Apr 30, 2002 6 min read

The WPIAL released the Class AAA and AA team playoff brackets Monday, but the news of the pairings brought mixed feelings, understandably, at Laurel Highlands in light of the tragic automobile accident involving one of the Fillies’ top performers. Tylar Andaloro competed in the throws for Laurel Highlands, finishing second in the discus and third in the shot put at last Saturday’s Fayette County Coaches’ Association Track and Field Meet held at Connellsville.

Laurel Highlands girls coach Ron Morris and the coaching staff met with the team after school Monday and asked the girls to make the decision whether to go to Wednesday’s semifinal at Hempfield. The coaching staff offered no input, but, to a girl, the decision was made to go on.

“We let them voice their opinions,” Morris said of the meeting. “The coaching staff gave no opinions. We were going to be 100 percent supportive either way.

“The ballot was 100 percent to go. The girls felt it was something Tylar would want them to do.”

Given the timing of events Wednesday, Morris offered the decision to compete might offer a brief respite from all that is happening.

“They don’t have a lot of time to think about it. (Going to the meet) is more of a positive thing. The girls are dedicating the playoffs to Tylar. I just want them to do their best. It might not be their PR (personal best), but I want them to do their best.”

The Mustangs were also touched by Andaloro’s death according to boys coach Bob Costello, especially the throwers.

“It was a somber day. We pulled both teams in the morning to talk with grief counselors,” Costello said. “It hit the throwers hard because they work so much together.”

Not only did Andaloro compete at a top level, she also had a personality to match.

“Tylar always had a smile on her face. Not matter what was happening, she was always smiling,” Morris said.

The Laurel Highlands coaching staff then turned their attention to Wednesday’s meet, a meet both Costello and Morris referred to the Class AAA semifinals as a “mini-invitational.”

The Fillies, the Section 2-AAA champions, will face host team Hempfield, Derry (the second place team from Section 2-AAA), Mount Pleasant and Thomas Jefferson. Morris was just happy the Fillies weren’t sent to “another planet,” alluding to Moon or Mars as a possible sight.

Morris deemed Hempfield the team to beat, but the size of the semifinal pairings puts a puzzling pressure on the coaching staff on how to match up with all the teams.

“It’s a disadvantage with so many teams. It’s easier to plan your strategy against a fewer number teams. It creates a situation where you might not have your top caliber athletes in the right events,” Morris said.

“Hempfield is solid in all aspects except they may have a weakness in the throws. Mount Pleasant and Thomas Jefferson are good in the jumps and sprints.”

The Fillies are a well-rounded squad with, among others, Mikie Monaghan, the county’s Most Outstanding Track Athlete, and Eleree Keilbach in the distances, the versatile Deena Blanc doing a little bit of everything, Jessi Evans and Danielle LaPresta in the middle distances and Diane Gmiter controlling the throws.

Costello’s squad, the Section 2-AAA champions, will also be traveling to Hempfield to face Connellsville, the second place team in Section 2-AAA, and Greensburg Salem which led the Mustangs’ coach to question why have a section season. The Mustangs will face Connellsville three times in less than two weeks after their regular season meet and the county championship.

“I don’t know why we’re going there. It’s beyond my limited comprehension. Why do we even have section playoffs?” queried Costello.

“Greensburg Salem may be the most well-rounded team in the WPIAL. I know they have good speed. They might be a little weak in the throws.”

The Mustangs offer a well-balanced attack with sprinter Jack Rose, hurdler Matt Humbert, distance specialist Adam Shinsky and thrower Jerry Powell. Connellsville has the well-known throwing duo of Clint Richter and Ryan Rumbaugh and long and triple jumper Mace Copeland to go with sprinters B.J. Straughters and Brian Burden. Straughters and Copeland were the Most Outstanding Athletes in the recent county championships.

The schedule maker might just favor Laurel Highlands and Connellsville in their quest to advance to the WPIAL Team Championships. The Mount Pleasant Relays are this afternoon and Costello has a sneaking suspicion the Golden Lions might still compete.

“I think that might be our ace-in-the-hole. Maybe Greensburg Salem will get greedy and go to the Mount Pleasant Relays. I think they’re the defending champs. Then, they’d have to come back on Wednesday. They get dinged up a little bit and it opens the door.”

The Southmoreland boys advancing to the playoffs is becoming a rite of spring after the Scotties won their fourth consecutive Section 3-AA title. Southmoreland will host Chartiers-Houston and either Freeport or Mars Wednesday beginning at 3 p.m.

Southmoreland boys coach Bill Schrecengost believes the pieces are starting to fall into place at the right time for Scotties, right along with the master plan laid out before the season began.

“Everything’s coming together at the right time. I’m optimistic and enthused,” Schrecengost said of last year’s runner-up in Class AA. “We had some new kids step in and make contributions in our tradition. I think we’re as good, if not better, than we were last year.

“Our major strength is we get points on the board from all the events. We have no glaring weaknesses any can exploit. Those seconds and thirds mount up for us. One point can make a difference. We tell our kids to beat somewhere with a different colored shirt.”

Senior Tommy Brittain leads on the track in the 800 and 1,600. Tim Fratto has had an outstanding season in the jumps with Steve Frund stepping in and gaining valuable points in the throws.

B.J. Hall is the hurdler specialist with Brian Connors’ strength in the sprints.

Schrecengost has done his research on the other teams and is glad to be running at home.

“The biggest advantage to being at home is the jumpers feel comfortable in the pits. We have a handle on what the other teams are doing.”

Only the top team from each of the four Class AAA and Class AA sites will advance to next week’s WPIAL Team Championships.