NORTH PENN HIGH SCHOOL
BOYS INDOOR STATE TRACK
CHAMPIONS 2006
Head Coach Jay Jones
Assistant Coaches: Ernie Perilli, John Fluck
Captains: James Green, Phil Wright, Cody Edling, Brandon Turner
Team Members in picture:
Front row lt / rt: Tylon Hughes, Elliott Johnson, Brandon Turner, Chris Dollinger,
2nd row Lt / Rt: Justin Bookheimer, James Green, Eric Akins, Zack Montijo Steve Franks,
3rd row: Chris Parris, Phil Wright, Coach Perilli, Coach Jones, Cody Edling, Coach Fluck
Team Members not in Picture:
Seniors: Bob Bacon, Ryan Barron, Wayne Brown, Dominic Calamia, Nick Cerminara, Robert Draper, John Kohl, Paul Leslie, Lamar Reid, Jacob Rolon, Brad Silver, Anthony Smith, Kevin Spross, Conor Stahlhut, , Kevin Vance, A J Woods
Juniors: Paul Biedlingmaier, T J Brown, Tyler Colbert, Juleian Curtis, Mike Heffner, Steve Levendusky, Brian Lynch, Ralph Riccardi, Chris Senske, Ryan Shannahan, Matt Sullivan, Shawn Wetherill, Justin Yi
Sophomores: Victor Calamaro, Mitchell Cashatt, Dan Fisher, Michael Joell, Ryan Kaye, Scott Kenyon, Ji Kim, Phong Le, Aseem Malhorta, Jason Malseed, Alex Poulin, Nick Ramano, Kris Varga, Sam Webb
Freshman: Nick Burwit, Derrick Cartwright, Brian English, Dan Espie, Justin Kohl, Brian Kuntzman,
Nathan Lipsi, Eric Meckley, Brandon Rothenberger, Abu Siddique, Mike Wesolowski
2006 PTFCA All- State:
Brandon Turner 1st Team Triple Jump
4X800 Relay 1st Team:
Zack Montijo, Justin Bookheimer, Phil Wright, Cody Edling
4X400 Relay 3rd Team:
Chris Dollinger, Cody Edling, Brandon Turner, Phil Wright
North Penn PTFCA 2006 Indoor State Championship 45pts:
Brandon Turner 1st Place Triple Jump
Tylon Hughes 4th Place Triple Jump
Chris Parris 4th Place 60m Hurdles
James Green 5th Place Shot Put
4X200 Relay 4th:
Brandon Turner, Chris Parris, Elliott Johnson, Chris Dollinger
4X400 Relay 3rd:
Chris Dollinger, Cody Edling, Brandon Turner, Phil Wright
4X800 Relay 1st:
Zack Montijo, Justin Bookheimer, Phil Wright, Cody Edling
Indoor National Meet at the Armory, NY:
Brandon Turner Placed 4th in the Triple Jump
4X800m Team Placed 4th: Zack Montijo, Justin Bookheimer, Phil Wright,
Cody Edling
Inducted NPAAA Hall of Fame 2015
“Be Tough and Coachable”
Going into the 2006 Indoor Track season, the North Penn Knights had as many questions as they had answers. On one hand, the team knew they had multiple returning State medalists, a great coaching staff, and a reputation as a perennial powerhouse in the State of Pennsylvania. Still, the team had relay spots to fill, not only in their vaunted 4x800 meter relay, but in the other relays as well. Having lost a State Champion miler, and many other key cogs, could this team truly hope to compete for a State Championship? Who would step up? And then there was, perhaps, the most important question of all. How would the Knights fair with a head coach not named Dick Swanker for the first time in 24 years?
As Coach Jay Jones entered his inaugural campaign at the helm, carrying on the tradition of excellence would not be easy. Cold November days turned into colder January nights and the Knights worked to answer all the questions that nagged them. They went from running laps around the hallways of North Penn, to running laps around the bus circle outside of the school, to finally competing on indoor tracks across Eastern PA. “Be tough and coachable,” Coach Jones continued to preach.
While February and championship season could be seen on the horizon, the North Penn boys were finding their identity and settling into a groove. Coach Jones had managed to pick up where Coach Swanker had left off. Jay Jones and his staff had the team winning events from Lehigh to Glen Mills.
With a few weeks left to qualify for the State meet, the Knights were answering all the questions from early on. The sprinters were emerging as solid contributors. In the field, two triple jumpers, two hurdlers, and a shot-putter had all qualified to compete at Penn State. Sure, Coach Swank had retired, but he remained at almost every practice and meet. The final peace to the puzzle came from the most surprising place: three extraordinary sophomores (Zach Mojito, Stephen Franks, and Justin Bookheimer) rounded out the distance crew, making the 4x800 once again, a threat to compete for a State title.
The Boys arrived at the State Championship meet with one goal, “Win it all.” In order to do so, they would have to beat the favorite and last year’s Champion, Simon Gratz. Unfortunately, the meet started out with disaster when Elliot Johnson was tripped and leaped over during the 4x200m relay, causing the team of Brandon Turner, Chris Parris, Johnson, and Chris Dollinger to only finish 4th place.
“Be tough and coachable.”
The team rallied around this disappointment. Jim Green took 5th place in the Shot Put. Chris Parris came back and hurdled his way to 4th place in the 60m Hurdles. Brandon Turner and Tylon Hughes managed to take 1st and 4th respectively in the Triple Jump, earning 15 points for the team. After the 4x800m team of Montijo, Bookheimer, Phil Wright, and Cody Edling gutted out a thrilling victory, the Championship was closer than they had ever imagined. With a State Championship hanging in the balance, the 4x400m relay team of Dollinger, Edling, Turner, and Wright placed 3rd and secured the victory!
Coach Jones hoisted the State Championship Trophy in his first season as head coach, and the team celebrated from that moment until the bus arrived back at the high school hours later!