Baldwin’s Boehm splits time in spring sports

By: HSSN Staff
Friday, April 13, 2018 | 11:00 PM

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Ted Boehm's athletic prowess has been on display from the moment he stepped through the doors at Baldwin High School.

Last year, Boehm became the first freshman in more than a decade to earn a starting job on the Highlanders' volleyball team.

This spring, the 5-foot-10 sophomore is competing in two sports. He also has been practicing as a distance runner in the Baldwin track and field program.

“To answer why I decided to do both, I can't exactly say,” Boehm said. “I think it was more of not being able to choose between the two and then having the realization I could try and do both.

“As I quickly learned, playing and practicing for two sports isn't very easy. While I do practice both, I plan to do most of the regular low-intensity track runs after volleyball (practice), which starts just 30 minutes after track starts and ends well after track is finished. However, for high-intensity track workouts, I need someone to push me, so I run with the team, then head up to the last hour or so of volleyball. I think if I put in the work, I could be a top competitor in track.”

Baldwin coaches Eric Falcione (volleyball) and Ed Helbig (track and field) have provided unwavering support for the 16-year-old.

“Playing multiple sports in the same season is difficult. It can be done. I did it, but it is difficult,” said Falcione, a Baldwin graduate. “It is easier when the practice times and the games aren't at the same time. As far as playing time, it's a little tricky. But I'm sure Ed and I will be as fair as possible with Ted as well as his teammates.

“Ted is doing a pretty good job balancing both sports. As for volleyball, he definitely makes us a better team when he is here. Last year, he was a full-time starter as a freshman. This year, he's the first one off the bench and is kind of a utility player. If things work out, I would like to see him become a full-time starter once again.”

Boehm runs the 800, 1,600 and 3,200 for the track and field team.

“Teddy ran cross country the past two seasons. He ran with the Indoor track team last year and didn't compete and went to volleyball during the spring season,” said Helbig, also a Baldwin graduate. “This year, he actually competed during the indoor season at Edinboro and qualified for the championship meet in February. He ran an exceptional time in the 800 and mile.

“(Assistant) coach (Rich) Wright spoke to him at the end of the indoor season and was able to show him where his times placed times placed him on the Baldwin (track and field) honor roll, a listing that goes back into the 1960s. Teddy's times placed him near the top of the list in several events, in the company of some outstanding athletes like Gary Gittings, Dan Mazzocco, Ryan Sheehan and T.J. Hobart.”

This year's volleyball lineup consists of seniors Ben Remlinger (right-side hitter), Dante Parente (setter), Mike Goga (middle hitter), Dan Kolski (middle hitter) and Justin Hackman (defense specialist); juniors Colton Barr (libero) and Russ Cyprowski (outside hitter); and sophomores Zach Remlinger (outside hitter), Mark Campana (utility player) and Boehm, who is becoming adept at juggling a daily school and athletic schedule.

“The toughest part of playing two sports is finding the balance in practices,” Boehm said. “Volleyball requires the legs to be strong and explosive, so it's hard to give a quality performance at practice if I've just run track. To my disadvantage, track requires daily runs if I want to be competitive and become better. Then, after all that, I still have homework.”

Boehm's best indoor times in the 800 and 1,600 were 2 minutes, 10 seconds and 4:48, respectively. He posted a 10:49 in the 3,200 at an early outdoor scrimmage meet.

“So far, I'd like to say that both my seasons seem quite promising,” Boehm said. “The volleyball team is looking really good, and everyone has the desire to stay positive and win. For track, the scrimmage meet was my first outdoor track meet since fourth grade at St. Gabriel's, and I personally think it went quite well.”

Boehm is in “compete” mode year-round. He has played for the Pittsburgh Volleyball Club for the past few years, and in his free time he enjoys mountain biking.

“Volleyball is a great sport,” Boehm said. “Volleyball and running take up most of my time, but I also do cross-country mountain biking on the Pro Bike+Run NICA team.”

Ray Fisher is a freelance writer.

Tags: Baldwin