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Fitch’s Kusky chasing a title
Falcons, Raiders
set for state meet
By Greg Gulas
Austintown Fitch senior Logan Kusky is the valedictorian of his class, sports a perfect 4.0 grade-point average, posted a 33 on his ACT test, is the top-ranked weight thrower in the state and ranks second nationally in his event.
The one thing lacking on an already impressive resume is a state title.
Along with his Falcons teammates and a multitude of other area schools, Kusky is hoping his fortunes change on Saturday when he competes in the state indoor track and field championships at the University of Akron’s Stile Field House.
Kusky, a four-year letterwinner, credits his throwing coaches for his rapid development.
“When you get started in this event, you need to have the right coach and I’ve been fortunate to have had two very knowledgeable about the weight throw,” Kusky said. “As a freshman and sophomore, T.J. Koniowsky was my coach and he played collegiately at Ashland University. Sam Cassano, who played at YSU, has been my coach the past two years and I have to credit both of them for teaching me most everything that I know and for developing me.”
Last week, Kusky was named Boys National High School “Performer of the Week” after throwing 77-41/4 at the Spire Showcase in Geneva.
His throw, a personal best, set a Fitch indoor record. The mark had been by current Ohio State University offensive lineman, Billy Price. It was the third best all-time in state indoor history.
“The state is very competitive so I will have to be at the top of my game,” Kusky said. “If I was in a different state it might be easier to win it all, but I’m glad the competition is there because it pushes me to do my best.”
Kusky, who hopes to major in engineering in college and will choose between Stanford, Notre Dame, Pitt and Ohio State on national signing day, is expected to be pushed by teammate Brent Fairbanks, who is ranked fifth in the state and eighth nationally.
“Our team make-up is different from a season ago, so it is going to be tough to win it all or repeat as runner-up,” Fitch coach Seth Steiner said. “We have a lot of boys and girls who can get to the podium and earn all-state honors, but the goal remains to get as many as we can to the podium on Saturday.”
The Fitch boys also qualified three relays and four individuals for Saturday, including Jake Dorbish in the shot put, the 4x200 relay team of Zach Krohn, Earl Scott, Jamal Murphy, Noah James, the 4x400 relay team of Murphy, Devin Moore, Scott and Krohn and the 4x800m relay unit of Matt Rozic, Anthony Linert, C.J. Schumacher and Lance Rosko.
The Fitch girls qualified two relays and five individuals, including Eva Rivera in the 400, Lauren Dolak in the 800m, Grace Morrison in the weight throw, Khala Cameron in the 60m hurdles and long jump, the 4x200 relay team of Tyra Barnes, Rivera, Cameron and Carolina Spalding, and the 4x400 relay team of Dolak, Kelly Hofmann, Barnes and Rivera.
Warren JFK’s Jacob Coates is considered someone to watch in both the 60 and 200 events. The Warren Harding girls pin their hopes on Justice Richardson, Aisha Jackson and Gariana Bercheni.
Richardson, the defending outdoor 100 champion, is headed to Syracuse in the fall and is set for the 60 and 200 dashes, and 4 x 400 relay. Jackson, bound for Central Michigan, is in for the 60 hurdles, 4 x 200 relay and 4x 400 relay.
Bercheni, who just completed the Raiders’ basketball season, is readying for the 60 dash, 60 hurdles, 4 x 200 relay and 4 x 400 relay events.
The Harding boys are young, but talented with their 4 x 200 and 4 x 400 relay teams to watch.
“Events are won or lost with the first three steps, so as long as Justice stays focused and runs a mechanically clean race, she will be all right,” Raiders coach Charles Penny said. “Aisha is the epitome of what hard work can do for an athlete. Hard work beats talent when talent doesn’t work hard and Aisha just gets it done. Gariana just finished with basketball and is ready to go as well.”