Thomas Jefferson’s Wagner siblings charge toward state championships

By: HSSN Staff
Saturday, April 21, 2018 | 12:57 AM

Zach and Molly Wagner share a goal for the track and field season.

Each of the Thomas Jefferson speedsters is aiming for a berth in the PIAA championships at Shippensburg University.

Both took a step in that direction April 14 at the Tri-State Track Coaches Association invitational meet at West Mifflin.

Zach, a junior and state qualifier a year ago, placed second in the boys 200-meter and fourth in the 100 dashes with times of 22.35 and 11.12 seconds. He advanced to the state meet last season by winning the WPIAL Class AAA title in the 200 in 22.37. He also placed sixth in the 100.

Zach's younger sister, Molly, a sophomore, finished second in the girls 100 and fifth in the 200 at the Tri-State meet with times of 12.74 and 26.28. Molly qualified for the WPIAL championships in the 100 and 200 last season.

Both elite athletes also run the anchor legs for TJ's 400 relay units.

“Zach has been working extremely hard to get back to states this year,” said William Paull, who shares the TJ coaching duties with Kevin Gennaula. “Block work has been something he's been focusing on this year, and I can tell from his performance at the Tri-State meet that it is paying off.

“Molly has been much more confident in her races after having a year of high school competition under her belt. She has been impressing us every time she steps on the track this season. She is extremely powerful out of the blocks, and her speed endurance has improved tremendously. After watching her brother make the trip to states last year, she has been working even harder to punch her own ticket to Shippensburg this year.”

There were four other Thomas Jefferson medalists at the season-opening invitational — freshman Claire Whalen and junior Raelin Krueger in the girls events, junior Jordan Murga in the boys competition, plus the Jaguars' 400 relay unit.

Whalen placed fifth in the long jump (16-3.5) and eighth in the 400 (1:02.15), Krueger secured seventh place in the javelin (105-4) and Murga ended up eighth in the 400 (53.93).

The 400 relayers, consisting of Murga, senior Davin Manfredi, freshman Alex Folino and Wagner, captured fifth place in 44.69.

Thomas Jefferson's boys team also was represented at the meet by Manfredi (100, 200), senior Seth Roberston (800), freshmen Luke Pletz (400, triple jump), Ian Majetic (800), Kaiden Smith (1,600), Luke Thurner (1,600) and Gabriel Snyder (3,200); sophomore Mason Crans (100 hurdles), junior Alex Checcio (300 hurdles); and seniors Nick Majetic (300 hurdles, long jump), Eli Minda (triple jump, long jump) and Kevin Peters (shot put, discus).

Other participants for the TJ girls team included Krueger (shot put, discus), sophomore Lydia Shaw (1,600, javelin), and freshmen Sophia Natter (400, javelin), Mia Olsen (hurdles) and Cindy Obiero (shot put).

“We are a really young team this year with many athletes that we are focused on developing,” Paull said. “Claire Whalen has the ability to really stir things up in the WPIAL over the next few years in the long jump and 400. I see her as being a sub-60 400 runner and 17-18 foot long jumper by the end of the season. She is an amazing athlete who could truly be competing in any event we throw her in.

“Kaiden Smith and Gabe Snyder are two distance athletes who are starting the season off very strong. Kaiden is an extremely strong runner. He is slowly gaining confidence and is shaving time off his mile at a record pace. Gabe is a two-miler who I know on any given day could go sub-11 minutes. Both push each other to get better in every practice, which adds to the excitement of coaching these young athletes.”

The TJ boys also were represented at the invite by Roberston, Thurner, Snyder and Smith in the 3,200 relay race.

Natter, Whalen, freshman Grace Nwabuogu and Wagner also competed for the TJ girls in the 400 relay.

Track notes: Zach Wagner racked up second- and third-place finishes in the 200 and 100, respectively, at last year's TSTCA outdoor meet. Molly Wagner ended up third in the 100 and fourth in the 200 a year ago.

Krueger (javelin) and senior Kayla Polakovic (400) were WPIAL finalists last season.

Ray Fisher is a freelance writer.

Tags: Thomas Jefferson