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Section 2 Harrier Website Foothills Council Preview
Foothills Council Boys Last Year's Team Champion: Queensbury Last Year's Individual Champion: Josh Pawlik (Scotia-Glenville)
Once again it looks like Queensbury's depth should put them on top even though they lose their top three runners from last year. Scotia-Glenville will give them a solid challenge. The other teams will be battling for 3rd as they don't have as much depth as Queensbury and Scotia. Individually look for returning state qualifier Brandon Madigan from Scotia to be the favorite. Broadalbin-Perth's Stephen Lyons and a slew of Queensbury runners will challenge him. Ballston Spa Scotties Last Year's Record: 6-2 Sectional Place: 12th place - Class A Top Returnees: Ryan Lee-So., Mark Jensen-Sr., Jake Merrill-Sr., Andy Young-Sr., Just Whit-Jr., Kyle Drake-Sr. Outlook: The Scotties return a solid team with Lee and Jensen both under 18 minutes last year and the rest of the the five under 19 minutes...Will have a tough time moving up in the league but should be able to repeat their third place performance from last year...Will once again have a tough time in Class A's but could crack the top ten with some improvement from their 4th and 5th runners. Broadalbin-Perth Patriots Last Year's Record: 4-4 Sectional Place: 7th place - Class C Top Returnees: Stephen Lyons-Sr., Jon Wilcox-So, Russel Shoop-Sr., Anthony Cosentino-Sr. Outlook: So far they only have four runners on their team but they should fill their roster once school starts up...Lyons is one of the top runners in the league and Wilcox just missed breaking 18 minutes last year...Can battle for third or fourth in the league if they can bring in a solid runner but as of right now I'll keep them in the middle of the pack...In Class C, Lyons has a very good shot at making states this year and can actually move into the top three in a weakened Class C with Cobleskill and Greenwich both moving out. Glens Falls Indians Last Year's Record: 5-3 Sectional Place: 6th place - Class B Top Returnees: Matt LaPlanche-So., Pat VanSchaick-Sr., Jared Woods-So., Rob Nolan-Sr., Jordan Zurlow-so. Outlook: LaPlanche had a solid freshmen year and will team up with VanSchaick as a solid 1-2 punch but lost 3 out of their top 5 from last year...Need some improvement from their 3rd through 5th runners as they all were hovering around the 20 minute mark last year...Still might have a tough time catching Ballston Spa for 3rd though...Will have a tough time repeating their 6th place in Class B's but should stay within the top 10. Gloversville Huskies Last Year's Record: 1-7 Sectional Place: 10th place - Class B Top Returnees: John Kenworthy-Jr., Jeremy Batty-Sr., Ben Schultz-Sr., Nick Sherman-Sr. Outlook: Kenworthy is a good number one but lost three out of their top five and they will need big help from the rest of the top five if they want to move up in the league...Batty is around 19 minutes but the other two returnees are over 21 minutes...Should stay around the same in Class B but will have a tough time moving into the top ten. Hudson Falls Tigers Last Year's Record: 1-7 Sectional Place: 12th place - Class B Top Returnees: Matt Foster-Sr., Corey Barber-So., Matt Lancette-So., Joe Eggleston-Jr., Nick Shivka-Jr. Outlook: Lost their 2nd and 3rd runners to graduation but return everyone else, still, Foster as their number one ran mid 18's at Saratoga and their second and third runners were under 20 minutes...Can definitely move up as high as fifth place but could use some improvement in times...Finished 12th in Class B's last year and I have a tough time seeing them crack top 10 right now. Johnstown Sirbills Last Year's Record: 1-7 Sectional Place: 14th place - Class B Top Returnees: None Outlook: Ran five at sectionals last year and all five graduated...Will have a tough time this year a need to concentrate on rebuilding their team. Queensbury Spartans Last Year's Record: 8-0 Sectional Place: 2nd place - Class B Top Returnees: Andrew Pollock-Sr., Chris Goad-Sr., Jeremy Beaudette-So., Steve Soprano-So., Jamie Anderson-Sr. Outlook: Lose their top three runners from last year but with the depth they have year in and year out they just need to reload...Seniors Pollock, Goad, and Anderson will lead the team and soph's Beaudette and Soprano should also have solid years as their top five were all under 17:30 last year...Will challenge Burnt Hills for Class B title Scotia-Glenville Tartans Last Year's Record: 7-1 Sectional Place: 3rd place - Class B Top Returnees: Brandon Madigan-So., Tim White-So., Dave Hamm-Sr., Jordan Drescheler-Jr., Anthony Gatta-Fr. Outlook: Madigan is the top returning runner in the league and White was right at 17 minutes last year so their top 2 are solid...Have some good freshmen coming up this year and could help the team if they run varsity but are probably a year away from challenging Queensbury...Finished 3rd in Class B's last year and should match that this year but will probably be pushed by Mohonasen. South Glens Falls Bulldogs Last Year's Record: 3-5 Sectional Place: 11th place - Class B Top Returnees: Jason Tourge-Sr., Joe Michaud-So., Chris Winch-So. Outlook: Only return three runner this year and the rumor on the message board is that Tourge is not running this season (in my opinion, a huge mistake on his part.)...If this is the case then they will have a tough time filling up their roster this season...If they are complete, I don't see them improving on their 11th place finish last year, even with Tourge in the lineup.
Foothills Council Girls Last Year's Team Champion: South Glens Falls & Queensbury Last Year's Individual Champion: Danielle Schaub (Scotia-Glenville) Team Predictions Individual Predictions
It was a tight league race last year and I expect more of the same this year. South Glens Falls returns their top five after they tied for the league title and won the league championship last year so I give them the early edge. Queensbury has a tight pack with their top five and Scotia-Glenville with a big one-two punch will challenge them for the title. Individually, Schaub is the returning champ and is the favorite. Her teammate Caroline King and Ballston Spa's Olivia Beane will give her a race for the individual title. Ballston Spa Scotties Last Year's Record: 6-2 Sectional Place: 11th place - Class A Top Returnees: Olivia Beane-So., Allison Marre-So., Allison Ferlano-So., Rachel Smislof-Jr., Stacy Scofield-Jr. Outlook: Lost two out of their top five from last year but Beane and Marre are a solid top two...Rest of returnees are over 22 minutes and need to improve if they want to move up in the league...A good modified team last year may help bolster their depth for this year...They will have a tough time competing in Class A's again, look for them to finish around the same place this year. Broadalbin-Perth Patriots Last Year's Record: 1-7 Sectional Place: 8th place - Class C Top Returnees: Lindsey Rappleyea-Sr., Nicole Ferlazzo-Sr., Emilie Rosenberger-Sr., Rachel Arata-Sr. Outlook: Rappleyea was out for most the season last year but had a very good track season, look for her to be a dark horse in the league and sectionals this year...Rest of the team is over 22 minutes and will have to improve...Rosenberger is a good addition and the team should have a better record this year...Should move up at least a couple of places in Class C this year and as I said before, if Rappleyea has a solid season like last year's track season, she could get in for a state qualifying spot. Glens Falls Indians Last Year's Record: 3-5 Sectional Place: 12th place - Class B Top Returnees: Anna Dede-Panken-So., Shannon Friere-Sr., Erica Sharpe-Sr., Lauren Scriver-So. Outlook: Losing their top two runners from last year is a big hit as they only return four runners from their sectional team...All of their returnees are over 23 minutes at Saratoga and will have to improve their some as many of the teams in the league will go 1-2-3 against them if they don't...Finished 12th in Class B's last year and may not improve that showing this year. Gloversville Huskies Last Year's Record: 5-3 Sectional Place: 6th place - Class B Top Returnees: Caitlyn Phillips-Sr., Melanie Ho-Jr., Sarah Krajcir-Jr., Emily Leitt-So., Rhiannon Wright-Jr. Outlook: Loss of last year's number one, Rebecca Ellis is a big hit but Phillips and Ho were both under 21 minutes and Krajcir was just over 21 minutes last year...The big question mark is from their 4th and 5th runners, Leitt was over 23 minutes and Wright was over 25 minutes so they need to drop their times to keep up with the top four teams in the league...Not sure if they can repeat their 6th place showing in Class B's last year but I don't see them dropping too far, maybe 8th or 9th at the worst. Hudson Falls Tigers Last Year's Record: 2-6 Sectional Place: 13th place - Class B Top Returnees: Jessica Delk-Sr., Krystle Morris-So., Lisa Perez-Jr., Cassidy Chamberlain-Jr. Outlook: Only return four runners but should have a full team. Delk was around 21 minutes but rest of the team was over 23 minutes...Need some improvements and new faces to compete...Finished last out of all complete teams in Class B's last year so there's only one way to go. Johnstown Sirbills Last Year's Record: 0-8 Sectional Place: incomplete - Class B Top Returnees: Kelsey Baird-Jr., Jessica Brown-Jr., Erica LaMere-Sr. Outlook: Ran incomplete last year but return all three runner so they may have five on the line this year...Still need to improve times since all three are over 22 minutes...Were incomplete in Class B's last year, if they have a full team this year they will have a tough time breaking into the top 10. Queensbury Spartans Last Year's Record: 7-1 Sectional Place: 2nd place - Class B Top Returnees: Liz Darrah-So., Samantha Campbell-Jr., Kristen Rhone-Sr., Emily Carroll-Sr. Outlook: Have a great tight pack as there is about a 30 second spread from their returning five...What they need is for one or two runners to step up and establish themselves as a front runner, it hurt them last year against South Glens Falls and might again this year...Still always a tough team to beat with their depth and they're sure to have some runners up from modified...Finished second in Class B's last year and will be up toward the top again, like the league they will probably need someone run up front if they want to win the Class B Championship. Scotia-Glenville Tartans Last Year's Record: 5-3 Sectional Place: 7th place - Class B Top Returnees: Danielle Schaub-Jr., Lana Crapo-Sr., Kathy Scheffler-So., Patricia Early-So., Nicole Cappuccitti-So. Outlook: Return state qualifier Schaub and have Caroline King coming up from a successful track season...Can challenge for league title and having Crapo back is a big boost but need help from their 4th and 5th runners, who were both over 21:30 last year...May get that from other runners coming up from last year's modified team...Should definitely improve from their 7th place finish in Class B's last year. I can see them finishing in the top five, maybe better if their younger runners improve quickly. South Glens Falls Bulldogs Last Year's Record: 7-1 Sectional Place: 4th place - Class B Top Returnees: Janelle Bashant-Sr., Ciara Davis-Fr., Brittany Perry-Jr., Christine Elms-Jr., Amanda Glazebrook-Jr. Outlook: early favorite in the league as they return their top five as all of them were under 21 minutes last year...Bashant just missed qualifying for states last year and should have a solid season...Rest of top five could drop under 20 minutes, if that happens then they will be tough to beat...Finshed 4th in Class B's last year and were hurt with Perry running sick, should finish at least 4th this year and a good possibility for even better maybe even first with a good race.
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