Track Teams Aim for Fun Through Achievement

In 2011, the Track & Field team performed well both individually and as a team. The boys won a , and many athletes individually went on to see prestigious victories in postseason competition.

This year, the team comes with a slightly different identity. Starting from the top, head coach Ken DeAngelo (hurdles) returns for another season, along with coaches Danielle Stauffer (sprints/distance), Geoff Kahler (jumps), Rich Loughead (pole vault), Meghan Noecker (distance), Jeff Mast (throws) and Carol Jefferson (distance). However, DeAngelo was happy to report the addition of two Spring-Ford alumni to the staff to help out.

"Two additions to my staff add a different dimension," said DeAngelo. "Sometimes kids may look at older coaches a little differently. I know these two guys see a whole different aspect from when they were on the team as to what it's like now on the other end as far as being a coach and being responsible."

The Rams add Dustin Poole, a 2007 graduate of Spring-Ford High School and 2011 graduate of Cabrini College, where he competed in the triple jump. Poole also works in the Phoenixville School District with autistic support classes; as well, as Leighon Johnson, a 2006 graduate of Spring-Ford and 2011 graduate of West Chester University. Johnson still holds records at Spring-Ford for the long jump and triple jump. He currently works at the YMCA.

"Both of them as seniors were outstanding senior athletes," DeAngelo said. "They're great kids."

With that, the Rams bring back a core group of seniors on both the boys and girls teams.

For the boys, Jesse Magolon, , , and Luyando Chibwe lead the way on the distance team. Miller, Nick Ondo, Rocco Ianetta, Xavier Ingram, Mike Novarina, and are the senior sprinters. O'Such also leads the way for the jumpers. Brandon DeBolt and Matt Callan return as pole vaulters, and William Ramsey, John Manning and Scanlan are the sole throwers - all seniors.

"We're looking forward to a good season with both teams," said DeAngelo. "Even though we have some outstanding senior athletes, we also have a lot of good, young kids that are really learning a lot off of kids like Andrew Scanlan. I wish you could have seen our workout this morning and how well they respond to these kids. I could just step back and they respect the seniors so much that they do the workouts properly."

Also making an impact this year will be juniors: Mike Cassidy (distance), Adam Musetti (sprints), Yousef Lundi (jumps), Char Exley (jumps), Ryan Pierson (pole vault); and sophomores Jared Shoemaker (distance), Joe Bush (jumps), Ryan Grosshanten (jumps).

On the girls side, there were a few key losses from last year's team, including Amber Muhammad (sprints) and pole-vaulter Tak Yee Ho.

"They might be weak in the sprints," DeAngelo said. "We lost some real good speed kids. You can't coach speed. Some of the skills like the pole vault take a long while to develop."

Despite the losses, the girls also return a nice core group of experienced competitors.

Seniors include distance runners Audrey Burger, , Meg Loughnane, Martina Gring, and , jumpers Krista Cartacki and Nicole Rocchio, thrower Jen Yeakle, and hurdlers and .

Other impact competitors for the girls are distance runners (juniors) Kirsten Wong, Emma Krueger, Taylor Fry, (sophomore) Kara Fitch, sprinters (sophomores) Sam DiPietro, Haley Prechutti, Leah Oehlert, Morgan Fenerty, jumper (junior) , pole vaulters (juniors) Krueger, Wong, (sophomore) Natalie Thomas, throwers (juniors) Kaila Nogar, Kerry Miller, Akunna O'Kere, Bianca Walker, and hurdlers (juniors) Nicole Cornell and Diedre Magolon.

DeAngelo said he hopes for success on both sides, but there are some proverbial hurdles to overcome.

"The girls team to beat is Methacton," he explained. "They're defending champs and they're the team to beat. Like I told my boys, they're defending champs and they're the team to beat. Even though other teams may not win a championship, it would make their season by beating the defending champs. That's the way we look at it."

Promising newcomers to the squad include: Ariana Seiler (junior), Chelsey Reynolds (freshman) Sam Christman (freshman), Maggie Krueger (freshman), Elena Oehlert (freshman), Paul Power (freshman), Christian Jacobs (senior), Mike Gilmore (junior), Jarred Jones (sophomore), Brandon Palaia (sophomore), Gary Hopkins (sophomore), and David O'Such (sophomore).

The team enjoyed its first competition of the season on Saturday at the Oxenrider Relays in Laureldale. DeAngelo was happy with the performance.

"We look forward to all the meets, especially the first Saturday meet, which was the Oxenrider," he said. "We really like to see what the kids can do. We like to go there, because the competition is real strong there. Methacton was there, North Penn, Wilson. Some of the top schools. They allow us to run A and B relays. So, it gives us an opportunity to see not only the good kids, but to see how these young kids can step into our lineup."

Overall, the expectation, according to DeAngelo, is an outstanding record for both teams and hopefully a PAC-10 Title.

"We're enjoying it," DeAngelo concluded. "Our goal overall is to have fun through achievement. We try to really push everything, including academics. The kids are well behaved and are making it nice for us."

Spring-Ford Track & Field 2012 Schedule

• 3/24 - Oxenrider Relays
• 3/28 - Upper Perkiomen and Perkiomen Valley (away, 3:15 p.m.)
• 3/31 - Colonial Classic (10 a.m. - 5 p.m.)
• 4/4 - Boyertown and Methacton (home, 3:15 p.m.)
• 4/7 - PW Colonial Relays (12 p.m. - 5 p.m.)
• 4/11 - Pope John Paul II (home, 3:15 p.m.)
• 4/14 - PV Invitational (10 a.m. - 5 p.m.)
• 4/18 - Pottsgrove and Owen J. Roberts (away, 3:15 p.m.)
• 4/21 - Great Valley Relays (10 a.m. - 5 p.m.)
• 4/24 - Phoenixville (away, 3:15 p.m.)
• 4/26 - Penn Relays (all day)
• 4/27 - Penn Relays (all day)
• 4/28 - Penn Relays (all day)
• 4/28 - Pottsgrove 9th and 10th Grade Invitational (10 a.m. - 5 p.m.)
• 5/2 - Pottstown (3:15 p.m.)
• 5/4 - Henderson Invitational (3 p.m. - 10 p.m.)
• 5/11 - PAC-10 Championship (1 p.m. - 6 p.m.)
• 5/12 - PAC-10 Championship (9 a.m. - 4 p.m.)
• 5/18 - District I Championship (9 a.m. - 5 p.m.)
• 5/19 - District I Championship (9 a.m. - 5 p.m.)
• 5/25 - State Championship (9 a.m. - 5 p.m.)
• 5/26 - State Championship (9 a.m. - 5 p.m.)