AHS boys’ track hoping to regroup for solid 2005 year

By: Kyle Moylan
   Coming off a winless season, the Allentown High School boys’ track team is almost guaranteed to have a better year in 2005 than 2004.
   Of course, Allentown doesn’t just want to be better. It wants to be good. And, with a little luck and its continued hard work, it can be good.
   The Allentown 4×400 team is one part of the team that looks very good. It missed going on to the group championships last year by two tenths of a second. With three of the four members back this season, it should have another strong year.
   Cameron Grant, James Fisher and Antoine Harden are all back. The one graduate from the 4×400 is Mike Aldrich.
   Grant, a senior, also runs the 200 and 400. Fisher, also a senior, runs the 200, 400 and 800. Harden, a junior, will also compete in the 100, 200 and 400. This trio will be moved around by Coach Mike Gaeta to fill in the spot needed in each particular meet.
   Allentown figures to be very strong in the sprints this year. In addition to the trio listed above, Tian Schackelford (200 and 400) and Lee Varanyak (100 and 200) also do the sprints. Schackelford and Varanyak are also candidates to fill in the fourth spot on the 4×400 team.
   "We’re going to be very good in sprints and jumps this year," noted Gaeta.
   Andrew Byrnes, a junior, will do the high jump, long jump, 400 hurdles and 400. Dennis Smith, a junior, will do the long jump, high jump and triple jump.
   Rob Bruins, a junior, will compete in the 400 hurdles, 800, 1600 and 3200. Once again, many of the decisions on who will compete in each event will be determined by need in a particular meet.
   Drew Gonzales, a senior, offers Gaeta a lot of options. In what has to rank as one of the most interesting and diverse collection of events by anyone in the state, Gonzales will compete in the 110 high hurdles, the 200 and shot put.
   Sean Graney, a senior, is the team’s top pole vaulter. Gordon Jonas, a junior, does the pole vault, 1600 and 3200.
   Allentown also should be very strong in the throwing events. Rick Mattei will score points in the shot put and discus. Nick Sancilio, a sophomore, is also counted on to score points.
   "He (Sancilio) is our top field guy," Gaeta said. "He throws the shot, discus and javelin and I expect him to have a big season."
   Other athletes Gaeta is counting on this season are Mike Grabowski and Matt Valnoski. Grawbowski, a sophomore, will compete in the 400, 800 and 1600. Valnoski, a junior, will compete in the 400, 800 and 1600.
   This should be a good team.
   "If there’s a year to do it, this is it," Gaeta said. "We have a strong junior crew. We’re excited by what they should be able to accomplish."
   And everyone is working hard to put the 2004 season well in the past.
   "The work ethic is great," Gaeta said. "They are all dedicated and focused. They want to compete up at the next level. We’ll see if we can bridge that gap."
   Allentown was scheduled to open the season yesterday at Ewing. Allentown will be back in action Saturday to take part in the Notre Dame Relays. Allentown’s home opener will be 4 p.m. Wednesday at West Windsor North.
   "We’re still the small school in the CVC (Colonial Valley Conference)," Gaeta said. "I think we can do it (have a good season). We just have to believe in ourselves."
   GIRLS



   Allentown was scheduled to open the season yesterday at Ewing. Allentown will be back in action Saturday to take part in the Notre Dame Relays. Allentown’s home opener will be 4 p.m. Wednesday at West Windsor North.