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Section 2 Harrier Website Suburban Council Preview
Suburban Council Boys Last Year's Team Champion: Shenendehowa Last Year's Individual Champion: Mike Foley (Saratoga)
Shenendehowa returns everyone from their state and federation championship team and are the big favorites to take the league again. Should be a good battle for second with Bethlehem, Burnt Hills, and Colonie battling it out. It will be a close fight so I'd be surprised if my predictions hold up with the teams being so close. Individually, Shenendehowa's Jake Gurzler is the top returnee and is the early favorite. Colonie's Kyle Audi will be pushing him for the title.
Averill Park Warriors Last year's record: 0-10 Sectional Place: 10th place - Class A (Class B this year) Top Returnees: Joey Hitchcock-Sr., Joel Frost-Tift-So., Ben Nevinn-Sr., Josh Thomas-So., Chris Hammond-Jr. Outlook: Lose their top runner but return everyone else...Will struggle again in the league but are improved...Frost-Tift had a good summer and should have a good season but team only has two runners uner 18 minutes...Going back down to Class B is a big boost for them, I see them around 5th or 6th at sectionals. Bethlehem Eagles Last year's record: 9-1 Sectional Place: 2nd place - Class A Top Returnees: Matt Shaffer-So., Pat Shaffer-Sr., Mike Dineen-Sr., Scott Sajdak-Sr., Alex Tiberio-Jr. Outlook: Should be one of the top teams in the section and the state...Good depth as top seven are all under 17 minutes...Shaffer brothers had an excellent summer finishing 3rd (Matt) and 5th (Pat) in the 5000 meters at the Empire State Games...Finished 2nd in Class A last year and should hold that this year but will be pushed by Colonie, Guilderland ,and Shaker Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake Spartans Last year's record: 8-2 Sectional Place: 1st place - Class B Top Returnees: John Mueller-Jr., Ken Little-Jr., Colin Utz-Meagher-So., David Jones-Jr., Brayden Gill-Sr. Outlook: Lose three out of their top five but always have good enough depth to stay competitive in the league...Mueller an Little are a good one-two and both can be under 16 minutes this year...Gill may be injured so we'll see when he comes back...Should also get some help from a very good freshman team from last year...Defending Class B champ and state runner-up will be the early favorite for their 5th straight title. Colonie Garnet Raiders Last year's record: 6-4 Sectional Place: 8th place - Class A Top Returnees: Kyle Audi-Sr., Bryan Murphy-Jr., Joe Choinere-Sr., Ian Wright-Sr., Will Grant-Jr. Outlook: Should be one of the top teams in the league lead by returning state qualifier Audi...Big addition with sophomore Kevin Treadway who was under 10 minutes in the 3200 meters last spring...Should challenge Bethlehem for 2nd in the league but could use a drop in times from their fourth and fifth runners...Will definitely improve from their disappointing 8th place in Class A last year, will be up there for 2nd or 3rd this year. Columbia Blue Devils Last year's record: 1-9 Sectional Place: 11th place - Class A Top Returnees: Adam Harding-Sr., Joe Nieman-Sr., Ron Webster-Sr., Aaron Losier-So., Mark Bensen-Jr. Outlook: Harding is a returning state qualifier and one of the top runners in the section...Rest of the team is at 18 minutes or over so they need to improve their times to move up in the league...Finished 11th in Class A last year and will probably be around the same this year, possibly top ten with some improvement in times. Guilderland Dutchmen Last year's record: 6-4 Sectional Place: 6th place - Class A Top Returnees: Justin Parietti-Sr., Seth Dubois-So., Brian Dechants-Jr., Brian Rhodes-Devey-Fr., Jake Zucker-Sr. Outlook: Solid top three with Parietti, Dubois, and Dechants all under 17 minutes and with Rhodes-Devey having a very good spring season they should have four runners in the low 16 minute range. If they want to move up into the top four in the league they will need their fifth runner to also get into the low 16's and seeing how Guilderland always has strong numbers they may get someone who does that...Finished 6th in Class A last year and can move up to at least fifth, if they get the improvements that I mentioned then they can definitely crack the top four teams. Niskayuna Silver Warriors Last year's record: 4-6 Sectional Place: 3rd place - Class A Top Returnees: Jon Wetzel-Jr., Matt Larkin-Sr., Mark Kopecki-Jr., Dave Mitsche-Jr., Dennis Seaman-Jr. Outlook: Were hit hard when Paul John and Rob Pierpont graduated...Top three were all under 17 minutes last year and should be strong...fourth and fifth runners were over 17:30 and need to drop their times some for the team to move up...Peaked at the right time last year and finished 3rd in Class A, can't see them repeating that this year but you never know. Mohonasen Mighty Warriors Last year's record: 2-8 Sectional Place: 4th place - Class B Top Returnees: Brian VanEpps-Sr., Matt Stabinski-Sr., Emory Dergostis-Sr., Chris Mannato-Sr., Nick DeMatteo-Jr. Outlook: Van Epps is the only runner under 17 minutes and their fifth runner is over 18 minutes so they may have a tough time in the league...If second through fourth runners can get under 17 minutes then they may move up a spot or two in the league...4th in Class B last year and will probably be in the 4th through 6th place area this year, top three will be tough to crack. Saratoga Springs Blue Streaks Last year's record: 5-5 Sectional Place: 5th place - Class A Top Returnees: Andrew Bangert-So., Matt Gervasio-Sr., Shane Zanetti-Sr., Nate Chandler-Sr., Devin Rourke-Jr. Outlook: Bangert had a great freshman season just over 16 minutes at Saratoga, Gervasio was also under 17 minutes and rest of top five were under 17:30 last year...What hurts them is their depth as they only have six total runners returning...Need some fresh faces or one injury could ruin their whole season...Finished 6th last year but losing Class A champ Mike Foley is a huge hit, probably will stay around the same this year. Shaker Blue Bison Last year's record: 4-6 Sectional Place: 4th place - Class A Top Returnees: Matt Klass-Sr., Chris Houle-Sr., Matt Domboski-Sr., Mike Kippins-So., Mike McDonald-Sr. Outlook: Lose state qualifier Chris Breslin but return 5 out of 7 this year and had a very good freshmen team last year...Klass was just over 16 minutes this year and could be a state qualifier this year...Top three under 17 minutes and fourth and fifth are under 17:30...Will challenge this year but getting the top five all under 17 minutes will help...Finished 4th in Class A last year and will be around there again this year, they'll be able to challenge for second if they can put everything together. Shenendehowa Plainsmen Last year's record: 10-0 Sectional Place: 1st place - Class A Top Returnees: Jake Gurzler-Sr., Ryan Gaedje-Sr., Dan MacManamon-So., Scott Mindel-Sr., Brian Smerkers-Sr. Outlook: Not much I need to say, seven returning runners under 16 minutes at Saratoga, defending state and Federation champs, no doubt they're the team to beat and beating them will be a large task...Gurzler is one of the top runners in the section and state and should challenge the 15 minute barrier at Saratoga this year...Class A champs last year and only a major disaster will stop it them this year.
Suburban Council Girls Last Year's Team Champion: Saratoga Springs Last Year's Individual Champion: Nicole Blood (Saratoga Springs)
Well, once again, it's all about Saratoga as they return their top seven from last year. The fight once again will be for second place as Shenendehowa, Columbia, Colonie, and possibly Bethlehem and Shaker will all fight it out. All of these teams could probably win 95% of the other leagues in the state which is why the Suburban Council is arguably the most competitive league in the nation. Individually, look for Blood and McTague to fight it out once again for the title. Averill Park Warriors Last year's record: 2-8 Sectional Place: 10th place - Class A Top Returnees: Andrea Hollinger-So., Brittany Wensley-Fr., Elissa Wilson-Sr., Megan Curran-Sr., Tara Mulcahy-Sr. Outlook: Return their top seven from last year but will still have a tough time in the league. Hollinger is the only one returning that's under 20 minutes...Rest of top five need to drop under 20 minutes to move up in the league...Move back down to Class B will help them, could have a top five finish after finishing 10th in Class A. Bethlehem Eagles Last year's record: 6-4 Sectional Place: 5th place - Class A Top Returnees: Emily Malinowski-Jr., Taylor Jackson-Jr., Roxanne Wegman-Jr., Claire Luke-So., Carly Magin-So. Outlook: Have a good one-two punch with Malinowski and Jackson both under 18:30 last year...Need their fourth and fifth runner to improve to the 19 minute mark if they want to move up into the top four but chances are that they'll match last year's record...Finished 5th in Class A last year and will probably finish fifth or sixth this year unless they can get some significant improvements. Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake Spartans Last year's record: 0-10 Sectional Place: 3rd place - Class B Top Returnees: Liz Montgomery-Jr., Brittany Trowbridge-So., Kristen Wayman-Sr., Maura Kinney-Jr., Amanda Rusilas-So. Outlook: Finished 0-10 last year only because they had trouble with injuries...Montgomery and Wayman were both under 20 minutes and Montgomery had a very good summer competing in the Empire State Games so she could have a breakout season...Team success will depend on team health and will need fourth and fifth runners to improve their times...Finished third in Class B last year after finally fielding a full team, could challenge for the Class B title of everyone is healthy. Colonie Garnet Raiders Last year's record: 9-1 Sectional Place: 2nd place - Class A Top Returnees: Anna Jankowski-Jr., Nicole Soblosky-So., Eryka Perreault-Sr., Melissa Bredice-So., Kaylee Kowalczyk-So. Outlook: Always one of the top teams in the state but graduations may start catching up to them...Still, their top three is solid, lead by Jankowski, who is a returning state qualifier...Will need improvement from their fourth and fifth runners to stay up near the top of the league as last year's fourth and fifth runners were both over 19:30...Finished second last year in Class A and will be near the top again but will be pushed hard by several schools. Columbia Blue Devils Last year's record: 7-3 Sectional Place: 3rd place - Class A Top Returnees: Brina Seguine-Fr., Julie Carr-Jr., Katie Hayden-Jr., Sarah Anderson-Fr., Ashley Ferriero-Fr. Outlook: One of the top teams in the state as they return six runners that were under 19 minutes at Saratoga...Seguine is back from injury last year and should be the team's number one...Team also has great depth which should help them is another injury comes about...Finished third in Class A last year without Seguine in the lineup and are probably the early favorites to finish second...Will still have a tough time challenging Saratoga. Guilderland Dutchmen Last year's record: 4-6 Sectional Place: 8th place - Class A Top Returnees: Megan Lynch-Jr., Corinne Salada-Jr., Brittany Wachtel-So., Amanda Boccio-So., Erin Grosso-Jr. Outlook: Lynch is a two-time state qualifier and is a solid number one...Rest of the team is over 20 minutes and need to improve those times to better themselves in the league...Have good numbers with the freshmen so it's a first good step toward rebuilding...Finished 8th in Class A and they will probably be around the same place this year, maybe up one place with improvements. Niskayuna Silver Warriors Last year's record: 3-7 Sectional Place: 7th place - Class A Top Returnees: Caitlin McTague-Sr., Sarah Miller-Sr., Chelsea Boska-Sr., Emily McTague-8th, Addie Pagano-Jr. Outlook: McTague returns as one of the top runners in the nation after her Foot Locker performance last year and after a mediocre spring she has run some impressive times in the summer and looks to be ready this season...Miller and Boska are both under 19 minutes but need their fourth and fifth runners to improve their times...Robin Bangert joins the team after running sub 60 in the 400 meters last spring and she should help their depth...Even though they return everyone I don't see them moving higher than their seventh place finish last year. Mohonasen Mighty Warriors Last year's record: 2-8 Sectional Place: 8th place - Class B Top Returnees: Rachel Bennett-Sr., Ann Carroll-Jr., Lindsey Coons-Sr., Alyssa Rizzo-Jr. Outlook: Only return four from last year but should have a full team and could help with their depth...Bennett is a returning state qualifier and a good number one...Rest of the team is over 21 minutes and will have a tough time competing in the league...8th place in Class B last year and could improve on that if they can get some new runners to help out the team. Saratoga Springs Blue Streaks Last year's record: 10-0 Sectional Place: 1st place - Class A Top Returnees: Nicole Blood-So., Lindsey Ferguson-So., Catherine Rossi-Fr., Melissa Trauscht-Jr., Ali Rowe-Sr. Outlook: Defending National champions return everyone and are ranked second nationally in The Harrier's pre-season rankings (personally, I think they got hosed, how do you return everyone and drop to second?) Blood spent the summer recovering from injury but looks fine after running the Luciano 5K in last August...Ferguson also looks good and could have a breakout year and who knows who else will break into their top seven...Big favorite to repeat as sectional, state, and federation champs and probably national champ again with an impressive Great American. Shaker Blue Bison Last year's record: 5-5 Sectional Place: 6th place - Class A Top Returnees: Meg Ray-Sr., Sara Ochs-Fr., Angela Bernarde-Jr., Samantha Tibbitts-So., Bridget Seebald-Jr. Outlook: Have an impressive tight pace as thirteen seconds separate their first five runners...Even with the nice pack, they need someone to establish themselves as their number one runner if they want to improve on last year's 5-5 record...Finished 6th in Class A and will be around 5th or 6th this year unless they can get an established number one runner. Shenendehowa Plainsmen Last year's record: 7-3 Sectional Place: 4th place - Class A Top Returnees: Jackie Gniewek-So., Susan Ashe-Sr., Sarah Rogers-Jr., Libby Babcock-Jr., Jamie Schulte-Jr. Outlook: Return a solid team with Gniewek, Ashe, and Rogers all under 18:30 last year...Babcock returns after and injury last year and will give the team a boost...Fifth runner is where they need improvement as their returning fifth runners was over 19 minutes...Finished 4th last year in Class A and were hurt by Rogers being out of the lineup...With a full lineup they have a great chance to finish second.
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