Apr 25, 2003 By Jim Downey 3 min read

Laurel Highlands boys track coach Bob Costello knew Thursday’s Section 2-AAA home meet with Uniontown wouldn’t be a walkover by any means. The Mustangs were coming off a hard-fought victory over Connellsville Tuesday and anything with the Red Raiders is an intense rivalry. Laurel Highlands rose to the occasion, defeating Uniontown, 83-62, to win its third consecutive section title. The Mustangs finished 7-0 in the section and 8-0 overall and will enter the WPIAL Class AAA team playoffs next week.

“I told the team before the meet they had a chance to do what no other boys team has done at Laurel Highlands, three straight undefeated seasons. It’s hard to go undefeated in one season, let alone three,” Costello said. “I was concerned after coming off a big meet Tuesday (with Connellsville). I wasn’t sure at the beginning, but as the season progressed I thought it could happen.

“The seniors that have been here have lost only one meet (to Connellsville) in four years. Winning begets winning. The coaching staff is real good and knowledgeable. Joe Jupina (pole vault), Bill Kooser (sprints, hurdles), John Yonker (jumps), Kerry Whitman (throws), Ron Morris (high jump, javelin, etc.) and me (distance) probably have over 130 years of experience. Teams that keep coaching staffs together are successful. We’re on a nice roll.”

Several Mustangs are on a nice roll as well. With pole vaulter Brandon Mahoney on the shelf with a high ankle sprain, Laurel Highlands received strong performances once again from Matt Humbert and Larry Brink, among others, in the victory.

Humbert won both hurdles, finished first in the javelin and ran the first leg of the winning 1,600 relay. Brink made his move with about 150 meters to go, passing Uniontown’s Jasper Hawker and holding one with a one-second victory in the 1,600. Alex Bota (100), Chris Manges (400), Dan Garbutt (discus), Jared Jodon (pole vault) and Chris Miller (high jump) scored first place points for the Mustangs.

“This was a much improved Uniontown team. The got some of the talent out in the school and it showed. They have always had distance runners. Now they have jumpers and sprinters,” Costello said.

Uniontown made a strong showing in first place points with seven wins, but the overall depth of Laurel Highlands was too much for the Red Raiders to overcome. The meet started on a high note for the visitors with a win in the 3,200 relay by Jasper Hawker, Kyle Markwardt, Kevin Monaghan and Andy Gleason.

A bit of the momentum remained with Nate Frezzell and Eric Russman finishing second and third in the 100, but the Mustangs began to dominate in the hurdles and throws for the difference.

“We lost it at the beginning. We knew their hurdlers were tough. We had hoped to pick up points in the sprints,” Uniontown boys coach Joe Everhart said. “Losing points in the 400 relay hurt. That would have been a big plus for us.”

The bizarre outcome of the 400 relay left both teams disqualified. Uniontown ran out of the zone on the first exchange and the Mustangs second runner dropped the baton, but whether he had possession was unsure. After some deliberation, the decision was made to disqualify both teams.

Andy Gleason (800), Nate Frezzell (200), Walter Richardson (long jump, triple jump), Adam Muzika (shot put) and Monaghan (3,200) took firsts for the Red Raiders.

“We didn’t get the points I thought we would in the field. Our kids had PRs (personal bests), but they just threw better. We did better in the distances than I thought. We moved some kids around to keep them fresh,” Everhart said.