Shady Side Academy relay team uses all-for-one mentality to win WPIAL gold

By: Josh Rizzo
Saturday, May 24, 2025 | 11:01 AM

Ella Van Norman feels like the way races are structured sets up Shady Side Academy’s 3,200-meter relay team for success. The Bulldogs’ largest concern during every race is getting the baton to the next person in the best possible position.

Shady Side Academy’s 3,200 relay team — consisting of Rhyley Bendel, Charlotte Barker, Sarah Kushnir and Van Norman — set a school record in the event when it won the WPIAL Class 2A championship with a time of 9:34.10.

“The training prepared us well for the quadruple that Rhyley Bendel and I did at WPIALs,” Van Norman. “The way the events are structured, it’s perfect for the order we prioritize the events. We go all out in the relay. That’s our No. 1 priority because we do that for each other.”

Van Norman, a junior, also qualified for the PIAA championships in the 800-meter run by placing third at WPIALs with a time of 5:11.58. Rhyley Bendel finished fifth in the 800 and also punched her ticket to states with a time of 5:12.93.

Charlotte Barker finished eighth in the 1,600-meter run and earned a medal.

“The girls ran really well,” Shady Side Academy coach Jeff Perlis said. “We had issues with injuries. The relay group ran solid. Having three medalists in the 1,600-meter run two hours after the relay was a demonstration of how far they’ve come.”

Van Norman and her teammates on the relay have been able to put their youth to their advantage. All four runners will be back next season. That has allowed the group to do a lot of strategizing together.

The Shady Side Academy quartet has previously competed together at the Penn Relays. The Bulldogs have qualified for the New Balance Nationals in the distance medley relay and are two seconds off of earning a qualifying time in the 3,200 relay.

“Through the regular season and as we ran at WPIALs, we had a gap on other people,” Van Norman said. “If we aren’t running against someone, we are running for each other. Our only focus is getting the baton to the next teammate as fast as we can. We are doing it for each other. That’s the main goal and focus.”

Perlis said that having a group of athletes used to big meets has made planning strategy easier. The Bulldogs know what they have to do.

Shady Side Academy would like to keep earning their way into meets with top competition.

“They’ve seen a lot of different scenarios,” Perlis said. “They are calmer than they were last year. It’s good to see. They’ve been there and the moment isn’t too big for them.”

Tags: Shady Side Academy