Panthers Track & Field Team Looking For WPIAL 4-Peat

The Riverside boys track & field team have chance to win a fourth straight team track championship on Wednesday at the WPIAL Track Championships at Peters Township.

The Class-AA championships begin at 3:00 p.m. [VIEW BRACKET]

This year’s championship has four very good teams according to head coach Chuck Kotuby.

“I feel Shenango, and Greensburg Central Catholic will be the teams to beat,” said Kotuby. “Both teams are well balanced and have some exceptional athletes in every event.”

Kotuby says the team’s strength is the distance team, being coached by former Riverside and Pitt distance runner Clint Kotuby.

“We have some outstanding individuals,” added Kotuby

Senior Colby Belczyk will lead the way.

Belczyk recently broke a 43-year-old school record in the 1600 running 4:22.14 and also broke a school record in the 800 (1:54.99) set by teammate Ty Fluharty who had set it just a few weeks prior.

Distance runner, Junior Ty Fluharty, who ranks among the best in the WPIAL and state, will also be running the 800, 1600, and 3200.

Senior Graham Kralic ranked #1 in the 300m hurdles and #2 in the 110m hurdles will handle the hurdles and sprints along with junior Brody Barton, ranked among the best in WPIAL.

Junior Teddy Mchale will handle the Jumps who also set a new school record in the pole vault with a jump of 13′ 10″ ranked #1 in the WPIAL and 3rd in the state, along with Trevor McNeil #3 in WPIAL.

Sophomore Alden Wetzel will lead the 200m, 400m and team up with Noah Zelch, Ty Fluharty and Colby Belczyk for the 4 x 400 relay ranked #1 in the WPIAL and #1 the State.

Joey Reed and Trevor McNeil, Devin Barnes, Jonah Bookamer, Carson Bishop, and Josh Rosenberger will handle the throws.

For the Riverside boys’ team, not having a season in 2020 was very disappointing according to head coach Chuck Kotuby, but the team can put any disappointment aside with a championship performance on Wednesday.

“Not having a season last year was very disappointing but I think affected all teams going into this season,” concluded Kotuby.

The Panthers have also won The Beaver County Championship, the MAC Championships, and Tri- County Championships this year. Prior to this run (2017-2019), the Panthers also won district championships in 2007, 2008 and 2011. [VIEW 2019 PHOTO]