Both the Tyrone boys track and field team and the Lady Eagles team claimed MAC Division championships last year for head coach Tony Yaniello.
The boys were 8-1 overall, with their only loss a non-division meet against Bellwood-Antis, while the girls track and field squad was 6-2, including a tough 78-72 loss to Bald Eagle Area in the season opener.
Yaniello’s first win in the boys events will reach a milestone. Tony’s overall boys record is 199-55-2 as he begins his 30th season on the track. Yaniello is assisted on both the boys and girls sides by Steve Everhart, Mark Mitchell, Rudy Bilka, Darren Elvey, Lisa Ingle, and Tammy Wills and Dave Eckberg on the junior high level.
The Tyrone boys lost a very strong corps of 10 seniors, who graduated on the boys side, but return a good nucleus as lettermen: Seniors Phil Kreckel-pole vault, Tyler Hoover-throws, Jason Reese-high jump, Tyler Gillmen-sprints and T. J. Albright, juniors Johnny Franco-sprints, Dustin Rudasill-jumps/sprints, Josh Bradley-throws, Ethan Nulton-distance, Steve Catich-jumps/throws, Nick Wilson-throws and Brandon Gehret, and sophomores Dustin Elder-distance, John Shaffer-throws, Ethan Etters-jumps/sprints, Ben Ingle-middle distance, Ross Black-hurdles, Randall Wilson-hurdles, Kyle Updyke-jumps, Brad McNeal-distance and Wes Young-throws.
Hoover, Kreckel, Reese, Nulton, Wilson, Bradley and Rudasill are two-year letterwinners coming into the 2007 campaign,
Other returning athletes include: Evan Beebe-throws, Travis Peterman-jumps, Nathan Dane-throws, Alex Lynn-jumps/sprints, Matt Murray-throws, Larry Glace-throws, Guillarmo Romo-sprints/jumps, Cody Weaver-middle distance, John Wirtner-distance, Shane Emigh- sprints, Bo Latchford-throws, Cory Barnhart-throws and Dalaun Carroll-throws.
“A number of returning lettermen and a great group of young athletes. Johnny Franco and Tyler Gillmen bring state quality sprinting to the track. Philip Kreckel was a state qualifier in the pole vault,” pointed out Yaniello. “Black, Wilson, and Gehret bring experience to the hurdles. Tyler Hoover and Josh Bradley give experience to the field events. Ben Ingle will be strong in the 400 and 800. We should be strong in the pole vault, javelin and sprints and we have experience in the distance events. We have over 40 athletes, which includes a great group of underclassmen.
Upcoming freshmen include: Nathan Kruis-distance, Levi Reihart-pole vault/jumps, Shawn Alec-hurdles/sprints, Robbie Hopkins-sprints, D. j. Cherry-sprints, Adam Kost-sprints, Jon Hoffman-throws, Tyler Vasbinder-distance, Pierce Cordamone-distance, Tyler Hertzler-middle distance and Dan Benson-throws.
“Although listing the need for developing depth in the throws and jumps as concerns, Yaniello pointed out that Tyrone would “be very competitive and hope to qualify more people for the state meet.”
The Lady Eagles need look no further than Liz Tepsic for a role model. The Tyrone senior won district titles in the 100-meter hurdles and triple jump and followed that up with a sixth-place medal at the PIAA state meet in Shippensburg.
Tyrone, which lost a brilliant three-year starter in PIAA state champ Emily Ingle, who know does her running at Robert Morris College and six other two-year letterwinners, rebounded from a 1-8 season in 2005, to post a 6-2 mark last season in Yaniello’s sixth season as coach of the Lady Eagles.
In addition to Tepsic, who is the only returning senior letterwinner, other returners include: Juniors – Sara Cox (throws), Sarah Halter (distance), Christina Daugherty (middle distance), Brittany Hosband (middle distance), and Sophomores: Kayla Patton (sprints) and Salena Bradigan (distance).
“Having one state placewinner back this year is important to the success of the team,” explained Yaniello. “Elizabeth Tepsic holds one school record and was district champ in the 100 hurdles and triple jump and also qualified for states in the long jump. Liz placed 6th in the PIAA meet in the triple jump. Kayla Patton, who placed fourth in the 400 at districts after coming off an injury that sidelined her two weeks before the district meet, will be a strong sprinter winning the 100 and 200 in most meets last year as a freshman. Sara Cox will be our leader in the field events coming on strong last year. Rachel Emigh, only a freshman, is a promising pole vaulter, placing high in Junior High Districts last season.”
Upcoming athletes for the Lady Eagles include: Alexis Murray, Chelsea Brockett, Amy Lewis, Lizzy Shields, Kathy Fowler, Elena Myers, Kayla Sprankle and Rachel Emigh.
“Numbers are a concern, after graduating an outstanding group of seniors, including PIAA state champ and district record holder Emily Ingle,” said Yaniello. “We will struggle to win dual meets, but individual talent will do well in invitationals and districts.”
After participating in the Igloo Invitational Track and Field Meet at Altoon over the weekend,, Tyrone opens their dual meet season, Tuesday at Mount Union. The meet is set to begin at 4 p.m.
