Spring is officially here, although the cold and damp weather serves as a reminder that snow will still be a possibility for some time. Spring sports are here for our local high schools. Bellwood-Antis athletes are gearing up for the track and field season.
The Blue Devils have dominated in the recent past on the track and hope to continue in 2005 the trend once again. The B-A boys are three-time defending Mountain Conference champs and won the inaugural Mountain Athletic Conference division 4 title as well. The Bellwood-Antis boys have won the Mountain Conference nine times since 1993, winning crowns in ‘93, ‘94. ‘96, ‘97, ‘98, ‘99, 2002, ‘03 and ‘04. The Blue Devils have won a league-high 12 times in the 34-year history of the league, with Tyrone’s nine championships second only to B-A.
The Blue Devils were 11-1 overall and a perfect 6-0 in the Mountain Conference in 2004. Gone from that team are Dan Houser, who was a conference All-Star in the 100 and 200-yard dashes and 4 X 400 Relay team, Matt Plummer, All-Star in the discuss and until injured one of the top hurdlers in the district, and Corey Sweigert, the number 10 scorer in the league with 89 points. Houser was the leading scorer in the conference in 2003 and second to Tyrone’s Tom Crowl (154-151) in 2004. Other departed seniors include Will Edwards, Rudy Bilka, Pat McCracken, Jon Somerton, John McFalls, Matt Hostler, Wes Harpster, Mike Thomas and Mike Seidel.
Head boys coach Nick Lovrich, who has compiled a six-year mark of 47-9-1 for the Blue Devils, is assisted by Charlie Burch, Ken Swanson, Bill Edmiston, George Bell, Rudy Bilka III, Matt Stinson and Rudy Bilka IV.
Returning for the B-A boys are letterwinners Aaron Bell, the number four league scorer with 109 points, and an All-Star in the 1600 run, Eric Chamberlin, Chris Edmiston, Elliot Geist, who are seniors, juniors Tony DelGrosso, Dustin Harris, Dan Kovac, and sophomores Evan Hughes, Adam Mueller, Tyler Narehood and Brandon Pruznak.
Also returning are seniors Ted Bailor, Brandon Cherry and Dustin Hoffer, juniors Liam Flynn, Josh Hanna and Carl Weiser and sophomores Evan Celmo, Devon Clapper and Jamey Rimmey.
Newcomers in 2005 are seniors Ron Colyer, Chris Hawn and Dave Peterson, sophomores Jonathon Davila, Tyler Elvey, Anthony Jenkins, Ricky Shawley, Cory Wilt, Garret Wyland, and freshmen Adam Brubaker, Jon Burns, Paul Dreibilbis, Joe Earnest, Brandon Eger, Adam Hanna, Ben Hatch, Tyler Lucas, Patrick McCloskey, Kris Morder, Brad Rydbom, Jeff Study and Jeremy Tomchick.
“Our main strengths include having some solid athletes returning in some events who should be able to improve this year,” said coach Lovrich. “However, we need to develop some depth in some areas and hopefully plug some of the younger athletes into spots where we lost people from last season. We need to have all of our athletes commit to working hard so we can be better as a team.”
“Overall, we would like to do well in our dual meet season and in the Mt. Conference and the MAC. Hopefully we can improve on what we did last season in Invitationals, Districts, and qualify people for the state track meet.”
The Bellwood-Antis girls, behind long-time coach Julie Roseborough, have had, if it can be imagined, an even more powerful chokehold on the Mountain Conference crown than the B-A boys. Roseborough retired from teaching after the 2003-04 school year, but much to the chagrin of opposing coaches, is continuing to coach the Lady Blue Devils. The 40-year mark of 291-52-2 “Miss R” has compiled includes 16 titles in the 24 years the Mountain Conference has offered a girls championship. Since 1996, the B-A girls have won six titles outright, and shared the championship with Central in 1996, and Tyrone in 2001. In 2004, the Bellwood-Antis girls went 10-2 overall, and 9-0 in the conference to win their fourth straight championship. The Lady Blue Devils were led by senior Allison Cherry, the top girls scorer with 146 points and 1600 meter and 4 x 800 Relay All-Star. Other 2004 Mt. Conference All-Stars, included Lauren Carter, the number three conference scorer (139 points) and an All-Star in the 100 meter dash, Erica Greene 200 meter dash, Steph Hatch in the high jump, Allison Sinisi in the pole vault, and the 4 x 100 relay team of Carter, Greene, Haley Crider and Ashley Mueller and the 4 x 400 relay team composed of Cherry, Nicole Ross, Heather Shura and Jenna Ralston.
All but Cherry and Shura return for the 2005 track season. Also lost to graduation were Katie Gardner, Shawnta Bradford and Laura Ayers.
“We have some upperclassmen who should have very good seasons,” said coach Roseborough.
The B-A girls return a dozen letterwinners from last year’s squad and all contributed heavily to the success of the 2004 championship squad. Included are Lindsey Claar, Steph Hatch, Jenna Ralston, Allison Sinisi, Lauren Carter, Arin Cherry, Erica Greene, Christa Lombardo, Ashley Mueller, Sarah Bell, Rachel Bilka and Lauren Leap. Claar, Hatch, Ralston and Sinisi are the only seniors on the team.
Other returnees include juniors Whitney Edwards, Amanda Houtz, Chelsie Smeal and Emily Van Tries and sophomores Stephanie Damiano, Jenelle Gerwert, Megan Hosband and Brittany Webb.
Newcomers for the Lady Blue Devils include: sophomores Andrea Gardner, Melissa Hunter, Leslie Mills, Samantha Putt, April Ruehle and Kaylene Walter and ninth graders Becca Colyer, Heather Greene, Megan Hrenko, Cassandra Kissell, Katie McCabe, Brittany Whiteman, Chelsie Wilson, Kim Wolfe and Sam Tyler.
“There are a number of events that we are very weak at this point,” said Roseborough, “but we hope to be very competitive by midseason.”
Roseborough is assisted by Robin Campbell, Wendy Wilson, Karen Cooper and Rudy Bilka III.
Bellwood-Antis opens the track and field season at home against Bedford today at 3:45 p.m.
