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It’s been such a springtime for the boys’ track and field coach at Southwestern Central School.

There is no other word for it.

As a matter of fact, “impressive” might be too tame an adjective.

Because when Sirianni boarded the bus Thursday that was taking him and his six Trojan athletes — Trenton Shutters, Michael Butterfield, Dontae Hoose, Nate Lewis, Ethan Luce and Donavin Brown — to the incipient New York State Public High School Athletic track and field championships Association brought today at Cicero-North Syracuse High School, he already knew it was a historic journey.

Devin Austin of Falconer/Cassadaga Valley. PJ file photo of Tim Frank

“We have never gone to a state meeting so often” said Sirianni.

He later added: “I see athletics as a team sport all year round, but now it’s going to be individual. I am happy for these children for what they have done. That’s on them. I’m only there for the ride.”

Shutters will compete in the 800m and lead the school’s record-breaking 3,200m relay, which also includes Lewis, Luce and Brown; Butterfield will run the 200 meters; and Hoose will throw the shot. All were first place winners in last weekend’s Section VI State Qualifiers.

“They all work extremely hard and are all really good student athletes,” said Sirianni.

These Trojans had plenty of company from the Chautauqua-Cattaraugus Athletic Association yesterday on the bus ride to central New York.

Lots of it.

Other Section VI State Division 2 qualifiers among the boys include Falconer/Cassadaga Valley’s Devin Austin, who won two events last weekend – the high jump and triple jump – and finished second in the long jump, by a distance good enough to to advance him also to Cicero-North Syracuse; Randolph’s Roan Kelly (1,600 meters) and Clayton Crouse (pole vault); Clymer/Sherman/Panama Gerald Carris (pentathlon); Fredonia’s Ledreth Velez-Olmo (400 meters), who is also a member of the school’s 1,600 meter relay team that holds the record with Alex Field, Jayden Yerico and Matt Linder; and Jacob Brink of Allegany Limestone (1,600 meters).

Austin is third in the triple jump, tenth in the high jump and eleventh in the long jump; Fredonia’s 4×400m relay is fifth; Kelly is seventh in the 1,600 meters and Carris seventh in the pentathlon; Shutters is ninth in the 800 meters and Butterfield is ninth in the 200 meters; Hoose is 11th in shot and Velez-Olmo is 11th in 400m; Southwestern’s 3,200-meter relay is seeded 15th; Brink is seeded 16th over 1,600 meters; and Crouse is seeded 18th in the pole vault.

State qualifiers among the area girls are Jenna Fisher of Clymer/Sherman/Panama in the 200 meter; Tyyetta Herman of Franklinville/Ellicottville over 400 meters; and Angelina Napoleon of Allegany-Limestone in the 800-meter and 2,000-meter steeplechase.

Fisher is seeded 17th in the 200 meters; Herman is ninth in the 400 meters; and Napoleon, the national high school steeplechase record holder, is seeded first in both of their events.