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WEST PITTSTON – Wyoming Area lost just three Wyoming Valley Conference Division 2 boys track meets in the last three seasons.
Northwest has been responsible for each of those losses on the way to division titles.
Not this year.
The Warriors overcame their biggest nemesis and the latest dominant performance by Tyler Burger Wednesday to take a major step toward a possible division championship with a 92-58 victory on their home track.
Wyoming Area got individual wins from six different athletes and used its depth to turn back Northwest.
The Warriors swept all three relays, took second place in 12 of 15 individual events and claimed third in 11 of 15.
“It was a very big win for us,” Wyoming Area coach Joe Pizano said. “For our kids, it was huge. It’s the first time in four years that we beat Northwest.
“Every year, our one loss is to them.”
Wyoming Area and Northwest shared the 2012 division title with Holy Redeemer after all three teams went 6-1. Each of the past two seasons, the Rangers have finished 7-0 while the Warriors have gone 6-1.
If the division title is ultimately decided by their meeting again this season, the top two spots in the standings will be reversed.
Joe Buczynski led a balanced team effort for the Warriors, winning the 800-meter run and contributing to wins in the opening and closing 3,200 and 1,600 relays.
Nico Vasquez won the 1,600 and was part of the 3,200 relay.
“Our kids were so excited for this meet,” Pizano said of a meeting that was in doubt for much of the day because of another gloomy weather forecast.
The Warriors came out of the meet with a 5-0 record and two meets remaining.
Northwest (4-1) was led by Burger and Zach Briggs.
Burger won the 110 high hurdles by 2.7 seconds, the 300 hurdles by 3.8 seconds, the long jump by 23 inches and the high jump by 6 inches.
“He makes it look so natural that it looks like he’s not working,” Pizano said. “I’m sure he’s working hard, but he makes it look so smooth.
“We’ve been going against him for four years. He’s something special.”
Briggs swept the sprints, winning the 100, 200 and 400.
While the Wyoming Area boys were breaking a tie for first place, the girls were staying on a collision course with Lake-Lehman for a potential battle of unbeatens in the May 4 regular-season finale.
Bree Bednarski and Marcyssa Brown showed off their versatility while leading a 102-48 romp over a Northwest team that entered the day alone in third place with just one loss.
Bednarski, who began the day at softball practice, won the 100, 200 and javelin. Her most impressive performance, however, may have been as the anchor on a 400 relay team.
The Warriors had dropped the baton at the first exchange to fall far behind, but Bednarski made up a large deficit in her 100 meters to pull out the win.
Brown won the shot put and triple jump, ran a leg on the winning 1,600 relay and finished third in the long jump.
Haley Stackhouse won the high jump, long jump and 100 hurdles.
“This is the best our girls team has been in the 18 years I’ve been here,” Pizano said. “It’s the first time were 5-0.”
Boys
Wyoming Area 92, Northwest 58
3,200 relay — 1. WA (Higgins, Gibbons, Buczynski, Vasquez). 9:38. 110 hurdles — 1. NW, Burger, 15.5; 2. WA, Crake; 3. NW, Kennedy. 100 — 1. NW, Briggs, 11.6; 2. WA, R. Murphy, 3. WA, tie Chronowski, Miles. 1,600 — 1. WA, Vasquez, 4:49; 2. WA, Gibbons; 3, NW, Klock. 400 — 1. NW, Briggs, 52.4; 2, WA, Chronowski; 3. WA, R. Murphy. 400 relay — 1. WA (O’Boyle, Miles, M. Murphy, Steve). 300 hurdles — 1. NW, Burger, 40.9; 2. WA, Crake; 3. NW, Anderson. 800 — 1. WA, Buczynski, 2:09; 2. NW, Clock; 3, WA. Vasquez. 200 — 1. NW, Briggs, 23.8; 2. WA, Chronowski; 3. NW, Kennedy. 3,200 — 1. WA, Marvin, 11:41; 2, WA, Alberigi; 3, WA, Lahart. 1,600 relay — 1. WA (Chronowski, R. Murphy, Murray, Buczynski), 3:39. High jump — 1. NW, Burger 6-2; 2. WA, Murray; 3. WA, Buczynski. Pole vault — 1. NW, Krouse, 12-0; 2. WA, Klaproth; 3. WA, Steve. Long jump — 1. NW, Burger, 21-1 ½; 2. WA, Murray; 3. WA, Lee. Triple jump — 1. WA, Lee, 40-2 ¾; 2. WA, Murray; 3. NW, Kennedy. Shot put — 1. WA, Bekanich, 45-10; 2. NW, Whitmire; 3. WA, Skursky. Discus — 1. NW, Mazonkey, 125-9; 2. WA, Bekanich; 3. WA, Carr. Javelin — 1. WA, Skursky, 164-5; 2. NW, Mazonkey; 3. Sokach-Minnich.
Girls
Wyoming Area 102, Northwest 48
3,200 relay — 1. NW (J. Everett, E. Everett, Jones, Retherford) 11:03. 100 hurdles — 1. WA, H. Stackhouse, 17.4; 2. WA, Spak; 3. NW, Zultevicz. 100 — 1. WA, Bednarski 13.2; 2. WA, Shedlock; 3. WA, Rhodes. 1,600 — 1. NW, Jones, 6:06; 2. NW, Retherford; 3. WA, Heinzlmeir. 400 — 1. WA, Malloy, 1:06.5; 2. WA, Solano; 3, NW, H. Everett. 400 relay — 1. WA (Shedlock, Spak, Rhodes, Bednarski) 54.5. 300 hurdles — 1. WA, Spak, 50.3; 2. NW, Zultevicz; 3. NW, Wilkin. 800 — 1. NW, Retherford, 2:46; 2. NW, J. Everett; 3. NW, E. Everett. 200 — 1. WA, Bednarski, 27.0; 2. WA, Shedlock; 3. NW, Wyllie. 3,200 — 1. NW, Jones 13:40; 2. NW, Demko; 3. WA, Bilbow. 1,600 relay — 1. WA (Solano, Malloy, Brown, Rhodes). 4:34. High jump — 1. WA, H. Stackhouse 4-8; 2. WA, S. Stackhouse; 3. WA, Bulger. Pole vault — 1. WA, S. Stackhouse; 2. WA, Kraynak; 3. WA, Bulger. Long jump — 1. WA, H. Stackhouse 16-3; 2. WA, Shedlock; 3. WA, Brown. Triple jump — 1. WA, Brown, 34-1 ¼; 2. WA, Bulger; 3. WA, Kraynak. Shot put — 1. WA, Brown 28-0; 2. WA, Donnolly; 3. NW, Maclean. Discus — 1. NW, Maclean 88-6; 2. NW, Kishbaugh; 3. NW, Noss. Javelin — 1. WA, Bednarski, 114-8; 2. WA, Coolbaugh; 3, NW, Maclean.