Westmoreland athletes of the week: Franklin Regional’s Jacob Shedd, GCC’s Lauren Ritenour

By: HSSN Staff
Wednesday, May 23, 2018 | 7:42 PM

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Jacob Shedd

School: Franklin Regional

Sport: Track and field

Class: Senior

Claim to fame: Shedd captured the triple jump title with a mark of 44 feet, 6 ³⁄₄ inches at the WPIAL Class AAA track and field championships at Baldwin on May 17. Shedd edged Penn Hills' Jaden Rouse (44-1 ¹⁄₄). Shedd, who also finished fourth in the long jump (22-5), will participate in both at the PIAA championships Friday and Saturday at Shippensburg.

“The past the four years it's been a goal of mine to win a WPIAL title. During the event, I was getting nervous because I got hurt during the event so I scratched all three of my final jumps,” Shedd said.

What are your college plans for next year?

I will be attending Mt. Union and majoring in biomedical engineering. I will be competing on football and track and field teams.

What does it mean to you win the triple jump after finishing second at WPIALs last season?

Last season, I finished second by an inch. I came so far, but I didn't come out with the win. It was nice to see all the hard work I put in with my coach, Ryan Miller, pay off.

What's your mindset as you head to PIAA championships?

I just need to get my steps down on the board. I made it to states for the first time last year. Now, I can just settle in and hope to medal in the two jumps.

What's your favorite sport, football or track and field?

Track. I've played football for 12 years. I've done track for six years. However, I just love competing in track and field.

How does track and field help you on the football field?

A lot of track is speed training. We do a lot of weighted running. It helps with coordination in football.

Lauren Ritenour

School: Greensburg Central Catholic

Sport: Track and field

Class: Senior

Claim to fame: Ritenour, a Wheeling Jesuit recruit, successfully defended her WPIAL title in the pole vault by clearing 11-3 at the Class AA championships at Baldwin on May 17. Ritenour will participate in the PIAA championships Friday and Saturday at Shippensburg.

“It was a great feeling to do it two years in a row not only for myself but for my coach and my family. To go against some top competition in Waynesburg's Taylor Shriver, it was an amazing feeling,” Ritenour said.

What made you decide on Wheeling Jesuit?

I will be majoring in exercise science, and I will go into their two-year physical therapy program to receive my doctorate. I really like their coach. He's really amazing, and he really showed a lot of interest in me. I want to go out there and perform well for him.

How does it feel to defend your WPIAL title?

It was amazing because not too many people can say they are back-to-back WPIAL champions. It was one of the most amazing days of my life.

What goes through your mind before a pole vault?

I visualize every single step that I need to do in order to vault the heights that I want to.

What's your mindset as you head to the PIAA championships?

It's going to be a big meet. I just want to jump well, and I want to show I'm better than I was at WPIALs. I want to bring it and do my best. I want to get my coach a state medal because I let him down last year by missing the podium by one place.

Who's your favorite celebrity to follow on social media?

I love to follow Sandi Morris, who's very influential in my vaulting career. She's kind of funny, and she has a lot of animals so it's kind of crazy.

— Andrew John

Tags: Franklin Regional, Greensburg C.C.