Sharks reload, hope to reclaim league dominance
by PATRICK J. NAGY Reporter

When the Sacred Heart girls outdoor track team arrives at a meet this spring, their warm-up shirts will read a motto that defines what the 2008 season is all about - 'We don't rebuild. We reload.'

The Sharks lost 12 seniors from last year's team, most notably Jenna and Jackie Piecuch, Kerry Hurley, Melissa Federice and Stephanie Smith - all place finishers at last year's All-Catholics - but coach Rod Sarkovics is approaching this spring with the same attitude he's always had.

"We want it all (league title and All-Catholics)," said Sarkovics. "We're not going to sit back."

The Sharks have plenty of motivation. Nardin edged Sacred Heart, 124-121, at last year's All-Catholics, ending their stranglehold on dominance in Monsignor Martin Association track. Sacred Heart hadn't lost an outdoor track meet, league or All-Catholics, since 2004. They're still undefeated in the five-year history of the MMA club indoor league.

To reclaim the mantel as the best girls track team in the MMA, Sarkovics is reloading with a blend of veterans and incoming freshmen for his largest roster possibly ever, 29 athletes. He's also brought back the Piecuch sisters as the team's jumping coaches and his son, Dave, to coach distance events.

Sarkovics will look to senior four-year runners Kim Patterson (3000-meters) and Brittney Gibbons (1500, 3000), junior third-year runner Melissa Naab (100, 200) and field event girl Jessica Moses (shot put, discus throw) and second-year runners in senior Liz Tramposch (shot put, discus) and juniors Natalie Coppola (100, triple jump, long jump) and Alycia Pontello (shot put, discus). Also returning is sophomore Erin Wattengel (1500).

At last year's All-Catholics, Patterson took fourth in the 3000, Coppola was third and fourth in the long and triple jump and Tramposch placed second in the shot put and fifth in the discus.

Sarkovics is also expecting junior Kacey Bougard (400) to contribute.

Sarkovics is real excited about his incoming freshmen, especially Kaitley Wozer (800), Emily Shanahan (800), Emilyrose Conforti (400) and Rachael Cohen (400, 800).

The Sharks' relays are relatively set. Shanahan, Wozer, Patterson and Bougard are scheduled to run the 4x800 relay. The 4x100 relay will have junior Christine Loftus, Coppola, Pontello, and Naab as the anchor and sophomore Alex Skomra as an alternate. The 4x400 relay will have Shanahan, Wozur, Gibbons and Bougard with Cohen as an alternate.

Skomra can also run the 200. Skomra took sixth in the event at last year's All-Catholics.

Rod Sarkovics doesn't see one area on his team that is stronger than another.

"We're a pretty balanced team," he said. "Our distance runners with Gibbons and Patterson will be OK. Tramposch has really been a settling force in the shot put and disc. Coppola is our leading jumper."

Rod Sarkovics sees Nardin as the team to beat. They'll meet for the first time at 4:15 p.m. on Tuesday, May 6 at Grand Island High School.
Sacred Heart 2008 Schedule
5-1 Holy Angels............ 4:15 p.m.
5-6 Nardin ..................... 4:15 p.m.
5-8 Mt. St. Mary's......... 4:15 p.m.
5-13 Mt. Mercy ............. 5:30 p.m.
5-21 All-Catholics (John F.
Kennedy) ....................... 3:30 p.m.
*The 5-1, 5-8 and 5-13 meets will
be held at the Donohue Track at
Southside Elementary.