Nov 20, 2014 By Cole Long for The Yellow Jacket 3 min read

There are a lot of firsts that happen in sports. Athletes always remember the first thing that they did in a sport that was significant or that they were a part of something special. This year’s men’s indoor track and field team will remember something along those lines no matter the outcome.

During the 2014-15 season, the Waynesburg University Yellow Jackets will try to make the first official Presidents’ Athletic Conference indoor track and field season a memorable one.

This year is the first season that men’s or women’s indoor track and field will be recognized as an official sport by the PAC.

“We are looking to be number-one or two in the conference,” said head coach Jason Falvo. “We like to use indoor as a catalyst for outdoor, so hopefully we can get off on the right foot with the men’s team.”

The Jackets do have some key holes to fill this season, especially at discus, due to the graduation of Kurt Bonnet, who was a three-time first-team all-conference thrower.

Several freshmen will have key roles on this year’s team.

Freshman Mark Minjock from Peters Township High School will have to step into a role immediately for the Jackets this season as a sprinter.

“He is really going to help us out a ton,” said Falvo. “Mark is the key freshman.”

Another first-year athlete primed for significant action will be yet another freshman, Mitch Kendra from Trinity High School, as he looks to be the first male pole vaulter in Waynesburg history.

Waynesburg does return some key roles at throwing, sprints and mid-distance.

Senior Travis Shubert leads the way for throwers, while junior Zakk DeCarlo does the same as a sprinter.

“Our expectations are high, but we would like to focus more on outdoor, so we would like to look at indoor as more of a preseason for outdoor,” said DeCarlo. “I would like to improve across the board and score more points and hopefully be more of a factor for my team coming into the PAC’s this season.”

At mid-distance, expect sophomore Brendan Keany, who also competed for the cross-country team this season, to shine.

“We take the indoor season seriously, and it’s our way of getting in shape for the outdoor season,” said Keany. “Expectations are going to be a little higher in our performance this year, because [indoor track] is now officially a recognized sport for the PAC.”

For the indoor season, the Jackets will be without a pair of seniors: hurdler Byrum Louco and jumping specialist Jason Propst. Both will not be competing due to participation on the Waynesburg men’s basketball team.

This inaugural season of indoor track will be a memorable one for the Jackets no matter what, but Falvo believes they are capable of being in the upper echelon of the conference.

“I think first or second are realistic goals for us and if we get beat, then we get beat, but let’s not finish third,” said Falvo.