The outdoor track team runs through their 2025 season with enthusiasm and prosperity. The team grows yearly, supporting each other and cheering each other on through every meet.
The team captains this year are Seniors Zach Noble, Sammy Ciampa, Abby Bodart, Brock Spiker and Junior Braden Rager.
The head coach is Mrs. Stanton, assisted by Andrea Gandy, Don Zimak, Joanne Harshman, Jeanne Schroeder and Jay Murphy.
Stanton explains that her favorite part of coaching is “Seeing how the kids progress throughout the season, seeing where they are at the beginning of the season and seeing how much they improve by the end.”
Stanton has been coaching track for 10 years. She has been the head coach at the high school for three years and helped as the assistant coach before that. In previous years, she also helped coach the middle school team as an assistant coach.
In track, students participate in a variety of events. The main events are sprinting, hurdles, relay, jumping events, long-distance running and throwing. There are practices Monday through Friday from 2:40 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. and they usually have around one or two meets each week.
Even though these students choose to be in track, it comes with its challenges. Some may have to cope with injury, mental blocks or simply a busy schedule.
Oftentimes, students are competing with themselves mentally, which is a tremendous challenge. When something doesn’t go as planned, they have to keep their heads high, know that there are more chances, that not winning first place is okay and that they didn’t let their team down.
Ciampa admits that her biggest challenge has been injury, saying: “I have a lot of knee problems and I have a stress fracture in my foot, but I’m trying to get through senior year. I use ice, heat and the trainer a lot. They help.”
Though track comes with challenges, it comes with many good memories and achievements to look back on. It provides a community of kids that can learn and grow together while doing what they love, cheering each other on.
Ciampa runs the 800, the 4 X 4 and the 4 X 8. She has also run track for five years, since her 8th grade year.
“This year, our boys team made it to playoffs and it’s the first time that they’ve made the playoffs since 2009. So I thought that was a pretty big accomplishment,” Stanton explains.
The boys’ team qualified for WPIAL’s Section 7 this year and will go to team semi-finals.
Along with good memories, Senior Jake Phillips recalls his favorite: “Running indoor state championships. It was just a fun experience.”
Philips sprints the 100, 200 and 400 events. He has been in track for five years, since his 8th grade year.
Younger students in track or those thinking of joining could always use advice from seniors and students who are older and have more experience.
Ciampa suggests, “Don’t give up on the first day when they make you run a few laps, it gets better. In 20 years it doesn’t matter, so do your best and have fun because we are just in high school.”
Though the sport comes with its difficulties, it also provides goals, memories and a community of students to celebrate goals and support each other. Their next meet is on Friday, April 25, at the Washington/Greene Counties Track and Field Championships, being held at Canon-Mac.
