(EDITOR’S NOTE: Since May of 1999, the Times News Sports Department has featured an On This Date practically every day, highlighting an event that happened in the past. With the coronavirus putting a halt to sports, the On This Dates have been expanded to the stories that actually ran in the next edition’s newspaper. Today’s On This Date story is from May 7, 1988).

By Joe Plasko

Sports Staff Writer

Relay events such as Saturday’s Schuylkill County Relays at Pottsville are supposed to be fun, a break from the normally rigid dual meet schedule.

For Tamaqua’s Lady Raider thinclads, the satisfaction came with winning the overall girls title.

The Raider girls placed in every event except one to edge out Schuylkill Division I titlist Pottsville 72-67 for the Relays crown. Mahanoy Area (55 points), West Hazleton (36) and Blue Mountain (31 1/2) rounded out the top five.

In the boys competition it was Pottsville, as expected, that walked away with the laurels. The Crimson Tide racked up 72 points to outdistance Shamokin (59), Nativity (53) and Tamaqua (51).

For Tamaqua coach Ray Edwards, the meet was an opportunity to turn both Raider squads loose, and he was pleased with the results.

“We didn’t come over here to have fun, we came over here with a mission. We wanted to win, and they made the commitment and did what they set out to do.”

The Raider condergirls dropped a dual meet to the Lady Tide two weeks ago, but this time out Tamaqua grabbed two firsts, three seconds and two thirds to cop the trophy.

“Some of them came over here to show that they’re better than what they did on that day (against Pottsville), but overall, we showed that we’re a good team,” said Edwards.

The Tamaqua firsts came in their specialty, the sprints. The 4x100 relay of Brenda Snyder, Missie Chinchar, Kim Maurer and Trish Plasko grabbed first in 52.1, while the 4x200 team of Snyder, Cheryl Clemson, Maurer and Plasko won with a time of 1:53.7.

Finishing second for the Tams were the 4x400 squad of Snyder, Chinchar, Jill Gormley and Maurer, and the duo of Sue Abazly and Debbie DiCarlo, who turned the trick in the shot and javelin.

The Raiders got third place performances from the shuttle hurdle team of Snyder, Maurer, Gormley and Chinchar, the discus tandem of Allison Zlock and Amy Clemson, and the triple jump combo of Missie Schock and Jill Ackerman.

Two other TIMES NEWS area schools, Panther Valley and Marian, finished ninth and 12th respectively. The Panthers top finish came from Kim Williams and Lisa Kravelk, who teamed to tie for second in the long jump. The PV 4x100 team of DeGiosio, Michalik, Becker and Fauzio took fourth.

In the boys action, Pottsville was a clear-cut winner, taking first in five of 13 events. The number two through four slots were tightly contested all evening, as Shamokin placed in 11 events while Nativity took one first and four seconds to outduel the Raiders.

“I’m pleased with what our guys did tonight, especially since we were missing a few,” remarked Edwards. “Some of our sophs (Brian Hess and Duane Schock) really came on while Vance Welker, Jamie Gerber and Ray Kinder did all I could ask of them.”

Tamaqua’s boys managed two first places. Gerber and Kinder combined for a total height of 12-2 in the high jump while the shuttle relay of Greg Scott, Hess, Ron Zimmerman and Welker broke the tape in 51.3.

John and Matt Mateyak had a solid showing in the field for the Raiders, hooking up for second in the discus, third in the javelin and fourth in the shot. John’s heave of 50-9 in the shot was the event’s best.

Taking third place for the Tams was the 4x200 platoon of Dennis DiCarlo, Scott, Schock and Welker, while Kinder and Scott finished fourth in the triple with Kinder getting a leap of 41-3 1/2.

Panther Valley’s boys had a lot to shout about in the throwing events. Matt Kochaba and Joe Perilli set a meet record in winning the shot put with a combined distance of 93-7. Kochaba and Perilli also teamed for a fifth in the discus.

The Panthers ended up eighth in the standings with 20 points. Tom Miller and Jeff Goida contributed eight of that with a second place performance in the triple jump.

Marian was the only other TIMES NEWS team in the boys field, finishing up in 12th overall. The Colts’ highest finish came in the shuttle, where Bob Rafferty, Matt Lesniak, Greg Izzo and John Zukas picked up fourth place.