Time to step on it

TRACK: Southridge and Jesuit’s boys battle for supremacy in 2007 Metro race

By MILES VANCE and BILL WILSON

The Beaverton Valley Times, Apr 12, 2007, Updated Oct 30, 2009

MILES VANCE / Beaverton Valley Times

INTENSE – Westview senior sprinter Isaiah Keel and the Wildcats hope to use their speed to great effect during the 2007 Metro League track and field season.

Faster than ever. Stronger than ever. Tougher than ever.

That, in a nutshell, will be the mark of the 2007 Metro League boys track and field race, a race that very well may come down to the talented boys teams from Jesuit and Southridge.

“I have to believe the two powerhouses in our league this year has to go to Southridge and Jesuit,” said Aloha coach Bill Volk. “I would love to be at that meet and watch the two of them in a dual. Southridge’s athleticism and Jesuit’s depth would make for an interesting meet.”

“Southridge is going for state. They have the numbers and the talent, and Jesuit is real good,” said Westview coach Cheryl Wardell.

For her part, Southridge coach Terry Rife chose to downplay the matchup with the Crusaders, though she obviously believes in her team’s chances to win.

“Jesuit will win league because of their depth in most events,” she said. “They are balanced across the board. With their talent, they will also be able to make a viable run at state again this season.”

Following are previews of the varsity boys track teams at the six Metro League high schools.

ALOHA

ALOHA — There’s external competition and internal competition and it’s the internal variety that concerns first-year Aloha coach Bill Volk and his Warriors most this year.

The Aloha boys, coming off a 1-5 effort and eighth-place tie in 2006, should be better in 2007, but just how much better remains to be seen.

“The strength of our program is beginning to develop — that’s the competition within our team,” said Volk, an attendance supervisor and strength coach at the school who took over head coaching duties from Tim Tank this year. “Our biggest battle is not our competitors; it’s ourselves.”

This year’s Warriors are led by senior Jude Graves, the defending Metro champ in the triple jump and the top returner in the long jump, and by senior Trevor Rochlin in the javelin, who was fourth in the Metro League a year ago.

Other athletes expected to score regularly for the Warriors are senior Dominic Polizzi in the 400 meters and intermediate hurdles and sophomore Jason Waldram in the 800 and 1500.

Aloha

100 — Brian Terletsky, Sr.; Vince Mull, So.; Kyle Neblett, Sr.; Jamie Marrs, So.; 200 — Mull; Neblett; Terletsky; 400 — Dominic Polizzi, Sr.; Travis McGowan, Jr.; 800 — David Stephensen, Jr.; Trey Trahin, Jr.; Kevin Sepulveda, So.; 1500 — Jason Waldram, So.; Sepulveda; Alexander LaFlamme, Jr.; 3000 — Waldram; Kurtis Owen, Sr.; LaFlamme; Sepulveda; 110 HH — Paulo David, So.; Brian Pawlowski, Sr.; Imeh Archibong, Fr.; 300 IH — Polizzi; David; High Jump — McGowan; Jake Stone, Jr.; Triple Jump — Jude Graves, Sr.; Chris Hodges, Sr., Coby Nelson, Jr.; Long Jump — Graves; Nelson; McGowan; Hodges; Pole Vault — Stone; Trevor Rochlin, Sr.; Shot Put — Christopher Newton, Jr.; Justin Toedemeier, Jr.; Spencer Moe, Jr.; Discus —Newton; Toedemeier; Moe; Javelin — Rochlin; Colin Looney, Jr.; Martin.

BEAVERTON

BEAVERTON — Contrast is the name of the game at Beaverton this year, where the Beavers bring back one of the most decorated athletes in the state in senior hurdler Tyler McBee (a four-time state champ) but also field one of their smallest teams in years.

“Obviously, Tyler McBee is going to be the focus of the whole Beaverton track team,” said Beaverton coach Jim Archer. McBee “is a good anchor for our long relay team and obviously a great hurdler.”

The Beavers will also get a boost this year from senior Paul Fowler in the 800 and 1500 meters, and from sophomore Brad Bettendorf in the 400.

“That’s the real foundation of the team, but other than that, we’re just trying to find people at a lot of spots,” Archer said. “It’s the smallest team we’ve had in 10 or 15 years.”

Beaverton

100 — Riley Schmutzer, Jr.; Cody Ballard, So.; Seth Stillwell, Jr.; 200 — Schmutzer; Ballard; Nieco Biggi, Jr.; 400 — Brad Bettendorf, So.; R.J. Liggins, Jr.; Michael Carrington, Sr.; 800 — Paul Fowler, Sr.; Maneesh Arora, Sr.; 1500 — Fowler; Vincent Kirse, Jr.; Tom Semph, Sr.; 3000 — Kirse; Kyle Schytz, Sr.; 110 HH — Tyler McBee, Sr.; Logan Veith, Jr.; 300 IH — McBee; Carrington; High Jump — Liggins; Adam Bowlsby, Jr.; Triple Jump — Bowlsby; Carrington; Long Jump — Stillwell; Ji Gu Kang, Jr.; Pole Vault — Veith; Matt Brownell, Jr.; Shot Put —Colin Currier, Jr.; Josh Ahn, Sr.; Discus — Ahn; M. Lewis, So.; Javelin — Chris Woods, Jr.; Ninoah Wilmes, So.; Andrew Daniels, So.

JESUIT

BEAVERTON — Big. Fast. Deep. Strong. Experienced. Jesuit.

The Crusaders are back in force and among the favorites to win their fourth straight Metro League title this year, thanks to the return of a bevy of talented sprinters, a talented distance corps, a top-notch hurdler and a strong shot putter.

“We think we have a chance to compete with the top teams in the league,” Jesuit coach Tom Rothenberger said. “We’re excited.”

Foremost among the Crusaders’ returners are three-quarters of the team’s state champion 4 x 100-meter relay, senior Jamaine Olson, senior Kwame Essieh and junior Raphiel Lambert, who will be joined by senior Paul Weatheroy (“He’s so much bigger, stronger and faster than last year,” Rothenberger said of Weatheroy) for another state-quality contender.

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