(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 locally and nationally, 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 28, 1994).

By Joe Plasko

TIMES NEWS Staff

SHIPPENSBURG - Carl Wolter viewed his ascendancy to the PIAA Class AAA javelin crown as a natural progression.

A three-year state qualifier, the Lehighton senior came away with the meet’s ultimate prize when he copped the AAA javelin gold medal at Saturday’s competition at Shippensburg University’s Seth Grove Stadium.

Wolter was one of three state champs from District 11, as Parkland’s Jay Tomsic won the AAA pole vault by vlearing 15-3, and Janelle Thomas of Liberty easily captured the AAA 3200 meters with a first place time of 10:34.99.

Like both Tomsic and Thomas, Wolter dominated his event this season, finishing unbeaten in scholastic javelin competition. That includes the title at the Penn Relays as well as his third straight District 11 and Centennial League laurels.

Wolter lived up to his top seed at states, getting off a winning heave of 211-5 on his third attempt of the trials. His next best efforts of 209-7 and 207-8 were also better than the second place throw of 207-4 by silver medalist Scott Warren of Central Bucks West.

“It’s great,” said Wolter. “My sophomore year, I got to states and moved up in places to get eighth. In my junior year I moved up and got third. It all went on progression.”

Wolter didn’t approach his personal and season’s best of 220-4 during the finals, although the wind and some soreness in his hip played a part. He did get off a practice toss of 220-plus feet in warm-ups prior to the finals, however.

“Winning this (the gold) was my goal all through this season,” he admitted. “I wanted to win this in the worst way. I didn’t have my best showing, but with the wind and all, I felt I did a really good job.”

“Carl came through some bad weather in the district meet, and it was a little windy out here,” commented Lehighton track coach Chuck Laviolette. “He had a good, confident attitude. He knew what he had to do, and he did it. I’m glad to have been along for the ride.”

“It’s something Carl has dreamed of for three years,” said Lehighton weights coach Bill Brong. “It happened to a great kid, and he deserves all the accolades he receives. We’re all tremendously proud of him.”

Wolter, who became Lehighton’s first state champ since miler Lamont Smith in 1951, served notice he would be the front-runner with his first trial attempt.

“I knew when that happened, I’d have another throw further than that, because when I had the 220, my first throw was 209, and the 220 came right after that,” explained Wolter. “It felt good, because it put a lot of pressure on them when I got 207 on my first throw.”

Wolter followed it up with a chuck of 198-7, then got his third trial throw to hug the right sideline, soaring 211-5 away from the runway.

While pleased with that effort, Wolter admitted his technique might have hampered him a bit.

“At that point, Coach (Brong) told me to watch my form. I was trying to muscle it, and I was going sidearm. They couldn’t believe I was throwing that far sidearm, so I kind of got lucky.”

That third trial heave removed a lot of the pressure from Wolter, as well as some of the suspense. Warren made things interesting when he got off throws of 206-8 and 207-4 in the finals.

“Scott’s a good friend of mine, and I was just concerned it (his last throw) wasn’t over 211,” related Wolter. “I was happy to see him end up there (second).”

If Wolter wasn’t worried, the competition did create some anxious waiting for the Indians’ brain trust.

“It was the longest hour and 15 minutes of my life,” smiled Brong. “Deep down I knew Carl would come through. I was a little scared when Warren threw 206, but if he had gotten 212, Carl would have come back and thrown what he needed, no question.”

In the finals, Wolter’s three attempts traveled 194-1, 192-7 and 209-7.

“His hip was bothering him,” furthered Brong. “He couldn’t get his hips through on his throws, but he did throw the one 220 in warm-ups before the finals.”

Wolter, whose throw of 220-4 is ranked fourth nationally by USA Today, felt that his familiarity with the routine at states was an advantage in his preparation.

“I was focused on this. I kind of felt like a professional athlete coming out here. I wanted to do the best I could, and I didn’t want anything to mess it up.

“That gave me a little confidence. You learn what you should do, even the kinds of foods you should eat. You try to do whatever works best for you.”

Wolter is still deciding what will be best for him, college-wise. He is in the process of selecting the school where he will continue his academic and athletic careers. In the meantime, he has been invited to participate in the Golden West National Invitational in San Francisco next month.

“I’d like to thank my parents,” concluded Wolter. “They really helped me a lot. I also want to thank my coaches, Mr. Brong and Mr. Laviolette, for their help, as well as my sister, my brother-in-law and my girlfriend Shannon. My sister just had a baby girl, so I want to wish her the best of luck with my niece.”

It’s not every weekend one becomes both an uncle and a state champion. This was one Memorial Day holiday Carl Wolter won’t soon forget.

Other local results

In Class AA action Saturday, the TIMES NEWS area was represented by a trio of Northwestern Tigers and Panther Valley’s Judy Sverchek.

The Tigers’ Brian Bachman advanced to the semis in the 110 high hurdles, where his time of 15.8 was fifth in his heat and didn’t advance him into the finals. Manuel Degraffenried of Wilkes-Barre GAR, known to area grid fans as a standout running back, took the gold in 15.11.

Northwestern junior Ryan Jenkins was also a semifinalist, making the cut in the 200 dash. Jenkins was eighth in his semi heat at 23.63 and didn’t make the finals.

Kathy Yost, a four-time District 11 AA triple jump champ, ran into some tough luck in the trials. She fouled on her first two attempts, then leaped 32-10 1/2, which did not advance her to the finals. Defending champ Rhonda Witmer of Greenwood won the gold with a wind-aided jump of 40-0 1/2, although her second best jump of 39-5 1/4 was counted as a new state AA record.

Sverchek, the D-11 AA discus and javelin champ, competed in the javelin on Saturday, where her top heave of 112-1 was 10th overall and just missed advancing her to the finals. Denika Kisty of Brentwood captured the gold with a chuck of 144 feet.