Plymouth gets out of blocks fast in opening dual meet with Canton

BY ED WRIGHT
April 13, 2010, 10:35 p.m.

  Plymouth's boys track-and-field team "threw" Canton for a loop Tuesday afternoon in the season-opening dual meet for both squads.

  The Wildcats established a significant 35-10 edge in the field events -- thanks largely to 1-2-3 sweeps in the shot put and discus -- to run away with an 85-52 victory over the Chiefs in a meet held at the PCEP junior varsity stadium.

  The meet was a special one for Plymouth coach Jon Mikosz, who was making his head-coaching debut against the school he excelled for a decade earlier.

  "It feels good," said Mikosz. "We got a lot of our points in different ways than I thought we would. I thought we'd do better in the distance events, but our throwers really pulled us through, sweeping the shot put and discus.

  "Alex Ruffin had a good day in the long jump, too, going 20 feet, 4 inches, his best effort so far."

  Canton head coach Bob Richardson, who coached Mikosz back in the day, said he was proud of his team's all-out effort.

  "We knew it was going to be a tough meet; my hat is off to Jon Mikosz, a former Chief," said Richardson. "I thought we'd do a little better, but my guys gave it all they had; no one backed down.

  "I saw a lot of bright spots, but there are also some areas where we're going to have to make some adjustments."

  Brandon Piligian paced the Wildcats' effort, winning the 110-meter hurdles in 15.4 and the 300 hurdles in 41.7.

  Kevin Buford was a double-winner for the Chiefs, taking the 100 in 11.4  and the 200 in 22.6.

Pole vault: 1. Andy Bihn (P), 11 feet, 0 inches; 2. Joe Bockstanz (P), 11-0; 3. Nick Alaniva (C), 10-6.

Shot put: 1. Kyle Brindza (P), 46-2; 2. Jordon Birman (P), 41-10.5; 3. Darrell Cohn (P), 40-8.

Discus: 1. Keith Choma (P), 145-1; 2. Kyle Brindza (P), 136-7; 3. Keys (P), 114-8.

High jump: 1. Ben Spreitzer (C), 6-0; 2. Pawal Dhaliwal (P), 6-0; 3. Jalen Woolridge (P), 5-6.

Long jump: 1. Alex Ruffin (P), 20-4; 2. Nick Alaniva (C), 19-10.5; 3. Zac Merillat (C), 17-3.

3,200-meter relay: 1. Plymouth (Warren Buzzard, Joe Porcari, Matt Neumann, Justin Heck), 8:20.5; 2. Canton, 8:22.0.

110 hurdles: 1. Brandon Piligian (P), 15.4; 2. Ben Spreitzer (C), 16.5; 3. Winston Roberts (C), 17.4.

100 dash: 1. Kevin Buford (C), 11.4; 2. William Askew II (P), 11.5; 3. Stefan Turrentine (P), 11.6.

800 relay: 1. Plymouth (Anthony LeMerise, Kyle Brindza, William Askew II, Joshua Wright), 1:34.9; 2. Canton, 1:35.0.

1,600 run: 1. Zack Spreitzer (C), 4:45.2; 2. Matt Neumann (P), 4:45.3; 3. Warren Buzzard (P), 4:45.4.

400 relay: 1. Plymouth (Alex Ruffin, William Askew II, Anthony LeMerise, Joshua Wright), 45.0; 2. Canton.

400 dash: 1. Jordan Wisniewski (C), 53.6; 2. Tyler Winningham (C), 53.9; 3. Jalen Woolridge (P), 55.0.

300 hurdles: 1. Brandon Piligian (P), 41.7; 2. Ben Spreitzer (C), 42.5; 3. Winston Roberts (C), 44.2.

800 run: 1. Keith Zech (C), 2:06.0; 2. Warren Buzzard (P), 2:07.0; 3. Max Schmiel (C), 2:08.

200 dash: 1. Kevin Buford (C), 22.6; 2. William Askew II (P), 23.0; 3. Anthony LeMerise (P), 23.0.

3,200 run: 1. Joe Porcari (P), 10:33; 2. Derek Gielarowski (P), 10:34; 3. Matt Neumann (P), 10:34.

1,600 relay: 1. Canton (Ben Spreitzer, Tyler Winningham, Jordan Wisniewski, Keith Zech), 3:37; 2. Plymouth, 3:39.