For a group of seniors, qualifying for the WPIAL Class 3A track and field championships carries special significance this year, even though all of them have been there before and even graced the medalists’ podium. David Black, Nicky Clump, Maya DiPasquale, Anna Kintner, Alyssa Quackenbush, and Ethan Vaughan are aiming to conclude their lengthy careers in the sport with their best efforts yet, and, hopefully, medals that could qualify them for the state championships.
The seniors will be joined at Slippery Rock University by juniors Marin Airik, Claire Conti, and Michael Costello; sophomores Madison Cook, Nolan Gwin, CeCi Ressler, and Taylor Wilkinson; and freshmen Ella Shevchuk and Jane Weber.
Coach Tom Moul likes his athletes’ prospects and where they stand in the seedings. Most are in the top 10, or better. Claire ranks second in both the discus and shot put, Ethan is seventh in the 3,200, and Alyssa is in the top eight in the 200-meter dash. Additionally, all three relay teams – the boys 4 x 400 and the girls 4 x 100 and 4 x 800 – also have high seeds.
“I’m happy for the athletes, especially the seniors, who have worked really hard over four years. They are very excited to have made it to WPIALs again to close out their high school careers,” he says.
Individual Qualifiers
Among the individual qualifiers in the boys 3,200 are Ethan, David, and Nicky. Ethan, the current WPIAL Class 3A cross country champion who was named to the all-state second team, has been a team leader. He also earned ninth place at the cross country state championships. However, this marks his first time competing in the 3,200 at WPIALs.
Coach Tom Moul says, “The 3,200 is better suited for Ethan’s talents. It’s a loaded field again, but he has a good shot of medaling and advancing to states.”
“For my 3,200 times this year, I hit 9:29, but I think I can do better at WPIALs,” Ethan says. “I’m hoping to at least get a top eight finish, but a top six with a sub 9:20 two-mile would qualify me for nationals.”
The girls team also features a strong group of competitors who qualified for individual races. Distance runner CeCi will run the 3,200; Alyssa will compete in the 200; Jane in the 400; Maya in the 800; Madison in the 100 hurdles.
This is Claire’s third time at WPIALs. She has broken school records since she was a freshman.
“I like her chances of a medal or two,” coach Moul says.
Additionally, Anna, a WPIAL medalist last year in the long jump, will again compete in that event, as well as the triple jump.
Relays in Good Shape, Too
Coach Moul is optimistic about the Foxes three relay teams’ chances of medaling. The boys 4 x 800 and the girls 1 x 400 and 4 x 800 all qualified for WPIALs.
“They all are in a pretty good spot,” coach Moul says. “They all have a chance of doing very well and medaling.”
The 4 x 100 features Alyssa, Anna, Taylor, and Ella, who replaced Foxes alum and former relay, hurdler, and high jump standout Anna Troutman, now competing at Lehigh University. Last year, this relay placed seventh at WPIALs.
The other girls relay, the 4 x 800, is made up of Maya, who will run for Case Western next year, Marin, Ella, and CeCi, while the same event for the boys features Ethan, David, Nolan, and Michael.
David does not plan to run in college but has been pleased with his contributions in his final season.
“We ran a good 4 x 800 at the Butler Invitational, and I’ve been running some decent 800s,” he says.
“This has been a really good group of seniors,” says coach Moul, now in his 17th season. “They are leaders and just good kids. I’m proud of how they are leading their younger teammates and passing along what they have learned.”
