Head Coach: Paul McArdle – 3rd Year
Assistant Coaches:
Pat Crampsie – Distance
Trish O’Gurek – Hurdles
Mike Tomko – Throws
Jon Williams – Throws
Team Name: Panther Valley Panthers
League: Schuylkill
Key Senior Athletes Lost:
Boys:
Ethan Gardiner – Distance
Austin Hadley – Throws
Kyle Lin – Hurdle
Trey McAndrew – Distance
Michael Pascoe – Throws
Bryan Wilde – Jumps
Girls:
Bella Bocicchio – Throws; River Knoblauch – Sprints
Key Returners:
Boys:
Brad Lee Jones – Senior (Throws)
Jones had an outstanding junior campaign and was the Schuylkill League Champion in the javelin. He has qualified for Districts in the javelin every year of his high school career and has emerged as one of the top javelin throwers in the area. He finished 6th in the event at Districts as a sophomore and 3rd as a junior. He made his first trip out to Shippensburg for the PIAA state championships and finished in 11th place there. This year he is looking to defend his League gold and compete for District gold and a medal at States.
Thomas Buyce Senior (Sprints)
Buyce was a key member of the Panther basketball team the last two years and had a good first season of track last year as a junior. McArdle noted that he has a great attitude and work ethic. He feels he should be a high point scorer and possibly an athlete who could make some noise at the League and District meets.
Hayden Goida Senior, Brennan Kunkle Junior, and Brody Breiner Sophomore, Gavin Yuricheck sophomore (All Sprints/Jumps)
All four of these guys are primarily baseball players in the spring who are outstanding athletes who can certainly showcase their abilities in track & field this season when they get the opportunity to.
Others to watch:
Mergim Bushati (Hurdles/Sprints); Eli Maynard Senior (Throws/Hurdles); Brian Welser Senior (Throws); Frank Shubeck Junior (Sprints/Jumps); Abe Cabrera Junior (Distance); Clinton Dyer Junior (Throws); Zach Seifert Junior (Throws); Adam Gardiner Sophomore (Distance); Gino Williams Sophomore (Throws); Edison Mitchell Junior (Sprints);
2024 Outlook: Coming off a no-win season in 2022, the Panthers were able to win a few dual meets last season in 2023, including a close one over their rival, Marian Catholic. They got hit hard by graduation, especially in the throws and jumps, so there are some athletes who are going to have to step up and score points to be competitive in dual meets. McArdle commented, “Brad should have a solid chance to make states this year again. In addition, I think we have several under the radar guys who can have breakout seasons.” Girls
Key Returners:
Girls:
Mikayla Yuricheck – Senior (Throws/Jumps/Sprints/Middle Distance)
Yuricheck is an excellent all-around athlete. She did golf in the fall, basketball in the winter, and splits time between softball and track in the spring. Last year she emerged on the track season by finishing 3rd in the javelin and 5th in the discus at the District XI meet. This year she is hoping to make a trip out to states.
Riley McArdle – Senior (Sprints/Jumps/Javelin)
A standout volleyball player for the Lady Panthers, McArdle returns for her senior track & field season after leading the team in points scored in dual meets last year. She has qualified for Leagues and Districts in previous years and primed to compete for medals in those meets.
Brenda Banks – Sophomore (Throws):
Banks made PIAA and Panther Valley sports history by winning a State Championship in the initial year of girl’s wresting in the PIAA this winter season. Last year as a freshman, she showed tremendous promise in this sport by throwing the shotput over 32 and a half feet in first experience with track & field. McArdle feels Banks can take that success she had on the mats and convert it to the throwing circles for potential League and District medals.
Key Newcomers:
Jessica Hackash – Freshman (Jumps)
Hackash had a lot of success at the junior high level in the jumps, notably in the high jump. McArdle said she has an excellent attitude and work ethic and feels she has the ability to eventual challenge for League and District medals.
Others to watch:
Hillary Shreffler, Senior (Hurdles/Middle Distance)
Courtney Rickard, Senior(Throws)
Brenna McAndrew, Junior (Sprints/Jumps)
Morgan Orsulak, Sophomore (Sprints/Jumps)
Destiny Wentz, Sophomore, (Hurdles/Relays)
Hannah Shreffler, Sophomore (Middle Distance)
Peyton Drake, Freshman (Jumps)
Izabella Washousky, Freshman (Sprints/Hurdles)
2024 Outlook: The Panther Girls team is a little low on numbers (especially when their shared athletes are not available), so dual meet wins might be hard to come by, but they do have some individuals who should be able to make some noise in the post-season. McArdle, Yuricheck, Banks, and Orsulak are all standouts in other sports and should be in the mix in May. “I’m excited about the mindset of our girls athletes at PV right now! We had a championship volleyball year, another district playoff basketball season, wrestling success, and a positive attitude in softball. I think we’ll see a similar winning attitude in track & field too.”
