The 2003-2004 school year at Tyrone will go down as one of the most successful in the area this year and one of the best at Tyrone since the \”year of the Eagle\” in 1971. The Golden Eagle football team won their seventh district title. The golf team won the school’s first ever district championship on the links. The Eagle grapplers won the school’s first district team duel trophy to go along with Thad Westley and Terry Tates\’ individual district and regional crowns, and garnered three medals at States. And now senior speedster Tommy Crowl has won the second district title of his senior year and punched his ticket to the State Championships next weekend at Shippensburg. Crowl scorched the district field in 50.95 seconds to capture gold in the 400 meter dash at the district championships at Altoona\’s Mansion Park last night. Crowl joins a small group of Tyrone athletes this year to wear district gold in more than one sport. The others being Terry Tate (football, wrestling team, wrestling individual) and Thaddeus Westley (golf, wrestling team, wrestling individual) and David Miller, Josh Hunter, Justin Clark, Brandon Maceno and Brice Mertiff, all football and wrestling team.
“Tommy had a complete turn-around his senior season after losing his whole junior year to injury. He really stepped it up,” said Tyrone coach Tony Yaniello. “Often missing an entire year like that hinders the athlete during the following season, but Tommy wouldn’t allow that to happen. He was disappointed with his time at districts, but it was rainy and cold and nobody in the state of Pennsylvania has beaten him in the 400 this year. With a week to practice, Tommy can medal at states.”
Crowl also placed sixth in the long jump with a 20-1 to become the Eagles’ only multiple placer. Adam Shaffer raised his own personal best in the javelin with a toss of 167-5 to grab a third place medal. Emerging sophomore Trey Brockett triple jumped his way to a sixth place with his jump of 40-2, and his classmate Leonard Wilson finished eighth in the same event at 39-9 1/2. Terry Tate added an eighth in the discus with a throw of 125-1 to round out the list of Golden Eagle placewinners.
On the girls side, Emily Ingle ran a great 800 race in a time of 2:24.95 to capture a third place medal. Ingle was the lone Lady Eagle placewinner.
The Bellwood-Antis contingent finished seventh in the boys competition with a total of 38 points. Dan Houser qualified for the state tournament in Shippensburg with a third-place finish in the 100 dash. Although only the top two automatically qualify, Houser’s 100 time of 11.16 bettered the state qualifying time of 11.27 to earn a spot at states.
“Dan ran a really good race yesterday,” said B-A boys coach Nick Lovrich. “He has worked very hard and been consistently outstanding. This is his third trip to states and is a great way to cap off his career.”
Houser also placed third in the 200 in 23.28 and fourth in the long jump (20-6) to pace the Blue Devils. Senior classmate Matt Plummer finished third in the 300 intermediate hurdles (41.59) and sixth in the discus (128-3). Junior Aaron Bell was seventh in the 3200 (10:20.22). Sophomore Dan Kovac placed fourth in the triple jump (40-5). The B-A 3200 relay team of Evan Hughes, Chris Edmiston, Corey Sweigert and Aaron Bell finished in fourth place with a time of 8:23.09.
“Matt had his best time of the year in the hurdles. His injury hurt his training, yesterday he did it all on guts. Dan Kovac has come a long way . His performance yesterday in the triple jump was really big time.
The Lady Blue Devils claimed eighth place in the team competition with 31 points. The B-A girls were led by veteran senior Allison Cherry with a fourth place in the 1600 (5:36.22) and a fifth in the 800 (2:28.03). Stephanie Hatch, a junior, had the highest placement with a third in the high jump (5-1). Sophomore Ashley Mueller was fourth in the 100 hurdles (17.35). Classmate Lauren Carter was eighth in the 300 hurdles (49.78). The Bellwood-Antis girls also placed in all three relay events. The 400 relay of Haley Crider, Lauren Carter, Erica Greene and Ashley Mueller was fourth in 52.77. The 3200 team consisting of Jenna Ralston, Heather Shura, Nicole Ross and Allison Cherry was fifth in 10:13.42. The 1600 relay with Luauren Leap, Lauren Carter, Ralston and Cherry finished eighth in 4:24.86.
“Overall I was pretty well pleased with the results,” said long-time B-A girls coach Julie Roseborough, who was recognized for her 39 years as head coach at Bellwood-Antis. Roseborough is retiring from teaching, but will remain as coach.
“We placed in eight events and most of the girls who placed are underclassmen. I would have liked to have seen Allison Cherry advance to states, but it has been a tough week with Prom on Saturday and a hard week to get any practice in with the rain. That affects distance runners more.”
Cherry, along with Tyrone’s Emily Lloyd, BG’s Sonja Hinish and Central’s Heidi Bloomquist were given the Cindy Gutzwiler Award before the evening finals.
