LOCKPORT —
Who knows what her senior season will bring in the field, but Lockport High School athlete Keeley Ralyea has already made the most of her sophomore and junior years, advancing to the prestigious state meet.
Ralyea recently qualified for her second consecutive New York State Public High School Athletic Association Track & Field Championships, after heaving the discus a career-best 120-feet, 6-inches at the state qualifier last week at Lewiston-Porter High School.
The 2012 state meet is slated for this Friday and Saturday at Cicero-North Syracuse.
“It’s definitely a lot better going back this year,” said Ralyea, an honor student in the classroom and a pre-med hopeful in the fall of 2013.
“Last year in Rochester, my nerves were flying. There are just so many amazing people who I got to watch compete. This year, I know what to expect.”
Ralyea, the daughter of Christopher and Becky Ralyea, began throwing the discus in ninth grade.
“I think it was just something to do. I never knew anything about throwing in middle school,” she said.
Keeley, who also competes in swimming at LHS, said she’s received several letters from interested colleges, but has not made up her mind where she will go.
“I’m just really excited to go and compete as a Section VI team,” Keeley said. “Normally, we compete against them. Now, we’re all one big team. It’s an amazing experience.”
Ralyea is the only LHS athlete to qualify for states, however several earned runner-up finishes at last week’s state qualifier. Both the Lions and Lady Lions finished this past season as undefeated Niagara Frontier League champions.
On the boys’ side, the Lions’ 400 relay quartet of Tyler Chapman, Ryan Shaw, Ezra Nwachukwu and Josh Beshaw finished second in 43.35 seconds, its 3,200 relay of Matt Kaczmarek, Mitch Loiacano, Dan Jones and Mike Feeney was second in 8:17.13, Alex Reid was second in the long jump, Ezra Nwachukwu was runner-up in the 400 dash (:50.53),
The Lady Lions’ 400 relay foursome of J’Vonna Clark, Casey Oliphant, Elizabeth Ellis and Faith Heal placed second in 50.43 seconds.
Also for the Lockport girls, Kailyn Szymanski was runner-up in the 400 dash (:59.37) and Heal was second in the high jump (5-2).
High Schools
Related Photos
-
Lockport High School junior discus thrower Keeley Ralyea is headed back to the state track & field championships for a second straight year. John Lang/Contributor
Ralyea returns to state meet
Lockport High School junior will compete in the discus.
- High Schools
-
-
Lockport bows out in VI softball
Lu Krawczyk’s clutch two-out, two-run single in the top of the sixth inning sparked visiting West Seneca West past Lockport, 2-1, in a Section VI Class AA softball pre-quarterfinal contest.
-
Wilson '9' beats previously-unbeaten City Honors on the road
Wilson’s Chris Reid and Mike Thompson combined for 11 strikeouts Tuesday as the No. 9 Lakemen knocked off previously-undefeated and top-seeded City Honors, 5-2, in a Section VI Class B-2 quarterfinal baseball game at McCarthy Park.
-
LHS lax teams ousted
Head coach Scott Reddinger’s Lions dropped a 9-5 contest at Lancaster, while head coach Colleen Byrne’s Lady Lions lost a narrow 12-11 game to visiting Orchard Park.
-
Barker's Hefferon signs for Seton Hill
Barker senior, Jessica Hefferon signed a National Letter of Intent recently to attend Seton Hill University on an academic and women’s field hockey scholarship.
-
LHS senior is diving into college
One of the greatest female divers in Lockport High School history will take her talents and impecable timing to the University of Akron.
-
Reid selects Daemen College
Alex Reid spoke softly and carried a Giant Sequoia throughout his athletic career at Lockport High School.
-
Lord have Mercy
Lockport's Khari Demos will bring a variety of talents with him to Mercyhurst College this fall.
-
Burke is state's top administrator
Nineteen years after he started working here, New York has recognized Patrick M. Burke as something those around him have known all along — as the finest administrator in the state.
-
Lockport/Ken East strike cancer out
Niagara Frontier League varsity softball players from Lockport and Kenmore East high schools participated Monday in the second-annual Strike Cancer Out contest at LHS.
-
Krieger hurls Lockport past visiting Lady Jacks
Sophomore southpaw Jen Krieger tossed a complete-game victory in the circle Thursday as the Lockport Lady Lions defeated visiting North Tonawanda, 19-4, earning their first win of the 2013 Niagara Frontier League softball season.
- More High Schools Headlines
-
Okla. City Mayor: Up to 13K Homes Hit by Tornado
Raw: Aftermath of Deadly Attack in London
Paperless Scanner, Vision of the Future
Florida FBI Shooting Has Boston Bombing Links
Garcetti Elected Los Angeles Mayor Over Greuel
Raw: New Video of Deadly Oklahoma Tornado
IRS Official Pleads 5th Amendment
Lawyer: Feds Investigating Susan Powell Case
Former Rep. Weiner Running for New York Mayor
Jodi Arias: Death Penalty Would Cause More Pain
Police Ram House to End Hostage Standoff
Families Begin Returning to Their Homes in Moore
Raw: Aerial View of Moore Tornado Damage
Looking for Love? Take the Prague Metro
First Person: Baby Falcons on a New York Bridge
Crews Race to Find Survivors of Okla. Twister
Oklahoma: Images of Devastation, Reunion
Raw: Students Clash With Police in Chile
Protests Outside Cincinnati IRS Office
New Xbox One Entertainment Console Unveiled
