What a way to end a career for seniors, Osborne
Trailing Memphis Whitehaven 56-55 going to the final event, the 4 X 400 foursome of senior Evan Beeler, also state champ in the 800-meter (1:53.29) and 1600-meter (4:16.93), junior Chase McAvoy (second in decathlon), senior Noah Eaker and freshman Lucas Spadafora edged the WHS quartet 3:20.50 versus 3:21.03.
“This group of boys are special,” retiring Admirals skipper Chelsea Osborne said. “The work they put in day in and day out and the willingness to do what is needed for the team is their greatest attribute.
“Evan is one of those athletes that a coach dreams of working with,” she added. “He is confident, but so down to earth. He didn’t flinch when asked to do three events at Sectionals and then doing them again at state and come away with two individual titles in the 1600 and 800 and then help secure a third title in the 4 x400 and the team win is a perfect way to finish his career.”
McAvoy “is just a junior and has already shown so much promise in the decathlon (f6262 points),” the coach said. “Him getting second helped set the expectation going (Friday)”
Senior star thrower Bryce Thompson captured a third straight shot put state crown (58-feet-4.75), while adding a valuable eight extra points by taking second in discus (171-feet-4).
“Bryce came into the state meet with a determination I had not seen from him before. Watching him take second in disc and 1st in shot was pretty awesome, and he really helped put us in a good spot team score wise.”
Senior Tanner Coggin captured second place, another key eight points, in the 3200 run (9:21.19 ).
Also, “Tanner was anchor of our 4 x 800 that finished 8th, which earned us a point,” Osborne said. “The other boys Jase Morton, a senior, Nick DeGuira, a junior, and Andrew Cabaniss, a sophomore, put the team in a good spot for Tanner to hold it.
“Then to turn around and run an outstanding 3200 earning second place shows his talent and heart for the team,” the coach added.
