Flexing their muscles
Butler track squads wins handily over Shaler

By Derek Pyda
Eagle Staff Writer

BUTLER TWP — It did not come in perfect weather conditions, but it was the perfect opportunity for the Butler girls track and field team to get back on the winning side of things against a section rival.
For years, the Golden Tornado dominated Shaler in dual meets before the Titans grabbed wins the last two seasons.
Tuesday afternoon, Butler regained the upper hand in resounding fashion, claiming first place in all but one event in a lopsided 130-19 win.
“Shaler had some really good teams the last few years,” said Butler coach John Williams, “but they graduated a lot of senior leadership.”
Butler also cruised to victory in the boys meet, overwhelming the Titans 130-20.
Odile Enslen was one of a host of standouts for Butler's girls (3-0). The sophomore won the 300-meter hurdles and also helped the 4x800 and 4x100 relay teams to wins.
The effort came despite a cold wind whipping around Art Bernardi Stadium.
“The wind was killer today,” she said, “but on days like this, I look to get some work in running against the wind and practice my form.”
Enslen competed in the 300 hurdles and 800 run at the WPIAL Class AAA Northern Qualifier last year.
“I fell during the 300, but I learned from it and am doing better now,” she said. “I want to make the WPIAL (championship) meet this year.”
Winning multiple individual events for Butler were Emily Horstman (100, 200 dash) and Kalynn Callihan (shot put, discus). Horstman also ran a leg of the 4x100 relay while Shana Hoy won the 400 and ran on two winning relays.
Tornado coach John Williams is encouraged by the versatility of a number of his girls.
“The multi-event athletes are going to be key for us,” he said. “We have some kids running in the 100 and 200, but they are also competing in the 800. We just want to get better every meet. The last three years, we have finished third in the section and just out of a WPIAL team-playoff spot. Our meet against North Allegheny is usually the third week of April. This year, we run against them (Tuesday).”
Butler's boys were almost as dominant as the girls, winning 16 of 18 events.
Two of those wins came courtesy of senior Marcus McCall, who took both hurdle events.
“I wasn't happy with my times,” he said. “I ran 17 (seconds) in the 110 hurdles and 46 in the 300. I want to get down to the low 16s and low 42s. I have one year left to play amateur hockey. Tryouts for that have been going on. Once that dies down, I'm really going to be focused on track.”
Robert Burdine won the 100 and 200 events and contributed to his team's victory in the 4x100 relay.
The win improved the Tornado's record to 3-0.
“It was a great team effort,” said Butler coach Rick Schontz. “Our philosophy in dual meets is to go out and beat people. If we do that, personal records will follow. You can't use the weather as an excuse. You have to go out and get it done.”
Boys
Butler 130, Shaler 20
3,200 relay: Butler (Josh Rader, Brandon Critchlow, Adam Knauer, Patrick Fullerton) 8:47.9; 110 hurdles: Marcus McCall (B) 17.0; 100 dash: Robert Burdine (B) 11.5; 1,600 run: Noah Beveridge (B) 4:50.6; 400 run: Jeff Bailey (B) 55.1; 400 relay: Butler (Nikolai Peterson, Robert Burdine, Luke Kernic, Nathan Kibbie) 45.1; 300 hurdles: Marcus McCall (B) time not available; 800 run: Brandon Critchlow (B) 2:13.9; 200 dash: Robert Burdine (B) 23.9; 3,200 run: Evan Knauer (B) 11:11.7; 1,600 relay: Shaler 3:48.0
Shot put: Derek Gengler (B) 46-9; Discus: Mike Snow (B) 121-4; Javelin: Jackson Williams (B) 138-10; High jump: Justin Johnson (B) 5-8; Long jump: Greygor (S) 20-10.25; Triple jump: Brady Hartle (B) 41-.5; Pole vault: Nikolai Peterson (B) 12-0
Girls
Butler 130, Shaler 19
3,200 relay: Butler (Erin LeMay, Odile Enslen, Shana Hoy, Alyssa DiPippa) 10:30.1; 100 hurdles: Ronni Guiney (B) 17.8; 100 dash: Emily Horstman (B) 13.4; 1,600 run: Maggie Welty (B) 5:57.4; 400 run: Shana Hoy (B) 1:04.1; 400 relay: Butler (Shana Hoy, Emily Horstman, Maddie Glew, Odile Enslen) 53.0; 300 hurdles: Odile Enslen (B) 51.7; 800 run: Maggie Calvert (B) 2:40.5; 200 dash: Emily Horstman (B) 27.8; 3,200 run: Michaela Brydon (B) 12:30.9; 1,600 relay: Butler (Maddie Tonini, Kelly Kabay, Samantha Shuster, Maggie Calvert) 4:39.3
Shot put: Kalynn Callihan (B) 37-.5; Discus: Kalynn Callihan (B) 97-8; Javelin: Nicole Pilewski (S) 108-10; High jump: Julia Baxter (B) 5-0; Long jump: Julianna DiPippa (B) 15-5.5; Triple jump: Alyssa DiPippa (B) 32-7; Pole vault: Taylor Weaver (B) 8-6