Ben Saxon didn't say much when he came off the track after running the anchor leg of the 1600-meter relay for Jim Thorpe in the team's Schuylkill League Division I meet against Lehighton.

He didn't have to.Saxon's effort, which was highlighted by the junior tumbling across the finish line to secure the victory in the final track event, served as a microcosm for the type of grit the Olympians showed throughout Tuesday's season-opening meet against the Indians.Led by strong performances both on the track and in the field, Jim Thorpe swept Lehighton, with the boys earning an 84-66 victory, while the girls prevailed 81-69."I'm proud of our kids. It was a great way to open up," said Jim Thorpe head coach Frank Miller. "Both teams showed tremendous heart. Both teams gave it their all today."It's a testament to what you're going to see in the league all year long. Every team, on any given day in this Schuylkill League Division I, has a chance to beat somebody. And that means you better show up every single day."That the Olympians did.Rayan Green bounced back from an early fourth-place finish in the 110 hurdles to capture the 300 hurdles (41.97), triple jump (44-09.5) and high jump (5-8).While Green was pleased with his results, the senior, who was a state qualifier a year ago in the triple jump and high jump, was more proud of what the team accomplished."We started off slow on both sides, which everyone saw," Green said. "But we didn't let that overwhelm us. We kept fighting and did what we had to do to get the job done and have success in the end."And Ben (Saxon) ran his heart out. We need that from everyone. Without an effort like that, we probably wouldn't have won today."Lehighton gained the early advantage by sweeping the long jump. Gavin Zehner (19-1) took the top spot, while Aaron Bowman and Shae Blasiak placed second and third, respectively.Though always close - 48-43 and 68-59 at different points in the meet - the Jim Thorpe girls used their depth to offset several Lehighton wins to come out on top.The Lady Olympians took two of the top three spots in the 400, 800, javelin, long jump, discus, shot put, triple jump, high jump and pole vault, while also winning the 400, 1600 and 3200 relay events.Along with Alexandra McGinley, Robbyn Loyd and Noelle Fasolino, Meghann Principe helped lead the 1600 relay team to victory in 4:30.28. Principe, McGinley, Kayley Kovac and Isle Hassler won the 3200 relay in 10:50.68 while Principe captured the 800 in 2:34.42.Lehighton's Grace Shanton looked to be in mid-season form in some events that were familiar and others that were not. Shanton picked up wins in the 100 hurdles (17.34) and 300 hurdles (51.94), while also taking first in the triple jump (32-06)."It feels good," said Shanton. "It was my first meet doing the triple jump; I've never done it before, so I was really surprised with the outcome and very happy with that."Having such nice weather has definitely helped me. It's hard coming out of a winter season where you're barely doing anything. But the nice weather has helped my muscles stay loose and allowed me to practice to the best of my ability, full speed everyday."With only the first meet in the books, Lehighton head coach Jim Blakeslee knows there is still plenty of time for his teams to round into form."We have a lot of new kids out this year," said Blakeslee. "We had some good competition (today) and they're going to get more experience and only get better at what they're doing as the season goes on."DYLAN DOES WELL ... Jim Thorpe's Dylan Bucior picked up wins in the 1600 (4:54.29) and 3200 (10:38.0) while also helping Jim Thorpe's 3200 relay team of Jian Gentile, who took second in both the 1600 and 3200, Hunter Simmons and Saxon secure a win in 8:49.62. Saxon won the 800 in 2:10.32.LEHIGHTON STANDOUTS ... The Indians got big wins in the 100 from Nick Chambers (11.21) and in the 400 relay (45.21) from the team of Chambers, Zehner, Mike Mayernik and Tahmir Spencer. In the girls meet, Cera Gaston picked up wins in the 1600 (6:01.26) and 3200 (12:58.90) for the Lady Indians while Jada Whiteman was victorious in the 100 (13.55) and 200 (27.90).BOYSJim Thorpe 84, Lehighton 66100- 1. Nick Chambers (L) 11.21, 2. Randy Sanon (JT), 3. Gavin Zehner (L);200- 1. Randy Sanon (JT) 24.27), 2. Tahmir Spencer (L), 3. Shawn O'Toole (JT);400- 1. Shawn O'Toole (JT) 53.95, 2. Richard Nolt (L), 3. Sean Paterson (L);800- 1. Ben Saxon (JT) 2:10.32, 2. Trent Frey (L), 3. Prince Simmonds (JT);1600- 1. Dylan Bucior (JT) 4:54.29, 2. Jian Gentile (JT), 3. Michael Blacketter (L);3200- 1. Dylan Bucior (JT) 10:38.00, 2. Jian Gentile (JT), 3. Michael Blacketter (L);110 H- 1. Conner Fabian (L) 15.93, 2. Mathew Strubinger (L), 3. Joseph Schwartz (JT);300 H- 1. Rayan Green (JT) 41.97, 2. Conner Fabian (L), 3. Mathew Strubinger (L);400 relay- 1. Lehighton (Gavin Zehner, Nick Chambers, Michael Mayernik, Tahmir Spencer) 45.21, 2. Jim Thorpe;1600 relay- 1. Jim Thorpe (Hunter Simmons, Prince Simmonds, Shawn O'Toole, Ben Saxon) 3:44.64, 2. Lehighton;3200 relay- 1. Jim Thorpe (Jian Gentile, Hunter Simmons, Ben Saxon, Dylan Bucior) 8:49.62, 2. Lehighton;Shot put- 1. Michael Jefferson (JT) 42-06.5, 2. Bailey Vincent (L), 3. Hunter Greene (L);Discus- 1. Derek Scott (JT) 109-10, 2. Kevin Vitti (JT), 3. Jason Scott (JT);Javelin- 1. Hunter Greene (L) 152-01, 2. Robert Heller (JT), Michael Mayernik (L);Long jump- 1. Gavin Zehner (L) 19-01, 2. Aaron Bowman (L), 3. Shae Blasiak (L);Triple jump- 1. Rayan Green (JT) 44-09.5, 2. Shae Blasiak (L), 3. Gavin Zehner (L);High jump- 1. Rayan Green (JT) 5-8, 2. Shae Blasiak (L), 3. Andre McDowell (L);Pole vault- 1. Aaron Bowman (L) 10-6, 2. Jason Montemuro (JT), 3. Brandon Bell (JT).GIRLSJim Thorpe 81, Lehighton 69100- 1. Jada Whiteman (L) 13.55, 2. Emma Dunbar (JT), 3.Amya Quinones (L);200- 1. Jada Whiteman (L) 27.90, 2. Rajah Quinones (L), 3. Monae Bullock (JT);400- 1. Robbyn Loyd (JT) 1:06.06, 2. Noelle Fasolino (JT), 3. Keyahr McDowell (L);800- 1. Meghann Principe (JT) 2:34.42, 2. Alexandra McGinley (JT), 3. Amanda Mattisen (L);1600- 1. Cera Gaston (L) 6:01.26, 2. Kayley Kovac (JT), 3. Amanda Mattisen (L);3200- 1. Cera Gaston (L) 12:58.90, 2. Kayley Kovac (JT), 3. Piper DeMatte (L);100 LH- 1. Grace Shanton (L) 17.34, 2. Alexis Brandt (L), Mackenzie Rosenberger (JT);300 H- 1. Grace Shanton (L) 51.94, 2. Alexis Brandt (L), 3. Jillian Peterson (JT);400 relay- 1. Jim Thorpe (Ruina Gentile, Emma Dunbar, Camille Principe, Monae Bullock) 55.39;1600 relay- 1. Jim Thorpe (Alexandra McGinley, Robbyn Loyd, Noelle Fasolino, Meghann Principe) 4:30.28, 2. Lehighton;3200 relay- 1. Jim Thorpe (Kayley Kovac, Isle Hassler, Alex McGinley, Meghann Principe) 10:50.68, 2. Lehighton;Shot put- 1. Holly Bollinger (L) 28-11.25, 2. Autumn Cope (JT), Erin Shigo (JT);Discus- 1. Isabelle Meckes (L) 100-01, 2. Erin Shigo (JT), 3. Autumn Cope (JT);Javelin- 1. Autumn Cope (JT) 125-08, 2. Brooke Cope (JT), 3. Megan McCullian (L);Long jump- 1. Jordan Waselus (JT) 13-08, 2. Marnea Wise (JT), 3. Emily Barkanic (L);Triple jump- 1. Grace Shanton (L) 32-06, 2. Jillian Peterson (JT), 3. Jordan Waselus (JT);High jump- 1. Noelle Fasolino (JT) 4-2, 2. Keyahr McDowell (L), 3. Payton Kovac (JT);Pole vault- 1. Lauren Marks (L) 7-6, 2. Ruina Gentile (JT), 3. Autumn Cope (JT).