Derry’s Sophia Mazzoni faces big challenge at state meet; Greensburg Central Catholic’s Jerry Davis seeded 1st
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Wednesday, May 21, 2025 | 5:50 PM
If Derry senior Sophia Mazzoni wants to win a second PIAA javelin title, she has some work to do.
There are two girls in the eastern part of the state who have better throws this season. Perkiomen Valley junior Ava Flicker has the best throw in Class 3A at 164 feet, 5 inches, and Blue Mountain senior Makayla Keck has a throw of 162-8. Mazzoni’s best is 160-10.
The Auburn commit is not worried. She relishes the competition, something she has not had this spring.
“It feels great to be a three-time WPIAL champion,” Mazzoni said. “I was glad that I could keep that consistency at the WPIAL. I am excited to move forward.”
Mazzoni admitted she struggled early in the season.
“I got myself back up,” she said. “I am starting to get decent throws out there and got what I wanted. I feel pretty good. There is always pressure. You cannot take anyone lightly. I am always excited to get out there and compete.”
Mazzoni said she tried to treat every meet the same.
“I try not to think about it too much. It is just another opportunity to get up on that podium,” Mazzoni said. “It is cool being a champion in both classifications.”
Mazzoni is seeded third in the javelin.
Other returning PIAA champions from the WPIAL are Laurel senior Tori Atkins (Class 2A 400 meters), Mohawk senior Jaxon Schoedel (Class 3A 3,200 meters) and the Fort Cherry Class 2A 400-meter team.
There is only one WPIAL athlete seeded No. 1 in Class 3A: Gateway thrower Dino Nadarevic (shot put and discus).
Among the top WPIAL seeds, Norwin senior Ryan Schiller is fourth, and North Hills senior Gamaliel Mogire is fifth in the 110 hurdles; Woodland Hills junior Scoop Smith is fifth in the 100; Canon-McMillan junior Aaron Taylor is third in the 300 hurdles; North Hills senior Kaden Lightner is third in the 800; Chartiers Valley senior Christian Crowley is fourth in the pole vault; and Penn-Trafford senior Logan Kerstetter is sixth in the javelin.
No Class 3A WPIAL girls are seeded first. Moon freshman Rachel Stepp joins Mazzoni as a third seed (400 meters). Fox Chapel junior Claire Conti is seeded second in the discus.
While Class 3A does not have high seeds, Class 2A does, especially from Quaker Valley.
The Quakers have four individuals and two relays (1,600 and 3,200) seeded first.
Greensburg Central Catholic junior Jerry Davis, a two-time WPIAL champion, is seeded No. 1 in the 400. He also qualified for the states in the 200.
“I came here thinking winning the WPIAL was a step to winning states,” said Davis, who broke his personal record of 48.32 seconds and set a WPIAL meet record. “It was surreal. I was hoping to win the 200.”
Davis said his willingness not to lose pushes him.
PIAA Track and Field Championships
• When: Friday and Saturday
• Where: Seth Grove Stadium, Shippensburg University
• By the numbers: Top 8 in each event receive medals
• Did you know: Derry senior Sophia Mazzoni is a returning PIAA Class 2A javelin champion who is competing in Class 3A. … Laurel senior Tori Atkins is a returning Class 2A 400-meter champion. … Fort Cherry is the reigning Class 2A 400-meter relay champ. … Mohawk senior Jaxon Schoedel is the returning Class 2A 3,200-meter champion.
• WPIAL athletes with PIAA top seeds
Class 2A boys — Quaker Valley’s Davin Gartley (110 hurdles) and Clark LaLomia (800); Mohawk’s Jaxon Schoedel (1,600, 3,200); Greensburg Central Catholic’s Jerry Davis (400); Brentwood’s Daysaun Spencer (triple jump); Quaker Valley 1,600 and 3,200 relay teams
Class 2A girls — Quaker Valley’s Cecilia Montagnese (1,600) and Oumou Thiero (high jump); Laurel’s Tori Atkins (400); Eden Christian’s Lara DeFazio (long jump); Winchester Thurston’s Alexis Bansah (triple jump); North Catholic 400 relay
Class 3A boys — Gateway’s Dino Nadarevic (shot put, discus)
Class 3A girls — None
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: Derry Area, Franklin Regional, Greensburg C.C., Greensburg Salem, Hempfield, Latrobe, Mt. Pleasant, Norwin, Southmoreland
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