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Section 2 Harrier Website Big 10 League Preview
Big 10 Boys Last Year's Team Champion: Amsterdam Last Year's Individual Champion: Jaime Julia (Amsterdam)
Tough one to call. The top four teams are extremely close. Albany and Troy seem to have the most depth and Amsterdam and Schenectady has the best front running. Looks like it will be determined by who has the most depth. Returning State Qualifiers in Bold Albany High: Last year's record: 6-2 , Sectional Finish: 10th - Class A Top : Alex Paley Jr., Stephon Frost Sr., Richard Newkirk So., Frank Strube Jr., Bruce Williams So. Outlook: Albany has a good young team returning and is one of the favorites for the league title. They also had a good crop of freshmen last year that could help the varsity even more. Some of the best depth in the Big 10 but doesn't have a frontman to compete with the top runners in the league. Amsterdam: Last year's record: 8-0 , Sectional finish: 9th - Class A Top : Jaime Julia Sr., Brian Barnett Jr., Rick Morey Jr., Greg Hammond Jr., Ben Briggs Fr., Ruben Quinones Fr. Outlook: The two-time league champions have an excellent shot at their third straight title. Lead by two time state qualifier Jaime Julia and their two through six runners all run within a minute of each other. Not as deep as they were last year but still tough with the runners that they have. Bishop Maginn: Last year's record: 3-5, Sectional finish: 11th - Class B Top Returnees: Andrew McNamara Sr., Tom Dansereau So., Tim Adalian Jr., Scott Daley Jr. Outlook: Lost three out of top four from last year but still have a solid number one runners with McNamara. Not very deep but should finish with about the same record as last year. C.B.A.: Last year's record: 2-6, Sectional finish: 15th - Class A Top Returnees: David Lang Sr., Brendan Lee Fr. Outlook: Return their top two but I heard they only had two running in pre-season. Same thing happened last year but still had a full team. If the freshmen that had last year return then that shouls help them out for this year. Catholic Central: Last year's record: 0-7-1, Sectional finish: inc. - Class B Top Returnees: none Outlook: As of publication, Catholic Central unfortunately doesn't have any runners. LaSalle: Last year's record: 7-1, Sectional finish: 11th - Class A Top Returnees: Chris Evans Sr. Outlook: LaSalle was hit incredibly hard by graduation losing nine out of their top ten from last year. Chris Evans will lead a very young but good group of freshman. Will be a rebuilding year but they should be back in the hunt in another year or two. Notre Dame-Bishop Gibbons: Last year's record: 0-7-1, Sectional finish: inc. - Class B Top Returnees: Justin Pantalone Sr., Kieran O'Connor So. Outlook: Have a solid top two with Pantalone and O'Connor but rest of the varsity will be made up of unproven freshmen. Still an improvement from having an incomplete team for the last four years. Schenectady: Last year's record: 4-4, Sectional finish: 13th - Class A Top Returnees: Bobbie Graham Sr., Vinnie Aceto Jr., Verrol Jackson Jr. Outlook: Graham returning after a year off is a big boost. They have a solid top three but need a fourth and fifth runner to step up if they want to challenge for the league title. Have some good freshmen coming up that should help them. Troy: Last year's record: 5-3, Sectional finish: 12th - Class A Top Returnees: Mark West Sr., Brad Lewis Jr., Matt Miller So., Evan Baisley So. Outlook: Could be a dark horse for the team title. Good top three depth with West, Lewis, and Miller. A couple of sophomores have to step up, if they do then the Big 10 title is definitely within their reach. Big 10 Girls Last Year's Team Champion: Bishop Maginn Last Year's Individual Champion: Alyssa Lotmore (Bishop Maginn)
Returning State Qualifiers in Bold Maginn has won two titles in a row and should get there third. After that it will be a tight bunch with Amsterdam, Schenectady, and Gibbons. Albany High: Last year's record: 0-6, Sectional finish: incomplete - Class A Top Returnees: Ashley Gorr Jr. Outlook: Only returning three from last year but could add some runners. Gorr is one of the top runners in the league. Had a very good modified runner last year but she is only an 8th grader this year and probably will stay down. Amsterdam: Last Year's record: 5-1, Sectional finish: 11th - Class A Top Returnees: Jenna Krong So., Amanda Watras Jr., Meghan Davey, Sr. Outlook: Surprise of the league last year, finishing second after and incomplete season the year before. Top five returns, top three are solid and can challenge for league if fourth and fifth runners step up. Bishop Maginn: Last year's record: 6-0, Sectional finish: 9th - Class A Top Returnees: Alyssa Lotmore Sr,. Anne Redcross Sr., Hilary McGreevey Sr., Meg Carey Sr., Teresea Dansereau Sr. Outlook: Two-time defending league champs return their top five and should repeat, lead by two-time individual champ Alyssa Lotmore. If they have one weakness it would be their depth as their sixth and seventh are far behind. Catholic Central: Last year's record: 3-3, Sectional finish: 12th - Class A Top Returnees: Chelsea Fitzgerald Jr., Tara Normandin Jr. Outlook: Hit hard by graduation as they only return two from their sectional team. Fitzgerald is a good number one and should have some freshmen and good modified runners coming up to help out. Can definitely do better than my prediction if the younger runners step up. Notre Dame-Bishop Gibbons: Last year's record: 3-3, Sectional finish: 9th - Class B Top Returnees: Caitlin Doherty Jr., Maria Campano Fr., Kellie Lyons Jr., Erica Lang Fr. Outlook: Lost two of their top five but should still be competitive. Doherty was a state qualifier last year and is a solid number one. Rest of the team is young and is probably a year away but they may surprise some this season. Schenectady: Last year's record: 3-3, Sectional finish: 13th - Class A Top Returnees: Alisha Price Sr., Kelsey Gnoinski Jr., Kayla Boice Jr. Outlook: Solid top three with everyone returning from last year. Pretty good pack with the top five but need someone to run up front since all the other contending teams have a solid number one. Always a threat against any team in the league. Troy: Last year's record: 1-5, Sectional finish: 14th - Class A Top Returnees: Kim Scully So, Kim Serson So., Outlook: Mostly a young team. Scully and Serson are a good duo but team is in a rebuilding mode right now. Had good freshmen and modified last year and they should definitely help out this year.
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