5 sets of twins help bolster Penn-Trafford track and field teams

By: Paul Schofield
Sunday, April 7, 2024 | 11:01 AM

Opponents of the Penn-Trafford track teams will be seeing double this season.

That’s because the Warriors feature five sets of twins.

There are the Lett, Cheplick and Martin twins on the boys team, the Weishaar twins on the girls team, and the Jacksons on both.

“Our 4-by-400 relay team only has two DNAs running,” Penn-Trafford coach Eric Reger said. “We’ve had other sets of twins over the years graduate. There must be something in the water.”

Michael and Tommy Cheplick are junior sprinters. Michael qualified for the WPIAL meet in the 200 in 2023 and both were on the relay team that qualified for the WPIALs along with Aidon and Ekoulus Lett.

The Letts are hurdlers, Josh and Justin Martin are distance runners, and Justine and Joe Jackson are sprinters.

“I’m counting on the twins to score a lot of points for us,” Reger said. “I’m excited for the season. Hopefully we can build on last year’s success.”

Others expected to be major contributors are senior thrower Matt Sarnowski (shot put, discus and javelin), junior javelin thrower Logan Kerstetter and junior distance runner Jake McGhee.

Sarnowski, who finished second in the WPIAL and third in the PIAA is the discus to Hempfield senior Peyton Murray, will be attending Penn State for track. He’s also one of the top shot put throwers in the WPIAL.

Kerstetter finished sixth in the WPIAL last year and Reger expects bigger things from the junior this season.

“We made the playoff for the first time in 12 years last year by beating Hempfield,” Reger said. “We’re in a tough section, and you can’t afford more than one loss. The goal for the boys is to get back in the playoffs.”

Penn-Trafford, boys and girls, also will face Norwin, Latrobe, Greensburg Salem (2A) and Indiana in Section 1-3A.

“We are junior heavy,” Reger said. “We need to recruit some younger athletes. The girls squad, however, looks bright because we have a lot of good freshmen.

“The future looks promising. That will bode well in the future.”

The girls squad is led by senior distance runner Amelia Barilla, junior sprinter Vienna Kearns and the Weishaar twins, Olivia and Hannah.

Barilla has committed to run for Bowling Green in college.

She was part of the 1,600 relay team that qualified for the states in 2023. She teamed up with Hannah Weishaar, Kearns and Kate Schall, who graduated. Olivia Weishaar, who also competed to the relay team, will replace Schall.

Reger said Kearns will run the 100-, 200- and 400-meter runs, while Barilla will handle the distance runs.

The Weishaars run various events. Olivia excels in the hurdles and Hannah is a distance runner.

Paul Schofield is a TribLive reporter covering high school and college sports and local golf. He joined the Trib in 1995 after spending 15 years at the Daily Courier in Connellsville, where he served as sports editor for 14 years. He can be reached at pschofield@triblive.com.

Tags: Penn-Trafford