Relay team leads Shady Side Academy girls track squad into season with momentum

By: Josh Rizzo
Saturday, March 22, 2025 | 11:01 AM

Jeff Perlis was eager to see his 3,200 meter relay team in action during the indoor season.

The Shady Side Academy girls track and field coach knew the Bulldogs had the potential to have a strong team. The Bulldogs returned 75% of their starters — Charlotte Baker, Sarah Kushnir and Ella Van Norman — from last season’s group that finished third at the WPIAL Class 2A championships.

With Rhyley Bendel returning from injury, the Shady Side Academy team had a strong winter that should translate into a competitive spring season. The Bulldogs made the state indoor track championships and finished 12th in the relay with a time of 9 minutes, 47.19 seconds.

The only member Shady Side Academy lost from its relay from last season was Chelsea Hartman, who is now at Brown University.

“They’ve been putting in a good bit of work over the winter,” Perlis said. “That was a big accomplishment. We ended up running the race half a second faster than we did with Chelsea.”

Bendel has fit right in. Since none of the runners in that group are seniors, Perlis is excited to have a two-year window to maximize their success.

“They are aiming high,” Perlis said. “Rhyley had the fastest split of all of them at the state meet. It’s a hungry group of athletes. I’m blessed to have a group where the relay comes first. They are all in on that.”

Barker qualified for the 1,600-meter run at the state meet last season. She also had a strong individual season in the indoor meets, scoring team points in the mile and 3K indoors.

Bendel was a state qualifier for the outdoor 800 two years ago before missing last season with an injury. Van Norman had a strong indoor 800 season.

Shady Side Academy will also return juniors Aurora Cunkelman and Maria Ravotti, who qualified for WPIALs in the discus and high jump, respectively.

“They have high individual goals and would like to find a way to qualify for the outdoor state meet individually. They all sense we can hang with the best of them,” Perlis said. “ It’s going to be tough to repeat as WPIAL champions (in the relay) with North Catholic coming down from 3A to 2A.”

Tags: Shady Side Academy