Girard girls repeat as district champions

May 24, 2015 at 12:05a.m.

New-look Indians repeat as district champs

CORTLAND

Four years ago, when Girard finished second at the Division II district meet, you could argue the Indians had one of northeast Ohio’s best girls track teams.

Now they have one of northeast Ohio’s best track programs.

Despite losing five key seniors and their longtime head coach from last year’s district championship team, the Indians dominated again, scoring in 16 of 17 events to roll to this year’s district title on Saturday at Lakeview High School.

“Everyone loses people every year,” said Girard’s first-year head coach, Mike Yankey. “To keep a good program, it’s all about next man up.

“We’ll do the same thing next year.”

Last May, Girard won the district crown by 34 points. On Saturday, it won by 45, scoring in every event except the 400-meter dash to beat United 132-87. Considering the Indians didn’t enter anyone in that event — and that they finished second in the 4x400 relay — it’s pretty obvious they could have made it 17 of 17, had they been so inclined.

“We have a strong group of girls,” Yankey said. “Our field events on Thursday really set the tone. It was all about holding the [11]-point lead.”

Girard has just two seniors, Brandi Shonce and Caitlyn Trebella, and both played a big role this weekend. Shonce won Saturday’s long jump after placing third in the high jump on Thursday, while Trebella followed up Thursday’s district-record showing in the pole vault to help the Indians win the 4x100 relay and place second in the 4x400 alongside her younger sister, Makayla. She also placed fifth individually in the 100.

“We wanted to win it again,” said Trebella, who helped the Indians capture their first district title last season after finishing runner-up the previous two years. “We did what we needed to and came out victorious.”

Trebella said she and Shonce split the leadership duties this season, with her handling running events and Shonce handling the field events. It’s a recipe that helped them tie Warren Harding for the county title and cruise to the All-American Conference Blue Tier crown.

And they’re not done yet.

“Some of them [the younger girls] haven’t been to regionals or state, so it’s hard to show them that drive or that focus,” she said. “I have to bestow it on them and make them want it as much as I do. I’m glad I can push them to get there so they have that experience for the future.”

On the boys side, Crestwood edged Streetsboro for the team title, 100-93, but three Valley athletes set district records on Saturday: United senior Riley Fillman (110 hurdles), LaBrae junior Keevon Harris (300 hurdles) and Mooney senior Dante Penza (shot).

Fillman (long jump) and Penza (discus) also set district records on Thursday, while Harris’ 110 hurdle time would have set a district record if he hadn’t finished second to Fillman.

“I just feel ecstatic,” Harris said. “It’s wonderful. It’s quite an accomplishment, especially coming out my first year [of track].

“It really just takes an athlete [to run hurdles]. I think that’s what I am — an athlete. That’s all it takes to get the job done. After that, it’s just form, form, form.”

Penza’s performance was especially sweet since he failed to place at this event last year, fouling all three of his preliminary throws. After fouling the first two on Saturday, “I was hoping it wasn’t a repeat of last year,” he said. “I threw power [a more basic technique] just to make sure I got into the finals.

“Once I know I got into the finals, I know I’m going to rip one.”

He did, uncorking a throw of 58-93/4 that not only broke the district mark by eight feet, it broke the stadium mark of 57-73/4, set by his throwing coach, Springfield’s Nick Panezich, in 2004.

“I hated the feeling [last year],” said Penza, whose personal best is 61-11. “It didn’t shut me down, it just made me work harder for this year.

“Revenge is sweet.”