The objective was simple: win and get a free dinner at Cici’s.  This was the challenge that faced the boys track team Tuesday, March 24 during the annual Blue and Gold meet when the team was split into two competing squads.

In somewhat of a surprise, the Gold team prevailed against the highly touted Blue team.

“A lot of people predicted the blue team to win,” said junior runner Geoff Carabin.  “It was for Cici’s, but also for bragging rights.  Us competing against each other makes us better.”  

“We suffered a valiant defeat,” senior Chris Sarkis said.  “It’s great to start off the year competing against each other, but in the end we are a team.”  

This incentive, along with many others, has helped this year’s team stay focused on repeating as North Coast League champions for a third straight year and have fun in the process.  Head coach Dave Arbogast has been a large reason for the success.

“The guys are just working hard,” Arbogast said.  “They are really into the meets.”

The hard work is paying off: the Knights are 3-0 so far this season.

The team ran past the competition in the Claymont Invitational, winning by 57 points.  Senior Rahsheed Moore won the 100-meter dash, while junior Dan Soloman took second.  Moore also won the 200-meter dash, while sophomore Evan Luse finished second.  Senior Pat Kramer took first in the 400-meter dash.  

The 4x100 relay team of Luse, juniors Dan Redle and Lawrence Wynn and Soloman took first, while the 4x200 relay team consisting of Luse, junior Adam Zsely, Wynn and Redle came in second place.  The 4x400 team of Sarkis, freshmen Tyler McCool, Kramer and junior Jake Craine finished first as well.

The Knights did not slow down in a dual meet against Canton Central Catholic winning 101-27.  Hoban placed first in all but one meet the entire day.  The meet started with two of the Knights 4x800 relay teams winning first and second.  Junior Joe Easton took first in the 110 hurdles and junior Joe Walsh followed in second.  Moore and Luse went first and second in the 100-meter dash, while Moore took first in the 200-meter dash.  The 4x200 team consisting of Luse, Moore, Craine and McCool also took first.  The 4x100 relay team of Luse, Redle, Zsely and Moore took first as well.  Junior Chris Alto won the 1600-meter race, while Craine took first in the 400-meter dash.  Junior Jason Green also won the 800-meter run.  Sarkis won both the Shot put and Discus.  Many other knights contributed to the winning effort.

“We still have a way to go to hit our peak,” Sarkis said.  “These meets are stepping stones for the North Coast League meet.”

Up next on the schedule was the Dover Relays where the Knights topped Revere 84-66.  Taking first place was Sarkis, Henschen and freshmen Jake Michney in the discus relay, and Redle, Luse, Soloman and Kramer in the sprint medley relay.  A bevy of other Hoban teams placed second.  A long jump relay of Easton, Zsely and freshmen Mike Reaves took second and Sarkis, Gabe and junior David Sutter took second in shot put.  The 4x100 and 4x200 relay teams of Soloman, Luse, Moore and Wynn both took second.  The 4x400 relay team of Sarkis, Kramer, Craine and McCool also took second.    

The Knights will participate in the Big-E invitational on Saturday at Ellet High School.