2018 NY Boys XC Preview: Class C

Class C Preview

New York State XC Season Guide - 2018

Replay

Four years after winning a second straight States D title that had earned them a transfer to Class C, the Mount Academy Eagles soared to the top again for a third States crown. The win came by a 50-67 score over defending champ Watkins Glen, as the Senecas stayed close to the Eagles through the first three and four spots but just did not have that depth that Mount has made its trademark. Glens Falls senior Chris Hughes completed a winding journey that saw him take 9th in States C in 2015, then 3rd in Class B in 2016 after the Indians moved up in 2016, then the win back down in Class C in 2017. Hughes powered away from Bronxville's Matt Rizzo and Irvington's Luke Carmosino in the States mud to win by eleven seconds. Rizzo was tops among the Class C runners a week later at Federations, running to a 15th place and a 178 TR speed rating.

Other highlights in Class C for 2017 included the appearance of Newfane at States after a hiatus of 45 years and the first ever appearance of Marcus Whitman, though the school was the site for the 2003 state championship. The Panthers finished 3rd and Wildcats took 4th to set themselves up for title runs in 2018. Vernon-Verona-Sherrill was back at States for the first time in 53 years, and like Marcus Whitman was the host of a state championship back in 2011. And as for the young guys at States, Mount Academy's Darren Baird was tops among the freshmen with a 15th place finish in States C, but any future big finishes for him will need to be in Class B. 

Teams

The reward for any private school that wins a state championship these days is a quick promotion to the next level, at least for the boys or girls squad that does the winning (CBA Syracuse girls are now up in B while the boys stay in C). Mount Academy now resides in Class B, and instead of likely having a repeat winner at States C in 2018, the action is wide, wide open. Seven teams begin the year rated within 8 points of each other at the top, ranging from the team that finished 2nd to Mount at Sectionals last year to the team that was runner-up at States.

The top-rated team now for 2018 is a James O'Neill squad that finished 42 points behind Mount in S9-C last year. The Raiders have a senior duo of Tony Njoga and Carl Tyce on the lead and just enough depth to make them slight favorites in C this year. Close behind the Raiders is a Saranac Lake team that finished 5th at States last year and that has a group of younger runners who could boost the Red Storm into a major disturbance in C. Third rated is a Hannibal squad that returns all of its varsity from last year including States medalist Ben Dennison and is the favorite in the always chaotic pressure cooker of the S3-C.

After the top three, the story gets more complex. Bronxville has the top two rated runners in Class C on the lead, but the Broncos finished 8th in their section last year with very thin ranks. Marcus Whitman broke through at Sectionals for the first time last year and finished 4th at States, but frontrunner Gabe Stash is gone. Dobbs Ferry hasn't been to States in four decades but has a fairly balanced mix of veterans and young guys on the rise. Watkins Glen won the state championship two years ago and has States medalist Gabe Planty on the lead, but it is in urgent need of a productive recruiting campaign.

A pack of other teams including last year's States teams Pleasantville, Newfane, and Vernon-Verona-Sherrill and also Westhill down from 2017 States B are all contending to make this one of the wildest years in Class C ever, as the champs from any of 8 different sections could have a shot at a States crown. That is exactly what you want to see in States competition.

Individuals

Bronxville's Matt and Alex Rizzo are back from 2nd and 5th place finishes at States last year and will be big favorites at the championship this year, possibly even replicating the feat of Holland Patent's set of twins Dylan Racha and Cody Racha in 2010 for a sweep of the top two places. Next highest in the ratings are two juniors who finished a little further back in the States mud last year, Adirondack's Tyler Fauvelle and Watkins Glen's Gabe Planty.

The Class C runners head out at States with 2017 champ Chris Hughes on the far right.