Chucks Track/Field returns with large senior class in 2024
PUNXSUTAWNEY — The Punxsutawney Chucks Track and Field team will be opening the 2024 season very soon after graduating a big class of seniors last year.
But this year, the Chucks still have a big class of seniors, who saw success in their fall and winter sports, especially the Chucks Cross Country team, who won a District 9 Team Title back in the fall.
Last year at Districts in Brookville, the Chucks took third in the team standings with 61 points, while Union/AC-Valley came in second with 63. Last year’s District 9 AA Team champion, the Brookville Raiders, won with 129 points.
“Brookville is the likely favorite to repeat, but we have a strong desire to improve,” said Chucks Head Coach Jason Grusky. “A lot can happen over the course of a season, and we'll continue to put our best effort out there and see where it takes us.”
He added, “My expectation is for our athletes to show up and train as hard as they can in every drill, every day. We believe that scoring points, winning track meets and winning district championships are byproducts of our individual hard work and dedication every day at practice.”
Returning seniors for the Chucks this season starts with distance-runner Garrett Bartlebaugh, the top returner on the track.
Bartlebaugh is committed to run for Edinboro University next fall, and he recently finished second in the 800-meter run at the highly competitive TSTCA Indoor Championship Meet on Feb. 17 in a Punxsy indoor-school record time of 1:58.28.
Bartlebaugh also excels at the 400-meter dash and the 200-meter dash, and is a returning starter from last season's district championship 4x800-meter relay team.
Joining Bartlebaugh is fellow senior David Kunselman, who adds experience in the distance events as well.
Kunselman joined Bartlebaugh as part of Punxsy's 4x800-meter relay team that finished 12th in the state at last spring's PIAA Championship meet.
“David looks to improve upon his third-place finish in the 1,600-meter run at Districts last year, and will also provide the Chucks with plenty of top places in the 3,200-meter run this season,” said Grusky.
Fellow senior Brett Dean returns as the Chucks’ top sprinter, and he owns the third-fastest 100-meter dash time in school history at 11.14 and the fourth fastest 200-meter time at 22.75.
“He was also the overall leading scorer on last season's squad with 190 points, and recently, he has also emerged as a top performer in the high jump with an impressive jump of 6-01 during the indoor season,” added Grusky.
In the hurdles, senior Sawyer Hall will lead the team after putting in a tremendous amount of work this past indoor season to improve his starts and technique.
Also in the field, sophomore Jordan Rutan is another versatile athlete who is also a valuable member of the hurling team, and he led the varsity team in points earned in the hurdling events with 54 last season as a freshman.
Moving into the field events, sophomore Adam Manners returns as the top jumper, having led the freshmen class last year with 62 points while being the team's top triplejumper.
Also, senior Anthony Gould returns as the top long-jumper and adds great speed to the 4x100-meter relay team, while senior Mason Nesbitt returns as the team's top polevaulter.
In the throwing events, senior Matthew Grusky returns after winning the team's Field MVP last season for scoring the most points (110) of all the field athletes on the team.
“Fellow seniors Kolton Koppenhaver and Greg Poole have looked very strong early on this season and will be battling for points in the throws as well,” added Grusky.
The Chucks Track and Field team is coached by Grusky (PAHS math teacher) in his fourth season as head coach. He is also joined and assisted by Mark Curtis (Jumps), Todd Heigley (Sprints/Hurdles), Mark Keller (Pole Vault), Alan Nichol (Sprints/ Relays) and George Wehrle (Distance).