| James O'Neill | Raiders | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Section: 9 | Class: C | Colors: Maroon, white and gold | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Jame's O'Neill's Tony Njoga was in the thick of the muddy action as he battled to a 20th place States medal in 2017. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| XC History | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| States Teams: 1984 (C-5th), 2003 (C-6th), 2008 (C-5th), 2009 (C-5th) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
States Individuals (Top 10 finishers): Joe Monaco (1995, C-5th), David Weart (2003, C-1st), Kendall Ward (2008, C-8th) (2009, C-9th), Liam Neary (2014, C-7th) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Last Year's Summary: 2nd in Sectionals C | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| This Year's Outlook | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| The seas parted for the Raiders in a big way when reigning state champion Mount Academy was pushed up to Class B, opening the way to not only a Sectional title but maybe a States crown too. Seniors Tony Njoga and Carl Tyce will likely be the leaders for O'Neill in 2018, but sophomore Sam Miller and senior Ethan Christiansen are also back from last year's S9-C top 20. The Raiders could use a bit more depth for their title quest, but a trip to States for the first time in 9 years seems probable. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Saranac Lake | Red Storm | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Section: 7 | Class: C | Colors: Scarlet and white | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Saranac Lake's Anderson Gray led the 5th place Red Storm at 2017 States by finishing 28th. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| XC History | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| States Teams: 1981 (C-3rd), 1986 (C-14th), 1987 (C-12th), 1988 (C-11th), 1994 (C-4th), 1995 (C-1st), 1999 (C-6th), 2000 (C-6th), 2001 (C-7th), 2003 (C-10th), 2005 (B-9th), 2006 (C-8th), 2007 (C-11th), 2008 (C-11th), 2010 (C-10h), 2016 (C-8th), 2017 (C-5th) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
States Individuals (Top 10 finishers): Andy Hastings (1980, C-4th), Zach Handler (1995, C-3rd), Matt Dougherty (1995, C-9th), Adam VanNortwick (2001, C-5th) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Last Year's Summary: 5th in States C, 1st in Sectionals C | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| This Year's Outlook | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| The Red Storm moved up three spots at States with a team that included a number of young runners. That bodes well for a team that lost two of its top three runners to graduation but has a big chance to develop well this season. Frontrunner Anderson Gray is back from a 28th place at States, and sophomores Michael McCulley, James Catania and possibly also Peter Fogarty could move up a lot this year. A return to States appears almost certain for Saranac Lake, and a move into the top 3 there would not be surprising. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Hannibal | Warriors | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Section: 3 | Class: C | Colors: Purple and white | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Hannibal's Ben Dennison sprinted in for a 15th place medal at States in 2017. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| XC History | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| States Teams: 1957 (B-2nd), 1958 (B-2nd), 1972 (C-5th), 2012 (C-3rd), 2013 (C-3rd) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
States Individuals (Top 10 finishers): Melvin Wiltsie (1956, C-6th), Dan Griffin (1960, C-5th), Scott Bremer (1991, C-8th), Ben Griffin (2011, C-8th), Jason McFarland (2015, C-4th) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Last Year's Summary: 2nd in Sectionals C | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| This Year's Outlook | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Hannibal is a fitting representative for an S3-C conference that is known for its huge number of sectional contenders who cannibalize each other's chances. Last year it was Vernon-Verona-Sherrill that escaped the S3-C sectional carnage and advanced to States. This year is maybe Hannibal's chance to win after a 2nd place finish last year. Everyone is back from last year's varsity, and with States medalist Ben Dennison and Sectionals top 20 finisher Patrick Hall leading the Warriors, Hannibal will be favored to win its first Sectional title in 5 years. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Bronxville | Broncos | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Section: 1 | Class: C | Colors: Blue and gray | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Bronxville's Matt Rizzo finished 2nd at States in 2017 and his brother Alex was 5th. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| XC History | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| States Teams: 1979 (C-3rd), 1982 (C-7th), 1987 (C-7th), 1992 [BronxvilleTuckahoe] (C-11th), 2001 (D-5th), 2002 (D-3rd), 2003 (D-6th) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
States Individuals (Top 10 finishers): Dan Farley (1950, B-6th), Steve Clark (1979, C-9th), Scott Burns (1997, C-8th), Colin Steele (1999, D-6th), Dayton Flannery (2010, C-9th), John Flannery (2012, C-7th) (2013, C-2nd), Matt Rizzo (2017, C-2nd), Alex Rizzo (2017 (2017, C-5th) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Last Year's Summary: 8th in Sectionals C | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| This Year's Outlook | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| The Broncos are the only one of the twelve profiled teams in this preview that did not finish 1st or 2nd in their Sectionals last year. In fact, they finished 8th in S1-C. But having the top two returning runners in the NY C class can get you a very high rating in preseason. Matt and Alex Rizzo finished 2nd and 5th at States last year, and they are the big favorites for the top two places this year. As for the Bronxville team, if the lineup behind the Rizzo twins gets filled out adequately, the Broncos could win their first Sectional title since 2003. And if it is not, the Broncos could finish 8th again. John Ryan had a very promising 7th grade season may well be nailing down a place in the lineup if family history is any indication. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Marcus Whitman | Wildcats | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Section: 5 | Class: C | Colors: Navy and gold | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Marcus Whitman freshman Aidan Royston battled Watkins Glen's Max Evans to the finish for his 4th place squad that was led by senior Gabe Stash. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| XC History | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| States Teams: 2017 (C-4th) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
States Individuals (Top 10 finishers): | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Last Year's Summary: 4th in States C, 1st in Sectionals C | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| This Year's Outlook | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
The Wildcats won their first Sectionals title last year and then finished a solid 4th at States, both times having to plow through the mud at Wayne HS. Frontrunner Gabe Stash is gone from last year's Sectionals champion squad, but the rest of the varsity is back. With a young developing crew that includes sophomores Aidan Royston and Kaden Kays along with older guys Liam Prendergast and Alex Lyons, Marcus Whitman could well see the biggest leap in speed ratings among the top teams and might well make a run for the States title. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
