Garrettsville – “This is a special group, shared JAG High School Track Coach John Bennett, when speaking about 2019 seniors Tyler Klouda, Alex Bell, Devyn Penna, Travis Synnestvedt, and Dylan Wilson of the GHS Boys track & field team. “You could see their talent at a young age,” he noted of Tyler and Devyn. “Travis has a tremendous work ethic and has made himself a great athlete.” Bennett recruited Dylan from baseball as a sophomore, noting that he “had all the tools to compete at the state level”. “Alex Bell didn’t run track as a freshman, but became one of the best.”
He acknowledges that he tries to look for kids that are highly motivated and determined to do what it takes to excel. “You never know who that kid might be, so we never turn anyone away.” This year’s Boys and Girls Track & Field teams included 65-70 athletes. He’s proud to note that since 1993, 47 GHS athletes have stood on the podium at the State meet.
Bennett is a 1977 JAG alumnus, teacher and track & field coach since 1984. His pride in his alma mater and his athletes isn’t difficult to see — he’s got team photos from previous years pinned up in his classroom, and was proud to point out several student athletes whose own students are part of Bennett’s more recent team photos.
“We know we can always trust the program,” Tyler noted, “Trust Coach Bennett and Coach Pfleger, and it works.” Devyn added, “Coach Bennett cares. He looks out for us like we’re his own kids.”
Bennett is quick to share the spotlight, “All of our coaches are very knowledgeable, and good at building relationships with the kids, he explained. “I got the accolades as (PTC) Coach of the Year, but without those three,” referring to Throwing Coach Jim Pfleger, Hurdles/Jumps Coach Jessica Crookham-Ball, and Distance Coach Kelliann Collins, “there is no way I would achieve the success I’ve had.”
“I think what contributes to the success of the program is, first, our kids,” Pfleger, a JAG graduate from 1999 shared. “We might be limited when it comes to facilities,” he acknowledged, “but we have kids that make it happen. And I think we have extremely dedicated staff that give up a lot of time,” he added. Pfleger shared, “I really always wanted to work in the district. I taught in several other districts but continued coaching track at GHS.,” he explained. 2019 marks Pfleger’s 18th season coaching track, with all but two years spent at Garfield. “I really enjoy working with the athletes here and coaching with Coach Bennett,” he added.
The feeling is mutual. “Coach Pfleger is the best coach of any sport,” Dylan commented. “He pushes you harder than you thought you could go.” Travis interjected, “Coach Kelliann treats all of us as her own. We’re a tight-knit group, and she’s always there for us, no matter what we need.” Tyler interjected, “Coach Jessica is determined to make every person better. From kids just starting out or ones that are struggling, to top performers, she gives us all the same attention either way.”
GHS Athletic Director Pfleger, recently shared that the track & field team has enjoyed a great deal of success in the postseason. The boys track & field program won the Portage Trail Conference meet for the second straight year and for three of the last four seasons. On the heels of winning the league title, the boys team won the Division 2 District Title at Lakeview High School the following week. This was the boy’s second district championship since 2016.
Following the district championship, several G-Men competed at the regional championships at Fitch High School and qualified for the State Championships in Columbus in early June. Senior Tyler Klouda won his second straight regional title in the 1600 meters. Tyler went on to place 6th overall at the state championships. Freshman Ryan Stoller (300 meter hurdles), senior Dylan Wilson (discus), junior Sara Kittle (shot put) and sophomore Lilly Johns (discus) also qualified for the state meet.
Devyn explained, “Every senior class has an exceptional talent. For us, it’s consistently been track.” He noted that the majority have been running together since middle school, and won the PTC when they were in the eighth grade. Travis noted that the current Middle School boys and girls teams both earned the PTC title this year, showing the promise of the future for the program.
Although the school year concluded a few weeks ago, the track & field season only recently ended for some rising stars in the track program. Freshmen Ryan Stoller, Riley LaPorte, Peyton Yancey and 8th grader Jesse Grace were invited to compete at the New Balance Outdoor National Championships in Greensboro North Carolina last week. The event gave our student athletes the opportunity to compete against athletes from around the country. Stoller qualified for the 300-meter hurdles in the Emerging Elite Division. LaPorte and Yancey competed in the shot put in the Freshman Division and Jesse Grace threw both the shot put and discus in the Middle School Division, earning 3rd place for shot put. Over the past 20 years, more than 60% of the members of the Olympics and World Championship U.S. teams have competed at this meet, and J. A. Garfield Schools were pleased to have four athletes at this prestigious meet. “The program is in good hands,” Travis noted. “The future is bright.”
