Photo by Patty Morgan
AA Boys' Javelin Preview
Last year, one of the state meets biggest upsets came in the AA boys' javelin as Laurel's Jake Wilson claimed the state title with a big toss of 195-3 to upset some of the pre-meet favorites. That proved that in the javelin, possibly more so than any other event, that anything can happen.
But AA is loaded in the javelin this year, as eight boys on the state rankings have season best at or better than 180 feet.
At the top of list is Dunmore's Gavin Darcy, who took tenth last year, but has shown to be the state's best in the event this season with some consistently strong throws coming into the state meet. Darcy's best throw came at the Robert Spagna Championship meet when he threw a PA#1 and US#3 212-10 in the javelin. He followed that up with a 202-9 to win the District 2 title. What does he have in store for states?
A number of strong throwers, however, will give a formidable challenge to Darcy. Richland's Ethan Dabbs was fourth at states last season. He sits at PA-AA#2 with a best of 198-8. The junior may have to get back over 200 feet to grab this title. Montoursville's Josh Dingus has been consistently over 180 headed into the weekend. He comes in with a best of 197-1.
Hopewell's Noah Drudy comes in as the #2 seed in the meet and has had a strong junior campaign. He could definitely be a threat to the title. Carbondale's Jason Jablonowski has been pushed by Darcy all season and he'll be in the mix over the weekend. Derry Area's Zach Baum comes in with a PR of 192-11 and he, too, will put himself among the top.
Palmerton's Chris Fredericks, Danville Area's Jared Mowery, and Kane Area's Austin Labesky could also have a chance at some high finishes. Labesky was eighth last season.
Entries:
Event 618 Boys Javelin Throw AA (25)
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NFHS Record: 246-09 2012 Billy Stanley, South Park HS, PA
PIAA Record: 221-06 2011 Rob Robbins, Northeast Bradford 4
NFHS Hnr Rol: 193-00
176-00 SQS
Name Year School Seed Mark Finals
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1 158 Darcy, Gavin 11 Dunmore 02 202-09 SQS
2 225 Drudy, Noah 11 Hopewell 07 187-05 SQS
3 77 Jablonowski, Jason 12 Carbondale 02 186-10 SQS
4 323 Dinges, Josh 11 Montoursville 04 185-05 SQS
5 385 Fredericks, Chris 10 Palmerton 11 184-08 SQS
6 443 Dabbs, Ethan 11 Richland 06 182-11 SQS
7 121 Mowery, Jared 11 Danville Area 04 180-07 SQS
8 142 Baum, Zach 12 Derry Area 07 178-08 SQS
9 235 Labesky, Austin 12 Kane Area 09 178-00 SQS
10 493 Repaja, Nenad 12 Sharon 10 172-11
11 27 Taneyhill, Jarrett 12 Bellwd Antis 06 171-07
12 362 Paronish, John 11 Nthrn Cambria 06 171-01
13 108 Mott, John 12 Comm Perry 10 169-04
14 373 Close, Dylan 11 Otto-Eldred 09 167-07
15 525 Wright, Timothy 12 Sthrn Fulton 05 167-05
16 181 Brown, Devon 12 Fort Cherry 07 166-02
17 495 Link, Zach 11 Shenndoah Vly 11 165-09
18 140 Leonard, Seth 11 Delone Cath 03 158-01
19 340 Kalp, Keith 12 Mt Pleasant 07 157-06
20 597 Niedrowski, Hunter 11 Wyomissing 03 157-06
21 568 Banze, Patrick 12 Vincentian 07 157-04
22 42 Richardson, Lawrence 9 Bish McDevitt 12 149-09
23 349 Chuma, Max 12 New HopeSlbry 01 148-08
24 282 Mucollari, Erik 11 Masterman 12 133-02
25 111 Francis, Quameer 11 Conwell-Egan 12 130-06