Trio of Westmoreland County track stars repeat as WPIAL champs
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Wednesday, May 14, 2025 | 9:09 PM
Greensburg Central Catholic’s Jerry Davis wins the 400 meters during the WPIAL Class 3A track and field championships Wednesday.
Derry’s Sophia Mazzoni wins the javelin during the WPIAL Class 3A track and field championships Wednesday.
Penn-Trafford’s Logan Kerstetter wins the javelin during the WPIAL Class 3A track and field championships Wednesday.
Greensburg Central’s Eva Denis edges Laurel’s Tori Atkins and Winchester Thurston’s Tori Atkins in the 100 semifinals during the during the WPIAL Class 2A track and field championships Wednesday.
Mt. Pleasant’s Jarett Garn edges Greensburg Central Catholic’s Jerry Davis and Neighborhood Academy’s DeJuan Croumbles-Booker the 400 meters during the WPIAL Class 2A track and field championships Wednesday.
Who says it is tough to be a repeat champion?
The three athletes from Westmoreland County who won titles at the WPIAL track and field championships last year were not satisfied with one title. They wanted more gold medals, and they got them.
Penn-Trafford senior Logan Kerstetter, Derry senior Sophia Mazzoni and Greensburg Central Catholic junior Jerry Davis defended their WPIAL titles on Wednesday at Slippery Rock University’s Mahalik-Thompson Stadium.
Kerstetter was not favored to defend his Class 3A javelin title, but he did.
Mazzoni claimed her third javelin title, her first in Class 3A, and Davis broke the meet record in defending his 400-meter crown.
Kerstetter’s throw of 188 feet, 1 inch edged Butler’s Nico Baggetta by 11 inches (187-2). He is now a two-time champion, and both years he was the underdog.
“I guess it motivated me,” Kerstetter said. “It feels really good to be a two-time champion. Being the underdog really helps motivate you and pushes you that little extra.
“The competition was a lot tougher this season. I really like throwing in this environment. It is great to compete at Slippery Rock.”
Kerstetter was having an OK season, but he had not hit the big throw until the final toss of the competition.
It was a personal record by more than 8 feet.
“I did not place at states last year,” Kerstetter said. “I want to be on the podium this year.”
Mazzoni won the past two Class 2A titles and is the reigning PIAA champion. This year she hopes to win the 3A title. She had the best throw from either class in 2024.
Mazzoni said she was not herself at the beginning of the event. Her winning throw was 156 feet.
“I was kind of struggling in the beginning,” Mazzoni said. “But I brought myself back up. I felt pretty good because there is always a little pressure, but I started hitting decent throws.
“It feels great to win again. I am glad that I could keep that consistency here.”
Mazzoni, who will compete at Auburn, said she’s looking forward to pursuing her second PIAA title.
“Being a two-time champion and breaking a meet record is surreal,” Davis said. “I came here thinking that this is a step to win states, it would be legendary if I could win the 200.
“My game plan was to stay with the guy on my right for the first 300 because I knew I had more than he did. I had more heart.”
Davis finished second to Mt. Pleasant junior Jarret Garn in the 200.
So what makes him so fast?
“The willingness not to lose,” he said. “I hate to lose.”
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, Norwin
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