Coach, What Do We Do?

by etrain11

Guys, we are going to play a game.

Sometimes, I act like I know what I’m talking about, but really I’m just guessing like everybody else. The real pressure isn’t on me, it’s on the coaches that have to make the tough calls about where to put their talented stand outs on race day. But here’s your chance to be a hypothetical coach! I’ve made a list of some of the trickiest decisions that I’ve thought of heading into state championship season and want to get your thoughts on what events each team should pick. I’ve outlined the scenarios for you below and am excited to hear your takes.

Ryan Thrush

Thrush is the defending state champion in the AA 400 meters. He’s clocked times in the 48s range both indoors and outdoors in the past 12 months and, with the right tactics, could maybe dip into the 47 range. There’s a natural desire to defend your title and, although there are some developing stars, Thrush seems to be a sizable favorite as things currently stand.

However, the Brookville senior also flashed amazing potential in the 800 when he clocked a 1:50.89 at the Butler Invitational. That time is fastest in PA this year and only Domenic Perretta has run that fast at the AA state meet in its entire history. In my opinion, the 800 seems like the deeper event with guys like Kamil Jihad, Donovan Myers, Tyler Lesser and Joe Cullen all looming as challengers, but that line up could help push Thrush to an historic time if he focuses on it.

But Thrush’s decision doesn’t have to be a simple this or that. He can try both like he has the previous two seasons. He has not been able to quite breakthrough for two top tier races, but he has also done a lot of practicing with this double (and other creative doubles) which may put him in a position to pull off something historic.

So, Coach, what do you do?

Zach Skolnekovich, Quaker Valley

Skolnekovich was 2^nd at last year’s 3200 behind only 3x gold medalist Dominic Hockenbury. Since that time, he’s made the Footlocker Finals, ran under 9:20 twice and just recently added a 4:14 full mile to his resume. The Quaker Valley senior appears to be in terrific shape and just recently outdueled two of his top tier challengers individually in Forsythe and Bumgarner.

Skolnekovich would likely be the favorite in either the 1600 or the 3200 at states. So which one should he pick? He seems to like the 3200 better, but has added the shorter event to his typical meet schedule in 2017. Maybe that means he is gearing up for a double? Or maybe he thinks his better shot at gold may be utilizing his speed in the mile rather than trying to out-grind Bumgarner yet again?

Coach-what do you suggest?

Carlisle, just in general

Sam Affolder could potentially win 3 different individual events if he focused on each one on its own. He also has a capable 4x4 and 4x8 relay, the latter of which won the state title indoors and is in the mix for another one outdoors. Isaac Kole has developed into a really strong individual runner. And the team is hungry for that title that alluded them in XC and indoors. With Sam on his way out, this could be the last chance for the Carlisle dynasty to earn team gold.

Help us, Coach, you are our only hope.

Matt Scarpill, CB South

Scarpill has run 1:56 (on the double), 4:21 and 9:33 already this spring. He was an indoor state medalist in the 3k, but has focused a lot on the mile in past years. Realistically, he could run an SQS in any of these three events. And in District One, it’s not like there are any “weak” events. There’s depth everywhere. So the question is,:what should Scarpill pick? The 16-8 double? The 32-8 double? He’s got options.

Coach, I’m gonna need you to weigh in here.

Josh Hoey, Bishop Shanahan

Bishop Shanahan is the reigning indoor team state champions and got a nice boost from Hoey’s 10 point victory in the open 800. Heading toward outdoors, BS will once again be in the mix out front, but may be tighter for points as they 4x2 is eliminated from the schedule, the 4x8 gets tougher to score in and more.

Hoey has big talent at both the 800 and the 1600. He was 3^rd and 2^nd at states for the longer distance in 2016 and also won Penn Relays. His time this past indoor season put him in the top 5 for PA athletes ever. But he has also had good success in the 800, winning his first ever individual state title in that event and adding a new PR of 1:51.9 in his trip down to Florida. The 800 also appears to be the easier event as Sam Affolder is looming as a primary challenger after a blazing 4:08.

The other dynamic to consider here is a double or a triple. Josh is probably going to be featured on the 4x4, but he could also either jump on the 4x8 (which medaled indoors without him) or potentially run the 16-8 double and try to come away with extra points. Those would be relatively unprecedented for Josh as he’s been focused on a single event with a 4x4 at all of his major championship appearances, but Shanahan may need the points.

So, Coach, any ideas?

Liam Conway, Owen J Roberts

Conway successfully medaled in both the 1600 and the 800 indoors. Outdoors, he followed things up with a similarly successful early season double of 4:13 and 1:53. Those times are both fantastic and indicate he can pull off the double again come outdoors. However, there are extra races at Shippensburg as runners have to traverse both trials and finals. The extra effort could be enough to hamper one or both of his races. In addition, although Conway was the runner-up indoors, if both Hoey and Affolder run the mile, maybe a fresh 800 better suits his individual gold medal chances. But does he care more about that or just doing what he feels his best and not worrying about the rest of the competition as he can’t control them anyway?

What say you, Coach?

Nate Henderson, JP McCaskey

So this one probably seems a little silly, but I will lay it out anyway. Henderson is the defending indoor state champion over 3,000 and seems like a logical title bet in the 3200 for outdoors. I don’t think that’s going to change and, barring some type of injury problem, I think he will run the 32.

But over recent years, Henderson has really bolstered his speed. He’s got 1:53/4:11 chops and runs 50 point type splits on the 4x4. Does a 3200-1600 double make sense? Only the 16 trials would come before his 3200 final so he would still be able to focus on his primary event, but also add another medal opportunity to his portfolio. Should he focus up on a single target or spread his wings and get greedy?

Coach! Say something!