When you ask Alyssa Quackenbush’s teammates and coaches to describe her, most often the first words that come to mind are, “She’s really fast.” Whether she’s on the field as a sprinter on the track team or a key player on the Foxes soccer team (which won the WPIAL championship for the first time since 1985 last fall), Alyssa is definitely having a stellar junior year.
After setting new school records in indoor track in the 400 meters (61.43) and as part of the of the 4 x 200 relay team (1:51.53), Alyssa is anxious to match or beat those records outdoors. She says, “Our 4 x 100 outdoor team, which has the same girls as the 4 x 200 from indoor, is hoping to get the record this year.” The other members of that relay are senior Anna Troutman, junior Anna Kintner and freshman Taylor Wilkinson.
If the recent meet versus Shaler Area is any indication of how Alyssa is doing so far this season, she’s on track to reach her goals. That day, the WPIAL qualifier in both indoor and outdoor track won all four of her events, with two individual top finishes (100 and 200 sprints), and two more as a member of the 4 x 100 and 4 x 400 relay teams.
While Alyssa says the individual recognition is nice, her comments are those that every coach would like to hear from their athletes. “While it’s nice to be recognized, I always enjoy seeing my teammates in the spotlight,” says Alyssa, who started her own WPIAL qualifying streak in track when she was a freshman. “I’d rather the team gets recognition because it’s more about all of us collectively supporting each other.”
That’s especially true of her participation in relays. While she considers the 400 meters her best event and enjoys the individual races, she says racing with her teammates and good friends is the most rewarding and fun for her.
“The events I get the most enjoyment from are the 4 x 400 and 4 x 100 relays because the energy is always so high, and I love all the girls that I run with,” she says.
Again, during this regular season, Alyssa will have had the best of both worlds as a sprinter in the 100, 200, and 400, and then running in the two relay events. Her personal goal is to shave her time in the 400 to under 60 seconds.
Track coach Tom Moul has been impressed with Alyssa’s performance and her new level of success. He says, “Alyssa has been good every year she’s been on the team, but I think this year she’s really been tremendous and has come into her own. She’s a great competitor and has earned the most points for us on the track.”
The Road Less Traveled
It’s no surprise that Alyssa started playing sports when she was 4 years old. Early on, she picked up soccer and tennis – her father was a tennis pro at the time – but as time went on, her brother, Clay, and sister, Alexis, played tennis for Fox Chapel Area High School, and then her sister advanced to the collegiate level at Bloomsburg University. Wanting to be different from her siblings, Alyssa opted to follow a different path, so she followed her mother, who had played soccer at Gannon University.
Track was a new sport for the family. Alyssa decided to join the team in middle school but admits she didn’t enjoy it from the start.
“It’s an acquired taste,” says Alyssa, who is among a growing number of female tri-sport athletes. “It started out as a fun social activity that would get me in better shape for soccer, but I grew a stronger love for it every season. I love track because of the atmosphere where nothing is ever negative, even the opposing teams. It’s a very positive environment.”
“Being on a WPIAL championship team, Alyssa obviously understands how hard work and commitment lead to success,” says coach Moul. “The skills she picks up on the field not only help her speed; they help her to push through challenges mentally and physically.”
Up next for Alyssa and the entire track and field team is the elite Butler Invitational, which draws about 80 teams each year. It’s a highly competitive event, but the Foxes have fared well there in the past.
“The Butler Invitational is something we look forward to each year because it kicks off the championship season, where the athletes are starting to hone their skills toward the mid-May WPIAL Championship meet,” says coach Moul when explaining the importance of that long yet rewarding day. “This is the first opportunity of the season where they get to compete against most of the top schools and athletes in the area. It’s a good gauge for the kids and the coaches.
“As for Alyssa, she will have similar goals. I know she’s excited for her events, especially the open 400 and the 4 x 100, where she gets to compete with her relay team. It’s always fun and challenging when you get to be in a competitive relay.”