A report from East Greenwich boys indoor assistant track coach Paul Evasick:

AVENGERS WIN FIRST EVER INDOOR CLASS C STATE CHAMPIONSHIP
EGHS 109 vs Classical 91, Westerly 57, Portsmouth 45

The East Greenwich boys went into todays’ championship meet with a punchers chance of taking down one of the perennial track powerhouses Classical HS. It would take a total team effort and a few strategies to make sure the AVs could get enough points in the running events to make up for Classicals’ dominance in the field events. Our seniors were going to have to score in 2 or 3 events and have a busy day. Coach E “ I told the kids this is what the last four years of work were all about. I told them four years ago as a freshmen class they had a chance to do something special.” If they all do what they are suppose to do today, we have a chance at winning our first Indoor State championship.”

The meet got off to a great start, our 4X800 took home an expected 3 third place, Senior Gabe Hayek, Sophomore Matt Gowell, Sophomore Austin Schaefer and Senior Captain Matt Colavita, and Classical got shut out of the relay scoring. Then our 4X1lap relay which had underachieved all season long finally put their race together and stunned Classical and Portsmouth taking home the Gold medal from the unseeded heat in a new school record time of 1:11.5. Senior captain Alex Iwamoto, Junior Harrison Saunders, Senior captains Wes Evasick and Drew Schoettler.

Our next event on the track was the 3000M and this and the 1500M is where we planned to take advantage of our distance dominance and score big points against Classical to make up for their dominance in the Shotput, Weight throw and High jump. Our runners did exactly what we planned as they swept 2nd thru 4th place and blanking classical 20 to 0 in that event. Sophomore Nick Ross, Senior Captain Matt Colavita, Senior Mike Pezzullo, Senior Captain Akash Chougule. All ran smart races saving themselves for the 1500M which would be a pivitol race and Nick for the 1000M at the end of the meet.

Mike and Akash then ran great 1500M and took home third and fourth place respectively and getting us 10 much needed points in the 1500M. Mike ran close to his seasons best and Akash ran his personal best today, 4:25.9. “ they knew they needed to kept the Classical runner behind them, Matt Gallogly and they did!” The meet then turned on the 300 meter dash. Junior Harrison Saunders set the school record 39.5 and took third for 6 unexpected points and Classical got shut out the points in the 300 and that caused a 20 point swing in our favor. The meet was locked up at that point.

The following athletes all had great days and the seniors really put their competitive spirit on the line today:
Senior Captain Wes Evasick 1st and Class Meet record in the 45 hurdles 6.7, 1st and school record in the 4X1 relay 1:11.5 and 2nd on the 4X440 relay.
Senior Captain Alex Iwamoto, 3rd in 45 dash and 1st on 4X1 relay 1:11.5
Senior Captain Andrew Glod, 1st in 600M and 2nd on 4x440 relay
Senior Captain Matt Colavita, 3rd on 4X880 relay and 3rd in 3000M
Senior Mike Pezzullo, 4th in 300M, 3rd in 1500M and 2nd on 4X440 relay
Senior Captain Akash Chougule, 5th in 3000M, and 4th in 1500M
Senior Tom Davis, 2nd and personal best in weight throw 66-4
Senior Captain Drew Schoettler, 1st in 4X1 relay 1:11.5

Junior Harrison Saunders, 4th in 45 Dash, 3rd and new school record 39.5 in 300 dash, 1st in 4X1 lap relay 1:11.5, and 2nd in 4X440 relay.
Sophomore Nick Ross, 1st in 100M new school record time 2:38.5 and 2nd in the 3000M

“This meet was won because of those seniors who have put the work in for 4 years. They are a great bunch of kids and they made it happen for themselves today!” There are so many great stories on the team. Our freshmen 4X1 relay was the fastest in the state four years ago and dropped the baton on the anchor leg, last week they dropped the baton on the first exchange, Today they got redemption, Class C state champions and New School record.