2008 Track and Field Season Preview
The
2008 season will mark the tenth year of varsity competition for the
Penn State Behrend men’s and women’s track and field teams. The
squad is returning after a very successful 2007 campaign that saw 17
ECAC qualifiers, one ECAC champion and NCAA qualifier. The women
are coming off their most successful finish at the Mason Dixon
Championship in Behrend history, finishing in third place last
year. Each female athlete returning to the program earned All-Mason
Dixon honors. The men also made their mark, by having their best
finish at the ECAC Championships.
Coach Greg Cooper steps into his second-year as head coach and has high expectations for his squad this season. “Both teams are looking to improve on their finishes from a year ago,” said Cooper. “Some of our athletes should compete for individual honors such as track athlete or field athlete of the year.” Cooper will be aided by a talented pool of coaches, such as former head coach Dave Cooper. Behrend’s all around success can be attributed to the variety of coaches available to athletes. Behrend coaches have specialized training in jumping coordination, pole vaulting, high jumping, accelerative starting, strength and conditioning, hurdles and sprinting. “The variety of coaches enables each athlete to gain the event specific technique and coaching they need to excel in the area they desire,” added Cooper.
The men lose the experience and leadership of Dan Mitchell, a three time NCAA qualifier but return all other ECAC qualifiers from a year ago. Senior captain Mark Lukasko (Sharpsville/Sharpsville) will lead the men’s squad in pursuit of another top finish at ECACs. “Last season our men were competitive in virtually every event they qualified in,” said Cooper. Lukasko will be joined by fellow seniors Andy Marshall (Brunswick, OH/Brunswick) and Kevin Shugars (Wexford/North Allegheny) to help push the men to the top. Marshall excels in distance events for the team and was named All-Mason Dixon in 2007, while Shugars will rack up points in hurdles and relay events. Lisa Brozewicz (Wattsburg/Seneca) was named last year’s most improved runner, breaking the record in the 3,000 meter steeplechase.
The junior class brings
great talent and leadership to both squads. Captain Phil Stuczynski
(Girard/Girard) will aid Lukasko in leading the men. Stuczynski holds the
record in the 200 meter run and made All-ECAC in the 4 x 100 meter relay
last season. Matt Cherpak (Pittsburgh/Chartiers Valley) returns after
making significant improvement in sprinting events. He will look to build
and improve further into 2008. Isiah Brown (Fredon, NJ/Kittatinny) returns
for the men after taking last season off and Adam Wingertsahn (Oakdale/South
Fayett) enters his first year of track and field competition. Captain
Cassie Manelick (Youngsville/Youngsville) looks to lead the women to another
superb season. Lauren Kremm (Greenville/Greenville) comes back this season
after an injury in the off-season, while Kim Chapman (Cranberry/Seneca
Valley) looks to qualify once again for ECACs. Chapman qualified in 2007 in
the 400 meter hurdles and the 4 x 100 relay with Kremm. Both will be looked
upon for top performances this season.
The sophomore class returns great talents including All-ECAC award winner
Virginia Rodgers-Owens (Washington, DC/P.L. Dunbar). Dana Turley
(Sarver/Freeport) will look to improve upon her ECAC qualifying performance
from a year ago in the 400 meter hurdles. Kristin Tuta (Peters
Township/Peters Township), Sara Byers (New Castle/Mohawk), and Danielle
Wynder (Jersey City, NJ/W.L. Dickinson) look to improve move their team
towards another outstanding Mason Dixon performance. Tuta holds the women’s
record 4 x 200 meter relay along with Owens. Thirteen second-year
competitors return for the men. Including Earl Bass (Niagra Falls, NY/Niagra
Falls), Eric Danig (Parkesburg/Octorara), Justin DiPenti (Warren/Warren),
Mike Ferraro (Erie/Harborcreek), Kevin Gorny (Erie/McDowell), Andy Iams
(Harrison City/Penn Trafford), Kenji Ikeo (Osaka, Japan/Canadian Academy),
Vinnie Krawiec (Erie/McDowell), Brent McLean (Dorchester, MA/Newton North),
Matthew Popson (Erie/McDowell), Rob Shrawder (New Wilmington/West
Middlesex), Doug Stevenson (Sharpsville/Sharpsville), and Jordan Telin
(North Huntingdon/Norwin). Record holders and ECAC qualifiers Krawiec,
Stevenson, and Gorny will look to improve upon their top performances of
2007.
A large incoming recruiting class for the men will be comprised of Matt Alto (Uniontown, OH/Archbishop Hoban), Nathaniel Boring (Reedsville/Indian Valley), Warren Bowman (Clearfield/Clearfield), Bob Cizek (Pittsburgh/Shaler), Shane Cyphert (North East/Seneca), Steel Flynn (Butler/Butler), Bryson Hartlzler (Belleville/Indian Valley), Richard Hoag (Waterford/Fort Leboeuf), Eric Holzman (Export/Franklin Regional), Michael Johnson (Clearfield/Clearfield), Tyler Johnson (Niskayuna, NY/Colonie Central), Bomin Kang (South Park/South Park), Matt Kirkpatrick (Oil City/Oil City), Evern Lee (Bronx, NY/Wings Academy), Michael Lee (Bronx, NY/Wings Academy), Tyler Lyon (Washington/Trinity), Ronson Mazany (Ashville, NY/Panama Central), Steven Monnie (Butler/Butler), Anthony Nee (South Park/South Park), Joe O’Connor (Pittsburgh/Avonworth), Jared Reed (New Castle/Laural), David Robinson-Gault (Amherst, NY/Amberst Central), Nathan Seezox (Butler/Butler), and Mike Stark (Gibsonia/Pine-Richland
First-year competitiors
for the women will be Roxanne Alsbury (Erie/Cameron), Melinda Egeruoh (Laurethin,
NY/Oneicla Baptist), Ariel Estes (Curtice, OH/Genoa Area), Alex Falvo
(Pittsburgh/North Allegheny), Kaisy Kafferlin (Spring Creek/Corry),
Elizabeth Keller (Olean, NY/Bradford), Samantha Kristufek (Butler/Moniteau),
Aubry Regan (Waterford/General McLane), Mallory Souleret
(Pittsburgh/Baldwin), Kylie Swanson (Hermitage/Hickory), Amanda Wohrle
(Washington, DC/P.L. Dunbar), and Tanisha Wheatley (Saltsburg/Kiski).
The season begins with indoor events at Case Western Reserve, Kent State,
and Mt Union, followed by the NCAA Championships at Ohio Northern University
in mid march. The outdoor will be highlighted by the Mason Dixon
Championships at Christopher Newport May 2 and 3, followed by the ECAC at
Springfield College and NCAA Championships.
“We will make it our goal to qualify as many athletes as we can for outdoor ECACs and NCAAs and possibly have our first ever NCAA indoor qualifier,” said Cooper. “It’s difficult to say who will qualify, but there are certainly athletes on both teams who have strong changes,” added Cooper. “As long as they work hard in practice and let the meets come to them, they will be fine.”