As the connection with the school’s football program grows stronger, the Pittston Area boys’ track and field team gets deeper.
The Patriots have at least 45 athletes as they prepare for the weather-delayed season. Tuesday’s Wyoming Valley Conference openers are off until the extent of needed schedule changes are determined on the conference level.
In addition to those 45, spread nearly equally among the senior, junior and sophomore classes, there are 14 freshmen that coach Jason Mills has until the season opener to determine if they will compete on the varsity or junior high levels.
“Our numbers are up, which is great,” said Mills, pointing to Nick Barbieri’s appointment as head football coach in the offseason. “Nick Barbieri is one of our assistants and two of our coaches are going to be on his football staff.”
“There’s a little more of a crossover there. I think we’re going to get some kids that maybe we didn’t get in the past.”
Mills said that once the growth starts, new team members often bring along friends, which allows the increases to multiply.
While working in many new athletes, the Patriots also have some established returnees from a team that went 2-5 in Division 1 of the Wyoming Valley Conference and was 12th out of 19 teams at the District 2 Class 3A Championships.
Mills knows more people are likely to notice if the district performance improves, but he wants to see the team become stronger in the regular season as well.
“I’m kind of old school,” he said. “I have this debate with our assistant coaches. I still think it’s important to try to win dual meets, but it’s honestly not. I hate to admit it.
“Nobody remembers if you’re the league champ. They care if you advance kids to states.
“It’s kind of a challenge. I still like to be together and be competitive teamwise.”
The best candidates for state qualifying appear to be senior high jumper Paul Moska and junior javelin thrower Walter Coles, who also throws the discus. Moska was second in the district last season and Coles was fifth.
Junior Naseem Guillaume, who was eighth in both hurdles events, is the only other returnee who scored points on the district level. He was also on the team’s two sprint relays.
“The hurdles are going to be deep,” Mills said. “We’re also going to be good in the high jump.”
“Our throwers are going to be experienced. I’ve got a lot of three-year guys there, so we’re going to be deep.”
Seniors Jimmy Pliska (jumps/sprinter) and Patrick Mitchell (throws); and juniors Nick Barbieri (hurdles/sprints), Shane Syms (hurdles) and Rich Wallace (sprints) could be the best of the rest.
Senior Mike Elko (throws) and Joe Fisher (middle distance); junior Mike Mikitish (sprints) and Keemar Woodruff (sprints); and sophomores Alex Haas (sprints) and Kyle Mlodzienski (middle distance) all qualified to compete in individual events at districts last year.
Justin Coyne, Nick Lynch and Noah Strucke join Elko as senior throwers, who have been working together since their sophomore years and collectively are the reason Mills expects quality depth there.
Seniors Jason DeBoard and Matt Havrilla return after being part of last year’s 3200-meter relay team at districts with Mlodzienski.
