Coach Lovrich gets win No. 200

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Ali Wagner

Coach Nick Lovrich reached his 200th career victory as head coach of the B-A boys track and field team yesterday.

The Bellwood-Antis boys track and field team was down several players yesterday a double-dual meet against Tussey Mountain and Southern Fulton.

And it wasn’t just anybody. The Blue Devils were missing three major points-winners in the injured Jake Burch and Ethan McGee, as well as Nathan Davis, who was recovering from the flu.

But like they have done for years under Coach Nick Lovrich, the Blue Devils made some adjustments, asked some team members to do a little more, and kept on chugging.

B-A won both meets, topping Tussey 109-41 and Southern Fulton 107-43, and Coach Lovrich earned his 200th career victory.

“It feels pretty good to reach that milestone, but it is more of a team honor that one just for me,” said Coach Lovrich. “I have been lucky to have great assistant coaches and hardworking, driven athletes during my time as head coach. I keep track of all the athletes I have coached in track and all 383 athletes that have been part of the B-A track program these last 17 years have played a role in those 200 wins.”

The Lady Blue Devils came away with the sweep, too, beating Southern 79-71 and Tussey 119-31.

All 383 athletes that have been part of the B-A track program these last 17 years have played a role in those 200 wins.

— Coach Lovrich

Already the program’s all-time leader in wins, Coach Lovrich to0k over the reins of the program in 2000 after serving as an assistant to Ken Swanson. He went 8-4 in his first season and 7-3 in 2001, but every season since then Coach Lovrich has produced double-digit victories.

Coach Lovrich’s teams have gone undefeated seven times, including an incredible four consecutive unbeaten seasons from 2010-2013.

The Blue Devils have also captured four District 6-AA team championships and 14 ICC titles.

In 2013, B-A finished 15-0, one of two 15-win seasons for Coach Lovrich, and won the District 6-AA title.

That team was stacked with college athletes like Seth Worthing and Ian O’Shea.

The win yesterday, however, didn’t come from the efforts of college stars, but hardworking runners just grinding and filling spots. On the track, the Blue Devils had only one individual overall first place, which was Luke Hollingshead in the 300 meter hurdles. B-A did have two winning relays, taking the 400 relay (Devin Burr, Noah D’Angelo, Tanner Worthing and Shawn Wolfe) and the 1600 relay (Wolfe, Jake McCaulley, Worthing and D’Angelo).

The Blue Devils did most of their damage in the field, particularly the jumps. B-A swept the high jump, led by a first place from Matt Glunt (Clay Engle and Hollingshead were second and third, respectively). That same trio took all three places in the long jump, this time with Engle claiming first. Engle won the triple jump, as well, Glunt took third, and Worthing was second.

Jacob Hoover won the shot put, while Jarrett Taneyhill took first in the javelin.

“We always stress the team concept with our team.  We have been talking about how the next man up needs to fill in for those guys we are missing,” said Coach Lovrich. “To steal a quote from Mike Tomlin, the standard is the standard, and our standard is pretty high.  I am very proud of the team for performing like they have the last couple weeks.  Like many other years, guys are sacrificing some of their own individual goals for the goals of the team and that is very important to our success.”

On the girls side, Marissa Panasiti captured first overall in both the 200 and 400 meter runs, while Raegan Plowman was tops in both the 80 and 1600.

The Lady Blue Devils also took two relays, winning the 1600 (Riley D’Angelo, Selena Damiano, Plaowman and Panasiti) and 3200 (D’Angelo, Elizabeth Whaley, Stephanie Mills, and Plowman).

Both the boys and girls are now 5-2.