The Trinity boys' track and field squad has dreams of reclaiming its former glory at the District 3 and PIAA levels.
After winning the team title at the Mid-Penn Championships, the Shamrocks' ultimate goal may not seem so far fetched.
Running against all the Mid-Penn had to offer, Trinity came out on top of Saturday's championships, held at Chambersburg's Trojan Stadium. The Shamrocks won the team title with 72 points, followed by Milton Hershey (58), Lower Dauphin (55), Carlisle (53.33), Chambersburg (47) and Cumberland Valley (47).
Trinity won four events, including two of the four relays, en route to its huge victory.
"It's indescribable," said Trinity senior Matt Janton, in his first season with the team. "I have such great teammates and coaches. I couldn't ask for a better team.
"I could've asked for better weather, but not a better day."
Heading into the postseason, odds are against the Shamrocks with defending state champion Schuylkill Valley standing in the way.
Trinity coach Sam Turpin feels differently.
"I think we tackled a few big dragons today," Turpin said. "We beat Carlisle, Cumberland Valley and Chambersburg.
"If that doesn't instill confidence in the guys, I don't know what will."
The Shamrocks got individual wins from Danny Jackson and David Bricker.
Jackson, the defending PIAA Class AA champion in the long jump, took gold in the event with a leap of 21-9.5, narrowly edging Milton Hershey's Ibn Short, who registered a leap of 21-8. Jackson also took second in the triple jump with his mark of 43-10.25, finishing behind Carlisle's Isa Paschall, who won the event with a 44-1.5.
Bricker, the No. 1 seed in the 400, took home victory in the event with a time of 48.88. He finished nearly a second faster than the runner-up, Cedar Cliff's Youssef Ajlane (49.52).
Bricker was at his best on the final stretch, when he burst past the rest of the field.
"I was strong the last 100," Bricker said. "I've been a lot better on the back stretch. That was my weakness last year."
Bricker and Janton both served as members of Trinity's winning 4x100 and 4x400 squads.The 4x100 team of Jackson, Janton, Bricker and Brandon Kuntz took victory in 42.56. Kuntz turned in a monster final leg to take his team to victory.
"With two of us coming out of the 400 (Bricker and Janton), it was to good to see that we could still move after that," Bricker said. "Once Kuntz got it, we knew he was going to win it."
Later in the afternoon, it was Janton's turn to play the hero. Running on a 4x400 team that included Bricker, Will Edwards and Matt Bernick, Janton was the anchor.
Janton was in third place on the final stretch, but found a way to split through Milton Hershey and Central Dauphin's anchors to steal victory.
Trinity won the race with a time of 3:22.84, followed by Milton Hershey (3:23.09) and Central Dauphin (3:23.60).
"I don't like to lose," Janton said. "When there's people in front of me, something just clicks in my head and I give it my all. Coach calls it an extra gear."
Trinity totaled seven top-three finishes. Kuntz took third in the 100 (11.33) and high jump (6-0).
Coach Turpin called Saturday's championship performance a "springboard" for the rest of the postseason.
"They went against the big schools, competed and won," Turpin said. "I'm proud of the way they handled themselves today.
"I knew we'd be somewhere in the top five, but wasn't exactly sure where. We knew the other teams wouldn't hold back and our kids stepped up big today."
CLICK HERE FOR PALMYRA'S TIM MOSES RECORD-BREAKING PERFORMANCE IN THE POLE VAULT
CLICK HERE FOR THE MID-PENN FIELD ROUNDUP, LED BY CARLISLE SOPHOMORE JUMPER ISA PASCHALL
CLICK HERE FOR THE MID-PENN TRACK ROUNDUP, LED BY CUMBERLAND VALLEY'S ALEC KUNZWEILER
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