HANOVER TWP. — If only Nick Minnich knew he’d have this much fun competing in a new spring sport, the Hanover Area senior may have tried track and field sooner.

As far as the Hawkeyes are concerned, better late than never.

Minnich anchored the meet-deciding 1,600-meter relay team and Brandon Brueckner won four times Wednesday as Hanover Area remained one of only two unbeaten Wyoming Valley Conference Division 2 boys teams with a thrilling 79-71 victory over Lake-Lehman at the finish.

“I love it,” said Minnich, a senior standout basketball player who decided to give track a shot during his final high school season. “First year coming out, I’m really glad I came out to do it.”

So are the Hawkeyes.

Minnich captured the high jump with a leap of 5-feet 10 inches in the later stages of the competition. Then Minnich held onto a comfortable lead he was handed when he took the relay baton from Brueckner and darted to victory in the final leg of the the meet’s final event to push Hanover Area’s season record to 3-0.

“We had to run the four-by-four for the win,” Hanover Area coach Al Weston said. “We pulled one out at the end there.”

It wasn’t easy, especially for the guy who ran last to help the Hawkeyes wind up first.

“I’ve been sick for the past two weeks,” Minnich said. “When I was told I had to run the four-by-four after (competing in) high jump and 200s, I was pretty aggravated.”

No problem, as Minnich pulled through and the Hawkeyes pulled out their third straight victory to open the season.

Meanwhile, the Lake-Lehman girls pulled into second place in the WVC Division 2 behind individual double winners Haley Kubiski and Emily Johns, who fueled a 101-49 victory to remain in contention for a league championship.

Johns captured the shot put and discus throws, while Kubiski won the 200 and 400-meter dashes.

“I did sprints for my first two years,” said Kubiski, who was also a member of the 3,200 relay team that broke a school record at an out-of-state meet Saturday. “It’s fun. It’s always important to take it day-by-day before you look at the big picture.”

Midway through the season, the girls league championship picture is still pretty blurry, as Lehman ran away with a win Wednesday to move to 3-1 in Division 2, right behind 4-0 Holy Redeemer and 3-0 Wyoming Area at the top of the standings.

The battle of unbeatens at Hanover Area High School on the boys side went right to the wire.

Clinging to a three-point lead prior to that last run, the Hawkeyes would have lost the meet if they dropped the race.

Instead, they improved to 3-0 on the season by dropping Lehman from the ranks of the unbeatens at 3-1 and remaining right behind 4-0 Meyers in a battle for the top spot in Division 2.

The Hawkeyes did it by overcoming three distance wins by Black Knights two-time Class 2A state champ Dominic Hockenbury — who paced Lake-Lehman sweeps of the top three spots in both the 800 and 1,600 runs.

But Brueckner won both hurdles events and the long jump, then extended Hanover Area’s lead on the third leg of the 1,600 relay. Muhammad Chesson also earned big points for the Hawkeyes by winning the 100, 200 and 400-meter dashes.

“We got beat in the distance (races) today,” Weston said. “Lake-Lehman’s really tough in the distance with Hockenbury and (Chris) Sabol. We knew they would be tough coming in and they were.

“But our kids came through.”

Minnich’s happy he just came out.

Talking into joining the track team by members of the Hanover Area staff, he’s helping a team that finished 4-3 last season make a run with the leaders of the Division 2 pack.

“The coaches, some of them happen to be teachers,” Minnich said. “I got a reminder every single day to come out for the team.”

Now, he’s hoping to help that team make it to the top of the league.

“As soon as I got it,” Minnich said of the relay baton, “I heard my teammates yelling, ‘He (his Lake-Lehman challenger) is getting closer and closer.’ I just pushed through it all. This helped us a lot, confidence-wise.

“I’m very confident this team will pull through.”

Boys

Dallas 76, Hazleton Area 74

Uzee Ukattah and Jack Zardecky were triple winners and Abdul Almeky won twice as the Mountaineers stunned the Cougars and moved into a five-way tie for second place with Hazleton Area and three other WVC Division 1 teams.

Ukattah blazed to victories in the 100 and 200 dashes and ran anchor on the winning 400 relay team.

Zardecky took the 1,600 and 3,200 runs and was the anchor on the winning 3,200 relay team. Almeky finished first in the shot put and triple jump.

Matt Houser was a four-time winner for Hazleton Area, winning both hurdles, the pole vault and leading off the winning 1,600 relay run.

With the upset, Division 1-leading Coughlin, at 4-0, can clinch at least a tie for first place when it plays at Pittston Area on Wednesday.

Wyoming Area 139, GAR 10

Ethan Crake, Alex Chronowski and Ryan Murray both won two individual events as the Warriors improved to 2-1 by winning every event.

Crake captured both hurdles events, Chronowski placed first in the 200 and 400 meter dashes and and Murray won in the long and triple jumps.

Meyers 119, Holy Redeemer 31

Raheem Twyman was a four-time winner Tuesday and Mark Robinson and Josh Schiowitz both won in three events as Meyers moved to 4-0 and jumped into first place in the WVC Division 2.

Coughlin 124, Tunkhannock 26

Ron Sepkoski raced to victory in both hurdles events, Franco Balbuena won the 800 and 1,600 and Jacob Khalife took the shot put and discus Tuesday as the Crusaders remained unbeaten at 4-0 at the top of the WVC Division 1.

Berwick 111, Crestwood 39

Mason Kimbell won the 1,600 and 3,200 run Tuesday, while Robbie Harter grabbed first in the high jump and pole vault to pace the Bulldogs.

Girls

Dallas 96, Hazleton Area 54

Ally Rome won all three distance events for Dallas in its victory against Hazleton Area.

Samantha Mazula was also a triple winner for Dallas, finishing first in two sprint races and the long jump. Kaitlyn Kochanski won two throwing competitions while Abby Zolner swept the hurdles.

Kendra Pfiel won the triple jump and pole vault for Hazleton Area.

Wyoming Area 142, GAR 2

Shelby Stackhouse was a triple winner and Bree Bednarski won twice as the Warriors remained unbeaten in Division 2 at 3-0 to stay on the heels of 4-0 Holy Redeemer in Division 2.

Stackhouse won the pole vault, high jump and 100 hurdles, while Bednarski dashed to victory in the 100 and 200 meter races.

The Warriors took the top three finishes in every event except two, as GAR placed third in the 100 and 200 meter dashes.

Tunkhannock 84, Coughlin 65

Maggie Toczko and Morgan Manglaviti were both double winners as the Tigers pulled out victory Tuesday.

Holy Redeemer 115, Meyers 26

Lindsey Williams and Autumn Kaminski each won three times and Alyssa Christian and Caroline Banas were a double winners Tuesday as the Royals rolled into first place with a 4-0 record in Division 2.

Berwick 83, Crestwood 67

Berwick’s Payden Montana grabbed first in the javelin and discus Tuesday, while Megan Dalo was first in the triple jump and long jump as the Bulldodgs rolled past Crestwood.

Boys

Hanover Area 79, Lake-Lehman 71

3,200 relay — 1. LL (Sabol, Hockenbury, Newman, Sensbach) 10:15; 110 hurdles — 1. Han, Brueckner 16.7; 2. LL, Ciaccia; 3. LL, Chaga. 100 — 1. Han, Chesson 11.3; 2. LL, Eury; 3. LL, Borger. 1,600 — 1. LL, Hockenbury 4:50; 2. LL, Sabol; 3. LL, Newman. 400 — 1. Han, Chesson 52.2; 2. LL, Meyer; 3. LL, Weaver. 400 relay — 1. LL (Borger, Billoti, Ouladehujamed, Eury) 43.5. 300 hurdles — 1. Han, Brueckner 43.1; 2. LL, Radle; 3. LL, McRoy. 800 — 1. LL, Hockenbury 2:10; 2. LL, Newman; 3. LL, Sabol. 200 — 1. Han, Chesson 22.9; 2. LL, Eury; 3. Han, Minnich. 3,200 — 1. LL, Hockenbury 11:24; 2. LL, Sabol; 3. Han, Dule. 1,600 relay — 1. Han (Mayer, Jacobino, Brueckner, Minnich).

High jump — 1. Han, Minnich 5-10; 2. Han, Chafin; 3. LL, Borger. Pole vault — 1. Han, Randall 11-0; 2. LL, Chaga; 3. Han, Wildes. Long jump — 1. Han, Chafin 21-7.50; 2. Han, Chesson; 3. LL, Borger. Triple jump — 1. Brueckner 42-9; 2. Han, Chafin; 3. Han, Crosby. Shot put — 1. Han, Sheridan 40-7; 2. LL, Kristeller; 3. Han, McNair. Discus — 1. LL, Spencer 104-7; 2. LL, Kristeller; 3. Han, Sebolka. Javelin — 1. Han, Eichler 145-11; 2. LL, Kenny; 3. Han, Hummer.

Dallas 76, Hazleton Area 74

3,200 relay — 1. Dal (Bordon, Wyandt, Culp, Zardecki) 8:24. 110 hurdles — 1. Haz, Houser 16.2; 2. Dal, Schnable; 3. Dal, Osborne. 100 — 1. Dal, Ukattah 11.2; 2. Dal, Caruso; 3. Haz, Santiago. 1,600 — 1. Dal, Zardecki 4:49; 2. Dal, Martin; 3. Dal,Wyandt. 400 — 1. Haz, Cusatis 52.4; 2. Dal, Roberts; 3. Haz, Olander. 400 relay — 1. Dal (Powell, Caruso, Roberts, Ukattah) 45.0. 300 hurdles — 1. Haz, Houser 41.0; 2. Haz, Rosental; 3. Haz, Stranko. 800 — 1. Haz, Lohr 2:01; 2. Dal, Culp; 3. Haz, Steiner. 200 — 1. Dal, Ukattah 22.4; 2. Dal, Caruso; 3. Haz, Santiago. 3,200 — 1. Dal, Zardecki 10:05; 2. Dal, Martin; 3. Dal, Wyandt. 1,600 relay — 1. Haz (Houser, Steiner, Lohr, Cystay) 3:33.

High jump — 1. Haz, Grula 5-10; 2. Dal, Zablotney; 3. Haz, Genasevich. Pole vault — 1. Haz, Houser 12-0; 2. Dal, Moransky; 3. Haz, Ramos. Long jump — 1. Haz, Grula 18-4; 2. Haz, Crooks; 3. Haz, Seigendall. Triple jump — 1. Dal, Almeky 38-10.50; 2. Haz, D. Crooks; 3. Haz, N. Genasevich. Shot put — 1. Dal, Almeky 39-2.75; 2. Haz, Searfoss; 3. Haz, Sutton. Discus — 1. Haz, Sutton 138-7; 2. Dal, Almeky; 3. Haz, Crawford. Javelin — 1. Haz, Triano 158-0; 2. Dal, Almeky; 3. Haz, Grula.

Wyoming Area 139, GAR 10

3,200 relay — 1. WA (Buczynski, Eslich, Saitta, Alberigi) 10:26. 110 hurdles — 1. WA, Crake 16.0; 2. GAR, Kemp; 3. WA, Klaproth. 100 — 1. WA, Murphy 11.6; 2. WA, O’Boyle; 3. WA, Giordano. 1,600 — 1. WA, Alberigi 5:14; 2. WA, Marvin; 3. GAR, Perez. 400 — 1. WA,Chronowski 54.1; 2. GAR, Scretching; 3. WA, Hayley. 400 relay — 1. WA (Rhodes, Spak, Kranson, Bednarski) 46.3. 300 hurdles — 1. WA, Crake 43.9; 2. WA, Koatrotit; 3. GAR, Tang. 800 — 1. WA, Buczynski 2:21; 2. WA, Saitta; 3. GAR, Perez. 200 — 1. WA,Chronowski 23.3; 2. WA, M. Muprhy; 3. GAR, Kemp. 3,200 — 1. WA, Marvin 11:34; 2. WA, Alden; 3. WA, Lahent. 1,600 relay — 1. WA (Chronowski, London, R. Murphy, M. Murphy) 41.2.

High jump — 1. WA, Murray 5-10; 2. WA, Buczynski; 3. WA, Shaver. Pole vault — 1. WA, Stackhouse; 2. WA, Astolfi. Long jump — 1. WA, Murray 20-0; 2. WA, Acacio; 3. WA, Angeli. Triple jump — 1. WA, Murray 38-11; 2. WA, Acacio; 3. WA, Anseli. Shot put — 1. WA, Carr 40-11; 2. WA, Yurek; 3. WA, Blanit. Discus — 1. WA, Carr 109-8; 2. WA, Sokach-Minnick; 3. WA, Blanit. Javelin — 1. WA, Minichello 171-3; 2. WA, Sokach-Minnick; 3. WA, Acascio.

Girls

Lake-Lehman 101, Hanover Area 49

3,200 relay — 1. LL (Sutton, Lukasavage, Sabol, Templeton) 12:42. 100 hurdles — 1. Han, Meyer 18.4; 2. LL, Berholtz; 3. LL, Chaga. 100 — 1. LL, Supey 13.3; 2. Han, Coleman; 3. Han, Hossage. 1,600 — 1. LL, Martin 6:08; 2. LL, Hutsko; 3. LL, Pembleton. 400 — 1. LL, Kubiski 62.5; 2. LL, Garnicki; 3. Han, Grzechowski. 400 relay — 1. LL (Fleeger, Marchakitus, Gregory, Supey) 54.6. 300 hurdles — 1. LL, Klopp 53.6; 2. Han, Meyer; 3. LL, Johns. 800 — 1. LL, Fry 2:36; 2. LL, Vasey; 3. Han, Saltz. 200 — 1. LL, Kubiski 28.1; 2. LL, Fleeger; 3. Han, Orzechowski. 3,200 — 1. LL, Martin 13:22; 2. LL, Pembleton; 3. Han, Dennis. 1,600 relay — 1. Han (Hossage, Orzechowski, Meyer, Conly) 4:39.

High jump — 1. Han, Gavlick 4-4; 2. LL, Barkes; 3. Han, Barber. Pole vault — 1. LL, Lockavaich 7-0; 2. LL, Hutsko; 3. LL, Johns. Long jump — 1. LL, Marchakitus 14-4.50; 2. Han, Lamoreux; 3. LL, Lockavich. Triple jump — 1. Han, Lamoreux 30-3.50; 2. Han, Barber; 3. LL, Marchakitus. Shot put — 1. LL, E. Johns 36-0.75; 2. LL, Starbaugh; 3. Han, Hooper. Discus — 1. LL, E. Johns 130-0; 2. Han, Atherton. Javelin — 1. Han, Hooper 107-2; 2. LL, Johns; 3. Han, Atherton.

Dallas 96, Hazleton Area 54

3,200 relay — 1. DAL (Grose, Balara, Oremus, Rome), 10:39; 100 hurdles — 1. DAL, Zolner, 16.7; 2. HA, Yurchak; 3. HA, Laporte. 100 — 1. DAL, Mazula, 12.9; 2. HA, Wech; 3. DAL, Cheshire. 1,600 — 1. DAL, Rome, 5:25; 2. DAL, Balara; 3. DAL, Oremus. 400 — 1. HA, Reed, 63.9; 2. DAL, Grose; 3. DAL, Pollock. 400 relay — 1. DAL (Holthaus, Cheshire, Chakon, Mazula), 51.7. 300 hurdles — 1. DAL, Zoelner, 50.3; 2. HA, Beuler; 3. DAL, Flemming. 800 — 1. DAL, Rome, 2:30; 2. HA, Pataki; 3. DAL, Jarden. 200 — 1. DAL, Mazula, 27.4; 2. HA, Reed; 3. DAL, Chakon. 3,200 — 1. DAL, Rome, 11:34; 2. DAL, Balara; 3. HA, Everdale. 1,600 relay — 1. HA, 4:24. High jump — 1. Dal, Kravitsky, 5-4; 2. HA, Pfiel; 3. DAL, Treslar. Pole vault — 1. HA, Pfeil, 9-0; 2. DAL, Holthaus; 3. HA, Tineo. Long jump — 1. DAL, Mazula, 16-¼; 2. HA, Pfeil; 3. DAL, Chakon. Triple jump — 1. HA, Pfeil, 32-7; 2. DAL, Chakon; 3. DAL, Lanunziata. Shot put — 1. DAL, Kochanski, 35-3½; 2. HA, Merkel; 3. DAL, Langan. Discus — 1. DAL, Kochanski, 102; 2. HA, Merkel; 3. DAL, Langan. Javelin — 1. DAL, Wren, 120-11; 2. Merkel; 3. HA, Bonin.

Wyoming Area 142, GAR 2

3,200 relay — 1. WA (Concha, Fink, Johnson, Kranson) 12:20. 100 hurdles — 1. WA, Stackhouse 16.0; 2. WA, Spak; 3. WA, Astolfi. 100 — 1. WA, Bednarski 12.3; 2. WA, Rhodes; 3. GAR, Braham. 1,600 — 1. WA, Heinzlemeir 6:06; 2. WA, Johnson. 400 — 1. WA, Solano 63.6; 2. WA, Kasisky; 3. WA, Doener. 400 relay — 1. WA (O’Boyle, Miles, R. Murphy, M. Murphy) 53.0. 300 hurdles — 1. WA, Astolfi 51.2; 2. WA, Petit; 3. WA, Fink. 800 — 1. WA, Kranson 2:50; 2. WA, Heinzelmeir; 3. WA,Concha. 200 — 1. WA, Bednarski 26.0; 2. WA, Rhodes; 3. GAR, Winstead. 3,200 — 1. WA, Heinzelman 13:50.6. 1,600 relay — 1. WA (Solano, Rhodes, Petit, Gercheck) 13:53.

High jump — 1. WA, Stackhouse 4-6; 2. WA, Astolfi; 3. WA, Ritsick. Pole vault — 1. WA, Stackhous; 2. WA, Astolfi. Long jump — 1. WA, Stackhouse 16-2; 2. WA, Petit; 3. WA, Gercheck. Triple jump — 1. WA,Gercheck 31-9; 2. WA, Petit; 3. WA, Solano. Shot put — 1. WA, Rescinti 30-1; 2. WA, Wright; 3. WA, Crossley. Discus — 1. WA, Baylor 77-3; 2. WA, Spak; 3. WA,Braccini. Javelin — 1. WA, Coolbaugh 96-4; 2. WA, Wright; 3. WA, Pemias.

Lake-Lehman’s Devin Lindley competes in the triple jump against Hanover Area. The Black Knights won the girls meet to stay in the chase for a WVC Division 2 title.

https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/web1_TTL042116Track1.jpgLake-Lehman’s Devin Lindley competes in the triple jump against Hanover Area. The Black Knights won the girls meet to stay in the chase for a WVC Division 2 title.

Chris Randall finished first in the pole vault to pick up key points for Hanover Area in a 79-71 boys track and field victory over Lake Lehman. The victory kept the Hawkeyes unbeaten after their first three meets this season.

https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/web1_TTL042116Track2.jpgChris Randall finished first in the pole vault to pick up key points for Hanover Area in a 79-71 boys track and field victory over Lake Lehman. The victory kept the Hawkeyes unbeaten after their first three meets this season.

Dominic Hockenberry, Chris Sabol and Riley Newman finished first, second and third in the 1600 meter run during a meet with Hanover Area in a WVC Division 2 showdown between previously unbeaten boys track and field teams.

https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/web1_TTL042116Track3.jpgDominic Hockenberry, Chris Sabol and Riley Newman finished first, second and third in the 1600 meter run during a meet with Hanover Area in a WVC Division 2 showdown between previously unbeaten boys track and field teams.

By Paul Sokoloski

psokoloski@www.timesleader.com

Reach Paul Sokoloski at 570-991-6392 or on Twitter @TLPaulSokoloski

Nick Minnich and Hanover Area boys remain unbeaten in WVC track and field