Geneva’s Merkle, Kluitenberg, Williams win PAC titles; 28 athlet - Geneva College
Geneva College Logo
View More Stories

Geneva’s Merkle, Kluitenberg, Williams win PAC titles; 28 athlet

“Hands down this was the best complete team efforts that I've experienced as a track coach at Geneva,” said coach Brian Yowler

W-1mile.jpgYoungstown, OH - SeniorAlayna Merkle (Chambersburg, PA) won the gold medal in the mile, junior Anna Kluitenberg (Pittsburgh, PA) garnered the gold medal in the 5000 meters, and juniorSara Williams (Wellsboro, PA) won gold in the shot put for the Golden Tornadoes at the Presidents′ Athletic Conference Indoor Track Championships, held at Youngstown State University.

The Geneva women finished fourth at the meet (tied with Thiel) and the men fifth at the season finale for indoor track as the team now moves outside (weather permitting, of course).

"Hands down this was the best complete team efforts that I've experienced as a track coach at Geneva," said coach Brian Yowler. "Our captains (Merkle, Kluitenberg, Williams, Guiser, Logan) led the way with some amazing performances and with so many freshman contributing, the future looks very bright."

On the women′s side, nine student-athletes set personal best as Merkle also finished second in the 800 meters. FreshmanSarah Foy (Rockwood, PA) finished second in the shot put, the distance medley relay team finished third, freshmanRebecca Miller (Spring Grove, PA) was fourth in the 5000 meters and freshmanMorgan Peaco (Zelienople, PA) was fifth in the high jump.

On the men′s side, 19 student-athletes set personal bests led by juniorJosh Guiser (Fayette City, PA) set school records in the 60 (7.09) and 200 meters (22.68), finishing second in both. SophomoreJacob Mellinger (Leetonia, OH) also set a school record and finished second in the 400 meters (50.98) and freshmanKen Kutcel (Medina, OH) finished second in the 5000 meters. Leading the freshmen wasBill Oplinger (New Kensington), who set two personal bests, finishing third in the triple jump and sixth in the long jump.

Also for the men, four different athletes finished fifth - and three were freshmen. SeniorMatt Logan (Myerstown, PA) was fifth in the shot put to lead the way. In addition,Cameron Unrath (Wexford, PA) was fifth in the 60 meters, freshman Jacob LaGorga (North Huntingdon, PA) was fifth while competing in the pole vault for the first time and finished fifth, andMichael Savino (Altoona, PA) was fifth in the 60m hurdles.

Geneva College invites students to accept the challenge of an academically excellent, Christ-centered education. Offering nearly 40 undergraduate majors, Adult Degree Programs with fully online and campus-based options, and seven graduate degrees, Geneva has programs that place students at the forefront of higher learning. Adhering to the inerrancy of Scripture, a Geneva education is grounded in God′s word as well as in a core curriculum designed to prepare students vocationally to think, write and communicate well in today′s world.

* Alayna Merkle pictured above

Feb 28, 2014