By ROY HESS | Staff Writer
St. Joseph Academy is sending a group of experienced athletes to the TAPPS state track & field meet this year, including a pair of private-school defending state champions.
In all, SJA will have eight athletes at the state meet plus a relay alternate. The group includes seven boys and two girls. The majority of them (seven of nine) have competed at state previously.
The TAPPS state meet starts today and runs through Saturday at Waco Midway ISD’s Panther Stadium.
The state qualifiers finished first or second at a TAPPS Class 6A regional meet April 26 in San Antonio.
The ones from SJA at state are Pablo Zolezzi, Marte Rodriguez, Kai Money, Keaton Cackley, Miguel Guerra, John Michael Mar Maxwell, Lesly de la Llata Rodriguez, Camryn Gloor and Melik Kauachi, who is a freshman relay alternate.
“I do think so (that this is an experienced group),” SJA coach Teddy Lopez said. “We’re taking two defending state champions and nine athletes altogether counting our alternate. I feel very comfortable and confident with this group. I don’t have any qualms about taking them up there to state and feeling any jitters or anything like that.
“Our seniors are leading the way,” he added. “They are Kai, Miguel, Marte, Keaton, Camryn and Lesly. They’ve been very committed to track and they’ve been doing their thing forever. It’s going to be tough to see them go (graduate), but they’re here and this is their final meet. We’re just happy and excited to see this happen.
“I’ve been going to (TAPPS) state meets for 25 years (as an SJA track coach) and it doesn’t ever get old.”
A year ago at state, Rodriguez won the 300 hurdles and Zolezzi was a pleasant surprise in winning the discus.
Their goal is to do it again.
“Like any other race, I work hard and give it my best effort,” said Rodriguez, the SJA valedictorian who just a week ago received a $20,000 scholarship from Foot Locker for his athletic involvement and community service. “I know this is the last time to go to state, so I’m trying to enjoy it.
“It’s been a fun six years here at St. Joe,” he added. “It’s been a great experience and I’ve really enjoyed it.”
Added Zolezzi, a junior standout in several field events who will concentrate exclusively on the discus in Waco, “It was great last year. It was definitely unexpected because I was seeded fifth, I believe. But with hard work and a great coach, you can do anything. I’ve always preferred being the underdog, but no challenge is going to keep me from winning.
“My goal is to set a personal record and break the school record,” he added. “I want to throw 165 (feet) or 170. My favorite part of it is just to prove that the Lower Valley can do something (at a state-wide meet). It doesn’t matter where you’re from (you can still do well).”
The Bloodhounds qualified for state in the 400 and 800 relays with team members Money, Cackley, Mar Maxwell and Guerra.
Individually, Money also will be doing the long jump and Guerra the 200 dash.
De la Llata Rodriguez will throw the discus and Gloor will compete in the pole vault.
“This is a happy and sad moment (going to state),” said de la Llata Rodriguez, who will continue to compete as a discus thrower in college. “There are a lot of emotions combined. I would love to stay one more year (at SJA) and gain more experience, but this (state meet) is the last chance I have.
“I’m going to throw (at state) with everything I have on the discus ring and try my best,” she added. “This is a group that has bonded a lot and we trust in each other. We cheer for each other.”
SJA is known for its pole vaulting competitors both male and female over the years. Gloor is proud to be one of them.
“It’s definitely been a learning experience and a lot of fun (doing the event at SJA),” said Gloor, whose older sister Taylor also competed for the Lady Bloodhounds in the pole vault. “When I was a seventh-grader, I was looking up to the older vaulters, and now that I’m a senior, I’ve been able to see some of the freshmen ask me for advice this year. I remember when I was younger asking the older ones for advice, so it’s really cool and also interesting to see how things go during the years.
“I’ve been a part of St. Joe track for six years and I’ve seen all the athletes who have come up through the program,” she added. “It’s going to be really hard to say goodbye (upon graduation).”