The Shikellamy boys track and field team is seeking another undefeated season in dual meets, and the Braves are already off to a good start.
The Braves trounced South Williamsport and Susquenita during their season-opening tri-meet on Monday. Those two wins extended the Braves’ winning streak to 47 consecutive dual meets dating back to April 2017.
It’s just the standard that coach Jonny Evans and company have set for the defending District 4 Class 3A champions.
“We have a motivated group of boys who have been working very hard in the early part of the preseason,” Evans said. “They are an outstanding group that are looking forward to building upon last year’s team that experienced some success.”
Shikellamy will have to replace state-medalists such as sprinter Chase Morgan and three members of its 4x800 relay squad. The Braves graduated Henry McElroy, Nick Koontz and Tim Gale from a relay team that placed fifth at states with a time of 7:52.64.
However, the Braves are still returning a ton of firepower from last season’s team. Jayden Packer, a state-medalist in the pole vault, is one of many athletes Evans will counting on to be a leader. Ryan Williams, the only non-senior from last season’s 4x800 team, will also be back.
Luke Snyder (sprints and jumps), Bryce Morgan (sprints and relays), Sam Hennett (distance), Lucas Dunkelberger (distance) and Nick Bradigan (throws) are among some of the other notable returnees for Evans’ squad. Snyder and Morgan also made the trip to Shippensburg as members of the 4x100 relay team that won a gold at districts.
Shikellamy’s cross-river rival, Selinsgrove, is also poised to have a banner season on the track. The Seals are returning two state-qualifiers in Logan Rodkey and Colin Melhorn. Rodkey ran in the 100 and 200 at states after finishing as a runner-up to Chase Morgan in both events at districts last season.
Melhorn just made the medal stand after he finished eighth in the shot put, but he’s looking to qualify for states in both the shot put and discus. Melhorn earned silver in the discus at districts, but fell short of the qualifying mark.
Aside from Rodkey and Melhorn, Selinsgrove coach Brian Catherman also expects Devon Mitchell (sprints), TJ Diehl (throws), Carter Young (throws), Derek Blair (distance), Evan Dagle (mid-distance), Trent Turner (pole vault), Gavin Bastian (jumps), Matthew Stebila (jumps) and Luke Hackenberger (jumps) to lead the team this season.
“I am expecting to vie for the league and district championship,” Catherman said. “I have a large group of juniors and seniors that have a great amount of track experience. Great group of kids that I have had a pleasure to coach through the winter track season. I feel that the two front runners in our league and district are Shikellamy and Williamsport. We have to beat those two talented teams to reach our goals.”
Milton has a new coach in Jonathan Dick, who also serves as the school’s cross-country coach.
“I have a lot of respect for the program that Coach (Matt) Ishman and Coach (Tom) Leeser have built over the last twenty years, and I hope to continue in their tradition of fielding a quality team,” Dick said. “I love being able to help young men grow in what they believe they are capable of doing and to reach their goals.”
Dick will get a lot of help in his first season at the helm from his senior leaders including Hunter Zettlemoyer (throws), Ryan Bickhart (distance), Connor Snyder (throws), Trey Locke (sprints and pole vault) and Ethan Hamilton (sprints and jumps). Bickhart is a state-qualifier in the 3200.
Dick is also expecting seniors Charles Wright and Yadiel Molina-Oyola and junior Kade Fincks to contribute to the team. All three will be on the track team for the first time.
Williamsport, Central Mountain and Jersey Shore will also be competing in the HAC-I this season. The Millionaires finished second in the District 4 Class 3A meet last season while Central Mountain has a co-op agreement with Bucktail.
“I believe that our division of the league is very balanced, and we hope to be in the mix with Williamsport and Selinsgrove to compete for the PHAC-I crown,” Evans said. “Milton, Jersey Shore and Central Mountain all have a lot of good athletes who will compete at a high level each week.”
MILTON
Coach: Jonathan Dick, 1st year.
ASSISTANTS: Rod Harris, hurdles; Brad Rocco, pole vault; Janna Bond, distance; Tanner Walter, distance; Erica Yodock, mid-distance; Lindsay Bauer, jumps; Bryan Walter, sprints; Kamryn Snyder, throws; Trent Donlan, throws; Bing Pursel, javelin; Ryan Emery, high jump.
LAST YEAR: 1-4 overall.
KEY RETURNEES: Hunter Zettlemoyer, sr., throws; Ryan Bickhart, sr., distance; Connor Snyder, sr., throws; Trey Locke, sr., sprints, pole vault; Ethan Hamilton, sr., sprints, jumps.
REST OF ROSTER: Bradimir Aviles-Robles, sr., sprints, jumps; Va'czan Cooper-Longer, sr., throws; Braydon Gaugler, sr., throws; Nijel Hunter, sr., throws; Barry Knarr, sr., throws; Yadiel Molina-Oyola, sr., mid-distance; Lucas Radke, sr., throws; Charles Wright, sr., hurdles, jumps; Chris Doyle, jr., sprints; Rex Farr, jr., distance; Kade Ficks, jr., pole vault; Joel Langdon, jr., hurdles, jumps; Luke Maturani, jr., pole vault; Izayah Minium, jr., sprints; Cade Swartzentruber, jr., pole vault; Aaron Treibley, jr., distance; Chase Benshoff, so. distance; Darren Bentley, so., throws; Yediel Bernabe, so., mid-distance; Anferny Florentino, so., jumps; Jake Harris, so., mid-distance, hurdles, javelin; Wyett Heintzelman, so., distance; Adam Kerstetter, so., mid-distance; Alexander Krall, so., throws; Ty Locke, so., pole vault; Michael Markley, so., hurdles, mid-distance; Landon Munson, so., hurdles, mid-distance; Joseph Nietling, so., sprints, mid-distance; Gage Nixon, so., throws; Cole Rhoades, so., sprints, jumps; Luke Shawlay, so., distance; Quintin Snyder, so., mid-distance; Ethan Steiner, so., sprints; Tristan Steiner, so., sprints; James Thomas, so., throws; Ethan Zechman, so., throws; Trenton Zechman, so., throws; Tanner Bardole, fr., distance; Caiden Beaver, fr., throws; Hunter Guffey, fr., javelin; Skyler Guffey, fr., distance; Kemper Haines, fr., distance; Spencer Hutton, fr., throws; Logan Irwin, fr., pole vault; Tyler Kain, fr., distance; Jonathan Kime, fr., throws; Caleb Langdon, fr., jumps, pole vault; Tyler Murray, fr., sprints, jumps; Tavin Reitz, fr., mid-distance, jumps; Canaan Robinson, fr., pole vault; Yomar Vargas, fr., sprints.
SELINSGROVE
COACH: Brian Catherman, 24th year.
ASSISTANTS: Dave Lauer; Dan Frake; Ken Estep; Jim Heinly; Beth Huff; Ali Huber; Josh Hostetler.
LAST YEAR: 8-2 overall, finished second in the HAC meet and third in District 4 Class 3A.
KEY RETURNEES: Logan Rodkey, sr., sprints; Devon Mitchell, jr., sprints; Colin Melhorn, sr., throws; TJ Diehl, sr., throws; Carter Young, sr., throws; Derek Blair, sr., distance; Evan Dagle, sr., mid-distance; Gavin Bastian, jr., jumps; Matthew Stebila, so. jumps; Luke Hackenberger, sr., jumps; Trent Turner, sr., pole vault.
REST OF ROSTER: Brady Deivert, sr., sprints, hurdles; Kameron Hall, sr., sprints, jumps; Aiden Lewis, sr., throws; Tyler Ruhl, sr., jumps; Luke Smith, sr., throws; Connor Crosson, jr., throws; Jack Kappen, jr., mid-distance; Benjamin Lauver, jr., throws; Connor Lawrence, jr., sprints; Evan Metzger, jr., jumps; Tegan Minnier, jr., throws; Ryan Mowery, jr., mid-distance; Cameron Newcomer, jr., throws; Gabe Schaeffer, jr., distance; Quinn Staford, jr., throws; Carlos Stuter, jr., sprints, hurdles; Michael Andretta, so., distance; Chase Carter, so., throws; Hendrix Corbin, so., throws; Riley Hunt, so., throws; Bobby Kruskie, so., mid-distance; Wyatt Teats, so., sprints; Mason Vasquez, so., throws; Noah Walter, so., sprints; Patrick Wilson, so., sprints; Tyrese Bay, fr., sprints; Jack Piecuch, fr., sprints; Jayden Santiago, fr., sprints; Malachi Snyder, fr., pole vault; Dante Troxell, fr., sprints.
SHIKELLAMY
COACH: Jonny Evans, 10th year.
ASSISTANTS: David Evans, sprints; Josh Brosious, throws; Jim Bell, distance; Cody Bordner, jumps; Cody Heintzleman, pole vault; Rachel Brouse, pole vault; Logan Strouse, distance; Aaron Keeler, throws.
LAST YEAR: 7-0 overall, HAC and District 4 Class 3A champions.
KEY RETURNEES: Jayden Packer, sr., jumps, pole vault; Luke Snyder, sr., sprints, jumps, relays; Ryan Williams, sr., mid-distance, relays; Bryce Morgan, jr., sprints, relays; Sam Hennett, jr., distance; Lucas Dunkelberger, sr., distance; Nick Bradigan, sr., throws.
REST OF ROSTER: Joniel Bruno, sr. sprints; Mason Cianflone, sr. hurdles; Andy Hallman, sr., pole vault; Bailey Hallman, sr., distance; Cameron Lenner, sr., throws; Aidan Tressler, sr., hurdles; Lucas Wetzel, sr., throws; Cole Lynch, jr., sprints, jumps; John Rosinski, jr., throws; Derek Turber-Ortiz, jr., throws; Hunter Bordner, so., hurdles, jumps; Aaron Bucher, so., jumps; Luke Kealey, so., sprints; Tajh Berry, sr., hurdles; Nate Bradigan, sr., throws; Teagan Carper, jr., throws; Julian Derr, sr., jumps; Kaleb Kline, sr., distance; Cade Balliet, jr., distance; Jackson Connor, jr., distance; Owen Elliot, jr., sprints; Ben Kremer, jr., throws; Asher Moyer, jr., sprints, jumps; Nathaniel Allar, so., throws; Julian Almond, so., distance; Reiley Bailey, so., jumps; Chase Bathgate, so., distance; Carter Beaver, so., jumps; Derrick Bollinger, so., distance; Bryce Brumbach, so., jumps, throws; Harrison Heckert, so., throws; Mason Herrera, so., jumps; Ismael Holtzapple, so., sprints, jumps; Jesse Kearney, so., mid-distance; William Kiger, so., sprints; Jewllius Morales, so., jumps; Solomon Seese, so., throws; Gaddiel Valderrama, so., throws; John Vovakes, so., jumps; Brady Anderson, fr., distance; Joel Andrade, fr., distance; Brayden Armour, fr., distance; Bysaire Baez, fr., throws; William Bender, fr., throws; Jayden Bingaman, fr., distance; Luke Brosious, fr., distance; Garrett Brown, fr., jumps; Brake Byer, fr., distance; Ned Drumheller, fr., distance; Scott Fleming, fr., hurdles; Damon Hassinger, fr., jumps; Jacob Hendricks, fr., distance; Keaton Herb, fr., throws; Tymere Hewlett, fr., hurdles; Maddox Hoover, fr., hurdles; Maximus Irving, fr., distance; Noah Johnson, fr., throws; Avery Karge, fr., throws; Keaton Lattimore, fr., mid-distance; Carter Long, fr., hurdles; Dominic Mojica, fr., throws; Thomas Pollock, fr., sprints, jumps; Jordan Rice, fr., jumps; Keegan Rice, fr., distance; Amani Rodriguez, fr., distance; Cristian Rodriguez-Lopez, fr., sprints; Jake Rosinski, fr., throws; Maximus Rogers, fr., jumps; Tommy Treon, fr., throws; Mikey Vaders, fr., sprints; Josiah Vovakes, fr., mid-distance; Ryan Whitmer, fr., jumps; Alex Wilson, fr., distance.