The Northwestern track and field team has picked up right where it left off last season as Colonial League champions. The program was a combined 13-1 (boys and girls) heading into its Colonial League showdown against Saucon Valley.

The Lady Tigers roared past the Panthers 112-38, but the boys came up just short to Saucon Valley, 78-72.

"We haven't peaked yet in my opinion," said Northwestern girls head coach Charles Groller. "The weather just finally broke and we're waiting for some better times.

"Everyone knows that weather was really bad this year and we were thankful to go to Northern Lehigh a few times, which really helped us out. I have to thank them. They've been great. We've used the gym, halls and mats as best as we could to improvise during the poor weather and the kids definitely responded."

Two of the most impressive performances in last week's victory came from a pair of Tiger seniors.

Lauren Anderson continued her strong season, placing first in the 100, 200, and javelin.

"She threw javelin here when she was a freshman," said Groller. "As the years progressed, we kept her as a sprinter. Last week we used a little strategy and she threw a 100-foot javelin and placed. She does everything. She's great academically, too."

Alexis Gawelko, who is also toward the top of her class academically, won both hurdle events and was a part of the 1600-meter relay team that placed first.

"We saw her running the 400 as a sophomore," said Groller, "and we made her into a hurdler. She turned into one of the best in the Lehigh Valley.

"She broke our record last week in the hurdles that was held since 1989 and she now owns it with a 15.7. She s a wonderful person and extremely strong academically. She has a great attitude, is a hard worker, and is always looking to improve.

Cam Richardson (200, 400) and Brayden Heller (800, 1600) were both multi-event winners during the boys tough loss. Senior Jacob Steidinger placed first in the pole vault with a jump of 11-6.

"The season has been going really well despite the cold weather, which isn't great to pole vault in," said Steidinger. "My teammates and I are starting to finally hit some very high vaults. We're looking forward to leagues, districts and hopefully states. Last year I [set a personal record] and placed fourth at districts, and my goal is to take first or second this year and vault against some great competitors."

The loss puts the boys team at 6-2, as the girls remain undefeated at 8-0. Both teams are in position to make another postseason push.

"We have a lot of underclassmen coming up through that are excelling such as Emily Renner and Josie Steidinger," said Groller. "They're really putting effort forward and we like that. Next year we're going to lose a lot of senior talent and it's really going to be one of those years where we will see how much the younger kids have learned.

"My lessons have always been that academics are always first. Down the road, that's what is going to count. They're all working together and have been doing everything we've asked of them. The work ethic of this senior class is blue collar. Everyone has such a great attitude here. We're looking forward to the rest of the year, taking it step by step. We are aiming to get to leagues and repeat as champs, and it's going to be very tough. We need to bring our A game."

@Body.bd.cntr:BOYS

Saucon Valley 78, Northwestern 72

100 - 1. Cam Richardson (NW) 11.3, 2. Joseph Schuyler (SV), 3. Joseph Naiburg (SV); 200 - 1. Cam Richardson (NW) 23.4, 2. Joseph Schuyler (SV), 3. Allen Meadows (SV); 400 - 1. Zachary Thatcher (SV) 55.2,2. Daniel Hallingstad (NW), 3. Matthew Smith (SV); 800 - 1. Brayden Heller (NW) 2:09.4, 2. Giaomo Pazzaglia (SV), 3. Andrew Goodolf (NW); 1600 - 1. Brayden Heller (NW) 4:56.41, 2. Jarred Kyra (SV), 3. Andrew Goodolf (NW); 3200 - 1. Ethan Bernstein (SV) 11:00.8, 2. Jeremy Smith (SV), 3. Matthew Grim (NW); 100H - 1. Christopher Magan (SV) 16.88, 2. Trevor Cunningham (NW), 3. Brendan Weaver (SV); 300H - 1. Brandon Holub (SV) 45.0, 2. Christopher Magan (SV), 3. Jonathon Blaine (NW); 400 relay - 1. Northwestern (Jonathon Blaine, Brett Schillinger, Cam Richardson, Harry Hall) 46.2; 1600 relay - 1. Northwestern (Andrew Goodolf, Cam Richardson, Daniel Hallingstad, Jacob Steidinger) 3:50.7; 3200 relay - Saucon Valley (Jeremy Smith, Ethan Bernstein, Giacomo Pazzaglia, Jarred Kyra) 9:06.3; Long jump - 1. Zachary Harvey (SV) 18-6, 2. Evan Culver (SV), 3. Jacob Steidinger (WN); Triple jump - 1. Evan Culver (SV) 40-4, 2. Zachary Harvey (SV), 3. Jacob Steidinger (NW); High jump - 1. Michael Vidal (SV) 5-10, 2. Rob Seyfried (NW), 3. Harry Hall (NW); Shot put - 1. Eddie Parrish (NW) 42-0, 2. Chet Karpyn (NW), 3. Zane Struss (NW); Discus - 1. Eli Gough (NW) 134-3, 2. Sean DeSmet (SV), 3. Ian Zuber (SV); Javelin - 1. Christopher Weideman (SV) 131.5, 2. Doug Whisenant (NW), 3. Daxton Reed (SV); Pole vault - 1. Jacob Steidinger (NW) 11-6, 2. David VanBlargan (NW), 3. Tyler Derr (NW).

GIRLS

@Body.bd.cntr:Northwestern 112, Saucon Valley 38

100 - 1. Lauren Anderson (NW) 13.2, 2. Emily Renner (NW), 3. Tessa Weber (SV); 200 - 1. Lauren Anderson (NW) 27.4, 2. Emily Renner (NW), 3. Rachel Panek (SV); 400 - 1. Sarah Segan (NW) 1:01.5, 2. Elizabeth Trimble (SV), 3. Katherine Rose (SV); 800 - 1. Rachele Cerrone (NW) 2:34., 2. Carly Pierce (NW, 3. Katherine Ross (SV); 1600 - 1. Abby Supplee (NW) 5:44.8, 2. Molly Tarvin (NW), 3. Alexa Chaikowsky (SV); 3200 - 1. Molly Tarvin (NW) 12:37.0, 2. Abby Supplee (NW), 3. Alexa Chaikowsky (SV); 100H - 1. Alexis Gawelko (NW) 15.9, 2. Rachel Panek (SV), 3. Stacy Everett (NW); 300H - 1. Alexis Gawelko (NW) 49.4, 2. Rachel P ek (SV), 3. Stacy Everett (NW); 400 relay - 1. Northwestern (McKenzi Divers, Lauren Anderson, Sabrina Mertz, Emily Renner) 52.5; 1600 relay - 1. Northwestern (Alexis Gawelko, Sarah Segan, Abby Chisdak, Sabrina Mertz) 4:46; 3200 relay - 1. Northwestern (Rachele Cerrone, Sarah Segan, Carly Pierce, Sabrina Mertz) 11:32.0; Long jump - 1. Stacy Everett (NW) 14-09, 2. Taylor Slack (NW), 3. Raegan Axt (NW); Triple jump - 1. Lauren Morrissey (SV) 31-06, 2. Elizabeth Trimble (SV), 3. Grace Spirk (SV); High jump - 1. Natcheli Gomes (NW) 5-0, 2. Taylor Slack (NW), 3. Rachel Panek (SV); Shot put - 1. Vanessa Blose (NW) 33-1, 2. Vanessa Frans (SV), 3. Katelyn Warnkle (SV); Discus - 1. Vanessa Frans (SV) 94-7, 2. Vanessa Blose (NW), 3. Lauren Hill (NW); Javelin - 1. Lauren Anderson (NW) 93-1, 2. Lauren Morrissey (SV), 3. Rosie Pergosky (NW); Pole vault - 1. Kari Schultheis (NW) 86-0, 2. Josephine Steidinger (NW), 3. Joslynn Rose (SV).