HS TRACK AND FIELD: Lackawanna Track Conference Boys Individual Champions — The Throws

This spring, as active high school sports stopped, ON THE BLOG decided to do some research. History has always interested me when it comes to high school sports. I do, of course, hate being asked who is the greatest of all time, because there are just too many factors. Era, running surfaces, training, timing systems, coaching have all improved even in single year increments.

What I always tell people about track and field is:

 

• The clock and tape measures don’t usually lie

• You know greatness when you see it.

What makes the LTC championships so unique is that there is no separation for classifications in the races, which is not how the district or state champions are determined.

So, with this being a week where we normally would crown the latest Lackawanna Track Conference individual event and team champions, let’s take a look at the past champions.

DISCLAIMER Track and field media coverage was hardly a priority way back when, so gathering first names became the most daunting challenge of this project. If there are any missing in the lists, and you know who said person is, please let us know.

 

REMINDERS

 

• ON THE BLOG only looked back to the 1950 season. The championship meet was held for several years before that, however, with only the four schools participating the research capped at a look back at 70 seasons.

 

• The LTC championship meet was dedicated to James McCutcheon in 1967.

 

• Each LTC team was allowed ONE entrant per event from its inception to 1989.

 

• Races were converted to meters following the 1982 season and all records were RETIRED.

 

• The LTC conference meet was put on hiatus following the 1989 season due to a PIAA rule and all meet records were RETIRED.

 

• The LTC conference meet returned in 2005 with Fully Automatic Timing and new meet records were established.

 

• The LTC conference meet was dedicated to Robert Spagna that same season

 

• Champions for Class 3A and Class 2A were crowned starting in 2005.

 

 

THIS WEEK’S SCHEDULE: 

 

MONDAY: The Hurdles

TUESDAY: The Sprints and Dashes

WEDNESDAY: The Distance

THURSDAY: The Throws

FRIDAY: The Jumps and Pole Vault

SATURDAY: The Relays

 

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THE THROWS

 

 

 

Shot put
1950 Walt Watson (Scranton Tech) 43-1.5
1951 Bill Hollenbeck (Scranton Tech) 48-3
1952 Sam Basch (Central) 46-1.75
1953 Dick Sagan (Dunmore) 46-10
1954 Pat Dolan (Scranton Tech) 43-4
1955 John Lucas (West Scranton) 50-7.75 (meet record)
1956 Joe Venskytis (Central) 46.8.5
1957 Jim Williams (Scranton Tech) 45-10
1958 Jim Williams (Scranton Tech) 48-9
1959 Dick Freuhan (Central) 48-11
1960 Ed Popil (Central) 39-2
1961 Gerard Forgione (Dunmore) 43-5.5
1962 Bob Mitchell (West Scranton) 48-4
1963 Watson (Central) 42-1
1964 Steve Daniels (Central) 42-11.5
1965 Steve Daniels (Central) 44-8.5
1966 Bill Steppacher (Dunmore) 48-0.5
1967 Bill West (Abington Heights) 53-10 (meet record)
1968 Pete Rosar (Scranton Tech) 43-10.5
1969 Dan McGlynn (Central) 48-5
1970 Dan Pollack (Abington Heights) 48-8
1971 Keith Weber (West Scranton) 45-0.5
1972 Keith Weber (West Scranton) 45-4
1973 Keith Weber (West Scranton) 45-2.75
1974 Tom Kashuba (West Scranton) 51-5
1975 David Ostroski (Abington Heights) 47-1.5
1976 Bob Rade (Scranton Tech) 45-0.5
1977 Jerry Boyarsky (Lakeland) 46-0
1978 Doug Davis (Abington Heights) 45-8.5
1979 Doug Davis (Abington Heights) 51-11.75
1980 Doug Davis (Abington Heights) 56-4.5 (meet record – retired)
1981 John Rolka (Lakeland) 48-4
1982 John Rolka (Lakeland) 52-7.5
1983 John Deleo (Valley View) 48-5
1984 Fred DeRiggi (West Scranton) 46-7.75
1985 Chris Myskowski (Abington Heights) 48-6.5

1986 Jerry Slick (Carbondale Area) 46-0
1987 Rob Sebastianelli (Valley View) 48-9.5
1988 Tom Prawdzik (Lakeland) 47-4.25
1989 Tom Prawdzik (Lakeland) 54-3.25
2005 Joe Tuzze (Lakeland) 54-2.75 (meet record)
2006 Justin Kraft (Wallenpaupack) 51-1
2007 No event (Rain)
2008 Jack Rosenstein (Delaware Valley) 51-3
2009 Jack Rosenstein (Delaware Valley) 50-1
2010 Peter Calderone (North Pocono) 52-10
2011 Peter Calderone (North Pocono) 51-10
2012 Marc Ranauldo (Delaware Valley) 47-7
2013 Mike Boland (Dunmore) 50-4.5
2014 James McHale (Dunmore) 45-0
2015 Tom Malandri (Elk Lake) 47-6
2016 Matt Slagus (North Pocono) 51-4.75
2017 Matt Slagus (North Pocono) 54-8.5 (meet record)
2018 King Rose (Riverside/Old Forge) 47-5.5
2019 CJ Dippre (Lakeland) 47-0

 

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Discus
1950 Hugo Murazzi (Scranton Tech) 112-5
1951 Jeff Bell (Central) 131-8
1952 Jerry Grisko (Scranton Tech) 128-8.5
1953 Pat Dolan (Scranton Tech) 125-4.25
1954 Pat Dolan (Scranton Tech) 131-6.5
1955 John Lucas (West Scranton) 126-10.25
1956 Pat Fruehan (Central) 131-10.75
1957 Pat Fruehan (Central) 128-1
1958 John Gisolfi (West Scranton) 130-6
1959 Paul Ruane (Dunmore) 124-8
1960 Dave Morgan (Central) 120-4
1961 Saviero Zaffino (Dunmore) 125-4
1962 Bill Harris (West Scranton) 122-7
1963 Bill LaFontaine (Central) 124-0.5
1964 Gerry Kalinowski (West Scranton) 133-7
1965 James Williams (Dunmore) 128-1
1966 James Williams (Dunmore) 134-7
1967 Bill West (Abington Heights) 163-0 (meet record – retired)
1968 Tom Jones (West Scranton) 130-2
1969 Dan Pollack (Abington Heights) 125-7
1970 Dan Pollack (Abington Heights) 135-3
1971 Keith Weber (West Scranton) 150-10
1972 Keith Weber (West Scranton) 150-6
1973 Keith Weber (West Scranton) 150-6
1974 David Ostroski (Abington Heights) 130-2
1975 David Ostroski (Abington Heights) 133-4
1976 Mark Weber (West Scranton) 137-7
1977 Steve Werner (Scranton Tech) 126-3
1978 Steve Werner (Scranton Tech) 127-3
1979 Doug Davis (Abington Heights) 142-0
1980 Doug Davis (Abington Heights) 138-2
1981 Jim Brittain (Abington Heights) 150-4
1982 John Rolka (Lakeland) 140-10
1983 Jim Koniszewski (Valley View) 134-10
1984 Jerry Slick (Carbondale Area) 123-7
1985 Dwight Fry (Lakeland) 133-2
1986 Jerry Slick (Carbondale Area) 138-10
1987 Tom Prawdzik (Lakeland) 155-0
1988 Tom Prawdzik (Lakeland) 150-2
1989 Tom Prawdzik (Lakeland) 149-7

2005 Joe Tuzze (Lakeland) 158-10 (meet record)
2006 Justin Kraft (Wallenpaupack) 162-10 (meet record)
2007 Aaron Onyon (Blue Ridge) 156-11
2008 Ben Wilk (North Pocono) 162-4
2009 Vince Tuzze (Lakeland) 149-11
2010 John Price (Abington Heights) 153-10
2011 Travis Toth (Western Wayne) 147-3
2012 Anthony Bouselli (Wallenpaupack) 159-0
2013 Anthony Bouselli (Wallenpaupack) 151-4
2014 Anthony Bouselli (Wallenpaupack) 168-10 (meet record)
2015 Matt Slagus (North Pocono) 152-10
2016 Matt Slagus (North Pocono) 170-5 (meet record)
2017 Matt Slagus (North Pocono) 186-0 (meet record)
2018 John Chesson (Valley View) 146-1
2019 CJ Dippre (Lakeland) 159-5

 

 

 

 

 

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Javelin
1950 Frank Capoccia (Dunmore) 144-10.5
1951 Gregory Provell (Central) 147-4
1952 Dick Sumilas (Scranton Tech) 165-10.5 (meet record)
1953 Ted Warholak (West Scranton) 159-1.5
1954 Donnie Delmore (Dunmore) 168-10 (meet record)
1955 Donnie Delmore (Dunmore) 152-11
1956 Joe Venskytis (Central) 138-0
1957 Ed Boyko (West Scranton) 146-5
1958 Bill Profka (West Scranton) 147-9.5
1959 Ron Russo (Scranton Tech) 163-1.5
1960 Ron Russo (Scranton Tech) 152-6.5
1961 David Ceccoli (Dunmore) 150-0
1962 Rhett Jenkins (Central) 158-0
1963 Thomas Coar (Dunmore) 149-4
1964 Thomas Coar (Dunmore) 162-4
1965 Bill Freethy (Abington Heights) 154-9
1966 Ron Foreman (Scranton Tech) 174-1 (meet record)
1967 Ron Foreman (Scranton Tech) 170-2
1968 Rich Sokolsky (Scranton Tech) 162-4
1969 Rich Sokolsky (Scranton Tech) 173-11
1970 Gary Meyers (Central) 149-8
1971 Bill Gallagher (Dunmore) 140-8
1972 Al Senofonte (Dunmore) 137-0
1973 Tom Kashuba (West Scranton) 139-9
1974 Bob Rade (Scranton Tech) 154-7
1975 Bob Rade (Scranton Tech) 162-5
1976 Jay Robbins (Abington Heights) 156-3
1977 Jay Robbins (Abington Heights) 160-4
1978 John Sashko (Lakeland) 158-4
1979 Nick Maro (Dunmore) 172-0
1980 Don Morgan (North Pocono) 166-3
1981 Chris Schaedler (Tunkhannock) 139-10
1982 Pat Kelly (Tunkhannock) 172-1
1983 Dave Makowski (North Pocono) 175-11 (meet record)
1984 Bob Dee (Dunmore) 160-9
1985 Jim Muth (Riverside) 155-8
1986 Bill Lezinski (Abington Heights) 157-2
1987 Tom O’Donnell (Scranton Prep) 193-11 (meet record – retired)
1988 Rich Boezi (Dunmore) 174-6
1989 Scott Quales (Scranton Tech) 187-7
New Javelin
2005 Brandon Morris (Carbondale Area) 155-10 (meet record)
2006 Jared Olah (Montrose) 175-9 (meet record)
2007 Jared Olah (Montrose) 166-0
2008 Dom DeAntonio (Carbondale Area) 165-0
2009 Dom DeAntonio (Carbondale Area) 180-2 (meet record)
2010 Dom DeAntonio (Carbondale Area) 185-4 (meet record)
2011 Matt DeFaria (Scranton) 186-7 (meet record)
2012 Robert Castellani (Valley View) 182-4
2013 Robert Castellani (Valley View) 188-7
2014 Nick Solfanelli (Scranton Prep) 207-7 (meet record)
2015 Hunter Watkins (Elk Lake) 195-4
2016 Hunter Watkins (Elk Lake) 199-1
2017 Gavin Darcy (Dunmore) 212-10 (meet record)
2018 Gavin Darcy (Dunmore) 198-1
2019 Joey Scarfalloto (Honesdale) 189-2

 

 

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