2009 Track and Field Season Preview
Coach
Greg Cooper will begin his third year as the head coach of the
Behrend Lions track and field team. A season ago the Behrend Lions
saw 32 team records fall on the way to another impressive season.
Finishing third and fourth in the Mason-Dixon conference
championships a year ago the men and women, “Have the opportunity to
again improve on our performance from a season ago,” said Coach
Cooper. “Our women’s team should be the largest ever after only
losing 4 women from a season ago and adding a great group of
newcomers and transfer athletes. The men’s team lost a few key
sprinters from the 2008 season which boasted a provisional NCAA
qualifying time in the 4x100m, but the team as a whole looks to be
strong across the board with outstanding athletes in all event
groups.” With the strong returning class and the exceptional
coaching staff the Behrend Lions are looking to make a run at the
championship.
The Behrend Lions are led by three seniors for the 2009 season.
Sprinters Lauren Kremm (Greenville/Greenville) and Phil Stucszynksi
(Girard/Girard) both are record holders for the Behrend Lions as
well as team captains. Kremm holds the women’s 100 meter dash record
with a time of 12.58. Stucszynski is a member of the 4x100 meter
relay team that holds the school record. Rounding out the senior
class is team captain Cassie Manelick (Youngsville/Youngsville).
Manelick holds the Behrend women’s indoor record in the weight throw
with a mark of 33’10.25”. “Those three bring a wealth of experience
to the team, an outgoing attitude to help their teammates, and a
great example of how to work both on the team and in the classroom,”
said Coach Cooper.
The junior class is made up of solid athletes who have performed
well at the ECAC meet. Virginia Rodgers-Owens (Washington, DC/P.L.
Dunbar) had a solid indoor season breaking three individual records
and one relay record. Joining Rodgers-Owens on the 4x100 meter relay
team was Dana Turley (Sarver/Freeport). Turley is an All-ECAC
performer for the blue and white. The women’s team is rounded out by
Sara Byers (New Castle/Mohawk). The men’s team returns nine juniors
for the 2009 season. These men include Earl Bass (Niagra Falls, NY/Niagra
Falls), Eric Danig (Parkesburg/Octorara), Kevin Gorny
(Erie/McDowell), Andy Iams (Harrison City/Penn Trafford), Vinnie
Krawiec (Erie/McDowell), Matthew Popson (Erie/McDowell), Rob
Shrawder (New Wilmington/West Middlesex), Doug Stevenson
(Sharpsville/Sharpsville), and Jordan Telin (North Huntingdon/Norwin).
Bass, Danig, Gorny, Stevenson, and Telin were named as All-Mason
Dixon conference a year ago.
The men’s sophomore class includes Matt Alto (Uniontown,
OH/Archbishop Hoban), Nathaniel Boring (Reedsville/Indian Valley),
John Bowman (Clearfield/Clearfield), Shane Cyphert (North
East/Seneca), Justin DiPenti (Warren/Warren), Steel Flynn
(Butler/Butler), Bryson Hartlzler (Belleville/Indian Valley), Eric
Holzman (Export/Franklin Regional), Michael Johnson
(Clearfield/Clearfield), Matt Kirkpatrick (Oil City/Oil City), Evern
Lee (Bronx, NY/Wings Academy), Michael Lee (Bronx, NY/Wings
Academy), Ronson Mazany (Ashville, NY/Panama Central), Steven Monnie
(Butler/Butler), Tony Nee (South Park/South Park), Joe O’Connor
(Pittsburgh/Avonworth), David Robinson-Gault (Amherst, NY/Amberst
Central), Calvin Schmader (Cooperstown/Oil City), and Mike Stark
(Gibsonia/Pine-Richland). Transfer Eston Winn (Erie/McDowell) will
be joining the blue and white after competing at Kent State a year
ago.
While the women’s sophomore class Alex Falvo (Pittsburgh/North
Allegheny), Elizabeth Keller (Olean, NY/Bradford), Mallory Souleret
(Pittsburgh/Baldwin), Kylie Swanson (Hermitage/Hickory), Amanda
Wohrle (Washington, DC/P.L. Dunbar), and Tanisha Wheatley
(Saltsburg/Kiski) all return from a strong season a year ago. Jenna
Fatica (Erie/Villa Maria) has transferred in from Akron to join the
Behrend Lions for the 2009 season.
Another larger freshmen class will be joining the blue and white
this year with a great deal of potential and talent. These freshmen
include Greg Benscoter (Bellefonte, PA/Bellefonte), John Chen
(Bethel Park, PA/Bethel Park), Chris Chovan
(Sharpsville/Sharpsville), Eric Gerber (Erie, PA/McDowell), Angela
Gianamore (Pittsburgh, PA/Fox Chapel), Steven Gibbens (Erie,
PA/Seneca), Jake Holdcroft (Pittsburgh, PA/North Allegheny), Manuel
Holloway (Amherst, NY/Amherst Central), Carl Kallgren (Erie,
PA/McDowell), April Kaminski (Erie, PA/Iroquois), Meghan
Kronenwetter (St. Marys, PA/Elk County Catholic), Melissa Leuschen
(Erie, PA/Iroquois), Justin Lewis (Greenville, PA/Greenville),
Julian Martin (Erie, PA/McDowell), Katie Monoskey (Punxsutawney,
PA/Punxsutawney), Lauren Pecor (Mars, PA/Mars), Akaash Ramakrishnan
(Navimumbai, India/India), Jose Sosa (Brooklyn, PA/Brooklyn
Technical), Chris Spicer (McDonald, PA/South Fayette), Brittany
Wallace (Sharon, PA/Sharon), Alex Zarger (Erie, PA/Harbor Creek),
Kirsten Zinsser (Gibsonia, PA/Pine Richland)
The indoor season begins on January 24 at Case Western Reserve
followed by the Kane Invitational on February 14. The indoor season
concludes with the ECAC meet on March 6 and 7 and the NCAA meet on
March 12-14. The men and women will begin the outdoor season on
March 27 and 28 when they travel to the Wheeling Invitational. The
Behrend Lions will finish the year at the Mason Dixon Championships
hosted by Frostburg State on May 1-2. The ECAC and NCAA meets are
held on May 14-15 and 21-23 respectively.