By: TODD RUTH Review Sports Editor truth.eph@lnpnews.com, Staff Writer

Tuesday was a tough day for the Cocalico track team.

Not only did the Eagles have to face a talented team in host Garden Spot, but they did so in less than ideal windy conditions in New Holland.

In the end, Cocalico was staring at a double loss which put both the girls and boys teams at 2-2 on the season.

In boys’ action, the usual heroics by returning state silver medalist Kyle Felpel were not nearly enough as Garden Spot took 10 of the 11 events performed on the track to cruise to a 98-52 victory. On the girls’ side, Garden Spot swept the distances and hurdles and won five of the seven field events which added up to a 92-58 team victory.

"On the boys side (Garden Spot) really took it to us on the track," Cocalico Coach Ron Derr said Tuesday evening. "We won only one event and it’s pretty tough to win a meet when you only win one event on the track. Our girls we were fairly successful on the track but Garden Spot was pretty good in the field. Their girls had a tremendous (winning) streak and while they aren’t quite as strong as in other years they are still very, very good."

Cordell Stauffer notched the only win on the track for the Eagle boys, claiming the 300 hurdles with a time of 46.0. Felpel did take both the discus (170-8) and the shot (60-11), reaching the 60-feet mark in the latter for the second time this season. And Jhett Janis (javelin, 172-8) and Ben Graybill (pole vault, 12-0) earned the final two wins on the day for the Eagles.

On the girls’ side, sprinter Gina Glass was a double winner to pace the Lady Eagles. She claimed both the 100 (12.9) and 200 (27.3) while anchoring two of the three Cocalico relays to wins.

Other individuals to win events for Cocalico included: Rebecca Grube in the discus (93-5); and Ashley Strenko in the long jump (15-5).

While both Cocalico teams are now even after four meets, the growing pains of both squads aren’t unexpected.

"We knew going in this was going to be a tough year for us," Derr said. "On the boys’ side other than Kyle…Kyle is just that guy you can count on meet in and meet out to score a lot of points, but other than him we knew we’d really have to scrap for points. And getting to 76 points in a meet was going to take a big, big effort. The girls are maybe a little more balanced squad but we don’t really have any of those in the bag where we know we are going to take those events. In many ways it’s similar (to the boys’ team) in that we need a full team effort and try to grab any points in any spots that we can. Today against a Garden Spot team, (the Spartans) did a pretty good job in the field and in the distances and hurdles. And we are not strong enough to get big points back quickly in meets."

One person the team can hang their hats on is Felpel, who is heading off to the University of Alabama in the fall.

According to Derr, the sky is the limit for him in terms of success in his senior season.

"He’s already put up some huge numbers in some of our meets," Derr said. "He broke the 60 mark, and was over it again today in shot. He’s starting to become very consistent in that event with his technique, with the spin that he uses and just the great natural explosive strength that he possesses. Discus is still a little work for him in terms of establishing consistency. But if everything can really come together, I don’t know exactly what those numbers could be but they can go even higher than what he has put up so far."

Cocalico will host Lebanon next Monday at 4 p.m.

While Cocalico was battling Garden Spot, Ephrata split a meet at home vs. Solanco Tuesday afternoon.

In girls’ action, Kelly Liebl and Mary Witmer both were triple winners on the day as the Lady Mounts improved to 4-0 with a 98-52 victory over the Mares.

Liebl was a winner in the 100 (12.2), 200 (26.4) and long jump (15-3 1/2) while Witmer scored victories in the high hurdles (15.7), 300 hurdles (47.3) and the triple jump (34-4).

Crystal Hartman chipped in with a pair of throwing wins in the discus (118-0) and javelin (104-7). Her discus throw was a season high.

Vanessa Hurst (1600, 5:38) and Melynda Beam (3200, 12:38) were the final two individual winners on the day for Ephrata.

In boys’ action, Solanco proved to be too strong as the Mules pulled away for a 98-52 victory.

Ephrata (0-4) was led by double winner Quint Felak, who earned victories in both the high hurdles (16.9) and 300 hurdles (43.7).

Danny Matos added a win in the shot put (42-1 1/2) while the Mounts final win on the day came in the 1600 (3:48.7). More TRACK, page B-2