By ROY HESS | Staff Writer
St. Joseph Academy enjoyed medal-winning performances by Pablo Zolezzi and Camryn Gloor at the TAPPS track and field state meet in Waco over the weekend.
Despite some adverse weather conditions, Zolezzi, a junior, successfully defended his TAPPS state title in the discus and Gloor, a senior, took third place in the pole vault.
Zolezzi won with a throw of 160 feet, 2 inches, while Gloor cleared 10 feet in her event to take third.
The TAPPS state meet took place Friday and Saturday at Waco Midway. SJA competed in Class 6A, the highest classification. While the weather was stormy and delayed the competition on the first day of the meet, the second day turned out to be pretty nice, SJA coach Teddy Lopez said.
The SJA coach was pleased with Zolezzi’s showing.
“Defending a state title is a difficult thing,” Lopez said. “I’m proud of the way Pablo competed, but he still has some goals that were left unattained (such as the school record of 162-2).”
Zolezzi battled through the weather and a foot injury to successfully repeat as a TAPPS state champion.
“What stood out to me was how he performed under adverse conditions,” Lopez said. “The communication between Pablo and Rey Cortinas, our throwing coach, had to be in sync, and it was. The rain, the condition of the (throwing) ring, a foot injury from regionals — those were key (factors involved) in his execution.”
Lopez said Gloor finished her track career with a flourish.
“She essentially tied her personal best (at state),” the SJA coach said. “At regionals (on April 26 in San Antonio), she went to 10-1 instead of 10-0 and cleared it. Camryn finished at her peak her last three meets with 10-foot clearances. It was a real possibility to get to 10-6 (which was the winning height at state), but she got rewarded with a bronze medal for having no scratches through 10.
“We have been together for six years,” Lopez added. “At her first state meet in junior high summer track she had an anxiety attack. To see the way she handled herself on Friday is what every coach hopes for. Her integrity and her attitude were unmatched. It’s what made her successful. It’s what will always make her successful.”
Also at state for the Bloodhounds, Kai Money took fourth place in the long jump, Lesly de la Llata Rodriguez was fourth in the discus, Miguel Guerra was sixth in the 200 meters and Marte Rodriguez was seventh in both the 300 hurdles and the high jump.
SJA’s 800 relay finished fifth and its 400 relay was eighth. Running on the relays were Money, Guerra, Keaton Cackley and John Michael Mar Maxwell.