The Liberty Hurricanes boys track and field team were honored at the East Penn Conference Track and Field Championships last week at Whitehall High School for their regular season conference championship which included an 11-0, undefeated season.

“It was a goal,” said Liberty coach Andy Messa. “Two years ago when Chris [D’Emilio] and I took over, the boys were 4-7. Last year, we turned it around to 7-4, and coming into this year we knew we had a pretty good team.

“Last year, we never talked about the chances of undefeated anything, and this year we told them if they came together as a team, they’d have a chance to do something really good, and they all bought in.”

Instead of focusing on themselves, the boys focused on the group.

“We brought 41 boys on the bus today because any boy who scored a point for us this year, we wanted to be a part of this. They did the work, they put in the effort, they decided this is something we’re going for. They should be very proud of themselves. They worked their butts off this year. Ultimately, this is all for them,” Messa said.

The Hurricanes also have leaders on the team, including sprinter Jayden Vazquez, who has been instrumental in Liberty’s success.

“We have a good senior class, and Jayden Vazquez, I don’t know if we go undefeated without him on our team. They rally around him. He’s a leader in every sense of the word, and he’s a big part of this,” said Messa.

Vazquez took it upon himself to bring some solid recruits to the track and field team.

“In the off season I made sure I picked up some football players and some other kids that played other sports and excelled,” Vazquez said. “We made sure we were in the weight room at least four times a week. From there we made sure we stretched every single day, put in full effort. No one was lazy and everyone was in for the team.”

Vazquez also brought a passion for the sport of track and field to the Hurricanes.

“A lot of kids don’t think track is an actual sport and that kids just do it on their off season. Track’s always been in my life since middle school. It’s such a great sport. That’s where you see and reach true athleticism, people with speed, strength for throwing,” said Vazquez. “It feels great that all of us came together as brothers, and the girls team also. They went 9-2, which is crazy, and it seemed surreal to see everyone train the whole season and get something in return.”

Both girls and boys teams opened the season with victories over Easton and ended the season with victories over Freedom.

This week, the Hurricanes will compete in the District XI Class 3A Track and Field Championships at Whitehall High School.