young kids who will comprise our roster in 2011. This team has a lot of promise, but it is up to me and my staff to find out their best events and then take it from there,” Williams stated.
Gone are Bob Balvano, Luke Wollet, Ryan Storkel and Brian Ciccone, members of the 4X400 relay state title team. Balvano was also also on the school’s 4X200 relay unit that placed third in the state.
Returning is senior Kevin Krumpak, who will do everything from 200 to 400 to the distance teams, while classmate John Medina, a tailback on the football team this past fall will step in to run the shorter sprints.
Junior Jerry Lawman, who has traded in his sneakers for spikes and the cinders, will run the 400 and the 300 hurdles.
“This team has worked hard in the weight room since January and they are ready to go. We’ve been running the hills in Lowellville to prepare for the season so we are right where we should be with the season opener rapidly approaching,” Williams added.