Sports
Bell, Myers, Haas spearhead State College boys PIAA 3A track and field team title
SHIPPENSBURG — Surrounded by his fellow maroon-clad state champions, Adam Bell was designated with the task of hoisting trophy No. 7. Understandably so. After all, Bell laid the foundation for it with a pole vault crown on Friday. But nonetheless, everyone among State College’s ranks got to share a moment with the coveted wood-polished hardware. […]
SHIPPENSBURG — Surrounded by his fellow maroon-clad state champions, Adam Bell was designated with the task of hoisting trophy No. 7.
Understandably so. After all, Bell laid the foundation for it with a pole vault crown on Friday. But nonetheless, everyone among State College’s ranks got to share a moment with the coveted wood-polished hardware. The Little Lions were crowned Class 3A boys champions during the PIAA track and field championships at Shippensburg University’s Seth Grove Stadium on Saturday.
• Sign up for PennLive’s daily high school sports newsletter
After Bell matched his personal record of 15-6, Florida signee Jesse Myers captured the 200-meter crown in 21.05 and Nathan Haas delivered a javelin title with his distance of 204-4. That trio rounded out State College’s individual gold medal winners while the rest of its roster dealt damage up and down its ranks for a best-in-show 53 points. Palmyra was the PIAA 3A runner-up with 28 points.
“These guys, man. I’ve been with these guys since freshman year when I started track. Even when I’m throwing, I’m just thinking about scoring points for the team,” Haas said. “It’s not really about me, it’s about the team. Obviously it’s nice to win a single title, but at the end of the day, you’re just hoping you’re getting enough points to propel your team through.”
In order to secure the seventh team state title in the Little Lions’ program history, Haas played a part in his final heave. Trailing runner-up Thomas Lloyd of Whitehall heading into his last attempt, Haas put forth a personal record of 204-4 on the final throw of his varsity career. It shattered his previous best of 200-1, which was established amid a three-peat of District 6 titles just over a week ago.
But the moment wasn’t about personal bests for Haas. He knew his tribe was well within reach of cementing the team title after coming up just 3 points short, 50-47 to Episcopal Academy in the PTFCA team title race this past winter.
“I was just thinking about everything,” Haas said. “I’m taking all my cues in practice, blocking everything out and go execute.”
On top of his crowning achievement, Haas also manifested a fourth-place discus medal with his clearance of 171-5.
Meanwhile, Myers had entered the 100 and 200-meter finals wielding the top seeds for each event. A fourth-place finish of the former in 10.63 didn’t sit well with Myers, who was firmly seeking state titles in both disciplines.
But the 200-meter is Myers’ bread and butter. A PIAA 3A title for the event his sophomore year, representing the United States for it in the U20 World Championships and being crowned PTFCA champion with a new meet record of 21.08 in the winter is all proof in the pudding.
Turning that letdown into pure fuel and motivation, Myers delivered to not only reclaim his 200-meter throne, but skyrocket State College’s team score with yet another gold-worthy performance.
“I’ve been looking for that 200 gold. Last year I fell short, so I’ve been looking forward to gold in really any event,” Myers said.
A two-time PennLive Track Athlete of the Year, Myers has made a career of shattering facility records across central Pennsylvania. Now he’s exiting with three individual state titles on his résumé between PIAA and PTFCA. And of course, a team title among the rest of his pack.
“It’s all my coaches’ doing,” Myers said. “They set it up so I can succeed in all my races. They prepare me.”
Landon Bassett was another major contributor in the field, putting forth a sixth-place long jump finish at 23-2.50.
In and around Bell, Haas and Myers, State College was buoyed by a remarkably deep distance crew. Luke Bradbury, Stephen Fowler, Kyle Fritzsche and Owen Coughlin clocked in at 7:50.19 during the 4×800 relay for a fifth-place finish, dialing up an additional 4 points in team standing.
Isaac Oppermann kicked off the morning by producing individual bronze in the 3,200-meter at 9:04.13, setting the tone for a day full of podium prizes for the Little Lions.
Oppermann also headlined a State College program that captured the PIAA 3A cross country team title this past fall — two team state championships in the same calendar year.
“It’s been great because I’ve been running with a lot of these guys since middle school,” Oppermann said. “After our cross country season it was kind of rough coming back into track. We ended up losing states to (Episcopal Academy), but coming into here today, we know we have the people to do it, we just need our distance people to do our part.”
While he didn’t make it onto the individual medal stand, sophomore Theo Opperman, younger brother of Isaac by two years, was a driving force in State College’s cross country crown this fall, and should be a major benefactor in the Little Lions’ future track affairs.
Being able to share a state title with teammates is always nice. But sharing it amongst brothers is something that isn’t lost on the Oppermanns.
“In cross country, he was only a few seconds behind me in every race,” Isaac Oppermann said of Theo. “He’s been struggling a little bit this season, but it’s really nice to have a younger brother pushing me along. We can hold each other accountable.”
And it’s that accountability among State College’s ranks that manufactured its latest piece of team state hardware.
Thanks for visiting PennLive. Quality local journalism has never been more important. We need your support. Not a subscriber yet? Please consider supporting our work.
— Follow Evan Wheaton on X/Twitter @EvanWheaton