Spring Break is just about over here in Fredonia and that marks the beginning of Outdoor Track and Field for most everyone in the track and field and cross country community, however for us coaches this marks the start of the commitment season. 

These next four to six weeks the majority of high school seniors around the country will be making their final decisions on which institutions colors they will dawn in the Fall of 2014. For the cross country and track and field program here at Fredonia, we go into this years commitment season with 15 total commitments. The highest total of commitments we have had in the four years I have been at Fredonia. However, what is more incredible about this number is that all 15 commits have placed in the top 10 in their respective section in at least 1 event. I have been closing all my posts with "It's a great time to be a Blue Devil" and very few statistics prove that more than the two I just mentioned! 

To all those who have committed, I speak for everyone in the Blue Devil Family when I say WELCOME and that we can not wait to see you all in the blue and white next fall. And, to all those yet to commitment, we can not wait to see which of you will be joining our family, because it truly is a GREAT time to be a Blue Devil! 

As always, thanks for reading! 

Coach McQuality

The Blue Devils will be traveling to Boston for a second time
this indoor season, this time for the ECAC Championships, held at the Reggie Lewis Center. With only 24 athletes qualifying for this year’s championships, it should be a very exciting meet to be a part of.

On the women’s side, (SO) Anna Dambacher will be looking to solidify her spot in the top 17 in the country. This will give her the opportunity to compete next week at the NCAA Indoor Championships held in Lincoln Nebraska. Dambacher hit a time of 25.43 last week at the SUNYAC Championships, which would have converted down to a 25.04, good for fifth in the nation, but she was DQ’ed for a lane violation while rounding turns three and four. “If anyone can rebound and
use it for motivation, it’s Anna. She is ready to punch her ticket to Nebraska!” said Coach Wilson. (SR) Kim Foltz will be looking to take down her own school record in the 800m and make a strong push for an NCAA mark. She set the school record back in January of this year, running 2:18. She has put off the 800m to focus on the mile and now is ready to turn over fast in the 800m at ECAC’s. “Kim can do anything she sets her mind to! She told me she wants to race the 800m this weekend because she is more confident in that race, so that’s what she is going to do!” said Coach Wilson. In the field events, (SR) Emily Cummiskey will look to finish her successful indoor career on a high note and jump a personal best mark. She is currently ninth all time for the lady Blue Devils in the long jump 5.28m/17’4”. (SO) Kayleigh Wasielewski  will be looking to better her best indoor performance in the high jump of 5’3”, she is currently tied for third on the all time top ten list.

On the men’s side, (SO) Eric Williams will be looking to punch his ticket to Nebraska in the 60mH. He is currently second on the all time top ten list. Williams finished 13th at the outdoor NCAA Championships in the 110HH. He also has the 200m indoor school record of 22.42 and will be looking to improve on that this weekend. (JR) Zakk Hess and (JR) Chris Shartrand will look to continue their strong racing together in the 5k on Friday night. Both will be looking to break the 15 minute barrier for the first time. (JR) Jonmichael Knapp will be working for a spot on the all time list, he will need to break 50.82 in the 400m. A pair of freshman will make up the middle distance crew, Pat Shenal will look to better his time of 1:57 in the 800m, while Bobby Cooper will give the mile one last shot to break the 4:20 barrier. The Blue Devils will run a 4x400m relay team of Russell Catalano, Doug Imperi, Jeremy Kozlowski and Jonmichael Knapp to try and better their season best time of 4:27. In the field events, (SO) Hsin Chin is ready to continue a very strong finish to the indoor season in the weight throw. Coming off another personal best throw at the SUNYAC Championships, Chin will look to move up on the all time list, he is currently 10th. (SR) Alex Brennan is making his first showing to the ECAC meet. He will look to wrap up his indoor career with some huge marks in the long jump.

“The ECAC meet is always a great meet. The pressure is off and our athletes can really go for it! This meet has produced more school records and personal best then any other meet we attend. This should be a great weekend for the Blue Devils” Coach Wilson.

BLUE DEVIL THROWERS BREAK TOP 10!

The Fredonia State Throwers had their work cut out for them this past weekend at the 2014 Indoor SUNYAC Championships. Coming into the competition sitting just outside of scoring contention meant everything would have to go their way. And it did! 

The throwing events were kicked off by sophomore Heather Rickman finishing in 6th place in the women’s 20lb weight throw. Coming into this meet Rickman was ranked 9th in the SUNYAC, just outside of scoring contention. A huge personal best would not only solidify her spot on the SUNYAC podium, but also a top 10 all-time performance in Fredonia State history in the women’s 20lb weight throw. Rickman blew past her previous personal best of 12.94m (42’ 5.5”) by over a foot throwing 13.36m (43’ 9.25”). She now sits in the number 9 spot all-time.

Not to be outdone, teammate Hsin Chin also worked to get his spot on the SUNYAC podium. Improving on a personal best of 16.02m (52’ 6.75”) Chin threw a foot and a half farther hitting 16.48m (54’ 1”) and finishing in 4th place. Chin who previously held the 10th best performance in the men’s 35lb weight throw bumped himself up six spots to become the 4th best thrower in Fredonia State history in the event. He also finished the season ranked in the top 50 weight throwers in the country.

Riding on the success of her teammates, sophomore Brianne Paganello threw a huge personal best in the shot put of 11.05m (36’ 3”) finishing in 8th place in the SUNYAC and becoming the 10th best female shot putter in Fredonia State history.

“We have a lot to be proud of.” Said Coach Julez of their success. “They’ve worked hard all season. It’s just good to see it all come together when it counts.”

Congrats to all Blue Devils on a great indoor season!