As freshmen, Holly Pason and Kaylei Gruver quickly began to understand how the dynamic of the Palisades track program works. It’s a support system in which members learn from and motivate one another.
Now four years later, both Pason and Gruver are active leaders of a young team this spring that has 17 freshmen and 11 sophomores on its girls side, and 17 freshmen and 12 sophomores on the boys end.
Gone are a number of consistent and successful performers such as Paige Casterline and Thomas Smigo, who both gained their share of accolades over four years.
“We are young, very young,” stressed head coach Scott Antoni. “About 80% of our team are ninth and 10th graders. We did lose a whole bunch of performers.
“But we feel we do have a lot of young talent. We also have some upperclassmen we will count on like Holly and Kaylei. They have stepped into a leadership role for us.”
Aside from her indoctrination into the Palisades program, Pason has become accustomed to being in a leadership role with her family having a military background. That’s also a big reason why she plans to attend West Point next fall. She began running track through the advice and help of older siblings McKenna and Carter, who both were in the Palisades program.
“I want to get in good shape this year and maintain it for West Point,” said Pason, who is participating in the 100, 1,600-meter run and in 4x100 and 4x400 relays. “I always tried to be like my siblings, and this was a way to do it.”
Gruver also was influenced by her siblings as well as middle school coach Lisa Campbell-Jennings. Sprinting coach Tom Brader coached her oldest sister Marcy (Burke) and then brother John and finally other sister Lyndsay.
“My sister Marcy was a very good track athlete in the 4x4 (400), and she and my mom are big motivators for me to do well in my events,” said Gruver , who runs the 100, 200, 400 and in the 4x100 relay. “My family has been very supportive.”
Gruver began her track career in eighth grade, but it came to an abrupt halt. “I started during eighth grade, but Covid happened, and it cut my season short, so my first meet was my freshman year,” recalled Gruver. “The middle school coach always told me I would be good at it, but I never really tried until eighth grade. I fell in love with it because of going so far in the season to the state championship meet in my first three years.”
Gruver has been to the state meet as a member of the 4x100 and 4x400 relay teams and in the 400, where she was second in the district meet last year. Pason was her teammate on the 4x400 team her sophomore year.
This season, Gruver has her sights set on returning to states in the 400 where she placed 19th last season in a time of 1:00.74. She is mulling over the opportunity to run next fall at Bloomsburg, Millersville or West Chester universities, or simply attend Penn State University.
“I had a rough start to my season with being sick,” reflected Gruver. “But I am pushing myself to get a sub-60 in the 400 and qualify for states. I am running pretty well, and I have to keep it going.”
Pason, whose goals are to run her fastest times and qualify for the postseason, sees her team gradually developing.
“I think our team is learning quite a bit being a young team,” she said. “We are definitely progressing, and have a lot going for us in every event. I know some goals across the whole team are to qualify for leagues and districts and maybe even see some time at states.
“As an upperclassman among many younger teammates, I enjoy leading by example and motivating them to get in the rhythm of how the Palisades track program works.”
Gruver sees herself in a similar situation.
“We are a young team, but I know Palisades is a very strong team with a good community and amazing coaches behind it,” said Gruver. “I have no doubt that we will improve this season and be at the top of the league.
“I see myself as a role model and a good example of a good work ethic. I hope to inspire the underclassmen to push themselves and be better than they were the day before.”
For both Pason and Gruver, it continues to be a fulfilling experience.
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