Boys
Very rarely do you see an athlete take control of both
the high jump and the pole vault in a particular season, but that's exactly
what Springfield Montco's Chris Stone accomplished in his junior season. The
senior won both events at the indoor state meet and returns this season as the
favorite to defend both titles. Stone never finished worse than 3rd in any
state competition in the high jump and won the pole vault at ten different
meets.
He will have some formidable competition in both events
this season. In the pole vault, Ryan Wilkes of Valley View was 2nd to Stone
indoors on misses, but claimed the AAA outdoor championship. Like Stone, Wilkes
is a 15 foot vaulter himself. Wilkes did not manage to defeat Stone in a head
to head matchup. This season, he will hope to change that. Bobby Upton of North
Allegheny and Caleb Sanford of McDowell are the only other returners to have
cleared 14 feet last season.
High jump competition will come in the form of fellow
6-8 jumper Alex McCord of Warwick. The indoor runner up did not finish outside
the top four all indoor season, but outdoor struggles prevented him from
competing at the state meet. McCord was at least over 6-4 in all but one indoor
meet last season. Ryan Johnson of Wilson (3) is a 6-5 vaulter who will be
looking to take that form to the big meets this season. Tri States champion Shane
Kirkwood of Slippery Rock Area and Tyler Burger of Northwest Area are returning
6-4 jumpers.
Defending long jump indoor state champion Isaiah Brooks
of Woodland Hills is back and will be an overwhelming favorite entering this
season. Brooks is the only jumper returning that has broken 23 feet. Brooks has
also come within 2.75 inches of hitting 24 feet. Brooks also did not lose in a
PA long jump competition in 2014. Who might be able to beat him?
Saahir Bethea of Cheltenham was the state leader for a
good chunk of last season, hitting his best mark of 22-11.50 in December 2013.
But he missed victory for the rest of the indoor season and never reached that
mark again. His ability to jump 23 feet will keep him in the mix, but
consistency will be key in 2015. Isa Paschall of Carlisle has had more success
in the triple jump last season, but is a capable long jumper who can have an
impact. Charles Snorweah of Pennsbury will also contend for gold.
Paschall will be a contender in the triple jump after he
and Deshawn Millington were a 1-2 punch that were tough to beat last spring.
Should both compete indoors, they will be tough for anyone to beat again, as
both guys were 48+ foot jumpers. Sam Pope of Episcopal Academy had a big Meet
of Champions to jump a personal best 47-8. Consistency will be his goal for
2015. D'Andre Pollard of Neshaminy came on strong late in the season and earned
a bronze medal at the state meet.
Jordan Geist of Knoch was one of the stories of the
2013-14 season with his incredible performances as a 9th grader. Geist was the
runner up at the state meet in a season where he never threw less than 54 feet
in any competition. He would break the 60 foot mark in the spring and will look
to take the top spot left behind by Max Adams. Lawson Monta of Greensburg Salem
was also excellent last season, consistently breaking the 55 foot mark last
season, including a Tri States title in 58-3.50. He will look for better state
meet performances following a 5th place finish last winter and a 6th place
finish last spring. Tyshawn Anderson of Glen Mills is the other returner over
the 55 foot mark.
Girls
Cyre Virgo of Fleetwood Area has been one of the best
high jumpers to ever come through the state of PA. The 2013 indoor state
champion, New Balance Indoor National Champion, and 2 time All American was
still at the top of her game despite only competing in 2 indoor meets last
season. One of them was a silver medal at Nationals with a 5-8.50 clearing. Her
indoor best is 5-11.25 from 2013. If she consistently competes around her
basketball schedule, she may be able to eclipse that mark in 2015. AA outdoor
champion Erica Voyzey of Tyrone Area and Shannon Taub of Council Rock South
were 5-6 performers who may dual it out with each other for state gold should
Virgo limit her schedule. Nicole Florio of Elk County Catholic, Victoria
Matthews of Abington, and Haley Stackhouse of Wyoming Area are returning
medalists.
Kennedy Shank of Northern is the top returning pole
vaulter in 2015, finishing 4th at states. She also competed at the Millrose
Games where she set her seasonal best of 12-1.75. She never finished outside
the top four in indoor or outdoor competitions, and the senior will look to
earn her first state gold medal this season. Kaitlyn Toman of Salisbury is the
other 12 foot returner this season who would like to achieve better state meet
success, missing the medal stand last winter. She improved after that meet,
winning all but three competitions, getting silver in two of those. Lucianne
Burner of North Pocono is the only other returning state medalist.
The long jump competition suffered a massive blow with
the unfortunate news that 20 foot jumper and defending indoor state champion Maddie
Holmberg of Hempfield (7) needed ACL surgery in September that will keep her
out this winter. While she rehabs to return in the spring, the rest of the long
jump field will have to battle all season to take the top spot that has now
become wide open.
Ariana Przybylowski of Pennridge has been a medal
contender for the past two seasons, setting a new seasonal best each season,
including her best state meet finish (3rd). Aghina Marshall of Methacton
continued the school's jumping tradition, breaking through to earn 4th place at
states and hitting the 18 foot mark. Carol Burgess of Great Valley and
Stephanie Laudien of Hempfield (3) are returning medalists. Aspen Gaita of
Stroudsburg had an excellent spring season in the jumps and will look to carry
that form into her senior season.
The top two in the triple jump from last season are back,
as champion Uchechi Onuoha of Pennsbury and Shannon Taub of Council Rock South
prepare for the rematch. Onuonha has
cleared 38 feet in her career and finished in the top five in her five triple
jump appearance last season, including 3 wins. Taub is just a couple inches shy
of that mark and she cleared 37 feet 3 times last season. Laudien and Gaita
will look to break through into the medal conversation after strong 2014
campaigns.
The shot put belonged to Courtney McCartney of
Selinsgrove Area, who improved by leaps and bounds last year on the way to
becoming one of the best shot putters PA has seen in a few years. She won both
state titles last season and she broke into the US top ten in the shot put last
season, reaching an personal best of 49-0.25. Emily Stauffer of Cocalico was a
top contender last season until injuries slowed her season down. Should she
regain peak fitness, the 2013 indoor champion will look to return back to the
top of the state. Elena Marchand of Hickory looks to continue the successful
throwing traditions of her high school after finishing 4th last season.
Teammate Cailen Blaire will make these two one of the toughest combinations to
take down.
