History of Boys' and Girls' Track at PAHS
'60's Highlights | '70's Highlights | '80's Highlights | '90's Highlights | 2000 Highlights | Boys' Track Record Holders | Girls' Track Record Holders | Season Track Records from 1960 - 1998
1960 was the first year Pen Argyl had a track team. Coach Robert Stauffer had a turn out of 60 boys. Their first season ended with a 1-4 record. Donald Repsher and Donald Shoup won silver medals at District XI in pole vault and the mile-run respectively. Craig Bellis received the bronze for his time in the 220-yard dash. Repsher and Shoup both took part in the state finals. In 1962, Elwood Petchel took over as track coach. In 1963 Coach Petchel acquired an assistant coach, Keith Newhard and Terry Sandt took first place in the pole vault at the state track meet. He was Pen Argyl's first State Track Champion. The boys' track team went defeated for the next 3 years. But in 1967, with the help of head coach Elwood Petchel and assistant coach Duane Toth, they had a 3-6 season record. Steve Lobb took second in the low hurdles and then went on to states. In 1968, Tom Turtzo placed third in the shot put at districts. Steve "Sox" Lobb won the 180-yard dash at states, becoming Pen Argyl's second state track champion. He had the best time in both class A and B.
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In 1970, Scott Walck took fourth in the 180-yard low hurdles at the district meet. In 1972, Mark Wimmer placed fifth in the discus throw at districts. Jeff Sparrow took third in the high jump at the district meet in 1973. The girls first year of intramural track, coached by Harry Bray, had an excellent turn out of 110 girls. This number dwindled to 50 girls, but they had an undefeated season. The girls were also the champions of the Lehigh-Pocono Girls Intramural Track League. Three boys went to states in 1975. Morris Pagni placed first in the discus, Rich "Bubba" Ede took second in the shot put, and Jeff Sparrow was second in the high jump, all at the district meet, which earned them a ride to states. Three girls also went to states. They were Holly Miller, who placed second in the discus, Pam Serfass, who took second in the shot put and the high jump, and Lore Hower, who was first in the 880 and second in the mile. That year, Pam Serfass placed seventh in the high jump at the state track meet. In 1976 we had our third state track champion, Morris Pagni. His event was the discus throw. Dave Lugg had placed second in the 440 and third in the 220 at districts. Pam Serfass placed fourth in the high jump event at the state track meet. In 1977 the girls track team was coached by Mrs. Jennifer Lippincott and Mr. Richard Jones. Pam Serfass was the state runner-up in the 110 low hurdles and Robin Berger placed second in the 100 at districts. Dave Lugg was second in the 220 and 440 at districts and went on to represent Pen Argyl at the state track meet. In 1978 Mr. Richard Jones took over as head coach for the boys track team and the girls were coached by Mr. James Tiernan and Mr. Dwight Repsher. (In the late 70's the conversion from Standard to Metric took place.)
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Ann Rodney went to states for the discus throw in 1980. In 1983, the boys' and girls' track teams were combined for the first time and were coached by Mr. Toth, Mr. Repsher, Mr. Jones, and Mr. Tiernan. In 1986, Shelly Azzalina competed at the state track meet. Mr. Schoeninger and Mr. Tiernan became the head coaches with help from Terry Picone and Brian Eyre as assistant coaches in 1987. Ed Heller, Kevin Keat, and Dick Sterner went to states in 1987 for the javelin, and the sprints respectively. In 1988, Carol Stofflet placed fourth in the two mile, Kevin Keat took fifth in the 400-meter dash, and Wendy Miller received fifth in the triple jump at districts. Shawn Kreitz placed first in districts in his throwing event, in 1989 and then went on to states.
In 1990, Mr. John Piper took the head coaching job and was assisted by Mr. Eyre, Mr. Schooley, and Mrs. Eichner. In 1991, Meredith DePaolo placed second in the long jump, Lauree Kracht took third in the 300 hurdles, and Joe Hull was sixth in the javelin throw at districts. Theresa Squarcia set the school record in the 3200 meter run that same year. Her time was 11:40.5. She also finished second in districts that year and fifth at states in the same event. In 1992, Lauree Kracht placed second in the long jump and the 300 hurdles, Meredith Depaolo took fourth in the long jump, and Ann Rissmiller was fourth in the discus throw at districts. In 1994, Joel Mack placed second in the 300 hurdles, Ryan Miller took second in the 800-meter run, Todd Hull was second in the discus and shot put, Rich Uliana placed fourth in the triple jump, and Carla Singer took third in the 200-meter dash. Brian Turtzo placed second in the triple jump at districts and went on to states. In 1997, Allison DePaolo placed third in the 300-meter hurdles at districts and continued on to states. Travis Carroll took third in the high jump at districts. Mr. Hirsch and Mr. Schooley took over the head-coaching positions.
In 2000, the Girl's had a great year with 6 wuins and 2 losses. The boys had a record of 4-6. In 2003, the Boys had a record of 3-6 and girls had a record of 4-5. Rick Huth often set polevault records each meet. Ashley Maynard, Meghan Welsh and Jill Fulls all qualified for district and state meets. Ashley Maynard placed first in districts for hurdles. Meghan Welsh placed second in long and triple jumps at districts and 17th & 19th at States. Jill Fuls took first in shot put and third in javelin at districts and 15th place in shotput at states. In the year of 2004, under the wings of Coach Bray, Meghan Welsh and Ashley Maynard went to states. Meghan Welsh took second place in long jump. Aaron Richardson broke the school record in the 800 at the District XI Track and Field meet in May 2006.