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ANDOVER TOWNSHIP — The normal wide swings of weather are in full effect as area track programs start the spring season in earnest.
Many teams got their feet wet the last two weeks at the Perry Relays and the Ron Weaver Laker Invitational.
Programs are experiencing growth in the number of participants as the coronavirus pandemic is further in the rearview mirror.
“We are really young but super dedicated,” said new Conneaut head girls track coach Jason Dalton. He said there are 42 girls participating this year, with a strong crew in the middle distance.
The Spartans got on the scoreboard quick Saturday, getting a second place in the 4x800 meter relay and sophomore Macey McBride winning the 400 meters by more than three seconds, in a time of 1:01 at the Ron Weaver Laker Invitational.
On the boys side in Conneaut, coach Tyler Pew said his team is also very young, but has 40 competitors.
“We are the biggest we’ve been in a long time,” he said.
He said 75% of the team are freshmen and sophomores, but there are some bright spots, with strong performances with Carrick Dobran in the pole vault and Hamilton Spero in the 800 and 1600 meters.
Pew said the football and basketball coaching staffs were instrumental in getting more players out.
“If we get the kids faster, they will be better in football and basketball,” he said.
Edgewood girls track coach Steve Hill said his squad has about 30 members.
“We have a lot of young [athletes],” he said. Maddie Crooks won the 800 meters by three seconds with a time of 2:30 Saturday in Andover Township.
Hill said Morgan Haywood beat the school record by jumping 9’6” in the pole vault.
“She has been working hard,” he said.
Geneva head girls coach Anna Haesler said it has been a good transition as she took over the girls program from Dalton. She has the opportunity to coach her daughter, Ella, in the throws, and Addy Reece in the mid-distance.
Allison Sochia finished second in the 100-meter dash Saturday.
Haesler said boys head coach Emily Long has made for an easy transition with her knowledge of the sport and leadership.
Long said there are 63 boys and 48 girls participating in Geneva’s program this year. She said they are trying to work out ways to get some of the younger athletes into competitions for the future, as there are 20 senior boys competing.
“I think we have a good mix,” she said.
Don Shymske won the 400 meter run at the Laker and participated in several relays as well.
Jefferson head girls coach T.J. Furman said his squad is down a bit, numbers-wise, this season.
“We have a bunch of young kids,” he said. “It is going to be a growing year.”
Freshman Cody Weber got the Falcons distance crew off to a huge start, winning the 3200 meters in a time of 9:58 Saturday, with Logan Furman coming in seventh, with a time of 11:13.
Jefferson head girls coach Andrew Preston said his team has 25 girls, which is nine more than when he took over the program after the coronavirus pandemic.
He said Bella Boyd and Gabby Talley are making big strides in the spring.
“They are very competitive,” he said.
Preston said Abby Feick is doing well, and sophomore Emma Phillips is expected to do well in the distance races.
Edgewood boys track coach Jim Sanchez said he enjoys opening with the Perry Relays, where he is able to get a good look at his team. He said his team is in the 50 competitor range.
He said Robert Knox is doing well in the 400 and 800 meter runs and senior Ben Schwartfigure has been providing excellent leadership.
“These kids are always striving,” he said.
The Lakers were excited to reinstitute their invitational and test out their new timing system, Pymatuning Valley girls head coach Annie Siembor said. “It was great to have the Laker Invitational back, which now honors Ron Weaver, long time coach and athletic director, and continues to remember Dan Dunlap with the boys 3200 meter run,” she said.
“I was happy with our efforts today [Saturday] this early in the season, with all of our relays placing. I am super happy with Mae Struna, who won the shot and took second in discus,” Siembor said.
Ryan Shontz, a Pymatuning Valley coach, said he was excited to bring back the invitational.
“Really proud of how our kids ran in the inclement weather and how our community rallied together to make the meet work for the kids,” he said.
Returning state qualifier Brayden Shinault will anchor the 100 and 200 meter runs for the Lakers, and school record-holder Gavin Hodge and regional-qualifying hurdler Will Baugher will be keys as well.
Shontz said pole vaulter Layton Dubic and pole vaulter and high jumper Elliott Jones will be a big part of the team this year, as well.
The Grand Valley Mustangs girls squad is young, but brings back state-qualifier Reagan Boiarski in the long jump and Anna Steimle in the mile and two mile.
“Our young girls are stepping up and starting strong,” GV head girls coach Kurtis Fisher said. “We are expecting the girls to compete well in the Northeastern Athletic Conference and to have regional qualifiers as well as looking to have some state qualifiers.”
Grand Valley boys head coach Anthony “Buddy” Cardaman said the first two meets have gone well.
“I’m excited for the season, it’s great to finally get outside and compete,” he said.
Lakeside head boys and girls coach Moses Smith said the momentum built from last year is carrying over to the 2025 season.
“I’m extremely pleased how we progressed so far,” he said. “Both boys and girls teams are equipped with a lot of talent. Our girls 4x100 [meter relay] broke the school record again and probably will do it many more times before districts,” he said.
Smith said there are 37 boys and 26 girls competing.
Madison head boys track coach Jeremy Verdi said the Blue Streaks are off to a good start. He said Ryan Radkowski is off to a big start, scoring 29.5 points himself at a recent meet where he won the shot put 49’5”, the high jump 6’2”, and came second in the discus at 157’.
Verdi said the boys team won the 4x800 meter relays, had strong performances in the mid-distances races and went one, two in the pole vault.
The Madison girls team finished second at a recent invitational behind Crestwood, besting eight other schools even with a few missing competitors, he said.
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Many teams got their feet wet the last two weeks at the Perry Relays and the Ron Weaver Laker Invitational.
Programs are experiencing growth in the number of participants as the coronavirus pandemic is further in the rearview mirror.
“We are really young but super dedicated,” said new Conneaut head girls track coach Jason Dalton. He said there are 42 girls participating this year, with a strong crew in the middle distance.
The Spartans got on the scoreboard quick Saturday, getting a second place in the 4x800 meter relay and sophomore Macey McBride winning the 400 meters by more than three seconds, in a time of 1:01 at the Ron Weaver Laker Invitational.
On the boys side in Conneaut, coach Tyler Pew said his team is also very young, but has 40 competitors.
“We are the biggest we’ve been in a long time,” he said.
He said 75% of the team are freshmen and sophomores, but there are some bright spots, with strong performances with Carrick Dobran in the pole vault and Hamilton Spero in the 800 and 1600 meters.
Pew said the football and basketball coaching staffs were instrumental in getting more players out.
“If we get the kids faster, they will be better in football and basketball,” he said.
Edgewood girls track coach Steve Hill said his squad has about 30 members.
“We have a lot of young [athletes],” he said. Maddie Crooks won the 800 meters by three seconds with a time of 2:30 Saturday in Andover Township.
Hill said Morgan Haywood beat the school record by jumping 9’6” in the pole vault.
“She has been working hard,” he said.
Geneva head girls coach Anna Haesler said it has been a good transition as she took over the girls program from Dalton. She has the opportunity to coach her daughter, Ella, in the throws, and Addy Reece in the mid-distance.
Allison Sochia finished second in the 100-meter dash Saturday.
Haesler said boys head coach Emily Long has made for an easy transition with her knowledge of the sport and leadership.
Long said there are 63 boys and 48 girls participating in Geneva’s program this year. She said they are trying to work out ways to get some of the younger athletes into competitions for the future, as there are 20 senior boys competing.
“I think we have a good mix,” she said.
Don Shymske won the 400 meter run at the Laker and participated in several relays as well.
Jefferson head girls coach T.J. Furman said his squad is down a bit, numbers-wise, this season.
“We have a bunch of young kids,” he said. “It is going to be a growing year.”
Freshman Cody Weber got the Falcons distance crew off to a huge start, winning the 3200 meters in a time of 9:58 Saturday, with Logan Furman coming in seventh, with a time of 11:13.
Jefferson head girls coach Andrew Preston said his team has 25 girls, which is nine more than when he took over the program after the coronavirus pandemic.
He said Bella Boyd and Gabby Talley are making big strides in the spring.
“They are very competitive,” he said.
Preston said Abby Feick is doing well, and sophomore Emma Phillips is expected to do well in the distance races.
Edgewood boys track coach Jim Sanchez said he enjoys opening with the Perry Relays, where he is able to get a good look at his team. He said his team is in the 50 competitor range.
He said Robert Knox is doing well in the 400 and 800 meter runs and senior Ben Schwartfigure has been providing excellent leadership.
“These kids are always striving,” he said.
The Lakers were excited to reinstitute their invitational and test out their new timing system, Pymatuning Valley girls head coach Annie Siembor said. “It was great to have the Laker Invitational back, which now honors Ron Weaver, long time coach and athletic director, and continues to remember Dan Dunlap with the boys 3200 meter run,” she said.
“I was happy with our efforts today [Saturday] this early in the season, with all of our relays placing. I am super happy with Mae Struna, who won the shot and took second in discus,” Siembor said.
Ryan Shontz, a Pymatuning Valley coach, said he was excited to bring back the invitational.
“Really proud of how our kids ran in the inclement weather and how our community rallied together to make the meet work for the kids,” he said.
Returning state qualifier Brayden Shinault will anchor the 100 and 200 meter runs for the Lakers, and school record-holder Gavin Hodge and regional-qualifying hurdler Will Baugher will be keys as well.
Shontz said pole vaulter Layton Dubic and pole vaulter and high jumper Elliott Jones will be a big part of the team this year, as well.
The Grand Valley Mustangs girls squad is young, but brings back state-qualifier Reagan Boiarski in the long jump and Anna Steimle in the mile and two mile.
“Our young girls are stepping up and starting strong,” GV head girls coach Kurtis Fisher said. “We are expecting the girls to compete well in the Northeastern Athletic Conference and to have regional qualifiers as well as looking to have some state qualifiers.”
Grand Valley boys head coach Anthony “Buddy” Cardaman said the first two meets have gone well.
“I’m excited for the season, it’s great to finally get outside and compete,” he said.
Lakeside head boys and girls coach Moses Smith said the momentum built from last year is carrying over to the 2025 season.
“I’m extremely pleased how we progressed so far,” he said. “Both boys and girls teams are equipped with a lot of talent. Our girls 4x100 [meter relay] broke the school record again and probably will do it many more times before districts,” he said.
Smith said there are 37 boys and 26 girls competing.
Madison head boys track coach Jeremy Verdi said the Blue Streaks are off to a good start. He said Ryan Radkowski is off to a big start, scoring 29.5 points himself at a recent meet where he won the shot put 49’5”, the high jump 6’2”, and came second in the discus at 157’.
Verdi said the boys team won the 4x800 meter relays, had strong performances in the mid-distances races and went one, two in the pole vault.
The Madison girls team finished second at a recent invitational behind Crestwood, besting eight other schools even with a few missing competitors, he said.
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