Bears looking to gain ground
Track teams trail pack in SL, district fields
Hunter Petit was a consistent score in the throwing events for North Royalton’s boys track team. Photo by BRUCE BILLOW
There’s no sugarcoating the plight of North Royalton’s track teams. Right now, they have a way to go to catch up with the competition.
Neither team had a state qualifier for the second consecutive year. This year they combined for just six regional qualifiers, four of them boys. Three of the six graduated.
The boys team placed sixth at the Brunswick Division I District. The girls team finished ninth in an extremely competitive field. The boys and girls teams both placed seventh in the SL National Conference.
The boys team featured a moderately successful senior class. Sam Ferguson (throws) was SL runner-up in the shot put, third in the discus. Hunter Petit (throws) was an SL placer in the shot put and discus. Both qualified for regionals in the discus.
Luke Boersma (distance) was an SL placer in the 1600. Patrick McKee (distance) was an SL placer in the 3200. Alex Costa (sprints) placed in the 200. Alex Davis (distance) was the only other senior to compete in the postseason.
Among juniors, Jonah Eisaman (hurdles) was regional finalist in the 100 hurdles. He also placed third in the SL in the event. Eisaman from a distance appears to be the Bears’ best state hope next year.
Anthony Miduri (distance), Tyler Knurek (sprints, jumps) and Miles Strnad (sprints) also saw postseason action as juniors.
Among sophomores, Bradley Kmetz (jumps) was a district placer in the long jump, the top finisher in his grade. He also placed in the SL in the event.
Matthew Casey (hurdles) was an SL placer in the 300 hurdles, and Aaron Hertel an SL placer in the pole vault. Andrew Lozinak (sprints) and James Osborne (jumps) also contributed.
One to watch is Matthew Polcyn, who placed sixth in the district in the pole vault, but was first among freshmen. Simon Antonio (sprints, jumps) was an SL placer in the high jump and Riley Knurek (sprints, jumps) an SL placer in the long jump, also both as freshmen.
Noah Argana (sprints), Robert Burrows (distance) and Caden Fyffe (jumps) also showed potential as rookies.
For the girls team, senior Lexi Chuppa (jumps) was district runner-up in the long jump but could not get to state. Rachel DiFrancisco was a district placer in the pole vault.
Sophia Zozulya (throws) and Jackie Clegg (jumps) were the Bears’ other two seniors to compete in the postseason, so they weren’t hit too hard by graduation.
Elise Chojnacki (distance), district runner-up and third in the SL in the 800, finished at regionals for the third consecutive. She leads the incoming senior class, which has some accomplished athletes. Kayla O’Donnell (sprints, hurdles) was an SL placer in the 100 and 300 hurdles, while Jessica Harsoulas was an SL placer in the high jump and Julia Knapik was a district placer in the pole vault.
Alex Kuzma (distance), who has battled injuries but has been an accomplished runner in the past, should be back along with sprinter Juliet Tyma.
Sprinter Juliet Rayer, an SL placer in the 100 and 200, leads a sophomore class that should be a good junior group. Tayah Christian (hurdles) was an SL placer in the 300 hurdles.
Other 10th-graders to see 2017 tournament action were Jordan Saunders (distance), Rachel Roberts (hurdles), Mackenzie Williams (sprints), Avery Wilkosz (sprints), Laura Kovach (sprints), Olivia Reichenbach (sprints), Mackenzie Morgan (distance), Hannah Prezenkowski (throws) and Isabella Sprunger (throws).
Freshman who competed down the stretch were Jenna Fenohr (distance), Ashley Chippy (distance), Alex Doerhmann (distance) and Katie Colabianchi (jumps).
Neither team had a state qualifier for the second consecutive year. This year they combined for just six regional qualifiers, four of them boys. Three of the six graduated.
The boys team placed sixth at the Brunswick Division I District. The girls team finished ninth in an extremely competitive field. The boys and girls teams both placed seventh in the SL National Conference.
The boys team featured a moderately successful senior class. Sam Ferguson (throws) was SL runner-up in the shot put, third in the discus. Hunter Petit (throws) was an SL placer in the shot put and discus. Both qualified for regionals in the discus.
Luke Boersma (distance) was an SL placer in the 1600. Patrick McKee (distance) was an SL placer in the 3200. Alex Costa (sprints) placed in the 200. Alex Davis (distance) was the only other senior to compete in the postseason.
Among juniors, Jonah Eisaman (hurdles) was regional finalist in the 100 hurdles. He also placed third in the SL in the event. Eisaman from a distance appears to be the Bears’ best state hope next year.
Anthony Miduri (distance), Tyler Knurek (sprints, jumps) and Miles Strnad (sprints) also saw postseason action as juniors.
Among sophomores, Bradley Kmetz (jumps) was a district placer in the long jump, the top finisher in his grade. He also placed in the SL in the event.
Matthew Casey (hurdles) was an SL placer in the 300 hurdles, and Aaron Hertel an SL placer in the pole vault. Andrew Lozinak (sprints) and James Osborne (jumps) also contributed.
One to watch is Matthew Polcyn, who placed sixth in the district in the pole vault, but was first among freshmen. Simon Antonio (sprints, jumps) was an SL placer in the high jump and Riley Knurek (sprints, jumps) an SL placer in the long jump, also both as freshmen.
Noah Argana (sprints), Robert Burrows (distance) and Caden Fyffe (jumps) also showed potential as rookies.
For the girls team, senior Lexi Chuppa (jumps) was district runner-up in the long jump but could not get to state. Rachel DiFrancisco was a district placer in the pole vault.
Sophia Zozulya (throws) and Jackie Clegg (jumps) were the Bears’ other two seniors to compete in the postseason, so they weren’t hit too hard by graduation.
Elise Chojnacki (distance), district runner-up and third in the SL in the 800, finished at regionals for the third consecutive. She leads the incoming senior class, which has some accomplished athletes. Kayla O’Donnell (sprints, hurdles) was an SL placer in the 100 and 300 hurdles, while Jessica Harsoulas was an SL placer in the high jump and Julia Knapik was a district placer in the pole vault.
Alex Kuzma (distance), who has battled injuries but has been an accomplished runner in the past, should be back along with sprinter Juliet Tyma.
Sprinter Juliet Rayer, an SL placer in the 100 and 200, leads a sophomore class that should be a good junior group. Tayah Christian (hurdles) was an SL placer in the 300 hurdles.
Other 10th-graders to see 2017 tournament action were Jordan Saunders (distance), Rachel Roberts (hurdles), Mackenzie Williams (sprints), Avery Wilkosz (sprints), Laura Kovach (sprints), Olivia Reichenbach (sprints), Mackenzie Morgan (distance), Hannah Prezenkowski (throws) and Isabella Sprunger (throws).
Freshman who competed down the stretch were Jenna Fenohr (distance), Ashley Chippy (distance), Alex Doerhmann (distance) and Katie Colabianchi (jumps).