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Track & Field

Head Coach: Mr. George Stroia

The History of Boys Track and Field

In the spring of 1949, football and basketball coach, Tom Carey became coach of yet another sport at Ursuline High School. Unlike the other two sports that were setablished prior to Coach Carey's arrival, track and field would be a completely new venture. In a carefully planned sequence, a Carey characteristic, the track program began slowly and carefully, and developed into a strong program for Irish athletes.

The 1949 track team was actually the Track Club that was designed to acquaint Ursuline atheletes with the fundamentals of track and field. By the following spring, the "cindermen", as they were known at the time, engaged in varsity competition. Mr. Carey remained as coach through the 1950 season. He then passed the fortune of the young sport on to others and let them nurture its growth.

Since Mr. Carey, Ursuline has had seven other track coaches: Joe Clark (1951-1955), Lou Chiaro (1956-1961; 1965-1969), Bill Narduzzi (1962), Joe Paul (1963-1964), Jim Pannozzo (1970-1974), Bob Jenkins (1975-1984) and George Stroia (1985-present). These men have guided the Ursuline Track Program to City Series Championships in 1950, 1953, 1954, 1956 and 1963; and Steel Valley Championships in 1970, 1974 and 2004. In 2004. the second year of the Catholic Diocese of Youngstown Athletic Conference Meet, Ursuline was the champion. The 1988, 1991, 1999 and 2004 squads have won District Championships.

Many athletes have gone on to earn laurels for their school and themselves. To date, Ursuline's Track Program has produced six individual state champions. The first was Joe Housteau, who in 1961, was the State Shot Put Champion. Ten years later, in 1971, Ernie DeChellis won the 180 Yard Low Hurdles at the State Meet. David Hodge who returned to coach Irish hurdlers from 1985-1991, won back-to-back State Titles, in 1973 and 1974, in the 120 Yard High Hurdles. Tom Ragland was the State High Jump Champion in 1983. After two years as the State Runner-up, Tim Caffey finally won his State Title in the 400 Meter Dash in 1988. In 2002, Adam Chatman won the State Championship in the 300 Meter Intermediate Hurdles.

Several former members of Track and Field teams have been inducted into our Athletic Hall of Fame. While several were inducted for their contributions in other sports, those inducted specifically for Track and Field are Joe Housteau (1961), Ernie DeChellis (1971), Glen Hodge (1971), Joe Smaltz (1952), Dave Hodge (1974), Walter Angelo (1979), Ed Hernan (1982), Mark Bernard (1973), Chris Armstrong (1973), Tim Caffey (1988), Harry Johnson (1987), Bryan Cook (1988), Jim Pannozzo (1959) and Jay Payne (1989).

The History of Girls Track and Field

In 1968, the girls began theri participation in track and field at Ursuline. Tom Nally was the first coach. He was a volunteer coach who was assisted by Tony Costarella, Terry Grimm, Nick Heinzer and Teresa Tamburino. In 1970, Tony Costarella assumed the position of the head coach. He guided the program through the 1976 season. Jim Boyle coached the 1977 team. In 1978, George Stroia succeeded Coach Boyle. He held the position for seven years. In 1985 when Coach Stroia became coach of the boys team, Patrick Hovance guided the girls team. Karen (Lane) Pavlansky, a former assistant coach, became the Head Coach in 1986. She held the position through the 1994 season. In 1995, the Track Program was officially organized inot one program under Coach Stroia. It had been unofficially run as one program since 1985.

The 1975 team won the Steel Valley Championship. In 1991, the Girls Track Team earned its first District Championship. With both the Boys and Girls Teams winning the District Championship, Ursuline became the first school in the area to accomplish the fete. The Girls' Team competed in the Mahoning County Track Meet for the first time in 2003. They won the Championship that year.

In 1975, the year of the first State Track Meet for girls, Rhonda Howell and Monica Matasy became the first girls to place in a State Meet. Rhonda was sixth in the 80 Yard Low Hurdles and Monica was fourth in the Discus.

In 2007, the team finished 7th at the State Meet. This is their highest finish to date Tim'Aira Gandy, Liz Emanuel, Michaela Write and Jasmine Brown became the first girls in school history to become State Champions as they captured the Dividsion III 4x200 Meter Relay crown. This was also the first relay team (boy or girl) in school history to win a state championship. In addition, Jasmine Brown finished 3rd in the 100 Meter Dash, and the 4x100 Meter Relay team of Nichele Scott, Tim'Aira Gandy, Lauren Ignazio and Jasmine Brown finished third.

To date, the following women track and field athletes have been inducted into the Ursuline Athletic Hall of Fame. Rhonda Howell (1976), Cathy McElroy Purfey (1970), Patty Vuksta Vrazel (1973), Marianne Kuhar LaRosa (1980), Kathleen Fechtel Pavlansky (1987) and Kisha Armour (1992).

Every year when winter is coldest, yound ladies begin organizing and working to prepare themselves for a spring season. They work to become part of a team that will add to the many accompllshments of the young women who preceded them. They do so, feeling the support of many that came before them. With each new success, all who were ever part of the program continue to enjoy the enhancement of its tradition.

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