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Class C PreviewA
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2015 Season Overview for Class C
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The
battle in Class C in 2014 lived up to all of the preseason and
postseason billings. Class C newcomer East Aurora entered the season
with a modest ratings advantage over six-time defending state champ
Bronxville, and both teams developed their strength during the season
until they entered States for an almost dead even head-to-head matchup.
The undefeated Blue Devils won out in the mud at Canton by 3 points to
break the Bronco winning streak at States. And what that all amounts to
is that both two teams get the fun of doing it all over again this year,
with preseason ratings for both teams almost exactly where they were
last year.
There were of course a lot of other teams competing in
Class C last year, and the States race was especially tough because two
other teams besides East Aurora moved into Class C in 2014 -- Greenwich
and Westhill, and they finished in 3rd and 4th at Canton. But neither of
the teams apparently liked their lodgings that much, because the
Witches have flown back down to Class D and the Warriors have marched
back up to Class B. So this year again seems to be set for States champ
Sophia Tasselmyer and her East Aurora returning teammates Fiona Danieu,
Maisy Webster, Victoria Klimowicz, and Molly McLaughlin (Liz O'Brien and
Hannah Weppner graduated) to be looking mainly at Bronxville as a
challenger at States. The Broncos lost their top finisher Delia Hayes
from last year's States team, but Kaitlin Ryan, Olivia Scotti, Hilary
Rizzo, Lindsay Nobles, Carlie Hoffer, and Gigi Chrappa are back to give
it another shot.
Much of Class C's strength is grouped in East
Aurora's Section 6 and Bronxville's Section 1, including 7 of the the
top 10 rated teams. Not to make the Blue Devils feel guilty about last
year's move to Class C, but Akron, Alden, and Newfane would be in an
excitingly close sectional battle in S6-C if not for presence of the EA
powerhouse in their midst. Section 2 will be the section likely to have a
great battle for the title, as 4th rated Schuylerville will be matched
against 7th rated Chatham, and in Section 3, 9th rated Cazenovia has a
small edge over a Skaneateles team that needs to bolster its back line.
On
the individual front, States champ Sophia Tasselmyer is back for a
title defense in her senior year, but 3rd and 4th place finishers senior
Abby Gugel of Jordan-Elbridge and freshman Clara Rowles of Cazenovia
will be returning to again try to kick mud on Tasselmyers' glasses at
Monroe-Woodbury. Kaitlyn Neal of Skaneateles and Kaitlin Ryan of
Bronxville are also expected up at the front and leaving a lot of
runners in their dust.
And just a note to the publishers of the
NYSPHSAA XC program: Printing the States Class C results from 2012 for
2013 is just not the way to go. Let's try to at least keep the very
recent past minimally accurate for the athletes and their fans.
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High tide for Class C last year at Canton as an epic state championship battle gets underway.
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Top 5 Teams at 2013 States
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1. East Aurora 51
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2. Bronxville 54
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3. Greenwich 83
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4. Westhill 86
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5. Canton 143
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Projected Top 5 Teams for 2015 from Returners' 2014 TR Ratings
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1. East Aurora 108.4
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2. Bronxville 102.0
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3. Akron 88.8
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4. Schuylerville 86.6
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5. Alden 85.8
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Projected Next 10 Teams for 2015 from Returners' 2014 TR Ratings
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6. Newfane
85.2
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7. Chatham 84.6
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8. Briarcliff 82.6
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9. Cazenovia 81.2
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10. Dobbs Ferry 77.2
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11. Watkins Glen 74.8
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12. Livonia 74.2
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14. Skaneateles 71.0
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14. James O'Neill 69.8
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15t. Saranac 67.4
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15t. Fredonia 67.4
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17. Newark Valley 67.2
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18. Onteora 66.6
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19. Jordan-Elbridge 66.4
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20. Albion 64.8
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The
battle at the top of the Class C race remained close for most of the
way, and the winning margin for East Aurora's Sophia Tasselmyer was 1
second.
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Top 2014 Returning Runners by Last Year's TR Rating
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Name
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Team
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Grade
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Section
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States Place
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Season TR
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Sophia Tasselmyer
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East Aurora
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12
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6
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1
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134
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Kaitlyn Neal
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Skaneateles
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12
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3
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7
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127
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Abby Gugel
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Jordan-Elbridge
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12
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3
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3
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124
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Clara Rowles
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Cazenovia
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9
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3
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4
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124
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Kaitlin Ryan
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Bronxville
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11
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1
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13
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122
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Kaylee Stone
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Windsor
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11
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4
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25
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121
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Meghan Curtin
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Wayland-Cohocton
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12
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5
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8
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120
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Ashley Watson
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Schuylerville
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11
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2
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9
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118
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Fiona Danieu
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East Aurora
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12
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6
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19
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118
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Andrea Nardone
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Albertus Magnus
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12
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1
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14
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117
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Caroline Pennacchio
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Briarcliff
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12
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1
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11
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117
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Maisy Webster
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East Aurora
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11
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6
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17
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117
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Julia Flower
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Schalmont
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12
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2
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115
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Allie Bartolotta
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Hudson
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12
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2
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27
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114
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Erin Clark
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Chatham
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12
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2
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22
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114
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Mika Andrews
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Dobbs Ferry
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11
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1
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24
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112
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Olivia Scotti
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Bronxville
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10
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1
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23
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111
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Margo Henley
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Akron
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10
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6
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30
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111
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Hallie Allen
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Chatham
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10
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2
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33
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110
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Becky Kron
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Alden
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10
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6
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35
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107
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The Class C gang were all there at the bridge in Canton early in the action at States.
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Section by Section Class A Overview
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Section
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Top Teams
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Notes
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1
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Bronxville, Briarcliff, Dobbs Ferry, Pawling, Albertus Magnus, Irvington
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Bronxville
seems all set to win its 19th straight sectional title and then battle
East Aurora again at States in the quest for a 13th state championship.
Briarcliff and Dobbs Ferry should battle for spots in the state Top 10
rankings.
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2
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Schuylerville, Chatham, Fonda-Fultonville, Broadalbin-Perth
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The
battle for S2-C between Schuylerville and Chatham should be one of the
best sectional contests, and Fonda-Fultonville could jump into the fray
if it can fill out its roster.
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3
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Cazenovia, Skaneateles, Jordan-Elbridge, Hannibal, South Jefferson
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Reigning
S3-C champ Cazenovia's depth appears to have opened up a gap on its
local rivals, but if Skaneateles and Jordan-Elbridge can get some help
at the back, this race could get close.
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4
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Watkins Glen, Newark Valley, Waverly
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Reigning S4-C champ Watkins Glen and Newark Valley will engage in their customary battle in recent times.
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5
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Livonia, Wayland-Cohocton
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Livonia has the depth to repeat in S5-C, but WC could challenge if it can find more feet to help out at the back.
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6
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East Aurora, Akron, Alden, Newfane, Fredonia, Albion, Springville, City Honors
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S6-C is loaded with six of Class C's top 20 teams, but reigning state champ East Aurora is far ahead of all contenders.
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7
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Saranac, Plattsburgh, Saranc Lake
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Saranac should have enough depth to repeat in S7-C.
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8
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Oyster Bay
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Oyster Bay is the only team probably assured of having five runners for sectionals.
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9
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James O'Neill, Onteora, Tri-Valley
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O'Neill could have a tougher time in S9-C against Onteora and Tri-Valley teams that have everyone back.
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10
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Gouverneur, Canton
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Canton loses its top 2, so Gouverneur may be favored in the battle to get five runners over the line.
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11
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Mattituck, Mercy
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Should be a close battle between two teams needing some depth.
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