High school track: Jet-setter Maya Piechowiak paces Highland at Medina relays

MEDINA — Mere hours after Maya Piechowiak touched down back in Ohio, the Highland senior was soaring again. Piechowiak returned from a spring break trip to Florida at 3 a.m. Saturday and quickly turned around to tie for first place in the high jump at Medina's 35th annual Tom Fasko Relays with an effort of 4 feet, 10 inches later that morning. "I'm not going to lie. I'm running on four hours of sleep, so I'm a little tired," said Piechowiak said, who shared gold with Twinsburg's Jadyn James and Sadie Poudevigne. "I got here, warmed up with my teammates and we were just excited. We all did really well. "I'm hoping to get back to five (feet), but I'll blame it on the jetlag." Riley Critchett jumped a personal-record 4-8 and Lillian Gozzard added a 4-6 to help Highland win the event. For the second straight season, Medina swept the team championships in different fashions. The boys needed a victory by Jackson Riffle, Ben Neiger, Liam Meade and Carson Henning in the 4x400-meter relay (3:31.16) to score 10 points and Woodridge to place ninth for zero points to edge the Bulldogs 99-96 and to win back-to-back championships. The girls managed to lead a competitive field for most of the day to beat Twinsburg 97-95 for the eighth straight title dating to 2015. There was no meet in 2016 because of snow and 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Winning on their home track was a strong way to start the invitational season for both teams. "I think it's really important to establish early that you are a great team, and it's great to do on your home track," said senior Lauren Dawson, who won the 100 hurdles (15.16). "We showed people we are a strong, good, confident team and I think that's really important, especially going later in the season when it all counts." Dawson and led Hayden Henry, Audrey Johnson and Alexis Schwemley to second in the 100 shuttle hurdles (1:10.84) and teamed with Olivia Price and Hailey Hofmann to finish second in the long jump (46-4.5). Highland finished third out of 13 girls teams. Sierra Podolan, Audrey Wendl and Jordan Miller swept the shot put (101-1.5) and discus (446-2), with Podolan taking the top individual spot in each. The Hornets claimed the top three discus throws. Freshman Katie Schuler followed a strong cross country season by winning the 3,200 (11:27.84). Cloverleaf was fourth behind a second-place finish by All-Ohioan Riley Evans in the 200 (25.85) and a second by the sprint medley of Evans, Callee Gibson, Kayla Shook and Sarah Kelly (1:51.61). On the boys side, Highland was sixth out of 14 teams, with the long jump relay of Matt Ciryak, Vincent Mancuso and James Koorey taking second with 59-9. The Colts were eighth, as Gavin Forbes took second in the 3,200 (10:20.45) and Isaac Baltic won the pole vault (14-6) by more than two feet to lead Cloverleaf to second (22-6) with Chase Young. "It was a little cold and a little windy, but I feel like I did pretty good today," Baltic said. "I don't feel like I'm too far behind. I'm in the top 10 in Ohio, so I feel like I'm in a pretty good spot right now." The Bees boys won five relays, starting with the first track event when Emerson Lindsley, Andrew Bugner, Varun Rodrigues and Jake Sebaugh won the 4x1,600 in 18:15.63. Sebaugh, the Gazette MVP in cross country, took the baton from Rodrigues in the anchor leg, sat just behind Woodridge's Sam Su for the first two laps and then made his move on the backstretch to put the Bulldogs (18:20.15) into second. "The weather isn't perfect today, so I'll take every slight advantage I can get," Sebaugh said. "If someone is going to be in front of me, I'll sit, be patient and then go in the end." Bugner, an All-Gazette cross country runner, did a great job of closing the gap during the second lap. The victory showed Medina's depth in the distance, even if the 4x1,600 is not a typical event. "All four of us ran really well, and that's what we were looking to do," Bugner said. "The 4x1,600 isn't a typical event in the postseason, but the 1,600 is always going to be in track. It's nice to have four really fast guys here, and it means a lot to come out here and win this meet at home." Bugner, Sebaugh and Lindsley later paired with Max Dudley to win the distance medley (10:38.10). The Bees also got wins from Riffle, Austin Knowles and Tyreek Kelley in the long jump (63-5) and Dylan Forster, Elliott Avalon and Aaron Angelli in the shot put (133-8). The Medina girls got their first win from the 4x8 of Alexis Warnement, Alayna Yanmaz, Maddy Roberts and Ruth Schmeller (10:18.99). "It was a really good day, and we were all excited for this race," Warnement said. "I think we worked really well together, especially Maddy and Ruth they were really strong at the end and pulled through for us." Contact John Urchek at jurchek@medina-gazette.com. Results Boys Standings: 1. Medina 99, 2. Woodridge 96, 3. Austintown Fitch 74, 4. St. Ignatius 64, 5. Brush 47.5, 6. Highland 47, 7. CVCA 46.5, 8. Cloverleaf 42, 9. Twinsburg 34, 10. Firestone 19, 11. Villa Angela-St. Joseph 17, 12. St. Edward 14, 13. Medina 'B' 11, 14. Kenston 6. High jump — 1. Woodridge (Johnny Joward, Harvey Kever, Taneil Gaddis) 16-9, 4. Medina (Tyreek Kelley, Graham Tucker-Camou, Aiden Gontarz) 16-0, 4. Cloverleaf (Logan Forbes, Zach Brownson, Nathan Tomes) 16-0. Long jump — 1. Medina (Jackson Riffle, Austin Knowles, Tyreek Kelley) 63-5, 2. Highland (Matt Ciryak, Vincent Mancuso, James Koorey) 59-9, 8. Cloverleaf (Tristan Bogucki, Ethan Gray, Isaac Smith) 53-2.5. Pole vault — 1. St. Ignatius (Nathaniel Konchan, Thomas Gurney) 23-9, 2. Cloverleaf (Isaac Baltic, Chase Young) 22-6, 3. Highland (Evan Dimalanta, Samuel McPherson) 22.3, 5. Medina (Owen Stepsis, Judah Carrell) 19-6. Shot put — 1. Medina (Dylan Forster, Elliott Avalon, Aaron Angell) 133-8, 4. Cloverleaf (Clay Combs, Timmy Shores, Will Rogalski) 125-1.25, 5. Highland (Jacob Van Boxel, Tyler Kildoo, Brayden Schuck) 122-2.25. Discus — 1. St. Ignatius (James Conrad, Drake Vander Cica, Leo Rick) 364-10, 4. Highland (Jacob Van Boxel, Brayden Schuck, Spencer Marquis) 351-4, 7. Cloverleaf (Clay Combs, Timmy Shores, Will Rogalski) 230-1. 4x1,600 — 1. Medina (Emerson Lindsley, Varun Rodrigues, Andrew Bugner, Jake Sebaugh) 18:15.63, 4. Highland (Ty Sgambati, Oren Scranton, Matthew Rini, Colton Klein) 19:11.91, 8. Cloverleaf (Caleb Neville, Gavin Forbes, Ben Myers, Matthew Jenkins) 19:28.23. Sprint medley — 1. St. Ignatius (Antonio Sidoti, Owen Cowell, Caleb Cupp, Samurai Chung) 1:34.99, 8. Medina (Owen Stepsis, Evan Browne, Grant Noftz, William Meade) 1:38.38. 4x800 — 1. St. Ignatius (Maxwell Friedrich, Aiden Walter, Jack Sheppard, Evan Richter) 8:27.43, 4. Medina (Noah Smith, Carson Henning, Carson Meagher, Tyler Aupperle) 8:44.77, 5. Cloverleaf (Caleb Neville, Jackson James, Matthew Jenkins, Ben Myers) 8:45.66, 5. Medina 'B' (Nate Fischer, Brooks Robison, Ashton Scheetz, Andrew Mosack) 8:47.89. 110 hurdles — 1. Tyrell Cloud (Brush) 14.75, 6. Chase Young (Medina) 16.68. 100 — 1. Taysear Williams-Clay (Woodridge) 11.15, 3. Darnell Davis (Medina) 11.41, 4. Matt Ciryak (Highland) 11.42, 5. Brayden Walker (Medina 'B') 11.49. Distance medley — 1. Medina (Andrew Bugner, Emerson Lindsley, Max Dudley, Jake Sebaugh) 10:38.10, 3. Highland (Oren Scranton, Devon Kolda, Matthew Rini, Ty Sgambati) 11:18.14. 4x100 — 1. Woodridge (Jack Novak, Johnny Howard, Taneil Gaddis, Taysear Williams-Clay) 43.43, 2. Medina (Jackson Riffle, Grant Noftz, Austin Knowles, Darnell Davis) 43.43, 7. Medina 'B' (Evan Browne, Gael Moreno, Ben Neiger, Brayden Walker) 44.81, 8. Highland (Evan Dimalanta, Evan Foust, Grant Bogdanski, Matt Ciryak) 44.82. Shuttle hurdles — 1. Austintown Fitch (Josh Cayson, Deonte Stallings, Harrison Spalding, Julius Tofil) 1:00.71, 3. Cloverleaf (Chase Young, Isaac Baltic, Gage Hankins, Zach Brownson) 1:07.92, 5. Medina (Jaxson Ahlborn, Trenton Shaw, Connor Gut, Garrett Shook) 1:11.66. 200 — 1. Brayden Bryant (Austintown Fitch) 22.58, 5. Grant Noftz (Medina) 22.92, 8. Evan Browne (Medina 'B' 22.92. 3,200 — 1. Sam Su (Woodridge) 955.02, 2. Gavin Forbes (Cloverleaf) 10:20.45, 4. Ryder Donaldson (Highland) 110:23.46, 6. Riley Dworznik (Medina) 10:49.86. 4x400 — 1. Medina (Jackson Riffle, Ben Neiger, Liam Meade, Carson Henning) 3:31.16, 7. Highland (Jalen Krebs, Oren Scranton, Matthew Rini, Ty Sgambati) 3:43.55, 8. Medina 'B' Owen Stepsis, Garrett Shook, Tyler Cobb, Jackson Thornton) 3:43.55. Girls Standings: 1. Medina 97, 2. Twinsburg 95, 3. Highland 77.5, 4. Cloverleaf 66.5, 5. Austintown Fitch 55.5, 6. Woodridge 54.5, 7. St. Joseph's Academy 47.5, 8. CVCA 47, 9. Brush 35.5, 10. Firestone 18.5, 11. Kenston 17, 12. Medina 'B' 10.5, 13. Villa Angela-St. Joseph 1. High jump — 1. Highland (Maya Piechowiak, Riley Critchett, Lillian Gozzard) 14-0, 4. Medina (Aubrey Terrell, Emily Piehler, Michaela Gwinn) 12-9, 4. Cloverleaf (Abigail Reinhardt, Payten Shetterly, Grace Goldsberry) 12-9. Long jump — 1. CVCA (Kylee Zamecnik, Joelle Cherry, Brooke Dixon) 49-6.5, 2. Medina (Olivia Price, Lauren Dawson, Hailey Hofmann) 46-4.5, 3. Cloverleaf (Kierston Campbell, Reese Barnett, Abigai Reinhardt) 44-8, 4. Highland (Delaney Miller, Vega Kray, Bridget Cope) 43-8.5. Pole vault — 1. St. Joseph (Morgan Riley, Melissa Maline) 18-0, 2. Medina (Ella Bohmer, Kendall Perfect) 17-6, 4. Cloverleaf (Payten Shetterly, Taylor Thur) 8-0, 8. Highland (Leah Norman, Hannah Prothero) 6-0. Shot put — 1. Highland (Sierra Podolan, Audrey Wendl, Jordan Miller) 101-1.5, 3. Cloverleaf (Presly McConnell, Amelia Ryncarz, Karoline Kreider) 90-6, 7. Medina (Claire Kocar, Anna Holthouse, Kaitlyn Suliks) 90-0.75. Discus — 1. Highland (Sierra Podolan, Audrey Wendl, Jordan Miller) 446-2, 4. Cloverleaf (Presly McConnell, Jayce Kreider, Karoline Kreider) 268-8, 7. Medina (Anna Holthouse, Kaitlyn Suliks, Claire Kocar) 206-2. 4x1,600 — 1. Woodridge (Marissa Boone, Lola Mullen, Eloise Willett, Reese Reaman) 21:57.11, 2. Highland (Kendall Leatherman, Grace Lebeck, Julia Madison, Katie Schuller) 23:06.94, 3. Medina (Abby Petz, Alexis Warnement, Haley Black, Alanya Yanmaz) 23:10.13, 5. Cloverleaf (Megan Knapp, Emma Hibler, Madison Snyder, Allison Yagersz) 23:25.55. Sprint medley — 1. Twinsburg (Bree Banach, Taylor Dye, Savannah Swanda, Sanayah Ruffin) 1:40.67, 2. Cloverleaf (Callee Gibson, Kayla Shook, Sarah Kelly, Riley Evans) 1:51.61, 3. Medina (Kylie Casal, Michaela, Gwinn, Marcie Patilla, Victoria Sebaugh) 1:54.32, 6. Medina 'B' (Olivia Price, Makenzie Clor, Mariana Cunningham, Emily Piehler) 1:58.07. 4x800 — 1. Medina (Anaya Yanmaz, Maddy Roberts, Ruth Schmeller, Alexis Warnement) 10:18.99, 7. Cloverleaf (Reese Barnett, Emma Hibler, Allison Yagersz, Megan Knapp) 10:41.90. 100 hurdles — 1. Lauren Dawson (Medina) 15.16, 6. Hayden Henry (Medina 'B') 19.02, 7. Delaney Miller (Highland) 19.10, 8. Grace Friedhoff (Cloverleaf) 19.88. 100 — 1. Taylor Dye (Twinsburg) 12.63, 2. Brooke Diello (Medina) 12.71, 4. Briana McCafferty (Highland) 13.10, 6. Sarah Kelly (Cloverleaf) 13.35. Distance medley — 1. Woodridge (Marissa Boone, Allyson Lorenz, Eloise Willett, Reese Reaman) 13:50.93, 2. Highland (Grace Lebeck, Emma Price, Melissa Durny, Kendall Leatherman) 13:45.65, 4. Medina (Myiah Parente, Maddy Roberts, Haley Black, Abby Petz) 13:57.37. 4x100 — 1. Twinsburg (Bree Banach, Lia Stewart, Tamia Smith, Taylor Dye) 49.30, 2. Medina (Taylor Nicol, Michaela Gwinn, Brooke Diello, Marissa Henderson) 50.04, 4. Cloverleaf (Callee Gibson, Kayla Shook, Kierston Campbell, Sarah Kelly) 51.46. Shuttle hurdles — 1. Twinsburg (Lia Stewart, Tamia Smith, Nicole Smith, Taelyn Vander Welt) 1:09.11, 2. Medina (Lauren Dawson, Hayden Henry, Audrey Johnson, Alexis Schwemley) 1:10.84, 3. Highland (Celia Pylypiak, Lillian Gozzard, Wren Marquis, Delaney Miller) 1:11.49, 5. Cloverleaf (Kierston Campbell, Grace Friedhoff, Grace Goldsberry, Kiersyn Beery) 1:14.43. 200 — 1. Savannah Swanda (Twinsburg) 25.26, 2. Riley Evans (Cloverleaf) 25.85, 3. Marcie Patilla (Medina) 26.05, 5. Marissa Henderson (Medina 'B') 27.02. 3,200 — 1. Katie Schuler (Highland) 11:27.84, 5. Brooke Gucker (Cloverleaf) 13:21.51, 7. Peyton Kopkas (Medina) 13:53.86. 4x400 — 1. Twinsburg (Lia Stewart, Sanayah Ruffin, Teighlor Humbert, Savannah Swanda) 4:03.70, 5. Medina (Emily Piehler, Victoria Sabbagh, Kylie Casal, Ruth Schmeller) 4:18.62, 6. Highland (Celia Pylypiak, Wren Marquis Holly Latham, Sophia Scavuzzo) 4:20.10, 7. Cloverleaf (Reese Barnett, Hannah Hopek, Kayla Shook, Riley Evans) 4:23.18.