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Lakeview, Salem win White Tier track titles
By Joe Scalzo
SALEM
Wearing a misprinted T-shirt, Lakeview High boys track coach Mark Swinning gripped his stopwatch and watched senior Aaron Jesse sprint to the finish to win the 4x400-meter relay in meet-record time.
It was a terrific finish to another terrific meet for the Bulldogs, who cruised to their ninth straight conference championship, beating Struthers by a 119-84 margin at Tuesday’s All-American Conference White Tier championship at Reilly Stadium.
Salem edged Lakeview for the girls team title.
“I took over three years ago and I feel like I kind of fell into the perfect job,” said Swinning, who replaced Tom Pavlansky. “I’m really blessed with kids that work hard, want to do well and give 100 percent every day.
“That’s all we really ask.”
Swinning’s T-shirt bragged about seven straight conference titles — “That’s actually a misprint,” he said, smiling — and two straight district titles. Lakeview will host next week’s district meet with a good chance of making it three in a row.
“We have every event covered with a senior and that really helps us get the younger guys some experience with the older guys leading the way,” Swinning said. “Since I’ve been here, the older guys have done a really good job taking the younger guys under their wing.
“It just keeps snowballing from year to year. The kids are really in tune with the program and what we’re trying to accomplish.”
Lakeview set four meet records, won three relays and had five different Bulldogs win individual titles. One of those, sophomore Eric Harris, learned from watching his older brother Heath, who graduated two years ago, as well as then-seniors like Tyler Ames and Ben Moody.
“When I came in as a freshman, it was already set in stone what you were going to do,” said Harris, who won the 1600 and was a member of the winning 4x800 relay. “You run in the summer, you run all winter.
“You know what’s expected.”
Senior Toma Leveto — who learned from Moody two years ago — won the 110 hurdles and set a meet record in the long jump, while senior Daniel Marhulik won the 400, Jesse won the 800 and senior Nick Trip won the 3200 in a meet-record time.
Struthers senior Jermayne Brooks won the 100 and 200 and helped the Wildcats win the 4x100 relay, while teammates Keary Iarussi (who set a meet record in the discus) and Arnaldo Morales (high jump) also won individual events. Salem’s Mike King (who set a meet record in the shot put) and Scott Lodge (300 hurdles) were the other winners.
On the girls side, Salem got individual victories from Abigail Pasco (300 hurdles), Mallory Maher (3200), Ciera Trybend (shot put) and Macy McKinney (high jump) as the Quakers used their superior depth to edge Lakeview 97.5-80.5.
“We just have a lot of workhorses,” said Salem coach Amie Cochran. “We have a lot of girls that are willing to give their all in everything they do and every single of one of them stepped up today. I can’t think of one I’m disappointed in.”
Lakeview junior Lauren Schattinger won the 100, 200 and 400 and helped the Bulldogs to a victory in the 4x100 relay. Teammate Rachel Rubadiri won the long jump.
Struthers senior Katelyn Ardale won the 1600, freshman Paige Wasko won the 800 in meet-record time and the two Wildcats were members of the winning 4x400 and 4x800 relays. Teammate Marissa Weidner won the 100 hurdles.
Liberty won the 4x200 relay and Hubbard’s Justine Goldner won the discus.