Quaker Valley athletes off to fast start, with sights set on defending WPIAL championships

By: Ray Fisher
Sunday, April 13, 2025 | 11:01 AM

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Quaker Valley’s track and field program displayed its talent and depth in the season-opening meet March 28 at QV’s home stadium.

The Quakers flew past Aquinas Academy, Eden Christian Academy, Sewickley Academy and Sto-Rox in a unique quintet meet.

QV racked up 31 first-place finishes, including 17 in the boys competition and all six relay events.

“The outdoor season is going to be a lot of fun,” QV coach Jared Jones said. “There are high expectations, but I think we have the ability to live up to them. We lost a lot of irreplaceable talent (to graduation), but we’re hopeful and excited for the challenge.”

QV sophomore James Irwin won the 100-meter, 200 and long jump events to lead the Quakers in the victory column.

Irwin was complemented by senior Davin “Macky” Gartley (110 hurdles, 300 hurdles) and sophomore Jonah Montagnese (1,600, 3,200), both double winners for the boys team.

“We have very high expectations for the season,” Montagnese said. “We’re hoping to defend our WPIAL championship and trying to win a state championship as a team. I’m sure we are in store for a very strong season.

“For me personally, I have a lot of confidence coming off a successful indoor track season.”

Gartley, juniors Xander Vescio and Aiden Dwyer and sophomore Hugo Castellini claimed the top four spots in the 110 hurdles.

“The boys team is doing really well,” Gartley said. “My goals are to win at WPIALs and the PIAA in the 300 hurdles, 110 hurdles and 4-by-400 relay.”

First-place performances at the five-team meet were attained by senior Clark LaLomia (400) and junior River Capek (800). QV also dominated the field events with individual wins by Dwyer (high jump), junior Nicholas Winnowski (javelin), senior Thomas Debelak (triple jump), freshman Jasper Newlin (discus) and sophomore Trey Dunlap (shot put).

Debelak, who is known at T.J., placed third in the triple jump at the PTFCA indoor championships March 2 at Penn State, hitting a mark of 45 feet, 11 inches. Debelak holds the school record in the event.

“Every single one of his jumps were personal and season bests,” Jones said. “I am very excited to see what he is able to do in the outdoor season.”

Debelak, who participated in the New Balance Indoor Nationals on March 13-16 in Boston, is expecting a banner 2025 season for the QV boys team.

“I truly believe we will win the WPIAL and state championships this year,” Debelak said. “For myself, I’m feeling a lot more confident in my jumping ability. My dream is to hit 50-feet-plus in the triple jump.”

The Quakers captured six of the first eight places in the shot put behind the efforts of Dunlap, Winnowski, Newlin, freshman Sebastian Holte, junior Austin Young and senior Sebastian Juarez-Safran.

Newlin, Dunlap, Winnowski and freshman Colton Carter finished first through fourth in the discus.

Turning to the girls competition, QV seniors Cecilia Montagnese (800, 1,600) and Lea Mauer (discus, javelin) led the way as double titlists.

Montagnese had a second-place showing in the 3,000-meter run at the state indoor championships with a time of 9 minutes, 42.25 seconds.

“Cecilia’s place was the highest ever (indoors) by a Quaker Valley athlete while crushing the school record,” QV assistant John Doucette said.

Montagnese has been a WPIAL qualifier in cross country four times in her high school career and has made it to states three times. She won the WPIAL Class 2A title in cross country title last fall.

After graduation, Montagnese plans to compete at the next level for Villanova, where she will run for the women’s cross country and track teams.

“I’m hoping to have some success this season both individually and with our team,” she said. “I’m also just excited to enjoy my last outdoor season with the team. Most of our more competitive meets will happen later in the season.”

The remaining QV girls zeroing in on first place were sophomore Maddie Gatehouse (200), senior Kwilai Karto (400), freshman Lucy Montagnese (3,200), sophomore Rose Pocasangre (300 hurdles), junior Oumou “Mimi” Thiero (high jump), senior Jay Olawaiye (triple jump) and sophomore Maura Calhoun (shot put).

Olawaiye, juniors Emma Currier and Mia Gartley, sophomore Tiya Singh, freshman Keira Watson, sophomore Alex Polce and freshman Adele Hydzik swept first through seventh place in the triple jump event.

“My outdoor season has been going good so far,” Olawaiye said. “I am heading to the Penn Relays in a couple weeks.”

Karto and sophomores Rose Cline, Hope Waller and Maggie Doz earned the first four places in the 400. Mauer, junior Clara Herman, sophomore Hannah Stein, Calhoun and junior Zora Washington rook first through fifth in the javelin.

Both QV teams are defending WPIAL champions. QV’s boys won their first district title in 25 years.

“After the last meet, my captains and I noticed that our team had been slacking a bit,” Debelak said. “With that being said, we had a group discussion about our plans for the team. These plans consist of a new warmup routine and a conversation with one another about staying disciplined, understanding the level of competition, and, of course, diminishing the small talk.

“This is a great team. I truly believe we will win it all in the end.”

The QV girls are three-time defending district titlists.

“The senior girls are going for a career sweep of WPIAL championships,” Jones said. “This year may be the toughest challenge they have faced with new competition after some reclassifications, but they are excited to welcome the competition. The boys also feel confident in their chances to repeat.”

Quaker Valley was well-represented at the WPIAL championships last year. The Quakers had 29 athletes compete in 34 individual events and on all six relays.

“Our coaching staff does such a great job in every discipline at helping find the right events for athletes and preparing them for the different aspects of the season,” Jones said. “Our coaching staff puts in countless hours behind the scenes.”

QV maintained its elite status with five WPIAL title-winning performances last year and 26 medalists: 14 boys; 12 girls. The relay squads also were medalists.

Mia Gartley (high jump), Macky Gartley (110 hurdles) and Olawaiye (triple jump) are defending district champions.

“We had so many impressive performances across the board,” Jones said. “A major highlight of the WPIAL (team) meet was a new school record in the 300 hurdles set by Macky Gartley with a time of 38.99.

“Macky was also the anchor of the 4-by-100 relay team with Ronnie Berry, Winston Clifford and Izzy Emerson. Their time of 43.58 is now second all-time in school history.”

Along with Olawaiye, Cecilia Montagnese and the QV boys distance medley relayers, consisting of LaLomia (1,200), Gartley (400), senior Jackson Pethel (800) and Montagnese (1,600), will compete at the Penn Relays.

Sewickley Academy athletes shine

Several athletes stood out for Sewickley Academy at the five-team meet with freshman Zak Sharma making her presence felt via runner-up finishes in the 1,600 and 3,200 events.

Other top performers for the boys team were juniors Eli Koziar and Nathan Victor in the 400, sophomore Valentino Cercone (200 hurdles) and freshman Carson D’Antonio (high jump).

Another highlight for Sewickley was the effort displayed by freshman Lisette Niepa in all three sprints (100, 200, 400).

Eden’s DeFazio wins 100, long jump

Eden Christian senior Lara DeFazio demonstrated her athleticism by taking first place in the 100 in 12.7 and long jump with a distance of 17-11. She also placed third in the high jump.

Three of DeFazio’s teammates corralled runner-up finishes — freshman Jahna Prude (200), junior Tabby Hogan (300 hurdles) and sophomore Lydia Clark (discus). Clark also is a leading competitor for the Warriors in the javelin and discus.

Eden’s leading competitor on the boys side was senior Christian Hicks, whose specialty is the high jump.

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