Lady Spartan/Wildcat Invitational to feature record number of teams

By: Paul Schofield
Thursday, April 10, 2025 | 7:30 PM

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Inclement weather pushed back the 2024 Lady Spartan/Wildcat Invitational by a day.

But Hempfield coach Ron Colland said the 2025 annual track meet should go on as planned Friday at Latrobe’s Memorial Stadium.

This is the 33rd Lady Spartan and 22nd Wildcat invitational.

More than 32 teams have registered to compete this season, including Norwin, North Allegheny, Hempfield, Franklin Regional, Derry, Penn-Trafford, Kiski Area, Latrobe, Connellsville, Mt. Pleasant, DuBois and Morgantown, W.Va.

Norwin has strong boys and girls teams.

Latrobe coach Andy Wnek said the meet usually gets about 25 or more teams entered. This will be the most in history.

Field events begin at 12:30 p.m., and preliminaries run at 1:15. The running finals are slated for 4 p.m.

The meet will feature two of the top javelin throwers in the state. Penn-Trafford senior Logan Kerstetter is the returning WPIAL champion, and Derry senior Sophia Mazzoni is the returning WPIAL and PIAA Class 2A winner. Mazzoni is competing in Class 3A this season.

Penn-Trafford senior Ekoulus Lett is the returning 110-meter hurdles champion. Lett was one of two 2024 winners to win from a slow heat. The other was Hempfield graduate Caleb Prola in the 100.

Other returning champions include Greensburg Central Catholic’s Jerry Davis (400) and Samir Crosby (long jump); Laurel Highlands’ Diondra Brown (100 and 200) and Jaden Brambley (pole vault); Southmoreland’s Megan Mehall (400); Morgantown’s Josie Johnson (100 hurdles) and Emma Smith (high jump); Latrobe’s Brylee Bodnar (300 hurdles), Mia Klasnic (long jump) and Elizabeth Wilson (javelin); and Hempfield’s Allison DeMatt (triple jump) and Maddie Tulley (discus).

TSTCA meet set

The Tri-State Track Coaches Association meet will be Saturday at West Mifflin.

Registration is closed with 44 teams entered.

Action is set to begin at 10 a.m. Some of the top teams entered include Butler, Canon-McMillan, Mt. Lebanon, North Allegheny, Norwin, Seneca Valley and Winchester Thurston.

The Chartiers-Houston Invitational also is Saturday.

Paul Schofield is a TribLive reporter covering high school and college sports and local golf. He joined the Trib in 1995 after spending 15 years at the Daily Courier in Connellsville, where he served as sports editor for 14 years. He can be reached at pschofield@triblive.com.

Tags: Hempfield