NYS PREVIEW #3

09.03.06 (by Tom Cuffe)

The Evil Empire continues... September is here and cross-country is revving up for another spectacular show in the great State of New York. When we were last together I said that we'd look into a few more teams and individuals, well here we go!

Queensbury (S2) has to be considered very high as they return a formidable team in 2006.They will be led by junior Matt Flint a 9:25.34 3200 man backed up by two 4:30 milers in Kevin Mulcahy and Sean Gallagher. Niskayuna (2) is another strong squad to watch with Kyle O'Connor, Nick Cioffi as well as Mike & Tim Ryan. The team to really watch in Section Two will be Shaker coached by the long time outstanding mentor Mr. Ed Springstead. The team brings back 6 of seven from their 2005 squad paced by senior Matt Bogdan and junior R.J. Sniffen and very strong supporting crew.

Moving down south to the New York City area and out east to Long Island another tough CHSAA team will be in the hunt and this will be Kellenberg Memorial coached by Kevin Buckley (yes of the famous CHSAA BUCKLEY RANKINGS!). The 2006 version of the Firebirds are "ready to roll" and will be paced by XC All-Stater Kasey Geller a senior and soph Billy Posch -- 4:36 mile as freshman!

Now let's move north and west to Ithaca home of Ivy League Cornell University ( GO BIG RED) and Section Four powerhouse Ithaca High coached by Rich Bernstein. The team will have proven performer and NYS All-State XC man senior Drew Hart as their leader followed closely by senior Adam Zinder and junior Paul Kintner. This appears to be one of the best teams ever to come out of their school and their section.

Well that's it for now. If you have any more input on anything NYS related please let me know! Keep it positive because are sport is too good for anything else!!!

Edit: Anyone that would like to add a comment or observation for print please email Mr. Cuffe at TJCUFFE@aol.com – be sure to put NYS XC in the subject line.

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OFFICIAL ANNOUNCEMENT ... OFFICIAL ANNOUNCEMENT ... 

BECAUSE OF THE RECENT ANNOUNCEMENT THAT I WILL BE THE EDITOR FOR THE NTN NORTHEAST REGION HERE IS WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN IN NYS:

I WILL CONTINUE TO EDIT THE NYSSWA WEEKLY POLL BUT I WILL ONLY BE RANKING THE CLASS AA SCHOOLS BECAUSE OF THE MAJOR TIME CONSTAINTS OF DOING THE NE NTN REGION, COACHING MONSIGNOR FARRELL AND BEING THE DIRECTOR OF THE SCHOOL AS WELL AS THE OTHER RESPONSIBILITES ASSOCIATED WITH COACHING, TRAVEL AND ADMINISTRATION.

So if anyone out there would like to take the reigns on the Class A rankings and the Class B rankings please let me know ASAP.  Looks like we have someone for the Class C and Class D rankings.

THANK YOU!

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BONUS COVERAGE

SOME ASKED FOR IT SO HERE IT IS:

NYS PRESEASON TOP TEN

1 - Collegiate... AIS

2 - Shenedehowa... S2

3 - Liverpool... S3

3 - Warwick Valley... S9

4 - Fayetteville Manlius... S3

5 - St. Anthony's... CHSAA

6 - Chaminade... CHSAA

7 - Smithtown... S11

8 - Queensbury... S2

9 - Byram Hills... S1

10 - Burnt Hills... S2

ENJOY AND HAVE FUN!!! See you on the trails...

NYS PREVIEW #2

08.02.06 (by Tom Cuffe)

Is NYS that good? YES IT IS! So good in fact that we need installment #2 in our preview of looking at the best of the best for the upcoming season. To use a line by NYrunner, his signature actually: "NYS-7 teams have competed at NTN---3 wins, 3 second place finishes....will the dominance continue?" Well with the wealth of talent of the athletes in NYS XC and the leadership and vision of the great coaches of NYS  -- CROSS-COUNTRY 2006 --promises to a very exciting and competitive season indeed. 

When last we met we had given you some top teams to watch on the trails this year. Now we shall add to that. The biggest news in NYS cross-country is that there will be a transfer or two this year: J. Stephen Murdock from Saratoga Springs (S2) to Shenendehowa (S2) is a fact that makes the Plainsmen extremely tough, throw in another transfer (the rich get richer!) in frosh phenom Mike Danaher from CBA - Albany (S2) a 9:54.08 freshmen. With the magic of coach Matt Jones and the tradition of big time performances out of Shen the top contending teams will have their hands full!!! Another transfer of different proportions is that of a coaching change at powerful St. Anthony's of the CHSAA out on Long Island. Tim Dearie (a St. Anthony's alum!) most recently of Kevin Tshirhart, Northport (S11) fame is the former coach of the Friars -- he lead them to three Federation titles, he takes over the head job at his alma mater!!! Watch out CHSAA Sectional rival Chaminade!

Burnt Hills (S2) will have a very strong team this year with #1 returnee Drew Houghtalen a 9:17.97 performer this spring -- he will be backed up by a strong group of young harriers. Coach Chip Button has always done a marvelous job with his troops.

On the individual scene Chris Mason of Auburn (S3) will truly be a force on the XC trails this year. After watching him demolish a very fine 10,000 field at the Empire State Games last week in winning with a very fine 33:34.68 he is one strong athlete and ran a good 13:22.9 for 2.5 at last year's Manhattan College Invitational at the Mecca, Van Cortlandt Park. The 5,000 at ESG was won by Tom Ruebens of Wilson (S6) out in the Buffalo area. His 15:45.47 was just enough to hold off Andy Clyne (Washingtonville S9) 15:46.19. The 1,500 at ESG was by all accounts a strange race to watch with multiply surges and a very modest pace with Aaron Foote of Niagara-Wheatfield (S6) winning in 4:09.20 over Erik Van Ingen 4:09. from Marathon (S4). In the 3,000 steeplechase the STEEPLE PEOPLE put on a nice show led by the outstanding frosh Joe Whelan out of Section 6's Hamburg High who won in 9:54.92.

INSTALLMENT #3 - Next edition we'll look at: Queensbury, Niskayuna and Shaker as well a few more teams and individuals.

Edit: Anyone that would like to add a comment or observation for print please email Mr. Cuffe at TJCUFFE@aol.com – be sure to put NYS XC in the subject line.