YATESVILLE — With the season on the line, Ally Rome, Samantha Mazula, Katie Kravitsky and the rest of the Dallas Mountaineers never missed a step.

Now they’re league champions again.

Rome and Mazula were both triple-winners Monday and Kravitsky sealed the title by winning the high jump as Dallas edged Pittston Area 77-72 in the regular season finale to capture the Wyoming Valley Conference Division 1 girls track and field crown at Charley Trippi Stadium.

“Oh, it’s awesome,” Kravisky said. “Nobody likes to lose. I know I don’t.”

For the second straight season, the Mountaineers didn’t lose a single meet in earning back-to-back WVC titles, finishing the regular season at 7-0 and at the top of Division 1 again. Pittston Area suffered its second setback in as many years and finished at 6-1, losing only to Dallas during the past two seasons.

In the boys battle, Uzee Ukattah won four times and Jack Zardecki was a triple winners, leading Dallas to a 91-58 victory over Pittston Area. Ukattah won the 100 and 200 meter dashes and and ran on the winning 400 and 1,600 relay teams, while Zardecki took the 1,600 and 3,200 meter runs and teamed on the 3,200 relay.

Rome set the Dallas girls up, winning the 800, 1,600 and 3,200 meter runs to wind up as the only individual triple winner in the meet.

“It’s definitely exciting, and good competition,” said Rome, a senior and defending District 2 champ. “Your legs definitely aren’t feeling good at the end of it. I feel like my fitness is very good. I’m excited to see what I can do at districts.”

The Mountaineers are discovering what Mazula can do. The sophomore sprinter added wins in the 100 and 200 meter dashes and anchored the winning 400 meter relay team, while Abby Zolner won both hurdles events and Katie Kochanski captured the discus and shot put events.

“I think it means a lot when people come out and run their best,” Rome said. “It’s definitely a different feeling, showing up and knowing the last meet of the season’s for the title. It gives us a lot of confidence going into the district meet.”

Still, Dallas’ defense of another league crown wasn’t assured until Kravitsky won the high jump with a leap of 5-6 in the meet’s final event.

“It came down to high jump,” said Kravitsky, a two-time District 2 Class 3A champion and state medalist in that event. “Coach told me right before this event, you have to win this to win the meet.

“I definitely didn’t want to let anyone down.”

She didn’t.

Kravitsky entered the competition when the bar was raised to 4-10, and casually cleared that mark and 5-2 on her first two jumps. She bypassed 5-4 and went straight to 5-6, hitting that height on her second try before faltering at 5-8.

No matter. Her 5-6 height was eight inches higher than any Pittston Area jumper was able to manage, giving the 6-foot-2 Kravitsky the win.

That was critical to the outcome since Dallas held a 72-69 edge entering the high jump. Pittston Area could have won the meet with a victory and a second-place finish in the event, or a Pittston Area victory and third-place finish in high jump would have forged a tie and forced officials to turn to the score sheet to figure out the number of events each team won to determine a champion.

Kravitsky made it simple.

“I’m a Yankees fan, I’m saying I’ve got Mariano Rivera in the bullpen,” Dallas co-coach Ed Radzinski said, comparing Kravitsky’s excellence in the final stages of high school track to the consistency Major League Baseball’s all-time saves leader showed before he retired. “That’s what it means, for me. It’s a nice feeling to have her down there.”

For most of the day, though, the Patriots made Dallas uneasy.

Abbie Norwillo won the long jump and set a Pittston Area school record with a winning pole vault height of 11-6, Sam Mayers and Madison Mimnaugh teamed on two winning relay teams, Taryn Ashby took the javelin throw and Mia Barbieri led a Patriots sweep of the 400 meter dash to keep things tight.

“We had a lot of PRs (personal records) that happened,” Pittston Area coach Joe Struckus said. “It’s good when you get to go against another good team in the conference leading into districts. In the long jump, Norwillo had a 16-4, we weren’t expecting that. Our four-by-eight relay team ran their best time of the year. I told them to just go out and perform. We were hoping to have the points we needed before we got to the high jump.

“We knew what they had over there.”

Now, the Dallas girls have a chance to defend their District 2 Class 3A title from a year ago during next week’s district championships.

“It means a lot,” Radzinski said, “because every one’s special. Every championship’s special. Every one’s different.

“A lot of things went into titles.”

Girls

Berwick 87,

Coughlin 47

Samantha Dyer was a triple winner and Michelle Kotarsky won twice as the Bulldogs pulled out a victory.

Dyer placed first in the 800, 1,600 and 3,200 meter runs, while Kotarsky won both hurdles.

Wyo. Valley West 86.5,

Crestwood 63.5

Nina Dellarte crossed the finish in 12.8 seconds for a 100 dash victory to lead the Spartans to a key win. She took second in the pole vault and 200 dash.

Ashley Blannard won the triple and long jumps. Foto Tsioles took care of the mid-distance events with wins in the 800 and 1,600 runs.

Crestwood’s Andrea Shipton won the pole vault with a height of 9 feet, 6 inches. Idelys Reyes was first in the 200 dash.

Boys

Coughlin 97,

Berwick 53

Cole Horan finished off a splendid season with three victories, Ron Sepkoski and Franco Balbuena were double winners in individual events and the WVC Division 1 champion Crusaders completed their second consecutive unbeaten regular season with a convincing win.

Horan won the triple jump and long jump and teamed on the 400 meter relay team. Meanwhile Sepkoski crossed the finish first in both hurdles events and Balbuena took the 800 and 1,600 meter runs.

Nick Carman won the 100 meter dash, Vince Todd won the 200 and both teamed up on the 400 relay.

Wyo. Valley West 92.5,

Crestwood 52.5

The Spartans cruised with three relay victories. Tyler Wozniak posted a pair of firsts in the shot put and discus. Jamie Webb ran to a 24.1-second first-place finish in the 200 dash. Ray Richards came through down the stretch to take the 800 run.

Clay Kimsal competed the 1600 in five minutes for the Comets. Ian Malia measured at 40 feet, 3 inches for first in the triple jump.

Girls

Dallas 77, Pittston Area 73

3,200 relay — 1. PA (Mayers, Mimnaugh, Boccardi, Johnson) 9:52; 2. Dal. 100 hurdles — 1. Dal, Zolner 16.8; 2. PA, Tubioli; 3. PA, Ruby. 100 — 1. Dal, Mazula 13.0; 2. PA, Tighe; 3. PA, Singer. 1,600 — 1. Dal, Rome 5:42; 2. Dal, Bolara; 3. PA, Silinsky. 400 — 1. PA, Barbieri 63.0; 2. PA, Durling; 3. PA, Mimnaugh. 400 relay — 1. Dal (Holthaus, Cheshire, Chakon, Mazula) 51.2; 2. PA. 300 hurdles — 1. Dal, Zolner 47.7; 2. PA, Ruby; 3. PA, Maurizi. 800 — 1. Dal, Rome 2:22; 2. PA, Mayers; 3. Dal, Jarden. 200 — 1. Dal, Mazula 26.8; 2. PA, Chisdock; 3. Dal, Chakon. 3,200 — 1. Dal, Rome 12:19; 2. Dal, Balara; 3. PA, Johnson. 1,600 relay — 1. PA (Mayers, Smith, Barbieri, Mimnaugh) 4:17; 2. Dal.

High jump — 1. Dal, Kravitsky 5-6; 2. PA, Sheerer; 3. PA, Ashby. Pole vault — 1. PA, Norwillo 11-6; 2. Dal, Holthaus; 3. PA, Senese. Long jump — 1. PA, Norwillo 16-4.25; 2. Dal, Mazula; 3. PA, Sheerer. Triple jump — 1. PA, Sheerer 34-3; 2. Dal, Chakon; 3. Dal, Lanunziata. Shot put — 1. Dal, Kochanski 34-5; 2. PA, O’Brien; 3. PA, Davis. Discus — 1. Dal, Kochanski 105-6; 2. Dal, Langan; 3. PA, Miller. Javelin — 1. PA, Ashby 129-5; 2. PA, O’Brien; 3. Dal, Wren.

Berwick 87, Coughlin 47

100 hurdles — 1. Ber, Kotarsky 16.7; 2. Ber, Laubach; 3. Ber, Miedaner. 100 — 1. Ber, Koshinski 13.2; 2. Cou, Bourdeau; 3. Cou, Berry. 1,600 — 1. Ber, Dyer 5:46; 2. Ber, Gizenski; 3. Ber, Slusser. 400 — 1. Cou, Bourdeau 64.6; 2. Ber, Dower; 3. Ber, Slusser. 300 hurdles — 1. Ber, Kotarsky 49.3; 2. Cou, Tona; 3. Ber, Laubach. 800 — 1. Ber, Dyer 2:46; 2. Cou, Fortune; 3. Ber, Gizenski. 200 — 1. Ber, Koshinski 31.1. 3,200 — 1. Ber, Dyer 13:43; 2. Ber, Gizenski. 1,600 relay — 1. Cou (Tona, Bourdeau, Panattieri, Berry) 4:31.

High jump — 1. Cou, Berry 5-0; 2. Ber, Kotarski; 3. Ber, Owens. Pole vault — 1. Cou, Hawkins 11-0; 2. Ber, Koshinski; 3. Cou, Kowalski. Long jump — 1. Cou, Panattieri 16-10; 2. Ber, Dalo; 3. Ber, Belles. Triple jump — 1. Ber, Dalo 24-6.50; 2. Cou, Panattieri; 3. Ber, Belles. Shot put — 1. Ber, Montana 39-5; 2. Ber, Ouimet; 3. Cou, McCreary. Discus — 1. Ber, Montana 120-0; 2. Cou, McCreary; 3. Ber, Force. Javelin — 1. Ber, Montana 98-0; 2. Ber, Betz; 3. Cou, Tolbert.

Wyoming Valley West 86.5, Crestwood 63.5

3,200 relay — 1. WVW (Kubusky, Matthews, LaBar, Jasterzewski) 11:48; 2. CRE; 100 hurdles — 1. WVW Castigan 18.4, 2. WVW Snipas, 3. WVW Laguer; 100 — 1. WVW Dellarte 12.8, 2. CRE Reyes, 3. CRE Katulka; 1,600 — 1. WVW Tsioles 6:08, 2. CRE Belisle, 3. CRE Katulka; 400 — 1. WVW Burkhardt 1:09.7, 2. WVW Jasterzewski, 3. Hines; 400 relay — 1. WVW (Sullivan, Burmeister, Marinos, Michalek) 54.4; 2. CRE; 300 hurdles — 1. WVW Laguer 56.5, 2. CRE Snipas, 3. Katulka; 800 — 1. WVW Tsioles 2:44, 2. CRE Leveless, 3. WVW McDonough; 200 — 1. CRE Reyes 27.1, 2. WVW Dellarte, 3. CRE Herrera; 3,200 — 1. CRE Belisle 14:32, 2. WVW Park, 3. WVW Youells; 1,600 relay — 1. WVW (Sullivan, Burkhardt, Zasado, Michalek) 4:48, 2. CRE.

High jump — 1. WVW LaBar 5-3, 2. CRE Katulick, 3. CRE Margalis; Pole vault — 1. CRE Shipton 9-6, 2. WVW Dellarte, 3. WVW Desilva/CRE Katulka; Long jump — 1. WVW Blannard 17-1, 2. CRE Thomas, 3. CRE Cuono; Triple jump — 1. WVW Blannard 36-5, 2. CRE Termini, 3. WVW Burkhardt; Shot put — 1. CRE Muse 30-4.25, 2. CRE Margallis, 3. WVW Yaglowski; Discus — 1. WVW Yaglowski 75-2, 2. CRE Muse, 3. CRE Cuono; Javelin — 1. WVW LaBar 5-3, 2. CRE Katulick, 3. CRE Margalis.

Boys

Dallas 91, Pittston Area 58

3,200 relay — 1. Dal (Zardecki, Culp, Wyandt, Borton) 8:49; 2. PA. 110 hurdles — 1. PA, Tracy 15.8; 2. PA, Guillaume; 3. PA, Sims. 100 — 1. Dal, Ukattah 10.9; 2. Dal, Caruso; 3. PA, Davis. 1,600 — 1. Dal, Zardecki 4:59; 2. Dal, Wyandt; 3. Dal, Martin. 400 — 1. Dal, Roberts 55.3; 2. PA, Sims; 3. Dal, Biesecker. 400 relay — 1. Dal (Powell, Roberts, Caruso, Ukattah) 49.1; 2. PA. 300 hurdles — 1. PA, Tracy 41.1; 2. PA, Guillaume; 3. Dal, Osborn. 800 — 1. Dal, Culp 2:05; 2. Dal, Borton; 3. Dal, Jarden. 200 — 1. Dal, Ukattah 23.8; 2. PA, Wallace; 3. Dal, Powell. 3,200 — 1. Dal, Zardecki 10:14; 2. Dal, Wyandt; 3. Dal, Martin. 1,600 relay — 1. Dal (Roberts, Borton, Culp, Ukattah) 3:35.

High jump — 1. PA, Moska 6-4; 2. PA, Ambrose; 3. Dal, Zablotney. Pole vault — 1. Dal, Maransky 9-0; 2. PA, Wesnick. Long jump — 1. Dal, Caruso 19-3.50; 2. PA, Ambrose; 3. Dal, Maransky. Triple jump — 1. PA, Ambrose 39-8; 2. Dal, Almeky; 3. PA, Williams. Shot put — 1. Dal, Almeky 41-11; 2. PA, Mitchell; 3. PA, Lynch. Discus — 1. 2. 3. ; Javelin — 1. PA, Coles 141-8; 2. Dal, Almeky; 3. PA, Elko.

Coughlin 97, Berwick 53

3,200 relay — 1. Ber (Baole, Koch, Pruitt, Blass) 9:12. 110 hurdles — 1. Cou, Sepkoski 15.4; 2. Ber, Hoffman; 3. Cou, Kozerski. 100 — 1. Cou, Carman 11.2; 2. Cou, Todd; 3. Cou, Horan. 1,600 — 1. Cou, Balbuena 4:39; 2. Ber, Martin; 3. Ber, Kimbell. 400 — 1. Ber, Koch 56.4; 2. Cou, Austin; 3. Ber, Le. 400 relay — 1. Cou (Brown, Horan, Todd, Carman) 45.2. 300 hurdles — 1. Cou, Sepkoski 42.2; 2. Ber, Hoffman; 3. Cou, Kozerski. 800 — 1. Cou, Balbuena 2:05; 2. Ber, Blass; 3. Ber, Pruitt. 200 — 1. Cou, Todd 23.8; 2. Cou, Ammons; 3. Cou, Rabe. 3,200 — 1. Ber, Kimbell 10:57; 2. Ber, Martin; 3. Cou, Searfoss. 1,600 relay — 1. Ber (Baole, Hoffman, Pruitt, Blass) 3:42.

High jump — 1. Ber, Harter 5-10; 2. Cou, Kozerski; 3. Cou, Carman. Pole vault — 1. Ber, Harter 13-0; 2. Cou, Cradle; 3. Cou, Schwab. Long jump — 1. Cou, Horan 19-8.25; 2. Cou, Brown; 3. Ber, Jenkins. Triple jump — 1. Cou, Horan 41-10.75; 2. Ber, Hanson; 3. Ber, Jenkins. Shot put — 1. Cou, Khalife 48-0; 2. Cou, Hardy; 3. Cou, McManus. Discus — 1. Cou, Malenovitch 137-5; 2. Cou, Khalife; 3. Cou, McManus. Javelin — 1. Cou, Cinti 147-0; 2. Cou, Robinson; 3. Cou, Hzdovic.

Wyoming Valley West 92.5, Crestwood 52.5

3,200 relay — 1. WVW (Kubusky, Richard, Bobkowski, Forgash) 9:20, 2. CRE; 110 hurdles — 1. WVW Andersavage 19.9; 100 — 1. CRE Perrone 11.5, 2. CRE Wynn, 3. WVW Hoskins; 1,600 — 1. CRE Kimsal 5:00, 2. CRE Riccio, 3. WVW Kubusky; 400 — 1. WVW Forgash 51.6, 2. WVW Gaffney, 3. CRE Meehan; 400 relay — 1. WVW (Webb, Weidman, McDuff, Elias) 46.2, 2. CRE; 300 hurdles — 1. WVW Andersavage 50.1, 2. CRE Glowacki, 3. Gaffney; 800 — 1. WVW Richards 2:08, 2. CRE Klusewitz, 3. WVW Bobkowski; 200 — 1. WVW Webb 24.1, 2. CRE Andes, 3. CRE Malia/WVW Anderscavage; 3,200 — 1. WVW Kubusky 10:56, 2. CRE Kimsal, 3. CRE Gestford; 1,600 relay — 1. WVW (Richard, Forgash, Bobkowski, Rittenhouse) 4:07, 2. CRE.

High jump — 1. CRE Ryman 5-8, 2. WVW Elias, 3. WVW McDuffy; Pole vault — 1. CRE Metgan 10’, 2. WVW Breton, 3. CRE Sterlin; Long jump — 1. WVW Weidman 19-6, 2. CRE Roman, 3. CRE Zasada; Triple jump — 1. CRE Malia 40-3, 2. CRE Kluzewicz, 3. WVW Scotland; Shot put — 1. WVW Wozniak 52-1, 2. WVW Wolfe, 3. WVW Mylott; Discus — 1. WVW Wozniak 136’, 2. WVW Chalowich, 3. WVW Hritzak; Javelin — 1. WVW Kozick 134-10, 2. WVW Canavan, 3. WVW Mylott.

Katie Kravitsky, Dallas Area’s two-time District 2 championship girls jumper, closed out the Mountaineers’ second straight WVC Division 1 title when she won the high jump. Kravitsky’s winning height of 5-6 put Dallas over the top in a 73 victory over Pittston Area in a season-ending battle of unbeatens at Charley Trippi Stadium in Yatesville. Tony Callaio | For Times Leader

https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/web1_mt-1-1.jpgKatie Kravitsky, Dallas Area’s two-time District 2 championship girls jumper, closed out the Mountaineers’ second straight WVC Division 1 title when she won the high jump. Kravitsky’s winning height of 5-6 put Dallas over the top in a 73 victory over Pittston Area in a season-ending battle of unbeatens at Charley Trippi Stadium in Yatesville. Tony Callaio | For Times Leader

Samantha Mazula finished second in the long jump, but won the 100 and 200 meter dashes for Dallas and helped the 400 meter relay team to victory in a battle of WVC Division 1 girls unbeatens with Pittston Area. Dallas needed all of her points to pull out a tight 77-73 victory and win the league girls title for a second straight season. Tony Callaio | For Times Leader

https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/web1_mt-2-1.jpgSamantha Mazula finished second in the long jump, but won the 100 and 200 meter dashes for Dallas and helped the 400 meter relay team to victory in a battle of WVC Division 1 girls unbeatens with Pittston Area. Dallas needed all of her points to pull out a tight 77-73 victory and win the league girls title for a second straight season. Tony Callaio | For Times Leader

Abby Norwillo set a new Pittston Area pole vault record, jumping 11-6 in a showdown with Dallas for the WVC Division 1 girls track and field title Monday at Charley Trippi Stadium. Tony Callaio | For Times Leader

https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/web1_mt-3-1.jpgAbby Norwillo set a new Pittston Area pole vault record, jumping 11-6 in a showdown with Dallas for the WVC Division 1 girls track and field title Monday at Charley Trippi Stadium. Tony Callaio | For Times Leader

Rome leads the charge to second straight league title for Mountaineers girls

By Paul Sokoloski

psokoloski@www.timesleader.com

Ally Rome, Katie Kravitsky lead Dallas’ charge to second straight WVC track and field title