Quaker Valley athletes flood list of top WPIAL track performances

By: Ray Fisher
Sunday, May 11, 2025 | 11:01 AM

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The Quaker Valley track and field teams stormed past the opposition April 30 in the semifinals of the WPIAL Class 2A team playoffs at Shenango.

The QV girls ran past Winchester Thurston, 81-68, Brownsville, 119-30, and South Side, 135-15, to advance to the WPIAL finals to face North Catholic, Carlynton and Laurel on May 6.

The QV boys cruised by Waynesburg, 114-36, South Side, 124-26, and Neighborhood Academy, 144-5, to qualify for the district finals against Shenango, Mohawk and Beaver.

The WPIAL postponed the team semifinals one day because of unfavorable weather.

“With the change in (dates), there ended up being a dozen schools in attendance,” QV coach Jared Jones said. “I had four coaches from different teams go out of their way to seek me out and commend me on different interactions that they had with our athletes. They were so impressed.

“What (our athletes) do athletically amazes me, but those comments are more impressive and more important to me.”

Two school records were set by QV competitors: Kwilai Karto in the 400-meter dash (58.4) and Cecilia Montagnese in the 3,200 (11:00.2).

QV’s girls 400 relay unit, consisting of Evie Rosselli, Karto, Vanessa Pickett and Rose Pocasangre, also finished with the second-fastest time in school history at 48.44.

James Irwin’s 6-foot, 5-inch high jump tied him for the second-best mark in school history, and Olivia Jordan’s long jump of 17-2 ranks fifth in school history.

Speaking of rankings, a host of Quaker Valley athletes rated as the WPIAL’s top performers in Class 2A as of May 1. In fact, each QV team had 11 event leaders (first, second or third place).

The WPIAL’s best consisted of QV’s Davin “Macky” Gartley (110 hurdles, 300 hurdles), Jackson Pethel (800), Clark LaLomia (800), Jonah Montagnese (3,200) and Cecilia Montagnese (1,600).

Additionally, the boys 3,200 relay team, consisting of Pethel, River Capek, Montagnese and LaLomia, and 1,600 relay team, consisting of Irwin, Gartley, Pethel and LaLomia, ranked first. The 400 relay team — Winston Clifford, Irwin, Jayden Juliano and Gartley — earned the third-best time.

T.J. Debelak (triple jump), LaLomia (1,600) and Irwin (400) rounded out the WPIAL list for the QV boys team.

For the girls, Rosselli ranked second in both the 100 hurdles and pole vault, as did Jay Olawaiye in the triple jump.

Third-best performances were displayed by Pocasangre (300 hurdles), Cecilia Montagnese (800), Lucy Montagnese (3,200) and Oumou “Mimi” Thiero (high jump).

The girls relay units also rated among the best in 2A.

The 400 and 1,600 relay teams, comprised of Pickett, Cecilia Montagnese, Pocasangre and Karto, combined for the second-best time.

QV’s 3,200 relay team — Maggie Doz, Emily Bablak, Lucy Montagnese and Cecilia Montagnese — were No. 3.

And supporting the notion that QV track and field program is characterized by athletic depth, the following team members occupied fourth or fifth place in WPIAL 2A competition this season:

BOYS

Xander Vescio (110 hurdles), Hugo Castellini (110 hurdles, 300 hurdles), LaLomia (1,600), Montagnese (1,600), Tyler Bell (1,600), Capek (400, 800), Juliano (200, 400), Irwin (200), Kieran Cain (200), Vescio (long jump), Aiden Dwyer (triple jump, high jump), Clifford (high jump), Eli Walker (pole vault), Trey Dunlap (discus, shot put), Nicholas Winnowski (javelin).

GIRLS

Karto (100, 200, 400), Pocasangre (100), Lucy Montagnese (1,600), Doz (1,600), Pickett (long jump), Olawaiye, (long jump), Emma Currier (triple jump), Mia Gartley (high jump), Sarah Minard (pole vault), Lea Mauer (discus, javelin).

Gartley, in the boys 110 hurdles (14.2) and Thiero, in the girls high jump (5-6), had winning performances May 2 at the Pine-Richland Invitational.

“I was happy with my performance although the start was a little poor,” Gartley said. “My goals are to be a state champion in both hurdles (events).”

Also for the boys team at P-R, Montagnese wrapped up second place in both the 1,600 (4:17.04) and mile run (4:18.64).

QV’s girls 400 relay team finished second in 51.02 and Mia Gartley placed eighth in the girls high jump (5-2).

Near-miss medal-worthy efforts were landed by Lucy Montagnese (1,600, mile run), Currier (triple jump) and Vescio (110 hurdles, long jump).

The Quakers also were represented at the meet by the following girls: Kate Steinfurth (1,600), Madelyn Main (100 hurdles), Gartley (300 hurdles), Mauer (discus, javelin), Maura Calhoun (discus, shot put) and Clara Herman (javelin, shot put).

Clifford (100), Cain (100), Ryan Kempton (1,600), Irwin (long jump), Dunlap (discus, shot put), Isaac Penvose (discus), Winnowski (javelin) and Benny Janeway (javelin) also competed for the boys team.

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