May 15, 2026 By Jonathan Guth 4 min read

SLIPPERY ROCK — Deakyn DeHoet hopes to compete in four sporting events this upcoming week.

The Jefferson-Morgan senior will begin his Monday playing for the Rockets in the quarterfinals of the Class A baseball playoffs against Greensburg Central Catholic. If Jefferson-Morgan defeats the Centurions, the semifinals will be contested two days later.

DeHoet will have a reprieve from baseball if the Rockets play Wednesday, but he will be on the road the next day for the PIAA Individual Track & Field Championships that begin Friday and carry over until Saturday at Seth Grove Stadium on the campus of Shippensburg University.

The reason for what DeHoet hopes will be a busy six-day stretch was the result of winning the 100 and 200-meter dashes in the boys Class 2A competition on Thursday in the WPIAL Individual Track & Field Championships at Slippery Rock University’s Mihalik-Thompson Stadium.

DeHoet, who competes for Beth-Center in track & field as part of a co-op with Jefferson-Morgan, earned his first district gold in the 100 with a time of 10.68, which is also a PR (personal record). DeHoet was fifth in the state last year in the 100 with a time of 11.17.

DeHoet, who will continue his academic and football careers at PennWest California, bested the state-qualifying-standard (SQS) of 11.15 for boys in Class 2A on Thursday. He didn’t rule out the possibility of competing for the Vulcans in track & field.

DeHoet’s triumph in the 100 was good enough for him to be satisfied with his performance, however, he made his mark in both races by setting the WPIAL record in each event for boys in Class 2A.

DeHoet’s time of 21.55 in the 200 is the fastest since Clairton’s Trenton Coles posted 21.69 in 2011. DeHoet also bested Aliquippa’s Marlin “MJ” Devonshire’s record-setting time of 10.67 that was set in 2019 after crossing the finish line in 10.56 in the semifinals. Devonshire currently plays football for the Green Bay Packers.

DeHoet played down what he accomplished, but was pleased with his starts in both races and glad to earn a second trip to the state meet.

“I probably had my best get outs from the blocks in both races,” DeHoet said. “I messed up badly last year. It feels great to win two gold medals this year after not qualifying for states last year in the 200. It is amazing to set some records and be able to see my best times up there on the board.”

Waynesburg Central freshman Nate Ricciuti defended his No. 1 seed in the 110-hurdles by winning the race in the Class 2A boys division by setting a PR of 14.61.

Ricciuti let out his emotions when he crossed the finish line first by letting out a huge roar and clapping his hands.

“The prelims were kind of a warm-up for the finals,” Ricciuti said. “As a freshman, I know I have some much more time to get better. There were a little jitters before the race, but I wasn’t too worried because I didn’t have any pressure on me.”

Teammate Mason Mankey was fourth in the 110 hurdles with a PR of 15.48. Mankey qualified for the state meet, as Class 2A automatically sends the two five place winners from District 7 in each event.

Southmoreland senior Megan Mehall won the 800 and 1,600-meter runs in times of 2:18.32 and 5:05.69. The West Virginia University commit broke her PR in the 1,600.

“I have never really doubled two hard races this year, but I couldn’t have asked more out of the outcome,” Mehall said. “I was seeded first in the 800 last year and finished fourth. I was having some hip issues, so the displacement was not in my favor. I am glad to have the opportunity to redeem myself next week.”

The Raiders’ Jack Ricciuti will join his brother in the state meet after finishing fifth in the high jump at 5-11. Andy Mahle placed fourth in the javelin with a throw of 152-04, which sends the junior to Shippensburg.

Mason Schroyer cleared 12-06 in the pole vault for fifth place and a berth in the state meet.

Madison Blair was fifth in the pole vault in the girls Class 2A division at 9-0.

California’s Carter Kent set his PR in the 1,600-meter run with a time of 4:21.30, which put him in fourth place. He also broke the SQS of 4:25.48 for boys in Class 2A.

Mount Pleasant’s Gage Sowers (PV/2nd/13-0), Andrew Brodak (SP/5th/44-07.25) and Bryson Bankosh (LJ/5th/21-06.50) qualified for next week’s state meet.

The Scotties’ Dawson Wolfe will compete at Seth Grove Stadium after finishing fourth in the shot put (47-03).