The new outdoor track and field facility at Walsh has been an inspiration to this year’s edition of the Cavalier men’s track team. A varsity roster of 38 have turned out for this year’s team, on a roster that has balance through all events. The team lost a few key distance runners to graduation, but added strength in numbers in the distance, sprint, hurdles, and throwing events. The team also has potential national qualifiers in all these areas. The Cavs should be very competitive in the toughest NAIA conference (AMC) in the country, and should also do well in the other meets, with a schedule which features many NCAA teams.
SPRINTS
The depth in the sprint events may be the best in Walsh history. Seniors David Miller (Canton, OH/GlenOak) and Andrew Saris (Smithville, OH/HS) lead the 400m runners, along with sophomore Chris Weirtz (Hudson, OH/Western Reserve). Senior Jeff Tallman (Massillon, OH/Perry) and sophomore Kevin Beichler (Smithville, OH/HS) will lead the 100-200m races and relays. They will be joined by freshmen Jake Fait (New Philadelphia, OH/HS) and Brad Zeigler (Stow, OH/HS). This group will be the base of both the 400m and 1600m relays.
HURDLES
Senior Saul Varga (Medina, OH/Highland) leads the hurdlers and will specialize in the 400m hurdles race. Sophomore transfer Brian Williams (Canton, OH/McKinley) should be one of the nation’s leaders in the high hurdles, in hopes of qualifying for the national meet in the longer hurdle race. Freshmen Justin Miller (Strasburg, OH/HS) and Todd Cizak (Canton, OH/GlenOak) should also place in most meets in both hurdle races.
FIELD EVENTS/THROWS
The throwers will be lead by junior Chad Rankin (Newton Falls, OH/HS), who narrowly missed qualifying for nationals in the shot put last year. Rankin has shown much improvement in the hammer throw as well. Sophomore Brad Schrecengost (Cortland, OH/Lakeview) appears ready to challenge the national qualifying standard in the weight and hammer throw, and perhaps the discus. Sophomore Andy Lahmers (Gnadenhutten, OH/Indian Valley) has shown great improvement in all throwing events. Freshmen John Prokop (Zoarville, OH/Tusky Valley), Joe Paulenich (Youngstown, OH/Mooney) and Phil Breidenbach (Alliance, OH/Marlington) look to immediately contribute to the hammer, shot put and discus events respectively, as well as provide depth in the other throwing events.
Senior jumper Andrew Saris returns as the team’s high point man, from points earned in the long and triple jump, as well as the 400m and relays. Junior Tyler Pierce (Salem, OH/HS) returns in the high, long and triple jumps. They will be joined by freshmen Dan Harsh (Perry, OH/HS) in those events and sprint relays and Luke Kelly (Wadsworth, OH/HS), who looks to become the team’s top pole vaulter.
DISTANCE
Defending AMC 1500m champion Brendan McKee (Sr., Akron, OH/St. Vincent St. Mary) returns to lead a young group of distance runners. McKee has been a national qualifier in the 1500m, both indoor and outdoor, and the 3000m steeplechase outdoor. David Leary (Canal Fulton, OH/Northwest) will lead a talented freshmen group in the 1500m-5000m events. Fellow freshmen Dan Bauman (Paris, OH/St. Thomas Aquinas), Phil Kress (Canton, OH/St. Thomas Aquinas) and Dan Opeka (Canton, OH/St. Thomas Aquinas) will help cover these middle distance events. They will be joined by Jordan Johnson (Fr., Louisville, OH/HS), who will add these events as well as the steeplechase to his range of events. The longer distances will be covered by junior Matt Long (Mogadore, OH/Field), sophomores Bob Fay (Canton, OH/Central Catholic) and Luke Immel (Sugarcreek, OH/Garaway), and freshmen Matt Welch (Perry, OH/HS) and Nick Reed (Wadsworth, OH/Hoban). Senior Jon Winnyk (Strongsville, OH/Holy Name) will cover the 10,000m, as well as try to qualify for his third national meet in the marathon.
