Deerfield Wins Against Highland Park

Despite many outstanding efforts by the Giants, Highland Park lost to Deerfield on the Varsity level at the Deerfield Dual Meet 85 to 38. Both teams competed at a high level, but Deerfield just had more firepower than HP.

The field events as always would be a key to success in this meet. Deerfield outscored HP 32 to 13 in the field events on the varsity level.

The Giants got a personal best throw from senior Zach Auerbach (44’1.5”) to take 3rd behind Deerfield’s very talented top 2 throwers.

Junior Jack Casey got a 2nd place finish in the High Jump by clearing 5’8”.

Freshmen Zion Griffin had a tremendous mark in the Long Jump as he took 2nd with an 18’9” leap before injuring his knee in the event. This jump was only a few inches away from the HPHS freshmen record.  

Due to not having Pole Vault available at HPHS, the vaulters competed at the Maine East Invite to count for this meet. Junior Ben Kirsch cleared 12’0” to take first place while senior Ben Zavell got over 11’0” for 3rd place.

The track events started well for the Giants as senior Nate Amster gave his team a big lead in the 4X800 Meter Relay. His 2:09.6 split gave the team enough of a cushion to hold off a strong Deerfield relay team and gain the victory. Amster was followed by 2 freshmen as Jason Polydoris (2:14.8) handed off to Tyler Carlson (2:13.6). Junior Jose Reyes ran the anchor leg in 2:10.7.

The 50 Meter Dash had seniors Michael Menaker and Sedric Gonzalez followed by freshmen Giovonni Volpentesta taking 2nd, 3rd, and 4th (6.36,6.37,6.39).

The 800 Meter Run had a great battle between a Deerfield runner and HP senior Alec Glazier. Glazier pushed the pace from the start and ran a tough race, but was unable to hold off the DF runner and took second in 2:12.6.

Despite running a strong relay, HP finished 2nd to DF in the 4X160 Meter Relay. The team consisted of Menaker, Gonzalez, senior Andrew Derdena, and Volpentesta.

Junior Joseph Beaudet was able to finish 2nd in the 50 Meter Low Hurdles with a time of 7.76.

Deerfield had a runner win the 1600 in 4:44.2 as the Giants took 2nd, 3rd, and 4th. Amster 4:46.7, Reyes 4:50.0, Polydoris 4:56.0.

Menaker and Gonzalez tied for 3rd in the 200 Meter Dash with a 25.0.

Even though it was not a scored event, the throwers 4 lap relay was exciting and the HP team raced well to win in 1:28.5. (juniors Will Pfeffer, Jacob Bradford, Matthew Salcena, and freshmen Riley Shallenbarger).

The final event was the 4X400 Meter Relay and it was filled with excitement. Reyes (:57.6) gave the Giants a significant lead. HP had Derdena (1:00.1) and Carlson (1:00.4) running tough middle legs to keep it close as Deerfield fought back to take the lead going into the final leg. Casey (:59.3) battled to pass the DF runner and gave it everything he had to hold him off down the final stretch! This was a strong way for the team to close out an overall disappointing meet.

The team knows it has many areas it must improve in before they can beat strong teams like Deerfield.

On the Frosh-Soph level, it was a much closer score. Deerfield beat HP 60 to 54.

The field event scores were much closer as DF only held a 20 to 16 advantage.

Sophomore Charlie Kleiman had a personal best throw of 34’3.5” to take 2nd place in the Shot Put. Freshmen Chris Lee just missed a top 3 finish as he took 4th with a 32’7” toss.

Sophomore Kolton Jacobs won the High Jump with a 5’0” clearance as freshmen Riley Shallenbarger was 2nd at 4’10”

Highland Park took first place in the 4X800 Meter Relay as the all freshmen team had a strong lead-off leg by Erik Anderson (2:20.2). He was followed by Levi Pasikov (2:25.4), Nathan Kornberg (2:21.8), and Jason Werneth (2:23.4) for a 9:30.7.

Sophomore Max Kaplan took 2nd in the 50 Meter High Hurdles with a 8.64.

Jacobs took 2nd in the 50 Meter Dash running a 6.75.

Freshmen Ari Kaden ran a 2:22.9 to take 1st place in the 800 Meter Run.

HP won the 4X160 Meter Relay with a 1:26.7 just ahead of Deerfield’s 1:26.9. Sophomore Emre Gulpinar lead off and got the baton to freshmen Evan Diethrich. Jacobs was next and gave the baton to Kaplan in the lead. Kaplan did a great job fighting off the final DF runner.

Kornberg took 3rd in the 400 Meter Dash with a 1:04.4.

Sophomore Eduardo Monk finished 2nd in the 50 Meter Low Hurdles in 8.3.

The 1600 Meter Run had HP taking 2nd, 3rd, and 4th. Anderson (5:12.6), Werneth (5:16.6), and Pasikov (5:20.0) all ran tough races.

Gulpinar and Diethrich took 2nd and 3rd in the 200 Meter Dash (26.7 and 26.9).

The Giants once again ran a strong 4X400 Meter Relay. Kaden led off with a 1:03.7 followed by Pasikov in 1:06.2. Monk ran next in 1:03.7. Werneth raced the anchor leg and had a great battle with the DF runner. It was Werneth in 1:00.6 that gave HP the victory with a 4:14.3. Deerfield finished in 4:14.8.

This frosh-soph team has the manpower to become a championship team if they collectively make the commitment over the next few years to be the best athletes they can be.