Place at the Top of the Ohio Athletic Conference
BEREA, OHIO -- The Baldwin-Wallace College women’s outdoor track and field team has a rich traditionn of excellence in the Ohio Athletic Conference. The Yellow Jacket women have won 14 of the last 16 team championships but did not win last year. That has made the team huingry heading into the 2004 outdoor campaign.
"We have a solid group of competitors returning and each person will have to maximize her ability and talent for us to have a shot at winning the OAC title," said veteran Yellow Jacket Head Coach Bill Taraschke, who has led the B-W men and women to 38 OAC titles in cross country and track during his career. "We are led by All-American Jen Southall. In addition, we have some other folks with talent."
Southall (Willoughby South) finished sixth in the steeplechase (10:53.24) at last year's NCAA Division III National Championship Meet to earn All-American honors. She will be this year's favorite in the steeplechase. Southall will be joined as a key distance runner by seniors Stacey Havaich (Austintown/ Fitch) and Tara Perry (Berea). Havaich was hampered by an achilles injury last season but rebounded to have a strong 2004 indoor season. Perry joined Southall and was a member of last spring's OAC-champion 4 x 800 meter relay team. Also look for juniors Lisa Bartkiewicz (Berea) and Rihannon Regal (Painesville Harvey), senior Tatum Gruskiewicz (Williamsfield/ Pymatuning Valley) and freshmen Rihana Knotts (Middletown Madison) and Megan Via (Brookville) to make an impact in the middle distance and distance races. Also look for Gruskiewicz to help in the steeplechase.
The sprint squad will be led by senior 400 meter specialist Nikki Bell (McDonald). Bell qualified provisionally for the Div. III national meet last year in the 400 meters (57.03) and was the OAC Meet runner-up. She also anchored the second place 4 x 400 meter relay team. Also look for sophomores Mary Griglak (Cleveland/ Lutheran West) and Liz Redd (Canton GlenOak) and junior Jayna Rasmussen (Westlake/ Lutheran West) all to add strength and depth to the sprint corps.
In the hurdles, look for freshman Lisa Morgan (Oak Harbor) and senior Kadi Diminuco (Albion, N.Y./ Albion) to be the two best in the 100 meter event and senior Abby Comminsky (Fremont Ross) will be looked upon to help in both the 400 hurdles and in the steeplechase.
In the field events, look for senior high jumper Amren Fraser (Brook Park/ Midpark) to compete for an OAC title and sophomore shot putter Amy Mauceri (Solon) will be one of the best in the OAC. Add newcomers Tony Fry (Applecreek/ Wayndale) and Kim Johnson (Athens) will add depth in the field events. Neither participated this winter but will make a difference this spring. Fry will be in the mix to compete for the OAC pole vault title and Johnson will strengthen a good corps of high jumpers.
In addition to Mauceri in the shot put, look for Megan McDannel (Berea) to help in the discus and freshman Mandy Quisno (Oak Harbor) to contribute in both the shot and discus. In the high jump, look for sophomore Amy Southall (Willoughby South) to add depth, and long and triple jumpers Brittany Schaeublin (Canton South), a junior, and sophomore Angela Griss (Tiffin Columbian) to add even more depth. Gruss will also be the top female pole vaulter.
Overall, look for the Yellow Jacket women to be in the hunt for the OAC title. It cannot afford any key injuries and every team member will have to perform to their maximum level at the OAC Championship Meet if B-W is to return to the top of the OAC this spring.
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