SMETHPORT — Head Coach Rick Woodring welcomes back an experienced boys’ track and field team this year at Smethport Area High School as three 2017 district qualifiers are among the 14 returning lettermen who comprise half of the entire team.
Juniors Darion Gregory, Eric Tanner and Eric Szarowicz placed second in the 3200 relay. Meanwhile, Gregory placed third in the 3200, and Tanner was second in the 800 and 1600 and third in the pole vault.
Only four of the lettermen are seniors. In addition to Andrew Knapp in the hurdles, the others are Mason Christie in the sprints, shotput and discus; Brayden Southard in the javelin, shot put and discus; and Jordan Van Gorder in the shot put, javelin, discus and high jump.
Seven are juniors. Gregory, Szarowicz and Peter Heath run the distance events, while Tanner is back in the middle distance events plus the pole vault.
The three sophomores all compete in different events. Justin Gallup returns to the sprints and long jump, and Hunter Helsley is in the middle distances and high and triple jumps. Ethan Nannen runs the distances.
“With three juniors, one sophomore and ten freshmen, this year’s team will have a lot of depth, and we’re looking at them to score additional team points,” said Woodring, now in his 28th season as head coach of the Hubbers.
Competing in the shot put, discus and javelin are Brad LaFleur and Caleb Roberts and Gabe Rowley-Thompson in the hurdles and sprints. All are juniors.
The lone tenth-grader, Griffin Hess, specializes in the middle distances and jumps.
Four of the freshmen, Ryli Burritt, Logan Christie, Duryn Dalton and Layne Shall, compete in the sprints and jumps. Distance runners are Jordan Pavlock and Kyler Alexis. In the jumps and distance events are Tyler Howes and Matt Nolte. Rounding out this group are Clay Tronetti in the sprints and Parker Jack in the hurdles and jumps.
Woodring’s assistant coaches are Bill Stephen, Jesse Cheatle, Holli Gregory and Max Simms,
The boys’ and girls’ teams open this season on April 5 at Coudersport with Oswayo Valley.
