Lady Comets win inaugural WVC All-League Meet

Shedlock wins pair of golds for Crestwood boys

by Steve Stallone Sports Editor

The Crestwood girls may have been flying under the radar heading into last Thursday’s first Wyoming Valley Conference Track and Field All-League Meet. The Lady Comets left Hazleton’s Cougar Park on top of the conference. Powered by first-place finishes from Sarah Shipton in the pole vault and Grayce Grazio in the high jump, and a host of placewinning performances from the supporting cast, Crestwood outdistanced runnerup Dallas, 113-105, to capture the WVC girls’ championship.

“It was something that was in the back of our mind, but I don’t think it was something we were actively chasing,” Lady Comets head coach Amy Viti said. “I think the puzzle pieces just kind of fell into place. Everyone showed up, they did a great job, and we’re super excited with the results today.

“What’s also really cool is we had two girls get first place, but that was only two firsts out of the whole meet. Just across the board our girls showed up. We picked up a lot of fifths and sixths, and those points always add up. Everything just really came together, and it was a great day.”

Shipton, who came in as the top seed in the pole vault, was the only vaulter to clear 10 feet as she soared to the gold medal.

“I thought it was pretty good. You just have to dial in and focus on yourself, and don’t focus so much on the competition,” Shipton said. She’s the third family member to pick up the pole and become a success in the event. “I have an older sister and an older brother that both pole vaulted,” she said. “I always had to go to my siblings’ track meets, so I watched, and I thought it was kind of cool, so I decided to do it. My sister did pole vault in college, so she helped me a lot with training and helping me with everything.”

Shipton also raced to a third-place finish in the 200meter dash.

Grazio cleared 5-foot-4 to secure gold in the high jump, beating out runner-up Aria Messner of Pittston Area, who was second at 5-2. Kayla Kresge was second in the 100 hurdles, and Mia Pollock took silver in the shot put for Crestwood. Bianca Long (300 hurdles) and Evelyn Kruczek (pole vault) claimed bronze medals, as did the Lady Comets’ 4x100 relay team.

“I think it puts us in a really good spot confidencewise, just where we are event-wise going into districts,” Viti said.

WVC Boys Meet

One of the day’s best races was the boys’ 100-meter finals, where Crestwood freshman Shedlock (11.13) edged Hazleton Area senior Matthew Cusatis (11.25) at the finish line to take gold. “I was nervous,” Shedlock said. “I knew I had Cusatis there and (Dallas’) Darius Wallace, last year’s PIAA qualifiers. I was proud to do what I did against very good competition.”

Shedlock credited his start as being the key to the race.

“I thought I had a great drive today, it set it up really well. I’m satisfied with my time. If I win the race, I win the race. The time’s just a bonus, I think.”

Cusatis was impressed with Shedlock’s performance on the big stage. “It was

Crestwood Girls Lacrosse roundup

a very good race” Cusatis said. “He’s a freshman, he’s young, he’s fast. He’ll be good for the next couple of years. I had a couple events under my belt and I was a little tired, but I ran what I had to, I picked up a secondplace medal, and that’s points on the board.”

Shedlock also anchored the Comets’ winning 4x100 relay team with Ricardo Williams, George Jennings and Raymer Tejeda (43.86), while Crestwood’s 4x800 relay team of Weston Medvetz, Ryan Kozich, James Modrovsky and Mason Staude won gold in a time of 8:35.25. Hazleton Area won the boys’ team title, edging out Northwest Area 99-98. Wyoming Area was third with 86 points, while Crestwood (74.5) placed fourth.

Lady Comets open lacrosse playoffs with win

Isabella Caporuscio, Grace Pasternick and Hannah Ziegler each scored four goals, while Julia Glowacki and Jordan Andrews each had three to lead Crestwood past North Pocono, 21-10, in the first round of the

District 2 Class 2A girls’ lacrosse playoffs Monday at Crestwood.

Pasternick also notched her 100th career point and Kennedie Huber had four assists for the top-seeded Lady Comets (17-2).

Amaya Monacelli scored seven goals for #8 North Pocono.

Morgan Koons was in goal for Crestwood, notching 11 saves.

Crestwood 15, Danville 13 - The Crestwood girls locked up the #1 seed for the district tournament with last Wednesday’s non-league win at Danville. Caporuscio showed the way with a game-high seven goals for Crestwood. Glowacki pitched in with three goals and two assists, and teammates Hannah Ziegler, Grace Pasternick, Olivia Jardine, Jordan Andrews and Brooke Lapinski also scored single goals.

Caporuscio assisted on two goals, while Ziegler, Pasternick, Kate Gallagher and Lucy Malia were all credited with one helper. Morgan Koons was in goal, making 11 saves.

Lucy Pickle paced Danville with five goals and two assists.