by Brent Hovey

Reporter

Aurora -- The boys track season was surprisingly successful, and it was highlighted by a list of accomplishments.

Invitational titles were won at the Aurora, Kenston Relays and Don Faix Memorial at Crestwood.

A handful of athletes advanced to the regional meet in their first year of Division I competition.

A bunch of new school records were established. And a third straight Chagrin Valley Conference Chagrin Division crown was captured.

Not bad for a year that was supposed to be a rebuilding one for the tracksters.

Coming into the year, AHS graduated a large group of seniors who played a big role on the team. They included the top two or three sprinters and distance runners, three of whom went on to run at the college level.

"If we were going to have a down year, this was supposed to be it," said head coach Mark Dingman. "We knew we had some young, talented kids coming up, but you never know what they're going to do.

"We knew they could be good, but we didn't know if it would happen this year. They came out and proved they could run. They didn't want to have a setback; they wanted to keep things going."

They kept things going in large part due to the sprinters and relay teams.

A group of four juniors -- Davey Moore, Dee Brizzolara, Jamaal Simmons and Andrew Krieger -- anchored the sprinters. They were best at the 100 and 200 dashes and were strong in the 400, too.

"WE TALKED a little last year and let them run in some big races together for experience," Dingman said. "They did well in them, and we knew if they stayed together they could be really good."

The group broke the school record for the 4x100 several times, the final one in the last race of the year at the regional meet.

Sophomore Eric Schultz, junior Eric Shepard, sophomore Steve Snyder and senior Anthony Badalamenti filled in when needed. Dingman said they did a fantastic job.

In past years, the distance runners have been the Greenmen's strength. This year, it was the sprinters.

"We were deep," Dingman said. "But we were young. They wanted to prove they were ready and they definitely did that."

Dillion Ekstrand was supposed to be a big part of the group, but he tore his hamstring in the first meet of the season and never returned.

Hurdlers Brizzolara, Simmons and junior Frederick Frantzen were just as good.

"Right from the beginning they ran well," said Dingman. "They started well and continuously dropped their times. All three had a shot to win the league. All will be back."

The distance group only had two runners with experience when the year started -- senior Eric Douglas and sophomore Mark Korosec.

Dingman said they did a good job leading the group and bringing along the younger runners.

"Korosec really took control of the group," Dingman said. He had Aurora's fastest time in the 800, mile and 2-mile.

Senior Chris Denzinger previously was with the team, but had little invitational experience.

"He finally got his chance," said Dingman. "He ran a real nice mile and on the relay teams. He did a good job when we needed him."

SOPHOMORES Evan Jones and Matt Davis were part of the distance group.

"They took the transition from being backups, JV, border line varsity runners to the invitational squad, and did it nicely," Dingman said.

Senior Josh Ohman and junior Zach Flowers specialized in the middle distances -- the 400 and 800.

"They bounced between both groups and added depth," said Dingman. "They made it a well-rounded team."

Badalamenti led the field events by doubling up in the long and high jump. He scored the Greenmen's only point in the regional meet with an eighth-place finish in the long jump.

"How do you replace a guy like him?" Dingman said. "He had an excellent year."

In the throwing events, Dingman said they had a bunch of rookies who were learning as the season went along.

Andrew Cottle was the only returnee from 2007 and had a solid year.

The rest of the guys -- juniors Josh Rose and Danny Myers and sophomore Mikael Fadoul -- should be better next year.

"They did a nice job but they're rookies," Dingman said. "It's difficult to learn all the techniques needed to be successful in one year. It usually takes two."

Unlike coming into this year, Aurora will go into 2009 with a squad full of experience. There were only seven seniors on the 2008 roster.

E-mail: bhovey@recordpub.com

Phone: 330-688-0088 ext. 3115