Junior Ryan Merlino broke the Oakcrest pole vault record in his 2022-23 season opener.
Merlino, the top sophomore in the state last spring with a 13-6 at the Atlantic County meet at Buena, cleared 13-7 at the SJTCA Winter Meet #1 at the Bubble.
That broke the school indoor record of 13-6 by one inch. Ray Rodriguez set the mark at 13-6 from an SJTCA Small School meet at the Bubble in 2014 and matched it at an Olympic Conference meet at the Bubble in 2015. Michael Baglivo also cleared 13-6 in 2020.
Merlino’s mark is 3rd-best overall in Oakcrest history, behind two outdoor marks – Tony DeFeo’s 14-6 at 2004 state Group 3 meet at Egg Harbor and Rodriguez’s 14-0 at the 2015 Atlantic County meet at Buena.
It’s also No. 2 this year in the state, behind only the U.S.-leading 16-5 by Brian Sullivan of Hillsborough at the Armory.
All-Time Atlantic County Indoor List
14-6 ¼ … Brandon Kurtz [Absegami], 1991
14-1 … Joshua Cohen [Egg Harbor Twp.], 2019
14-0 … Dan Pope [Hammonton], 2004
13-7 … Ryan Merlino [Oakcrest], 2023
13-6 … Ian Best [Egg Harbor Twp.], 2010
13-6 … Vince Murrey [Buena Reg.], 2011
13-6 … Aidan Skelly [Hammonton], 2013
13-6 … Ray Rodriguez [Oakcrest], 2014
13-6 … Michael Baglivo [Oakcrest], 2020
From the Backstretch by Reuben Frank 