The Quaker Valley track and field program has been a powerhouse in this decade.
QV was represented by 16 athletes in 24 events, along with four relay units, at the PIAA Class 2A meet last year.
The boys team advanced as a two-time WPIAL champion then racked up 75 points to finish first in Class 2A by a wide margin, more than doubling the point total of its closest competitor.
The Quakers joined Aliquippa as the only 2A teams in the WPIAL to win a state championship in track and field.
QV coach Jared Jones, naturally, was overjoyed.
“The boys set three school records at the state meet,” Jones said. “This extraordinary team also set a new record for most points ever scored by any 2A or 3A boys team at the PIAA championship meet.”
Quaker Valley’s girls squad, which won its fourth consecutive WPIAL title in 2025, also finished first in the PIAA scoring with 54 points.
“For the girls, this marks the first time any QV team has won a state championship in any sport,” Jones said. “They join only two other WPIAL 2A schools to ever win a state championship in (girls) track and field.”
QV’s girls team had nine athletes in 14 events along with relay team quality for the PIAA meet. The boys team had seven athletes in 10 events and all three relays advance to states.
And with a host of underclassmen making their presence felt last year, the Quakers started out in spectacular fashion this season.
Both the boys and girls hammered their opponents in the team scoring March 26 against Rochester and host Beaver.
The boys soundly defeated Beaver, 120-30, and Rochester, 140-10, while the girls ran past Beaver, 110-40, and Rochester, 137-13.
“We started the season on the right foot,” Jones said. “This meet included some very impressive and even historic Quaker Valley performances. That is quite rare for a first meet of the season and is a testament to the hard work and effort our athletes have put in.
“I am very proud of our team’s performance, but even more impressed with how our athletes represented Quaker Valley.”
QV sophomore Connor Dwyer tied the school record in the boys high jump, clearing a height of 6 feet, 6 inches and matching a 30-year-old record set in 1996.
Kieran Cain, a junior, raced to the second-fastest time in school history in the 100-meter dash (10.74) and the fourth fastest in the 200 (22.11).
Xander Vescio, a senior, ran the fifth-fastest time in school history in the 110-meter hurdles (14.91). And senior Mia Gartley improved her high jump mark, which now ranks third all-time at her school.
“I have super high expectations for the girls team this season,” Gartley said, “two of which are becoming section champions for another year and hopefully getting the WPIAL title. It’s definitely going to be difficult but is a huge goal I have for our team.”
Jones also was impressed by several QV freshmen who secured top 5 performances on the Quakers’ freshman all-time list.
“On the girls side,” Jones said, “Kallie McCune’s 400-meter time of 1:04.39 ranks second, Barrett Renner’s long jump of 14 feet, 8 inches ranks third, and Campbell Homer’s discus throw of 71 feet, 4 inches also is third.
“On the boys side, Jacob Siulborski’s javelin throw of 109 feet, 10 inches ranks second, Connor West’s triple jump of 40 feet, 3.5 inches is third, Graham Walker’s pole vault of 8 feet, 6 inches and August Aziz-Prem’s pole vault of 7 feet rank third and fourth, Lucas Cevarr’s discus throw of 111 feet, 3 inches is third and his shot put of 35 feet, 0.5 inches is fifth.”
Returning “starters” at QV this season include seniors Jayden Juliano (200, 400), Xander Vescio (long jump, hurdles), Tyler Bell (1,600), Nicholas Winnowski (javelin), Aiden Dwyer (triple jump, high jump), Ryan Kempton (1,600) and Benny Janeway (javelin).
Others to watch on the boys team include juniors Jonah Montagnese (800, 1,600, 3,200), James Irwin (200, 400, long jump), Kieran Cain (100, 200, long jump), River Capek (400, 800), Hugo Castellini (hurdles), Trey Dunlap (discus, shot put) and sophomore Eli Walker (pole vault).
“It is amazing being part of a team that carries such a high name for itself,” Irwin said.
Montagnese reeled in four PIAA medals at Shippensburg last year to help propel the boys team to the state championship.
“We knew we were the favorites,” Montagnese said, “but that didn’t mean we weren’t going push as hard as we could in every race.”
For the girls, athletes back from last year include senior Maryland basketball recruit Mimi Thiero (high jump), seniors Emma Currier (triple jump, long jump) and Clara Herman (javelin, shot put) and sophomores Lucy Montagnese (1,600, 3,200) and Madelyn Main (hurdles).
Montagnese made a huge impact for the Quakers as a first-year competitor in her 2025 freshman season.
“I think all of us on the girls team have pretty high hopes,” she said, “especially with the last couple years being so successful. It would be amazing to win the WPIAL title for the fifth year in a row, and I think that is what we have our eyes set on as a team this season.
“Obviously, we lost a lot of key seniors, but we still have a very strong team and I’m hoping we will be able to pull through for the title.”
Some of the leading athletes in QV’s junior class include Evie Rosselli (pole vault, hurdles), Rose Pocasangre (100, hurdles), Maggie Doz (1,600), Kate Steinfurth (1,600) and Maura Calhoun (discus, shot put).
“I exceeded my expectations by getting second in the pole vault (at last year’s state meet),” Rosselli said, “and I’m looking forward to competing at the state championships in the future. I’m so grateful and proud to be a part of that experience.”