SCRANTON – Just last week, Aiden Janowicz posted the fastest school record in Lackawanna Track Conference history during Wallenpaupack’s dual-meet win over North Pocono that clinched the Division II title. He then helped the team capture the Class 3A title at the Jordan Relays.
On Tuesday night, while facing some unexpected adversity, the Buckhorns’ senior star helped spark his team to another championship celebration.
Following a sixth-place finish in the 1,600-meter run, Janowicz earned a win in the 800 in 1 minute, 57.37 seconds. He started the meet by helping the Buckhorns win the 3,200 relay, and he closed the night at Scranton Veterans Memorial Stadium by joining Izael Rodriguez, Dawid Mrowka, and Bryce Pagano to set a meet record in the 1,600 relay, winning in 3:22.72.
Wallenpaupack scored 86 points to win. Valley View was second with 45 points, and Abington Heights had 43.
“I didn’t do real well in the 1,600, so I wanted to get out and win the 800,” Janowicz said. “It also meant a lot to score points for my team. I know that this is the first team that I have been on to do as well as we are as a team.”
Just as it did with a Class 2A win at the Jordan Relays, Riverside made history by winning its first title at the Spagna Championships. Mikey Schimelfenig won the 1,600 in 4:26.36 to lead the Vikings, who scored 72 points to edge Dunmore, which had 68. Montrose and Western Wayne were tied for third with 48 points each.
“It’s great,” Schimelfenig said. “Two school history wins, first Jordans and now this. I can’t ask for a better season. We kept seeing that we were in first place in the team standings. We knew that it was going to come down to the wire, and coming out on top is amazing.”
In addition to Janowicz’s performance, Ryan Vargo grabbed a gold medal in the javelin. The powerful junior defended his title and whipped the discus out 178 feet, 5 inches, for a commanding win. Holy Cross’ Leland Wudarski finished second (155-2), and Abington Heights’ Carter Plantz was third (150-3).
“This is just great,” Vargo said. “I want to start by giving all the glory to God. I have to give thanks to him. It feels great to throw that far. I was looking for a 180-0 today. I got close, but I haven’t had optimal rest. We will get there.”
Valley View junior Gavin Oprishko, who started his junior season with a school-record time in the 200, darted to gold medals in the sprints.
In the 100, Oprishko pulled away to win in 11.19 to finish ahead of Scranton Prep’s Charlie Speicher (11.23) and Montrose’s Max Kuwaye (11.24). He set a meet record in the 200 with his blazing 21.94 seconds.
“This is more than incredible,” said Oprishko, who was also a member of Valley View’s championship 400 relay team with Ben Evans, Gavin Walsh, and Gabe Davis. “I left it all out on the track. I had nothing left.”
Western Wayne senior Robert Carrelle avenged a disappointing end to 2025, which included him suffering an injury.
He won gold medals in the 300 hurdles (39.12) and the pole vault (14-7) to set personal-best marks in both events.
“I am so happy that I got over my injuries and have had a great season so far,” Carrelle said. “I am excited for districts.”
Dunmore had three athletes win Spagna titles. Weston Yannone won the 110 hurdles (14.50) but suffered a fall in the 300 hurdles. Carter Sload won the high jump at 6-4. Josh Dudick won the long jump on his final attempt with a leap of 21-5.25.
Montrose’s Nico Christian pushed past Dunmore’s Jacob Costanzo with a late burst to the line. He set a meet record in 49.32 seconds. Costanzo was second in 49.46, which was also better than the old mark of 49.71 set in 2011 by Honesdale’s Lionel Wilson.
“The first 100 is always iffy,” Christian said. “I kind of felt like Jacob and I broke the stagger a bit. In the second 100, I tried to hang with him. In the third 100, we were just hoping and praying. The last 100 were pretty amazing.”
Holy Cross’ Kevin Vincent defended his title in the triple jump (45-0), and teammate Branden Fadl won the shot with a put of 52-6. Lakeland sophomore Rocco Spataro won his second straight javelin title (177-11), and Mid Valley’s Jacob Borrelli won the 3,200 (9:46.86).