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Fitch, Harding hope for return to state
By charles grove
Several area track and field teams who competed at the state level last season are looking to continue their success.
Austintown Fitch lost five state participants from last year’s squad due to graduation so there were already plenty of holes to fill. Then senior Carlos Herriott went down with a serious knee injury last fall in a football game against Louisville.
Herriott’s injury leaves one more hole to fill for a Falcons team looking to bounce back from their first regional title.
“We lost some sprinters and our pole vaulter last year but I still thought we could make a run at a regional title,” Fitch boys head coach Seth Steiner said. “But the loss of Carlos is a big one.
“He could go into regionals and be top two in high jump and long jump, and that’s a lot of points to take a hit from.”
That means fresh talent is going to have to step up, but Steiner thinks his current crop is quite capable of carrying on.
“We still have high expectations,” Steiner said. “Our throwers are strong, our distance is strong and while we may not have a state championship hurdler, we have three guys that could be regional qualifiers in that area.”
Part of the burden of replacing Heriott will fall on freshman Deondre McKeever who cleared 6 feet 1 inch in the high jump his eighth grade year. The long jump looks to be led by senior Jamal Murphy who jumped nearly 19 1/2 feet during this year’s indoor competition.
“If we’re going to make a repeat at regionals we’re going to have to have some of these young guys step up and get some points for us,” Steiner said.
Other state returners from Fitch include seniors Logan Kusky and Earl Scott while on the girls side, sophomores Khala Cameron and Eva Rivera return from the 4x100 relay.
state or bust
That seems to be the mind set around the Warren Harding girls track team. The Raiders return three-fourths of their 4x100 and 4x200 relay teams that went to state. On an individual level, Justice Richardson, last year’s 100 meter dash state champion, comes back for her senior season.
“State is the expectation for our program,” Harding coach Charles Penny said. “Our expectations are to win every event we’re entered and if things go well we’ll get our first team state title.”
The Raiders finished sixth in the final standings a year ago in Columbus despite not participating in events like pole vaulting. But Penny knows his team is so strong in the sprints, a state title is a real possibility.
“I think we’ll be strong in every event from the 400 down,” Penny said. “We’re very talented in the 100 and 200, we have two of the top hurdlers in the state for the 100, 300 and 400 hurdlers and our 4x200 team won the indoor state championship.”
While other area teams might be focusing on county or district opponents, Harding has its goals set on specific teams across the state.
“Our sites are set on Gahanna Lincoln and Centerville,” Penny said. “We know where our competition lies and for us to reach our goals we need to beat those two schools.”
The Raiders also will run a schedule where they’ll travel to meets in West Virginia, and Philadelphia — including other meets in Canton and Amherst.
In addition to Richardson, seniors Gariana Bercheni, Ka’Naylah Cox and Aisha Jackson all return from state a year ago in either the 4x100 or 4x200 relay teams.
BLUE DEVIL youth and injuries
In the smaller school level, the McDonald boys team sent three boys to state late year. Two ended up at Division I programs — Albert Yates (Youngstown State) and Christian Smith (Kent State). It was the 43rd year in a row that the Blue Devils were represented in Columbus. And with such a youthful roster this spring, it isn’t going to be easy to make it to year 44.
“I do believe we have some athletes to keep that streak going,” McDonald boys head coach Louis Domitrovich said. “It’s all about getting ready and fine tuning during the season and getting guys to compete for that first week in June.”
While other Division III schools might be low on numbers, that’s a problem the Blue Devils don’t have. More than 40 kids are on this year’s team and 17 of those are freshmen. Depth like that is why Domitrovich said his team has won two consecutive county meets and eight straight district titles.
“Depth is why we’ve done so well at the county and district levels,” Domitrovich said. “Year after year we have that kind of depth and that’s a credit to our entire coaching staff all the way down. We’ve had some freaks in recent years in shot put and discuss to really propel our team.”
On the girls side, McDonald is hoping nagging injuries won’t hinder a team that returns four state participants, including everyone from the 4x400 relay team.
“Expectations are as reserved as possible,” McDonald girls head coach Mary Domitrovich said. “Malina [Mitchell] is coming off an injury and Brenna [Rupe] had a concussion at the end of basketball season so we’re nursing some things. Hopefully we keep everyone healthy so we can do what we do.”
Like the boys, Domitrovich thinks her girls will be well-rounded as well and hopes to see her team take shape and fill the few gaps that remain in the team during the first couple of meets.
“We have a nice balance but I think our middle distance and distance should do very well though,” Domitrovich said. “We’re trying to fill holes and get a more well rounded team the first couple of weeks.”
In addition to Mitchell and Rupe, seniors Iva Domitrovich and Sara Joseph each return. All four were on the 4x400 relay while Iva Domitrovich threw discuss and Mitchell ran the mile.
the ambush returns
No team returns more state participants from last year than the Springfield girls team. The Tigers return their entire 4x200 state participant team as well as Quinn Crowe who competed in discuss, Courtney Cyrus who competed in the 100 hurdles and long jumper Shantel Springer.
“We had a nice showing last year and they all worked hard this offseason,” Springfield head coach John Toy said. “They all want to go back [to state]. That’s their expectation. They loved it last year and I think they’re bound and determined.
The state returners include three seniors in Crowe, Cyrus and Cecilia Bieznieks as well as three sophomores in Springer, Cierra Latronica and Haley LaMorticella.
Toy said he tasked that senior class with taking more of a leadership role this offseason as a way to help continue improving the class of 2018.
“We emphasized that this year in the beginning,” Toy said. “I told the seniors, ‘You guys have to start taking charge.’ They’re good leaders who help out the younger kids whenever they can. They’re a good group.”
other returners
Other 2015 state participants coming back for another go in Division I include Canfield senior Andrew Hallof (discuss) and East senior Imoni Donadalle (4x400 relay).
In Division II, West Branch returns senior Matt Heffinger (4x400 relay) and Hubbard returns senior George Hill (100 dash).
Poland returns seniors Gino Centofanti (4x200 and 4x100 relays), Dylan Garver (4x200 and 4x100 relays), Matthew Holsinger (4x200, 4x100 and 4x400 relays), Doug Rutana (4x100 relay) and Tyler Smith (4x200 and 4x400 relays).
On the girls side, Girard returns senior Savannah Teter (long jump) and Newton Falls returns junior Kayla Barreca (discuss).
In boys Division III, Warren JFK returns junior Jacob Coates (100 and 200 dash) and Ursuline returns senior Jonathan Neeley (discuss).
In girls Division III, Warren JFK returns junior Antonella LaMonica (100 and 200 dash).