Rick Bullock, Franklin Regional track coach, also teaches human anatomy and physiology and biology in addition to his hobby of studying how nature works, particularly in ecological stream study and deciduous forest compositions. He also, perhaps unconsciously, applies the same rigor of scientific method to his track teams. In a tough year like this one, where the boys have struggled during the year and the girls’ team is enduring a difficult season, it helps him fine-tune the Panthers so they get better as the season goes, at the same time preparing for next season. The boys have already pulled back up to a .500 season at this point. Listen to him talk about the rare breed, Pantherus Runfasterus that he and his highly-trained staff of scientists are attempting to domesticate:

“We’re finding out that there’s lot of potential on the team but we’re competing more underclassmen than I’m used to,” Bullock states, referring to the influx of data and younger subjects, better known as athletes. Like the streams he measures, “there’s an ebb and flow to that, I’ve seen that happen several times in the three decades I’ve been coaching. We have a record number of athletes on the team this year, 143, and only a handful of seniors. It makes it difficult because we have so many rookies that even at this late date in the season, we are still experimenting with events with underclassmen, to set up for next year, moving people into more specialized events. Hurdlers and pole vaulters take awhile to develop.” But now is the time, Bullock says. “This is the time of the year weather starts to become consistently warm. Those who have put a significant effort into the season will rise to the top of their ability.”

Despite the time it will take to experiment and prove hypotheses, the Panther professor I mean coach is pleased with his track squad today. “In over 30 years of coaching, I can’t say I’ve coached a team with more enthusiasm than we have right now,” Rick says. “That is a successful season in my estimation, a very positive experience for the coaching staff and athletes this year.” The results are reproducible, verifiable, and therefore, indeed, a success.

Franklin-Regional’s Track Coaches and Researchers have combed the jungles thoroughly to come up with a stable of Panthers who are really sound more like workhorses. Bullock has made a thorough analysis of his crew, beginning with senior Josh Mastruserio, who recently set a school record with the javelin. “He is a very dedicated hard worker,” he says. “It wouldn’t surprise me if we could add on that distance [to help him qualify for states.] Junior Mike Albring pole-vaulted into the WPIAL championships last year, and the coach says “We just got him a new pole today and expect it to help him out this year.” The Panthers’ “top distance specialist”, senior Paul Gagliardi, is only three seconds of the state qualifying mark, and, according to Bullock, “he was on cross-country last year, and came back with a vengeance this spring.”

Senior Kyle Botten was a cross-country state medallist last fall in his second visit to States, but is just getting warmed up for track at this late date after some knee surgery in early spring. The expectation was that after no running he’d be pretty beat up. But the coach says the senior came back after three months off and had a very fast speed at a recent meet. “The goal is to get him to the WPIAL championships, and we think we can do that.” Justin Kurp made it to States last year in the 400m. This year, he has moved up to the 800m run, and Rick thinks, “We might be able to find the seconds to move him up to return to States again.” Add to all these a 4x1 squad who is only .4 seconds away from breaking a school record, and you’ve got a some successful experimenting going on at Franklin Regional. Here is the raw data of Bullock’s study that you’ll want to keep an eye on as they progress into the WPIAL and PIAA testing stages:

Others To Watch: Mastruserio, javelin; Albring, pole-vault; Gagliardi, 800m, 1600m, 3200m; Botten, 3200m; Kurp, 800m; Andy Sekhon, junior, long jump, triple jump, Lee Howatneck, junior long jump, triple jump; Jonathan Tackie, sophomore; Nikko DeCenzo, senior