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Section 2 Harrier Website Western Athletic Conference Preview
Western Athletic Conference Boys Last Year's Team Champion: Berne-Knox-Westerlo Last Year's Individual Champion: Chuck Florence (Fonda-Fultonville)
Berne-Knox and Fonda-Fultonville will battle it out again and Duanesburg should make it a three team race. Berne-Knox has the edge with their depth and are the favorites. Individually, Galway's Justin Daino is about 40 seconds ahead of the pack and is the favorite. Fonda's Chuck Florence, Berne-Knox's Gary Domermuth, and Schenectady Christian's Nate Turner will challenge. Berne-Knox-Westerlo Bulldogs Last year's record: 7-1 Sectional place: 1st place - Class D Top Returnees: Gary Domermuth-Jr., Kris Geist-Jr., Tim Harrington-Jr., Tom DeRusso-So., Andrew Godenzi-Jr. Outlook: 2-times Class D champions are a favorite for their third and have the experience and depth to take the league title this year...Domermuth and Geist are a good top two but need a little drop from their 4th and 5th runner's times, who were both over 18 minutes...Are the favorites to take their 3rd straight Class D title. Canajoharie Last year's record: inc. Sectional place: incomplete - Class D Top Returnees: None Outlook: They didn't have any varsity runners last year but had a full modified team so the may not have a full team this year but should have some runners which is a step up...Incomplete last year so the first step is a full team before worrying about Class D placing. Duanesburg Eagles Last year's record: 5-3 Sectional place: 3rd place - Class D Top Returnees: Ryan Coppolo-So., Matt Ferri-So., Tom Cashdollar-Sr, Nick Bastiani-Sr., Josh DeGiule-Sr. Outlook: Could be the surprise of the league this year...Coppolo and Ferri had outstanding freshmen seasons and returning top five were all under 18:30 last year and if their top modified runner comes up this year it will make them even more stronger...Will need some improvement from their 3rd through 5th runners if they want to beat out Berne-Knox this year...3rd in Class D last year and shouldn't do any worse, chances are that they'll move up to 2nd and maybe even 1st. Fonda-Fultonville Braves Last year's record: 8-0 Sectional place: 2nd place - Class C Top Returnees: Chuck Florence-Sr., John Moore-So., Chris White-Sr., Brian Yurkewecz-Jr., Jeff Duefel-So. Outlook: Return five out of six but losing their number two runner was a big hit...Florence, Moore, and White are a strong top three but their fourth runner, and especially their fifth runner needs to improve their times to move up in the league...Finished 2nd in Class C last year and should be around the same this year, may challenge for the title if there are improvements. Fort Plain Hilltoppers Last year's record: 1-7 Sectional place: 7th place - Class D Top Returnees: Brendan Petty- Jr. Outlook: Only return Petty but never count Coach Karker out but need to concentrate on filling out their team before their standing in the league and sectionals...Petty is a good start to bring the program back up. Galway Golden Eagles Last year's record: 6-2 Sectional place: 2nd place - Class D Top Returnees: Justin Daino-Sr., Joe Janack-Sr., Brendan Ferguson-Sr., Ryan Matuzewski-Jr., Tom Gregg-Sr. Outlook: Daino is the defending Class D champion and will lead a tough team...Fourth and fifth runners were both over 19 minutes last year and will need to improve...Could get help with some of last year's modified...Finished 2nd in Class D last year but will be pressed by Duanesburg to hold that, should still be top 3. Mayfield Last year's record: 2-6 Sectional place: 9th place - Class D Top Returnees: Alex Brooks-So., Shawn McNamara-So., Brian VanNorstrand-Jr. Outlook: Only return three from last year and didn't have any modified runners last year so they'll need to fill the team...Brooks had and excellent freshman season and will be a good number one and their 2nd and 3rd runners are around 19 minutes so they have a good nucleus...9th in Class D last year and should do better if this year if they can get a couple of decent runner to fill the team. Schenectady Christian Last year's record: 4-4 Sectional place: 5th place - Class C Top Returnees: Nate Turner-So., Khristian Collins-Jr., John Moore-Jr. Outlook: Turner is a returning state qualifier and a solid number one or the team...Only return three from last year but picked up a few new runners and they should fill in nicely...Could move up with some improvements...Should improve on last year's 5th place finish in Class C, especially if the new runners step up. Schoharie Indians Last year's record: 3-5 Sectional place: 11th place - Class D Top Returnees: Dan Quandt-Sr., Dan Dever-Jr., Corbett Prince-So., Charles Beninati-So., Outlook: Quandt is a good number one but second through fourth runner are over 19 minutes and fifth runner is over 22 minutes...Have numbers but need to improve times if they want to move up...11th in Class D last year and should move up at least a couple of spots, maybe even more if their 5th runner improves.
Western Athletic Conference Girls Last Year's Team Champion: Galway Last Year's Individual Champion: Sarah Domermuth (Berne-Knox-Westerlo)
Galway is still the team to beat with three runners under 20 minutes. Fonda-Fultonville was hit by graduation but they'll still be challenging Berne-Knox and Duanesburg for second place. Most of the teams need to fill up their lineups. Domermuth is the returning champion and is almost a minute ahead of anyone else. Berne-Knox-Westerlo Bulldogs Last year's record: 6-2 Sectional place: 3rd place - Class D Top Returnees: Sarah Domermuth-Sr., Sarah Raymond-Jr., Carly Willsie-So., Sarah Fullman-So., Kate Choiniere-So. Outlook: Returning six runners and should have a very good team...Domermuth is a 2-time state qualifier and clearly the number one runner in the league...Stil will have a tough time beating Galway as their 3rd through 5th runners are over 22 minutes...3rd place in Class D last year and will probably repeat that this year. Canajoharie Last year's record: inc. Sectional place: incomplete - Class D Top Returnees: None Outlook: No runners return from sectional last year...Need to rebuild Duanesburg Eagles Last year's record: inc. Sectional place: incomplete - Class D Top Returnees: Eva Weyers-Sr., Jenna Wright-Jr., Cassie Jackman-Jr., Alissa Faber-Jr. Outlook: Only had four runners last year but return them all and had a very good modified team last year...Weyers and Wright are a good top two but need the rest of the team to improve if they want to challenge for 2nd or 3rd place in the league. Fonda-Fultonville Braves Last year's record: 7-1 Sectional place: 6th place - Class C Top Returnees: Ashley Longendyke-Jr., Kristen Duell-So., Jessica Kennedy-Jr., Katrina Archer-So. Outlook: Lost their top three runners to graduation so they're going to need to rebuild a little...Return four runners and all were over 22 minutes so times need to drops...Always have a tough team so you shouldn't ever count them out...Finished 6th in Class C last year and will probably finish around the same, maybe a little better with Cobleskill out. Fort Plain Hilltoppers Last year's record: inc. Sectional place: incomplete - Class D Top Returnees: Katie Nellis-So. Outlook: Only return Nellis so they'll need to work on filling the lineup before anything. Galway Golden Eagles Last year's record: 8-0 Sectional place: 2nd place - Class D Top Returnees: Sarah Hotaling-Sr., Grace Poissant-So., Kaitlyn McMullen-So., Maggie Horigan-Jr., Meghan Schaperjahn-So. Outlook: Still the team to beat in the WAC, Lost their top runner, Carly Page, to graduation but still return three runners uner 21 minutes...Fourth and fifth runners are around 22 minutes and will want to improve there to seal the deal...Finished 2nd in Class D and will have an extremely hard time beating Argyle for the title, should finish second place again. Mayfield Last year's record: 1-7 Sectional place: incomplete - Class D Top Returnees: Lisa Hakes-So., Stephanie Grandos-Sr.. Outlook: Lost state qualifier, Amber Shibley and only return two runners, both over 24 minutes so they need to rebuild...Had a very good modified team last year with three 8th graders and runners that move up will help them greatly...If they can fill up their lineup then they'll probably be 5th or 6th in Class D but it's a big step up for the program. Schenectady Christian Last year's record: inc. Sectional place: incomplete - Class C Top Returnees: Molly Frazer-So. Outlook: Only return Frazer so they will have to try and rebuild around her...She could have a good shot at states if she can drop to the lower 20's at Saratoga. Schoharie Indians Last year's record: 5-3 Sectional place: 5th place - Class D Top Returnees: Kate Ann Quandt-So., Jess Dever-So., Caitlin Adams-Jr., Kelly Isles-So. Outlook: Started rebuilding process last year with three freshmen, only return four runners but should be bringing up a very good modified runner which will be a big boost...Not sure if the can move up in the league this year but may be a year away...Finished 5th in Class D last year and may move up a spot this year.
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