Raiders boast large track squads

By Mike Wertman, Sports Writer Posted 13 April 2017 at 10:04 am

Photo by Mike Wertman – Getting set to lead Barker into the upcoming Niagara-Orleans League track season are these Raider veterans. In front are Matt Pestinger, Jake Arnold and Brent Bachman. In back are Sarah Mason, Lydia Dewart and Taylor Tocco.

Bolstered by large rosters, the Barker track squads are prepping for the April 20 Niagara-Orleans League home opener against Medina.

Barker’s boys squad, which numbers 42, is led by a group of eight place finishers at last spring’s N-O All-League meet. That group includes seniors Jake Arnold (5th in 800 and 7th in High Jump), Matt Pestinger (6th in 800), Jack Hopkins (2nd in 3200 nd 5th in 1600), Brent Bachman (7th in 1600 and 3200) and Noah DiLorenzo (5th in High Jump) along with junior Adam Woodworth (7th in Pole Vault) and sophomores Dominic Clementi (3rd in 200) and Andrew Schafer (6th in 400 Hurdles).

The 36 member Lady Raiders squad likewise returns a good group of All-League meet place finishers including senior Lydia Dewart (3rd in 800), juniors Natalie Menz (7th in 100 Hurdles) and Casey A’Hearn (4th in discus), freshmen Dakota Leising (3rd in High Jump) and Katrina Clare (7th in 400) and eighth grader Madison Gancasz (5th in Pole Vault). Other key members of the squad include señor Taylor Tocco and junior Sarah Mason.

“We’re young but our numbers are good,” said Coach Jim Jurewicz. “We’ve got a nice team.”

Last spring the girls team went 2-4 and the boys 0-5-1 in N-O action.

Schedule
April: 20 – Medina, 4:30 p.m.; 22 – at Eden Invitational; 25 – at Wilson, 4:15 p.m.; 27 – at Roy-Hart, 4:15 p.m.
May: 2 – Akron, 4:15 p.m.; 6 – at Batavia Invitational; 9 – at Newfane, 4:15 p.m.; 11 – Albion, 4:15 p.m.; 17 and 18 – at All-League meet at Akron, 4 p.m.; 25 – Steeplechase meet at Starpoint, 5 p.m.