Kutztown Athletics - Track & Field

2008-09

Pair of conference champs lead KU men into 2008-09 season

Individual conference champions Chris Boutsikaris (Newton/Newton) and Cody Hartzler (Belleville/Indian Valley) lead a strong group of athletes on the Kutztown University men’s track and field team into the 2008-09 season.

Hartzler, who earned All-America honors in the high jump, won the PSAC indoor title and set the school record with a jump of 6-10¼ in the event for KU.

Boutsikaris won the PSAC outdoor title in the javelin and also was All-PSAC in the hammer throw, finishing third, in 2008.

Boutsikaris will be joined in the throws by Jason Rebuck (Southampton/William Tennent), who placed fourth in the hammer and the discus at the PSAC outdoor meet last season, and Sam Wall (Newville/Big Spring), who was seventh in the shot put.

Trenton Branam (Pennsbury/Pennsbury), Jack Iosue (Manheim/Manheim Central), Greg Senatore (Bayville, N.J./Central Regional) also will compete with the throwers.

"We should still be strong in throws, despite the loss of Steve Tyson and Jim Dart," KU coach Ray Hoffman said of Tyson, who was a seven-time PSAC Champion, and Dart, who was an All-American.

Another All-PSAC performer returning in the field is Michael Kramer (Pine Grove/Pine Grove) in the long jump. Kramer placed second at the 2008 PSAC indoor meet.

KU’s pole vault contingent includes Justin Germani (Birdsboro/Daniel Boone), Tim Ohm (Media/Penncrest), Percell Berry (Norristown/Methacton), Craig Sherwood (Perkasie/Pennridge) and William Hodges (Levittown/Neshaminy).

"We should be deep in the pole vault," Hoffman said.

Devin Peterson (Kutztown/Kutztown) is the Golden Bears’ top long jumper returning. Matt Cannell (Douglassville/Daniel Boone) and Robert Clews (Ashland/North Schuylkill) will back him up. Cannell was fourth in the long jump at the PIAA meet. He will compete in the long jump and triple jump for KU.

KU lost some experience on the track with the graduation of All-PSAC runners Justin Gibbs and Vonkurt Redley; however, Kendel Dixon (Atglen/Octorara), who won the PSAC title in the 1,600 relay twice, will look to fill the void.

Kramer, Adan Farrah (Monroe, N.J./Monroe Twp.), Joe Tavormina (Hellertown/Saucon Valley) and Jeffrey Collier (Philadelphia/Lankenau) will solidify KU’s group of sprinters.

Cannell, Peterson and Kramer will be some of our best sprinters," Hoffman said.

Jason Rowles (Broomall/Marple Newtown) will sprint and compete in hurdles, while Dewey Shappell (Fleetwood/Oley Valley) and James Ferguson (Downingtown/Downingtown East) will join Hartzler as a sprinter and a jumper.

Tim Farrell (Manasquan, N.J./Wall) will split time between throws and sprints.

Junior T.J. Longmore (Lititz/Manheim Twp.) and sophomore Shane Harvey (Pattenburg, N.J./North Hunterdon) both competed at the PSAC Championships in the hurdles and will look to step it up again in 2008-09 in place of Redley.

Michael Khoury (Levittown/Pennsburg) and newcomers Chris Strohler (Allentown/Salisbury) and Matt Bailey (Ramsey, N.J./Ramsey) will compete in the hurdles.

In the distance events, Ryan Reich (Oley/Oley Valley) and Paul Kuehnle (Saddle Brook, N.J./Saddle Brook) will step in to compete with returners Ben Loht (Lewistown/Indian Valley) and Kevin Rodgers (Clifton Heights/Upper Darby). Others competing in distance events will be Steve Guthrie (Chester Springs/Devon Prep), Tom Mooney (Churchville/Council Rock South) and Jubilant Kunce (Red Lion/Red Lion).

Shaun Crump (Boyertown/Boyertown), Elijah Weeks (Pottstown/Owen J. Roberts), Matt Reightler (Bethlehem/Northampton) will take over in the mid-distance events, while Rob Fitzgerald (Philadelphia/Franklin Towne Charter) will compete in the multi events.

Newcomer Frank Nick (Kintnersville/Palisades) will run in the 3,000 steeplechase.

KU will look to improve on its fifth-place (indoor) and fourth-place (outdoor) finish last season.

"There’s always six good teams in the conference," Hoffman said. "We have the kids to get it done, but the key is staying healthy."

Golden Bear women aiming for top three finish in PSAC

The Kutztown University women’s track and field team and its returning All-PSAC athletes have high goals for the 2008-09 season.

"We’re shooting for the top three in the PSAC," KU head coach Ray Hoffman said.

The Golden Bears’ top returner from last year’s squad is sophomore Ashley Pinter (Bethlehem/Liberty), who as a freshman, won the individual PSAC outdoor title in the discus, finished second in the shot put and third in the hammer.

Her performance helped the Golden Bears place fourth at the outdoor championships.

"Pinter was really untapped in high school," Hoffman said. "She has great speed for a thrower, which is key for her events."

Senior Kelly Strickland (Bear, Del./Caravel Academy) led the indoor team to a fourth-place finish with her performance in the pole vault, placing second. It was her third All-PSAC performance of her career.

Other All-PSAC returners include senior Doofan Tor-Agbidye (Stewartsville, N.J./Phillipsburg), Keri Brown, Kristin Cupido, Maureen Watson and Joanna Horstmann.

Tor-Agbidye placed third in the 400 at the indoor meet, as did Cupido in the 5,000. Watson, Collins, Horstmann and Brown teamed up to place second in the 3,200 relay.

Tor-Agbidye, PSAC qualifier Samirah Barczynski (Mohnton/Governor Mifflin) and Katie Quinn (Glenolden/Interboro), who redshirted last season, will make up the sprinters for KU, along with speedy incoming freshmen Brooke Mathews (Lewistown/Indian Valley) and Rachel Hunte (Chester Springs/Downingtown East). Junior Heather Spangenberg (Clarks Summit/Abington Heights) also will compete in the 400.

"They’ll take care of business in the 200 and 400," Hoffman said.

Sarah Messner (Maple Glen/Upper Dublin) also will compete in the 200 and 400.

Returners Jess Donovan (Newtown/Pennsbury), Lynn Lisofsky (Wilkes-Barre/James M. Coughlin) and Alyson Serafin (Slatington/Northern Lehigh), along with newcomer Jazzmyn McCoy (Port Carbon/Pottsville), will compete in the 100 and 400 hurdles.

In the distance and mid-distance events, KU returns Horstmann, Watson, Brown and Cupido, along with Jessica Schlechter (Chalfont/Central Bucks South) and Cheryl Dingman. They will be joined by freshmen Kristy Ulrich and Jill Kostishion.

Lauren Ayars, Michele Celenza, Shannon Colgan, Jessica Frederick, Steph Grimm, Lauren Mayer, Holly Pinkerton, Lindsey Ray, Chelsea Ray and Becky Webb also will compete in the distance events for the Golden Bears.

Horstmann placed fifth in the 800 at the PSAC outdoor meet, while Brown finished fifth in the 1,500 and Cupido fifth in the 5,000.

Christina Reimer and Hailey Dell will compete again in the 3,000 steeplechase. Hoffman said Reimer was a pleasant surprise in the steeplechase, placing fifth at the PSAC Championships.

In the field, Pinter leads the throws, along with returning throwers Rebekah Leitzel (Spring Mills/Penns Valley), in the javelin, and Allison Kipp (Bethlehem/Saucon Valley). Jasmine Lockhart (Wernersville/Conrad Weiser) also join the KU throwers this season.

Strickland, KU’s leading returner in the pole vault, will be joined by Rachel Weigle (Red Lion/Red Lion), Alison Wise (Fivepointville/Garden Spot), Mollie Eldredege (Bethlehem/Saucon Valley) and Melissa Fellenbaum (Landisville/Hempfield). Weigle is an All-PSAC pole vaulter, as well.

Alex Butler (Montoursville/Montoursville), a fourth-place finisher in the long jump last season, will look to earn All-PSAC status in her senior season. Mathews also will compete in the long jump.

Also returning in the jumps is Jenn Zook (Lewistown/Indian Valley), who will be joined by newcomers Amy Tucker (Ridley/Ridley) and Christina Costanzo (Philadelphia/Archbishop Ryan).

Rebecca Kerchak (Sinking Spring/Wilson) and Katie Colburn (Hanover/South Western) will return in the multi events, along with Jasmine Lockhart (Wernersville/Conrad Weiser.