NTL TRACK & FIELD: TROY BOYS EYE NTL TITLE (2023-03-26)

BY CHRIS MANNING
Northern Tier Sports Report
With 70 kids on the roster Troy track and field is excited to see what they can do with these numbers this season.

“Weather wise this has been the best start in my nine years coaching, so it makes everyone feel a lot better,” said coach Matt Geer.

The boys were runners-up to Williamson at the NTL Championships, even leading halfway through the meet.

“It’s a goal for the boys team,” Geer said about getting that elusive title. “Of course, Wyalusing and Williamson will be really tough, again, but that’s their goal is to try and break the 43-year old streak.”

Individually, leading the boys will be senior Colin Loveland. He’s come about as close to making states over the last two years without actually getting there, so that’s at the top of his list for this season.

“It’s my last season and I feel so blessed for what God’s given me to be able to have the ability to come out here,” said Loveland. “I’m hoping to just come out here, have fun, and ultimately give honor and glory to him.”

Loveland has been putting in some extra effort in order to get ready for the long and triple jumps.

“I got cleared for the first time in my while life to be able to do some lifting,” he explained. “So this past summer I went to the cross-fit place down in the middle of town. A huge shout out to them, they really do something special down there for athletes, and for adults. It’s really something special and I got a lot of muscle. So I’ve worked on building up power and trying to get my rotation and flexibility going.”

At districts last year Loveland was third in the long jump, and fourth in the triple jump, so he’s about equal in both at this point of his career.

“I love them both, and whatever happens I’m just here for the ride that God has planned for me,” he said. “I’m hoping to do well on both, but we’ll see.”

Others to watch for Troy will be Avery Sens, who threw shot put in some winter meets, Mason Wulf, and distance runners Evan Geer and Hart Houseknecht. 

On the girls side they’re young but Geer is bullish on their abilities.

“We’ve got some more numbers this year so I’m really hoping that translates,” he said. “We have a few holes we have to fill just yet so we’re trying to figure that out, but I think Alyssa Parks should have a great year, and Katie Lackey is looking stronger than she did last year. Kylee Roy is starting to figure out hurdles, so it’ll be fun to see if she can figure out the hurdles even better this year.”

One of the few seniors is thrower Gabby Lathrop, who is excited to get going.

“I’ve been doing it since my freshman year so it’s like all the hard work is going to continue through this year,” she said. “We’ve introduce two new coaches this year, both Louise and Mike Kafka. They’re really been working us on technique and a lot of harnessing a lot of our power from our lower body, and not just trying to chuck it all the time. There’s so much technique that goes into it that nobody knows about.”

Lathrop is looking to finish on a high note with some PRs - over 80 feet in javelin and in the 24-foot range for shot, which would give her a chance to medal at the NTL Championships.

With a younger squad Lathrop has taken on a big leadership role this season.

“It’s super great,” she said about all the new faces. “I love seeing all the potential. I get to meet a lot of new people that I’ve never interacted with before, and they all bring such good energy to the team. I can’t do it without them.”

ROSTER (Grade)

BOYS

Alex Breidt (9)

Cooper Hoose (9)

Draden Keltz (9)

Jasper Koch (9)

Jayden Kutt (9)

Max Randall (9)

Kendrick Ross (9)

Evan Barbour (10)

Brody Campbell (10)

Camlan Cavanaugh (10)

Emmit Cole (10)

Camden Coyle (10)

Jason Hojar (10)

Kael Millard (10)

Cameron Morey (10)

Parker Morgan (10)

Ben Osgood (10)

Jordan Rockwell (10)

Evan Slater (100

Noam Sonnema (10)

Mason Wulff (10)

Rylan Breidt (11)

Ben Cook (11)

Evan Geer (11)

Noah Gowin (11)

Hart Houseknecht (11)

Charles Oldroyd (11)

Avery Sens (11)

Ty Spencer (11)

Ben Warburton (11)

Cooper Watkins (11)

Gordon Weaver (11)

Jacob Hinman (12)

Ty Kellogg (12)

Colin Loveland (12)

Evan Osgood (12)

Brayden Spalding (12)

Zep Tharp (12)

Shaun Wood (12)

GIRLS

Haylie Davies-Grove (9)

Alexis Hartford (9)

Cheyenne Kneller (9)

Parker Lee (9)

Emma Mickley (9)

Isabella Prieto (9)

Ellie Spalding (9)

Bella Wood (9)

Madison Dietrick (10)

Katie Graham (10)

Mady Keeney (10)

Kylee Roy (10)

Madison Vail (10)

Amber Jo White (10)

Izzie Culkin (11)

Zadie Culkin (11)

Isabelle Cummings (11)

Shyla Florez (11)

Ella Lawton (11)

Gabrielle Lawton (110

Alyssa Parks (11)

Elaina Prieto (11)

Madelyn Seeley (11)

Ella-Mae Tedesco (11)

Ryleigh Voorhees (11)

Mae Hassan (12)

Katie Lackey (12)

Gabby Lathrop (12)

Natalie Williams (12)

SCHEDULE

Mar 26 vs NPM, Northern Potter, 4 p.m.

April 3 at Athens with Wyalusing, 4 p.m.

April 9 at Towanda with Wellsboro, 4 p.m.

April 13 at Don Wilhour Selinsgrove Classic, 9 a.m.

April 16 vs Towanda, NPM, 4 p.m.

April 19 at Bald Eagle Classic

April 23 at Williamson with Sayre, 4 p.m.

April 26 at Lasagna Invitational, 3 p.m.

April 30 vs Canton, Sayre, NEB

May 3 at Central Columbia Invitational

May 10 at NTL Championships (Athens), 1:30 p.m.

May 16 at District IV Championships, 5 p.m.

May 18 at District IV Championships, 9 a.m.

May 24 at PIAA Championships

May 25 at PIAA Championships