Bellwood-Antis High School has distinguished itself in many ways over the years, from championship football teams to award-winning musicals and national-level speech competitors.
After the first day of the District 6 2A championships yesterday at Mansion Park Stadium in Altoona, you can add Center of the Discus World to the list.
Junior Emma Taneyhill won the girls discus event, successfully defending her title from 2025, while Quick rebounded from a disappointing junior season when he scratched out of both events at Districts to win the boys title.
Both throwers advanced to the PIAA championship meet at Shippensburg University May 22 and 23.
They will be joined there by sophomore Ella Cherry, who won the long jump with a leap of 17-11.5, a personal best that is just two inches off the school record set almost 50 years ago by Lisa Haupt. She had placed third in the event last season, when she won the triple jump and qualified for states in three events.
“She was disappointed in how she did at long jump at districts last year but with another season under her belt had more confidence heading into competition,” Soisson said.
Freshman Sophia Pullara also qualified for states by placing second in the high jump. She was at a 5-person tie at 5 feet, and none of the competitors could clear 5-2, but she nudged ahead of her competitors by recording fewer fouls at lower heights.
Taneyhill threw 136-6, just shy of her personal best 136-10, which is also a school record.
She will be the favorite to win the state title next week, but close behind her will be Maggie Voyda from Homer Center, who yesterday placed second and threw 132-8.
“We anticipated a good day for Emma at disc at Districts,” said Coach Jennifer Soisson. “She has been consistent this season and has thrown well at the big meets. Last year the state championship didn’t go as well as she had intended. She’s put in a lot of work this year both on her own and with Coach Taneyhill and the throwing coaches.”
Overall, the girls are in first place after Day 1 with 30 team points. Close behind is Forest Hills with 24. B-A has several opportunities for to pick up major points as Lady Devil athletes will be favorites or top contenders in several individual events and relays.
B-A was the runner-up last season and had high expectations coming into this meet.
Quick won his event comfortably with a throw of 156-11, which is a personal-best. He defeated Richland’s Brodie Hollis, who threw 144-09, but 12 feet and LHAC champion Landon Erdman by 16 feet. Both of those throwers finished above Quick last week at the LHAC championship meet.
“Jayce had a great day in the discus. He has really become an expert in the discus,” said Coach Nick Lovrich. “The throwing coaches, especially Coach Taneyhill, have done a great job with him fine-tuning his technique. Last year, he was very disappointed to not make states, so it is great to see all his hard work pay off. ”
Other strong finishers included Brady Hostler, who placed sixth in the pole vault, and Blake Pennington, who was seventh in the 1600.
A number of B-A athletes survived preliminaries yesterday and qualified for finals today. The include, on the girls side, Cherry in the 100, Chloe Stoltzfus in the 100 and 300 hurdles, and Alexis Wagner, who ran a personal best 59.65 to qualify in the 400. The girls’ 4×100 and 4×400 teams also advanced to Day 2.
For the boys, Miles Smearman ran a personal best 22.89 to advance in the 200, Cam Nelson moved on in both the 110 and 300 hurdles, Owen Stoltzfus qualified in the 400, and Reid Schreier made finals in the 300 hurdles.
