Having won the District 9 Class AAA last spring for an unprecedented 17th time in 18 seasons, head coach Tom Tessena’s Bradford Owls boys track and field is reloading for the 2017 season.
The team will have a mixture of veteran and young athletes, with 36 athletes out, including 22 from a large sophomore class.
“This year’s team has set the same goals as we always have, to win our dual meets and the District 9 AAA Championship,” Tessena, who is entering his 46th year as head coach, said.
Tessena noted the Owls and Lady Owls track teams are the only Bradford High sports which compete against the largest schools in Pa.
“Every other sport competes lower classes, some a lot lower, than we have to,” Tessena said. “This kind of puts a chip on our shoulders.”
The Owls have four senior letterwinners and are led by sprinter Mitch Vleminckx, who won the James Manners Award at last year’s D-9 championships as the top point-scorer. Vleminckx claimed district titles in the 100- and 200-meter dashes while anchoring the 4×400 relay. He also placed second in the long jump and competed in three events at states.
“He is one of our top leaders and will run all the sprints and long jump,” Tessena said.
Dawson Ambrose is working on his fourth letter and qualified for states last year in the 4×800 relay. He will run distant events and relays. Jack Kellam returns after placing fourth in the pole vault and fifth in the javelin, while Matt O’Brien adds depth to the distance events and newcomer Harley Peterson will compete in the throws.
The seven-man junior class is filled with talent across the board.
John Eakin (throws, sprints) is building on a solid indoor season, throwing 53-04 in the shot put.
“We feel that he has a good chance to set the district record,” Tessena said. “John is a competitor and will be successful in any event we need him.”
Eakin competed in states the last two years –– he ran a leg on the 4×100 relay last year and was district champion in the 100 meter dash his freshman year.
“He is rounding into good shape and will running like a man on a mission,” Tessena said.
Logan Caruso and Cade Hayden will compete in the distance events. Caruso is a two-time D-9 cross country champion and won the 1600- and 3200-meter runs as a freshman, but missed last season due to back surgery.
Hayden –– who Tessena says “is a worker and is improving at a good pace”–– was fourth last year in the 3200 and sixth at cross country districts.
Andy Pantuso returns in the long jump, triple jump, javelin and 4×100 relay. He placed in three of his four events at districts and can add depth in many events. Ryan Whittemore returns after placing third in the discus and fourth in the javelin last year.
“Ryan has really work hard in the weight room and is much stronger than last year,” Tessena said. “He has his eyes on the javelin title and will do well in the discus and shot put.”
Jeremiah Fitton returns as the top returning pole vaulter after having placed twice last year. He vaulted 13 feet last year and his coach believes he should be jumping over 14 feet regularly. Park Dalton will compete in the throws.
Vinnie Bizzarro, after setting the school’s indoor 800-meter run record (2:04), competed in states last year for track and the last two falls in cross country.
“He is also a great leader for the younger runners,” Tessena said of Bizzarro. “His work ethic is second to none.”
Issac Paterniti returns in the relays and middle distance, while Donny Pattison, after placing fourth in the 100-meter dash in districts and running on the Owls’ 4×100 team at states, is “bigger and stronger this season and should improve his times significantly,” Tessena added.
Jaron Ambrose, a hurdler and relay participant, figures to be a leader on the track. Matt Stafford placed in both hurdle events last season and had a strong indoor season, according with the coach. Nate Blauser, the other sophomore returning letterman, will run the hurdles and relays.
The Owls, which have six dual meets and five invitationals, have veteran coaches working with both the boys and girls teams. So what will the Owls have to do this year to continue their dominance on the track and in the field?
“We need to avoid injuries and work hard to get better as the season goes along to achieve our goals,” Tessena said. “We have the talent and depth to be successful. The heart of our past success has always been our guys willingness to do three and four events each meet.”
The schedule follows:
April
1 – South Hills Classic at Baldwin High School
4 – At St. Marys
8 – Harbor Creek Invitational
11 – KANE
18 – BROOKVILLE
22 – Kane Invitational
25 – At DuBois
29 – Lock Haven Invitational
May
2 – ELK CATHOLIC
5 – Altoona Invitational
9 – At Punxsutawney
17 – Districts
26-27 – States
