0The Bellwood-Antis boys track and field team has had four veterans who Blue Devil coach Nick Lovrich has depended on all year for big points. Three of the four, Brandon Pruznak, Adam Mueller and Ricky Shawley are seniors, while Ben Hatch is a junior. Ricky has been a consistent scorer in the pole vault and the other three have always provided a ton of points, literally in whatever events coach Lovrich enters them.
On Friday, the B-A boys came home from the West Central Coaches Association Meet at Mansion Park, with the Double-A championship trophy. Largely because of the accomplishments of the four Blue Devil leaders, Bellwood-Antis outpointed 35 other schools and their nearest adversary, second place Mercersburg Academy 70-55.
“This is probably one of the best Double-A invitationals in the state,” explained Lovrich. “This was a great accomplishment for our track team, it was one of our goals from the beginning of the year. We got a lot of points scored by a few guys. To place in the events our guys did, against this type of competition in every event for Brandon and Ben and Adam is really amazing.”
Tyrone had one placewinner in Johnny Franco, who was seventh in the 100 meters in a time of 11.6.
The trio of Mueller, Hatch and Pruznak was joined by sophomore Kyle Canfield on the first place 1600 relay, and Shawley bettered his previous season best in the pole vault by over a foot to win with a vault of 13-3.
“We knew Ricky had the potential to do that height, he has been working hard and he got a new pole just this week,” said Lovrich.
Pruznak was second in the 200 (23.07) and the 400 (51.11) and third in the long jump (21-2), Hatch was third in the 400 (51.11) and second in the 800 (1:58.11), and Mueller was third in the 110 high hurdles (15.61) and fifth in the 300 intermediate hurdles (41.86).
The B-A 3200 relay team of Hatch, Alan Wertz, Dustin Pruznak and Jeremy Tomchick placed fifth (8:38.65).
In the girls meet, Tyrone senior Liz Tepsic was virtually a one-women whirlwind, leading the Lady Eagles to an 11th place finish in the team race. Tepsic was third in the 100 Hurdles (16.26), second in the triple jump (35-10 1/2), sixth in the 300 hurdles (49.73), and eighth in the long jump (15-11).
Lady Eagle freshman Rachel Emigh placed third in the pole vault (9-6).
The Bellwood-Antis girls finished 13th in the team race.
Chelsea Wilson had the highest finish for the Lady Blue Devils with a second place in the 400 meter dash (1:02.26). Jenna Nevling was third in the 200 (27.85) and the 400 relay team of Lauren Leap, Emily O’Shea, Jannell Wilt and Nevling placed third (52.46). The 3200 relay team (Wilt, Erin Morrissey, Wilson and Nevling) placed seventh.
“We had to substitute a girl in the 3200 and Lauren Leap didn’t compete in the long jump or 300 hurdles, due to a previous injury, but the girls did a good job in a very tough and competitive meet,” said Bellwood-Antis girls coach Julie Roseborough. Chelsea Wilson did a nice job in the open 400, and Jannell Wilt did a good job filling in the 3200 relay. Overall, I was pretty well pleased.”
