Weekend Lessons from HS XC

What did we learn this weekend from several big-ticket races around the state?

Vernon-Verona-Sherrill

Boys
(AA) West Gennessee, Arlington--West Genny senior Billy Gabriel led all with a 16:17 5K; the team also saw senior scoring from John DeLallo, Matt Byrnes and Matt Serrao. NCAA XC coaches: here's your scouting opportunity...

(A) Vestal--Seniors Nick Montesano and Matt Johnson must rally their troops if they hope to compete for a state title this year. An above-average showing from these boys; a long way to go to be competitive in Class A.

(B) Marcellus--Senior Jesse Garn is the elder leader of this relatively-youthful team that will be the NYS Class B darkhorse for state prowess.

(C) Holland Patent, Jordan-Elbridge--This battle is going to be epic. Holland Patent sports a senior duo (Cody and Dylan Racha) that can bring Section 3 to their knees; can they find support from the rest of their team to bring home a title? Jordan-Elbridge posted a solid all-around showing, but must improve if they are to be competitive next month.

(D) Beaver River--Senior Matthew Cheney blistered a 16:20 this weekend, making him the small-school "real deal." He can run with the big boys, but can he pace his team to a NYS championship?

Girls

(AA) Arlington--While West Genny's got a pretty incredible freshman in Laura Leff, it's the girls at Arlington lapping the field here. Senior Hayley McMahon sets the pace for fellow 2011 grads Josephine Boyle and Sarah Ren.

(A) Vestal--Solid early-season showing by the girls; more is needed from seniors Mary Katherine Kulp and Amy Sorber to be competitive, however. But they can do it!

(B) Cazenovia--A consistent group of girls showed themselves at Caz; can senior Hollie Marcelle improve these girls even more to be in sectional contention next month?

(C) Tully--The class of Class C and small schools at this meet, the Tully girls showed why their town is the mecca of running in New York. Marietta Burt is the senior scoring leader on this team, which boasts some talented juniors as well.

(D) Fabius-Pompey, Beaver River--Fantastic job representing Class D by these two schools, and a special shout-out to F-P's top senior, Barbara Anne Scheibel. Beaver River sports a young team this year, which will make the leadership of senior Deidra Beller instrumental in their success. Can she set the pace--and encourage the girls to follow--to a surprise placing at sectional this year?


FORT PLAIN

Boys

Lordy, Lordy (Big Schools): A big battle-royale between seniors Nick Marcantonio (Glens Falls), CJ Sousis (Lansingburgh) and Eamonn Coughlin (LaSalle). Marcantonio won this edition with a blistering 15:37 3-mile time, but the other two weren't far behind. We know Scotia-Glenville and Glens Falls are solid teams, but can LaSalle Institute and Lansingburgh sneak into contention this year? That will rely on seniors Gavin O'Brien of LaSalle and Albert Scaldera and Aaron Fuller of Lansingburgh pulling up the scoring for their teams.

Youth in Revolt (Small Schools): Some jaw-jopping youngsters were on display at this meet. Fonda-Fultonville, with senior leadership from Zak Godfrey, led the way; close attention should also be paid to the youthful squad at Notre Dame-Bishop Gibbons and senior Jesse McNamara's Mayfield boys.

Girls

Dominance (Big Schools): Not much to say other than Colonie dominated, and hopefully next time their coach will include his athletes' seniority in the results so we can talk about them!

Parity? (Small Schools): A fairly close contest between Sauquoit Valley, Saranac and Fonda-Fultonville leads this writer to believe that the small-school contests (Class C & D) in Section II this year will be outstanding. Keep your eyes peeled for Saranac senior Alex Farrington to have a break-out remainder of the season after helping pace her squad.

BOB PRATT

From Armory Track: "Connecquot and St. Anthony's boys are top 2 teams on the day. North Shore and Ward Mellville girls are top teams. Kelsy Margey makes XC debut and wins in 18:49 with fastest time of the day."


GENESEE COUGAR INVITE

Girls
(D) Very interested to see the senior battle play out between Pavilion's Paige Radney and Warsaw's Katie Monahan. Both paced their team and fellow class-seniors, but the plot has thickened for the girls in Class D: Will it be Pavilion, Oakfield-Alabama or Geneseo in 2010? (Disclaimer: don't count out darkhorse Red Jacket, who had a junior win the race and an 8th grader place an impressive ninth).

(B/C) Senior Cassie Goodman of Midlakes breaks 20 minutes in the 5K, but is followed closely behind by senior rival Samantha Johnson of Letchworth. Williamson, Wayne and Wayland-Cohocton are big winners of the day.

(A/AA) One word: Wow. Senior Christi Driscoll of Geneva runs a blistering 18:14 to pace the field. The drama of the meet came in the team competition, where Canandaigua edged Honeoye Falls-Lima by ONE point for the victory. Senior Kaylin Beiter must push her girls if a state title is in the cards for the HF-L ladies this fall.

Boys
(D) The Geneseo Show--obviously dominant, great job by senior Ryan Moynihan to win the field and pace his boys to a 1-2-3-4 finish; not to be overlooked are fellow seniors Jason Ehmann and Evan Magnussen who ought to attract big college scouts in their own right. Pavilion (led by seniors Tylor Richardson and Max Lord) and Kendall (led by senior Marty Christenson) prove that the race for second is far from a consolation prize.

(B/C) Barn Burner--Seniors paced this race, and it was exciting. College coaches, put your scholarships towards these battle-hardened vets: Cohen Miles-Rath (Wayland-Cohocton), Paul Schwan (LeRoy), Sean Morgan and Yanko Panipinto (Wayne), Zak Ekdahl (Marcus Whitman), Calvin Patten (Alexander), Carson Tyler (Campbell-Savona) and Travis Gregorio (Midlakes) finished in under 17:30. Wayne dominated the competition, but Dansville, Greece Odyssey and Wayland-Cohocton showed that they are up to the task of competition this season.

(A/AA) If I were a betting man...--...I would put my money on McQuaid this year. Seniors Robert Hurlbut (breaking 16 minutes) and Wyatt Gouldthorpe went an impressive 1-2. The senior field is stacked this year: AJ Nasello and Geoff Kelly (Webster Schroeder), Lou Lipani (Greece Arcadia), Joel Kandt and Jesse Jones (Brockport), Chris Dunn and Ricky Mesolela (McQuaid, again) all broke 17 minutes in the 5K competition. Webster Schroeder opened some eyes, vaulting themselves into sectional (and maybe state?) contention with an incredible weekend performance.

More to come from around the state scene...