On Wednesday, May 10, 2023, Central Bucks South seniors Michael Polak, Aiden Carey & Dean Bullock will continue their track & field careers at the collegiate level.
Dean Bullock – Salisbury University (Track & Field)
Major: Computer Science
Final list of colleges: Salisbury, West Chester
Reasons for choosing Salisbury: “Once my athletic director got me into contact with coach (Jim) Jones, it was really just decided that I was going to go to Salisbury from the start. I love the area, it’s a great school. Some of the other places that I visited - the area wasn’t as nice, and I’ve been talking to the coaches for a few months, and they’ve been great.”
What was the progression that led you to competing in track and field at the collegiate level? “Most of my life I’ve been playing soccer, and soccer players can transition into track and field. Freshman year I joined the team – I did a little bit in middle school, but that doesn’t count too much. Once I got into junior year and I got a state medal for the 4x4 with my team, I realized I could do this in college.”
Coach Jason Gable says: “Dean has been on the team for the past four years. He’s been one of our primary sprinters. Over the years, he has developed into one of the top 300-meter hurdlers in our league and one of the top 400 runners in our league. During his junior year, he medaled in the 4x4 at the outdoor state championships. He’s a state qualifier for indoor and outdoor track and multiple district qualifier.
“Dean will be competing at Salisbury University. It’s a great fit for him. Dean is one of our best leaders on the team. He grown to take a deep interest in the sport and developed over the years to really truly understand the training – not only what he has to do but why and how he has to do it. Dean became a great leader for our younger athletes, and that leadership and that caring about the sport has allowed other athletes to emulate him and want to be more like him. Dean started as a rather shy athlete on the team and fell into a good niche and a good group right from the get-go with the seniors, and he's helped carry on the legacy our seniors started many, many years ago about being one of the top teams, top relays and top athletes not only in our league but in our district and in our state.”
About Dean:
Favorite food: Buffalo Chicken Pizza
Favorite movie: Kung Fu Panda
Favorite artist: AJR
Aiden Carey – United States Naval Academy (Track & Field)
Major: Quantitative Economics
Final list of colleges: Naval Academy, West Chester
Reasons for choosing the Naval Academy: “The reason I picked the Naval Academy was mainly the camaraderie among all the midshipmen. They were all so tight and close, and the environment was just so positive, and I was just really attracted to it. And the food’s really good.”
What was the progression that led you to competing in track and field at the collegiate level? “I started doing it for fun in seventh grade when I was back in middle school at Pennridge, but towards sophomore going into junior year – that’s when I started taking it seriously. I knew if I worked hard, trained hard I could really make something out of it. I just played my cards right, and I got lucky.”
Coach Jason Gable says: “Aiden Carey has developed into one of the best jumpers that we’ve ever had in our program. He is one of the top jumpers in the league and district in the high jump, the long jump and the triple jump. Aiden has set marks that have won dual meets on a regular basis. He’s medaled high or won in all of our invitational meets against some of the best jumpers in our district. He is a three-time state qualifier in the high jump, medaling at the indoor state championship his senior year. Aiden is a fun kid. He’s excited about the sport. He’s one of the most friendly athletes around. He has no problem talking to other coaches, and you’ll always see him talking to other athletes and congratulating them. He develops a family around him at all of the meets. He’s one of our toughest competitors, and he’s one of our best teammates year in and year out. He’s going to be taking all these skills to the Naval Academy, which is a huge accomplishment to be going to a service academy.
“One of the best quotes I have about Aiden was – a couple of weeks ago, I got an email from the neighboring school’s coach who wanted to thank Aiden for congratulating her athlete at one of the invitationals. It came to a jump-off at 6-2, and Aiden got second. He lost in the jump-off, and immediately when it was done, he was excited for the other athlete, he congratulated the other athlete and even congratulated the coach and the officials working the event. The other coach saw that and was just amazed at how nice, how respectful and how mature a high schooler can be in a very competitive sport. Aiden leaves CB South with a tremendous legacy in his name, and a lot of younger athletes look up to him and are ready to continue to build on that legacy.”
About Aiden:
Favorite food: Fried Chicken
Favorite TV show: Peaky Blinders
Favorite artist: Post Malone
Michael Polak – Seton Hall University (Cross Country)
Major: Finance/Marketing
Final list of colleges: Seton Hall, Elon, West Chester, Florida Atlantic
Reasons for choosing Seton Hall: “I really loved the campus, I loved the coach and the facility, and it’s so close to the city. The internship opportunities are just insane.”
What was the progression that led you to competing in cross country at the collegiate level: “I started my freshman year with track, and then one of my friends got me to run cross country. I thought it was just a phenomenal program. It really made me become a better runner. About a year or so ago, I was like, ‘You know what – I should probably run in college,’ and that’s where I am today.”
Cross country coach Connor Simpson says: “Michael is leaving us to go run at Seton Hall and very deservedly so. Michael was a four-year cross country and track athlete at the high school. In track, he’s focusing on the 800-meter, and he qualified for districts with a time of 1:58. As a leader, Michael is always setting a great example for the other guys on the team and the girls as well. Outside of school, he’s an Eagle Scout, and he’s accomplished many things as a scout as well as here on the track team. We’ll miss him a lot. He’s a goofy, fun-loving kid who takes it seriously when he has to, and we appreciate his time and effort on our team.”
About Michael:
Favorite food: Tacos
Favorite TV show: The Office
Favorite music: Rock
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