Head Coach: Paul McArdle – 1st Year
Assistant Coaches:
Fran Collevechio – Sprints
Brent Reabold – Distance
Mike Tomko – Throws
Jen Maynard – Sprints/Throws
Trish O’Gurek – Hurdles
Jon Williams – Throws
Seth Berk – Throws
Team Name: Panther Valley Panthers
League: Schuylkill
2021 Records: Boys 1-6
Key Athletes Lost:
Gabe DeMatto – Hurdles
Seth Berk – Throws
Matt Kokinda – Distance
Key Returners:
Thomas Kokinda – Junior, Jumps and Sprint Relays
“As a sophomore last year, Kokinda finished third in team points scored with 78.5. He made the district meet in the long jump and is looking to compete more on the track this year in addition to the jumps.”
Bryan Wilde – Junior, Jumps/Hurdles
“Junior Bryan Wilde finished fourth in team points scored with 61.25. He made the district finals in the triple jump and is being looked at to help the Panthers replace the loss of DeMatto in the hurdles.”
Brad Jones – Sophomore, Throws/Sprint Relays
“Jones was the only freshman to make the District Championship Meet in the javelin. He is hoping to build upon his solid start and compete for medals in the post season, and eventually, challenge the school record in the javelin (set by his father in 1992).”
Trey McAndrew – Junior, Distance
“McAndrew is a key player on the Panther’s baseball team and balances his time running distance for the thinclads. As a sophomore, McAndrew made the League and District meets and is looking to compete in those meets for a medal this year.”
Matt Prudente – Senior, Sprints
“Prudente was 6th on the team last year in total points. He unfortunately had an injury that kept him from competing in the post-season last year. He is hoping to have a solid senior season and make Leagues and Districts in multiple events.”
Key Newcomers:
Austin Hadley – Junior, Sprints/Throws/Jumps
“Hadley is garnering Division One attention in football and is new to the sport of track & field. In addition to being a top football prospect and defensive stopper on the basketball team, McArdle commented that he feels Hadley is athletic enough to make an immediate impact for the track team and compete at a high level in the sprints, throws, and possibly the jumps too.”
Michael Pascoe – Junior, Throws
“Another top multi-sport Panther athlete who is new to track & field is Michael Pascoe. Pascoe is the starting quarterback in football, starter on the basketball team, and is getting college attention in baseball. He will be throwing the shot put and discus for the Panthers and McArdle predicts he could be in the mix for medals at the League and District level.”
Others to watch:
Mergim Bushati,10th (Sprints/Jumps/ Hurdles)
Dustin Kreimendahl,10th (Throws)
Andrew Hazard, 10th (Sprints/Jumps)
Richard Zabroski, 12th (Throws)
2022 Outlook: Priority number one for the Panthers is increasing the numbers. The boys team finished with just ten members last year and lost four to graduation. The numbers this year are up over twenty and McArdle credits the other sports coaches at PV for that. “Mark Lavine (football), Pat Crampsie (basketball), Rich Evanko (baseball) and I are all close friends and they have done a great job encouraging our kids to be multi-sport athletes. We have some great athletes at PV and sharing them is going to a win-win; for us, and for themselves!” McArdle added, “I’m not sure we’re at a level where we can score a lot of team points yet, but I do think we have a good shot at seeing some guys on the medals podiums in Leagues and Districts.”
