Greensburg Salem’s Luke Rullo eyeing another title at WCCA meet

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Wednesday, April 23, 2025 | 9:26 PM


When speaking to athletes who have won titles at the Westmoreland County Coaches’ Association track and field championships, they usually talk about how special it is to be the best in the county.

The annual meet is set for Thursday at Latrobe Memorial Stadium beginning with field events at 12:30 p.m. The running preliminaries begin at 1:15 p.m., and the running finals are slated for 4 p.m.

This is the 102nd boys championship and 45th girls championship.

Among the returning champions is Greensburg Salem junior Luke Rullo. He won the triple jump and long jump in 2024, and he is favored to repeat.

Rullo recorded the best triple jump of his career, 45 feet, 7 inches, against Norwin on Tuesday. He also won the long jump with a leap of 21-2.

He currently has the longest jump in the WPIAL in Class 3A despite being slowed by a shoulder injury.

“Things are starting to come around,” Rullo said. “I have been told to avoid contact sports like football and basketball. I used to run the sprints, but now my focus is on my sand jumps.

“In the grand scheme of things, my focus is breaking my personal records and continuing to improve my skills. I need to work on my phases and being mentally focused.”

Rullo finished second to East Allegheny grad Lorenzo Fancher in the Class 2A triple jump at states last season. Fancher jumped 45-6 ¾ and Rullo went 44-11.

“I am pleased how things are going in the triple jump,” Rullo said. “I am working on things in the long jump.

“I still get a little sore. Hopefully, I will recover in time to compete on Thursday. The weather has been rough this season. But it seems like weather is starting to warm up and improve.”

Rullo is also excited about the county meet because teammates Kai Brunot and Justice Payne are capable of joining him on the podium.

“We did it at the Lady Spartan/Wildcat Invitational,” Rullo said. “I am confidence we will do it again.”

Derry senior Sophia Mazzoni looks to become a three-time javelin champion and a four-time placewinner.

She recorded the top throw in the state, 160-11, last week at the Butler Invitational. Mazzoni is the returning PIAA and WPIAL Class 2A champion. She is competing in Class 3A this season.

Norwin senior Ryan Schiller and senior Nick Puskar also are hoping to become three-time county champions, Schiller in the 110-meter hurdles and Puskar in the pole vault.

“It won’t be easy to defend,” Schiller said. “There are a lot of good hurdlers in the county. I love the competition.”

Ligonier Valley senior John Jablunovsky won the high jump as a freshman in 2022 and placed second in the event in the past two season.

Other returning boys champions are Penn-Trafford senior Jake McGhee, who won the 800 and 1,600, Latrobe senior Adam Piper (100), Greensburg Central Catholic sophomore Jerry Davis (400), Norwin sophomore Tyler Beck (300 hurdles) and Penn-Trafford senior Logan Kerstetter (javelin).

The returning girls champions include Greensburg Central Catholic senior Eva Denis (100 and long jump), Norwin senior Melani Schmidt (200 and 400), Franklin Regional sophomore Caroline Shirley (3,200), Greensburg Central Catholic senior Sasha Hoffman (100 hurdles), Hempfield sophomore Madison Altman (300 hurdles), Norwin senior Brandi Brozeski (high jump), Hempfield senior Allison DeMatt (triple jump), Hempfield junior Maddie Tulley (discus) and Hempfield senior Katherine Dolinski (shot put).

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.

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