Deer Lakes hoping to send large contingent to WPIAL track and field championships

By: Ted Sarneso
Monday, May 13, 2024 | 1:52 PM

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Going into the WPIAL Class 2A team championships on May 1 at Shenango, Deer Lakes’ boys track and field team was hoping to put on a good showing and maybe come away with a split.

“We didn’t go into the meet thinking we could defeat section champions Hopewell and Shenango,” coach Matthew Shibley said. “We beat Trinity Christian and came really close to beating South Side, but we missed a couple chances.”

Deer Lakes’ boys team finished the regular season 7-4 overall and 6-1 in Section 4-2A, which was good for second place. The Lancers’ only section loss was to Knoch.

“It was a cold and rainy day, and they performed pretty well considering we were outnumbered,” Shibley said. “Knoch’s a good team. The boys did a great job of bouncing back from that tough loss to win their last two meets.”

The Lancers finished fourth out of five teams at the semifinals, a notable accomplishment considering they aren’t able to compete in pole vault because of lack of equipment at the school, and the 400 relay dropped a baton.

In the 800 meters, senior Zach Kruse, who posted a time of 1 minute, 57.6 seconds at the PIAA championships last year and a 1:59.38 earlier this season at the Butler Invitational, finished with a 2:23.59 because he was under the weather.

“He’s been around 1:59 all year, and he posted a 1:59.86 in his fifth-place finish at the WPIAL individual championships last year which qualified him for states,” Shibley said. “He’s got a champion’s heart, and I have the confidence he’ll grab another state medal this year.”

Putting the team portion of the season behind them, the Lancers have shifted focus to the WPIAL individual championships, which are May 15 at Slippery Rock.

Teams had until May 9 to post best performances and to see who qualified.

“We have a good idea based on previous years, but you never know from year to year,” Shibley said.

Based on their effort at the team semifinals, the boys team could have a large contingent vying for spots on the podium at the individual competition.

Sophomore Brayden McCoy was under 53 seconds in the 400 meters this season, with his best being a 52.36 at the Butler Invitational. McCoy placed third at the team semifinals in 52.55, just behind Kruse’s season-best time of 52.46.

“Brayden’s highly placed and, by all accounts, should go in and reach the podium at individuals,” Shibley said.

McCoy also placed second in the high jump with a mark of 5 feet, 6¹⁄₂ inches, just short of his season best of 5-8 he posted the first meet of the year March 27.

The 3,200 relay team of senior Ethan Alberta, junior Noah Channel and sophomores Colin Murphy and Hayden Kruse, Zach’s brother, ran a personal best time of 8:50.82 and placed first.

“Hayden has made some steady improvements this year,” Shibley said. “I hope he makes it. He and his brother both work really hard.”

Individually, Channel placed second in the 1,600 in 4:51.09, and Hayden Kruse took first (11:13.21) and Murphy placed seventh (12:05.33) in the 3,200.

“Noah was a WPIAL medalist last year in the 4-by-800, and we’re hoping he can qualify for an individual event and get a medal,” Shibley said.

Channel also placed eighth in the 3,200 at last year’s individual championships in 10:06.61.

Sophomore William Bagley ran a season-best 11.86 in the 100, and fellow sophomore Wesley Reagle posted personal bests in the 110 hurdles (17.77) and the 300 hurdles (45.94), good for fifth and sixth places, respectively.

On the girls’ side, freshman Tessa Hollibaugh is a contender in the high jump.

“She posted a 5-0, and that puts her right in the mix,” Shibley said. “That’s usually a good enough height to where if she performs that at WPIALs, she’ll get on the podium and maybe even make it to states.”

Shibley said Hollibaugh is “a raw talent who has progressed well and worked hard all year.” He attributes her success to jumping coach Frank McCoy and a set of good genetics.

“Her mom still holds the high jump record here at Deer Lakes from 2005, when I was still working here,” Shibley said.

“The new generation coming in has made me feel a little old, but she’s got the pedigree and the work ethic. She’s a nice addition to the team.”

The girls track and field team finished its season with a 5-2 record overall and in Section 4-2A. Their losses were to Knoch and Freeport.

The Lancers have put together a solid season despite missing head coach Justin Mech, who had to step away this season.

“Unfortunately, he had some work conflicts that didn’t allow him to coach this season,” said Shibley, who stepped into the head coaching role after serving as an assistant coach since 1998.

“Coach Mech has been a wonderful addition to our staff, and, hopefully, he’ll be back next season.”

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