Thu. Mar 28th, 2024

The Tyrone track and field teams opened the 2006 track season with a meet at Bald Eagle Area on Thursday April 6. The Tyrone boys emerged with their first win of the year, while the Lady Eagles dropped a tough six-point decision to open the season.
A total of 20 letterwinners return from the Eagles’ 2005 squad that went 5-4 for head coach Tony Yaniello (191-54-2 in 28 years at the helm. Yaniello is assisted by Steve Everhart, Mark Mitchell, Luke Rhoades, Darrin Elvey, Lisa Ingle and Mike Fink.
Seniors Trey Brockett (Sprints/Jumps), Aaron Houck (distance), Adam Shaffer (throws), Eric Sweet (middle distance), Leonard Wilson (sprints and jumps), Christopher Bradigan (middle distance), Matthew Lauder (sprints/jumps), Nathan Barber (middle distance), Shawn Ketrow (pole vault), Tyler Hoover (throws), Shane Barr (sprints/javelin), juniors Phil Kreckel (pole vault), Robert Gherrity (middle distance), Jason Reese (high jump), Russell Beck (middle distance), Tyler Hoover (throws), sophomores Ethan Nulton (distance), Nick Wilson (throws), Josh Bradley (throws) and Dustin Rudasill return to give the Golden Eagles a firm foundation. Wilson, Brockett and Barr return after qualifying along with graduated senior Billy Dean, for the PIAA state meet at Shippensburg University. Wilson and Shaffer are two-year lettermen who will pick up their third letter at Tyrone and help to form what should a strong leadership group that hopes to better last year’s performances in the dual meets and in the post season.
Brockett was the second leading scorer in the Mountain Conference in 2005 and was a conference All-Star in both the long jump and triple jump. Adam Shaffer made the All-Star in the javelin for the second straight season and the 400 relay team of Dean, Brockett, Wilson and Barr made the First Team as well. In adition to Wilson and Shaffer, Barber, Houck, Sweet, Bradigan and Gherrity are two-year lettermen.
Other returners include: Steve Catich, Johnny Barlett, Evan Beebe, John Franco, Chris McCaulley, Dustin Rudasill, Doug Morrow, Brandon Gehret, Nick Wilson, Tyler Gillmen and Garrett Ray.
“A number of returning letterman and a great group of freshman athlete’s. We should be strong in the jumps, javelin, sprints and we have experience in the distance events,” said Coach Yaniello. “Three of four return from the state qualifying 400 relay team. We have over 40 athlete’s out and a great group of freshman.”
Upcoming freshmen some of whom will be counted on immediately as well as down the line are: Ethan Etters, Ross Black, Matt Murray, Cory Harpster, Travis Peterman, Ben Ingle, Alex Lynn, Kyle Updyke, Randall Wilson, Wesley Young, Dustin Elder, Jon Hoffman, Nathan Dane, Larry Glace, Josh Graham, Bradley McNeal and Curtis Woodcock
“We need to work on developing depth in the throws. Getting a couple of our returning lettermen to come out and participate could be crucial in that area.”
“We will be very competitive in the dual meets and invitationals and hope to qualify more people for the state meet.”
The Lady Eagles were 1-8 last season for Yaniello, who has coached the Tyrone girls teams for six years. Particularly with Emily Ingle and Liz Tepsic leading the way, the Lady Eagles, Tyrone got some outstanding performances, but would come up short simply due to lack of enough girls to fill out the events. Ingle (1600 run) and Tepsic (triple jump) both qualifies for the PIAA meet. Tepsic placed sixth in scoring in the Mt. Conference as a sophomore in 2005, and Ingle was eighth. Ingle was a league All-Star in both the 800 and 1600, and Tepsic was the top selection in the triple jump.
With Katie Whitby, the only senior lost to graduation, everybody else is back with another year of experience
Returning lettermen include: seniors Emily Ingle (middle/long distance), Marissa Hoover (throws), Emily Lloyd (hurdles and jumps), Ashley Turnbaugh (throws), Samantha Friday (sprints and jumps), Emily McKenna (middle distance), and Katie Schreckengost (throws), juniors: Elizabeth Tepsic (jumps and hurdles), Amber Davis (sprints), Jordan DelBaggio (pole vault) and sophomores Kayla Corle (jumps), Sarah Cox (throws) and Sarah Halter (distance).
Ingle, Hoover, Lloyd, Turnbaugh, Friday and Davis are all two-time letterwinners.
Other returners: Alexis Murray, Jessica Weyandt, Sara Boyer, Chelsea Brockett, Stephanie Ditty, Kairann Isenberg, Francesca Lambert, Angel Light
“We have number of returning letterman and two state qualifiers in Emily Ingle-District 1600 champ and Elizebeth Tepsic-District runner-up Triple Jump,” said Yaniello. “We have more numbers out than we have had in many years. We will be able to field competitive relay teams.”
Incoming freshmen, who will help to fill out the roster and provide support include: Selena Bradigan, Christina Daugherty, Amy Lewis, Elena Myers, Kayla Patton, Stephanie Schmidt and Tia Williams.
“Though we are still concerned about the number of experienced athletes, numbers are much better than last year,” said Yaniello. “We will be more competitive with the numbers that we have to fill the events.”??

By Rick