Track teams highlight year filled with championship gold at Quaker Valley

By: Ray Fisher
Sunday, July 21, 2024 | 11:01 AM

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Quaker Valley ended the 2023-24 school year with eight WPIAL champions in Class 2A, including two team, four individual and two relay titlists.

“Every school year is unique in terms of accomplishments and this year’s strength was found in outstanding performances across the board from a majority of our teams,” said Mike Mastroianni, QV’s athletic director and boys basketball coach.

Thanks to the overall success of its athletes and teams, Quaker Valley claimed the Trib Cup in Class 3A for 2023-24. The Quakers previously won four cups in 4A and three in 2A.

“Capturing the Trip Cup is always a tremendous source of pride for our student-athletes and the entire athletic department as we all become one team,” Mastroianni said. “A big congrats to our student athletes who continue to be the driving force with their dedication and approach.”

The Trib Cup is a yearlong competition in 25 team sports to determine the top WPIAL sports program in each classification. It awards points for section or conference championships, district and state playoff berths and district and state championships and runners-up.

QV produced points in 16 different sports, the most in Class 3A. The Quakers started strong in the fall with a WPIAL championship game appearance for the boys soccer team, then clinched the title with a big spring that included district crowns for the QV boys and girls track teams.

Three members of the QV track and field program corralled first-place WPIAL finishes in their specialties: Mia Gartley (high jump), Davin Gartley (110-meter hurdles) and Jay Olawaiye (triple jump).

A sophomore in 2023-24, Mia Gartley also was a WPIAL champion in the high jump as a freshman.

“I was super stoked to win high jump again,” she said. “It was definitely unexpected but a great achievement. I’ve been working all season to be the best version of myself, so it was so rewarding to hit my goals. Going into WPIAL individuals, my only goal was to qualify for states. Once I hit the state qualifying mark, I felt a huge sense of relief and just continued jumping.”

Gartley was thrilled so see her school return to the top of the Trib Cup standings in 2023-24.

“It’s awesome,” she said. “I know all these athletes have worked so hard individually and together to guide their teams to victory. It’s amazing to see their hard work lead to winning the Trib Cup.”

Davin “Macky” Gartley, a junior this past school year, also ran a leg on the QV boys’ WPIAL winning 1,600-meter relay unit in 2024.

“Macky has grown so much over the last year,” QV coach Jared Jones said. “I’m very happy for the success he’s earned from all of his hard work.

“(And) I am very proud of Mia’s high jump performances. She performs well under pressure and steps up in big moments.”

Gartley was joined in the 1,600 relay race at WPIALs by freshman James Irwin, sophomore Jayden Juliano and junior Clark LaLomia.

“I think the QV athletic culture has grown so much these past years,” Gartely said, “and will continue to grow and dominate.”

Then-junior Jay Olawaiye, the WPIAL girls triple jump runner-up in 2023, claimed the top spot in this year’s triple jump competition.

“I’m super thrilled,” she said. “I wasn’t upset that I got second place last year. The girl who won deserved it, but I’m happy I was able to pull through this year with a jump around two feet better than last year’s.”

Quaker Valley’s track and field program maintained its elite status in 2024 with five WPIAL championship performances and 26 medalists, including 14 on the boys team and 12 on the girls team. All six relay squads were medalists.

Along with a WPIAL victory in the 1,600 relay, the QV boys retained their crown in the 3,200 relay behind the efforts of LaLomia, sophomore River Capek, freshman Jonah Montagnese and junior Jackson Pethel.

It was a clean sweep in the team competition for the Quakers, as both the boys and girls won WPIAL championships. The QV girls captured their third consecutive district crown.

“Our track and boys soccer programs are both part of storied traditions at QV,” Mastroianni said. “They once again had outstanding seasons with both our girls and boys track teams capping it off with WPIAL championships on the same day.”

During the wintertime, QV’s Jack Kazalas, at 133 pounds, repeated as a Class 2A district titlist as a senior wrestler, compiling a 45-7 record.

Kazalas is the all-time leader in wins in the Quakers wrestling program with a 151-28 career record and is the first four-time state qualifier in wrestling.

He finished 28-8, 40-8 and 38-5 in his first three seasons and passed Patrick Cutchember’s previous school record 141 career-win total.

Kazalas had a modest reaction to his mat milestone.

“It feels pretty exciting,” Kazalas said, “but I’m just thankful for my coaches and teammates always pushing me to get better, and with that, the wins would come.”

Kazalas advanced to the PIAA wrestling tournament in Hershey during his senior season and won twice before dropping a tough 1-0 decision in the semifinals.

Kazalas, who will continue his wrestling career at Binghamton University, commented on the school’s Trip Cup victory.

“I think it’s really cool especially since everyone at QV is super close,” he said. “It’s also a great send-off for the seniors.”

The Quaker Valley boys soccer and tennis teams ended their seasons in 2023-24 as WPIAL runners-up, as did five individuals: Ethan Dai (golf), Bruce Anderchak (wrestling), Ruby Olliffe (diving), Davin Gartley (300 hurdles) and LaLomia (1,600).

In all, a total of 68 athletes made WPIAL appearances in 2023-24 including two golfers, one girls tennis doubles tandem, 10 wrestlers, three divers, 12 swimmers, 34 in track and field and five in boys tennis.

Also, 16 teams advanced to the WPIAL playoffs including 10 in boys sports: volleyball, soccer, golf, basketball, lacrosse, track and field, swimming, tennis, wrestling and hockey.

The following girls teams were WPIAL qualifiers: soccer, tennis, basketball, lacrosse, track and field and swimming.

QV also won nine section championships in boys soccer, girls volleyball, girls tennis, girls track and field, boys track and field, girls swimming and diving, wrestling, boys golf and hockey (division title).

“It was really a tremendous year across the board for all of our teams,” Mastroianni said.

Tags: Quaker Valley