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The St. Joseph’s women’s track team will be in action in the Princeton Quad Meet on Jan. 8 in Princeton, New Jersey. And leading the way will be seniors Dannah Hayward and Sara Radzwilka.

Coughlin grad Hayward is one of the top performers in the Atlantic-10 Conference. She holds the school record in the 500 meter dash (1:13.96) and is a member of the record-breaking 4×400 relay (3:49.15). She had 16 top-10 finishes last winter and finished fifth with the relay in sixth in the 500 at last year’s league indoor championship.

“Dannah lost a little time during the preseason due to a concussion, but has been cleared and is back to training full strength,” coach Melody O’Reilly said. “I expect she will have an incredible season.”

Radzwilka, a Wyoming Area grad, is a distance runner for the Hawks.

“Sara is coming off a solid cross country season and I hope to see her improve even more on the track,” O’Reilly said. “I look for her and Dannah to be leaders both on and off the track.”

Freshman Lindsey Oremus (Dallas) is coming off a standout cross country season.

“Lindsey is very excited about training for the middle distances during the track season,” O’Reilly said. “She’s got a lot of speed and I can’t wait to work with her at the shorter distances.”

Another freshman, Nathaniela Bourdeau (Coughlin), is a sprinter and finished second in the 60 meter dash (7.90) at the season opening Jack Pyrah Invitational at Haverford.

“Nat has had a very strong preseason and had an impressive first performance at the Pyrah,” O’Reilly said.

HARRY’S A STARTER: Army West Point’s Austin Harry is starting at 133 pounds and has a 7-6 overall record and a 2-1 dual meet mark after scoring a major decision in an 18-14 loss to North Carolina prior to the holiday break. The Lake-Lehman grad has a pin and technical fall with two bonus points.

“We really think Austin has done a nice job so far,” head coach Kevin Ward said. “He is learning what it takes to be competitive at this level and is making progress every week.”

While Harry’s record is not gaudy, Ward and his staff see improvement with every competition.

“One of the things that really helps Austin is his maturity,” the coach said. “He is able to handle stress and has a perspective on things that not many freshmen have.”

Ward feels that Harry will have a great wrestling career with the Black Knights.

“We are fortunate to have him on our team and the American people are fortunate that he will be a leader in the Army after graduation,” the coach said.

Army returns to action Friday and Saturday in the Southern Scuffle in Chattanooga, Tennessee.

GOOD START FOR WIGNOT: Julia Wignot will be seeing double duty competing with the Duquesne women’s track team.

The Holy Redeemer grad opened the indoor season by finishing seventh out of 33 in the long jump at the Youngstown State Icebreaker in Youngstown, Ohio, prior to the exam and holiday break. She had a 17-04 ¾ effort. She also finished 14th in the triple jump with a 33-08 performance.

“Julia had a great start to the season,” coach Jim Lear said. “She will be one of our top long jumpers and short sprinters this winter and in the spring.”

The Dukes return to action and to Ohio Saturday, Jan. 16 when they compete in the annual Doug Raymond Invitational in Kent.

FISHER ON THE MAT: Derek Fisher is competing in dual matches as a freshman. The Nanticoke grad is starting at 197 pounds for the Scranton wrestling team. He’s 5-9 overall and 4-5 in dual competition. He has a pin.

“My first impression of Derek is that he is one of the nicest student-athletes I have coaches in my career,” coach Al Russomano said.

Fisher is actually a 184-pounder.

“We had two 184-pounders equally good without having a true 197-pounder and I needed one of them to step up and commit filling that weight class,” Russomano said. “I recommended Derek because of his strength and, of course, he accepted the challenge.

“Being a freshman and giving up several pounds to his opponents is tough, but he has done a great job.”

The 6-4 Royals get back into action next Wednesday in a dual match at Elizabethtown.

TRIO WRESTLING WITH HUSKIES: Juniors Andy Schutz and Kevin Laubach and freshman Saul Wilkins are members of the Bloomsburg wrestling team. Wyoming Area grad Schutz is 6-4 overall and 4-3 in dual meets at 133 pounds. Berwick Area grad Laubach is wrestling in open competition at 157 and is 3-2. GAR grad Wilkins is competing at heavyweight and is 2-8 overall and 0-4 in dual matches.

“Our staff has enjoyed watching both Andy and Kevin grow into captains and we are excited to watch them excel the next few years,” coach Jason Mester said. “They both have outstanding work ethic and a commitment toward our program.”

The coach feels that Wilkins has a mix of work ethic and grit to him.

“Right now Saul is one of the most active learners on the team,” Mester said. “He started wrestling his junior year in high school and continues to thrive in our room.”

The Huskies are in action Sunday when they face Virginia Military and host Hofstra in Hempstead, New York.

BIG WIN FOR CORDES: Freshman Cody Cordes is 10-10 at 165 pounds for the Lock Haven wrestling team. He’s 0-1 in dual competition. The Wyoming Valley West grad had a big victory (11-5 decision) to help the Bald Eagles defeat Division I Hofstra.

“Cody has been battling hard this year,” coach Scott Moore said. “His win against Hofstra helped us seal the match. He’s had some other solid matches and should continue to develop as the season progresses.”

Junior Brad Emerick, a Coughlin grad, is competing at 285 and is 9-10 overall and 0-4 in dual matches.

“Brad has been a consistent heavyweight for the past two seasons and continues to improve,” Moore said. “He is on the verge of winning some big matches.”

Emerick finished fifth at the PSACs with two pins and a major decision.

Redshirt freshman Nathan Cheek (Wyoming Valley West) and freshman Derek Dragon (Lake-Lehman) are also on the squad. Cheek is 7-8 at 157 while Dragon, who’s being redshirted, is 1-6 at 174.

IMPRESSIVE START FOR GREGO: Freshman Felicia Grego is having a good first season with the West Chester women’s swim team and the Hazleton Area grad had another strong performance in the Golden Rams Classic prior to the holiday break.

Grego finished third in the 200 butterfly (2:10.31) and fifth in the 100 butterfly (59.66) to help West Chester finish second behind Ursinus. She also was a member of the 200 free relay which finished second, the 800 free relay which finished fourth and the 800 free relay which finished fifth, the latter two relays West Chester’s B units.

Former Coughlin star Dannah Hayward has overcome an early injury to try and build on her record-breaking resume at St. Joseph’s.
https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/web1_Hayward_429A047020151229153922116.jpg.optimal.jpgFormer Coughlin star Dannah Hayward has overcome an early injury to try and build on her record-breaking resume at St. Joseph’s. Submitted photo

By Bill Arsenault

For Times Leader

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