xc09wasarenpre

Defending champion Schuylerville looks to be a big favorite in taking another Wasaren title with Tamarac taking second. Schuylerville has three runners in front of every other team's first runner (except Greenwich, which doesn't have a complete team) which make them very tough to beat, even if another team can break up the top three. Tamarac has a solid top two, plus a number three runners that's not too far behind and puts their top three in front of Stillwater's number one. Stillwater should be in a tight battle with Granville for third. It will depend mostly on Granville's numbers. Hoosic Valley only have tow runners returning and Greenwich only has one runner at the moment.

Schuylerville returns their top four runners from last year and also have runners coming up from a modified team that took the top four places at the league championships last year which makes them a huge favorite to repeat as league champions. The Black Horses are led by state qualifier, senior Sean Kelleher, who was under 17 minutes last year at Saratoga. Following him will be senior D.J. Reilly and sophomore Tucker Hampson. Bother runners were in the the low 17 minute range and look to dip under 17 this season. Sophomore Kristopher Peiper will be their fourth runner and was in the mid 18's last year but had very good track season last year so we should see some improvement. Fifth runner should be junior Brett Patterson who was in the mid 19's last year. It's at the fifth position where Schuylerville would like to see some improvement. Senior Esa Jessop could step in there and also freshman Matt Watson who won the league modified championship last year. If they can get the fifth runner in the mid 18's then they could be a solid challenge for the Class C title too.

Tamarac comes in as a solid second. They do lose, Aaron Estabrooks, their top runner from last year and their fourth runner from last year when he decided not to come out this season but return a solid top two with senior Andy Gilchrist and sophomore Paul Cox. Both runners were in the low 18's last year at Saratoga and look to have a much improved season. Senior Andy Bryce is their number three and is about 30 seconds back from the top two. If he can close that gap a little it will make their top three much stronger. Fourth and fifth is where things get a little murky. Senior Bryce Talbot is their number four and was just over 20 minutes last year and sophomore Rob Gilcrhrist is their number five. He was in the low 21 minute range last year and that needs to improve if the team wants to move up, especially at sectionals. Sophomore Chris Tarricone is new to the team this year and if he can break into the top five it will be a big plus for the Bengals.

Stillwater lost their top runner last year to graduation but return the rest of their top five. Unfortunately all of their returning runners were over 20 minutes last season and need to improve their times if they want to move up. The Warriors are led by junior Joe Kranick and seniors Austin Dudla and Paul Matula as their top three. All three were in the low to mid 20 minute range and look to drop well into the 19 minute range. Senior Keith Collins is their fourth and was just under 22 minutes which sophomore Nick Zigich should be their fifth and was in the low 22's last year. Stillwater has a lot of room for improvement and they have good numbers. This team is only in their second year of existence so they are starting off well and are moving in the right direction. The only thing that worries me is that five out of their top seven this year are seniors so they will need to get some new blood in to keep the program going in the right direction.

Granville only had three runners last year but all of them return. I'm told that they have barely enough at the moment to field a full team so we'll see if that hold on though the season. Junior Dyllan Durham is a good start for the team as he ran in the low 18's last year, then there's a big fall of to the next two retuning runners and sophomore Taylor Davidson was just under 20 minutes and junior Jon Dieckert was in the mid 23's. How the team will do will depend on their new runners and how everyone improves from last year. They could have a good chance again Stillwater for third but that's probably as far as they can go in the league.

Hoosic Valley had exactly five runners last year but three of them graduated, including their top two runners. Junior Kieffer Zarenski was just under 22 last year and sophomore Lucas Sesito was in the low 23's so they'll have to start rebuilding.

Greenwich only has one runner but what a runner he is. Sophomore Austin Lane is the defending league champion and three time state qualifier. Last year he was still recovering from a severe concussion and probably didn't have the season he wanted but this year he's healthy and has been running well over the summer. If everything comes together he should be among the favorites for the Class D state title.

	Team Predictions	W-L	Top Individuals (in alphabetical order)
1	Schuylerville	5-0	Paul Cox	Tamarac
2	Tamarac	4-1	Dyllan Durham	Granville
3	Stillwater	3-2	Andy Gilchrist	Tamarac
3	Granville	2-3	Tucker Hampson	Schuylerville
4	Hoosic Valley	0-5	Sean Kelleher	Schuylerville
4	Greenwich	0-5	Austin Lane	Greenwich
			Kristopher Pieper	Schuylerville
			D.J. Reilly	Schuylerville

Projected Varsity: Sean Kelleher-Sr., D.J. Reilly-Sr., Tucker Hampson-So., Kristopher Pieper-So., Brett Patterson-Jr., Esa Jessop-Jr., Matt Watson-Fr.

Projected Varsity: Andy Gilchrist-Sr., Paul Cox-So., Andy Bryce-Sr., Brady Talbot-Sr., Rob Gilchrist-So., Chris Tarricone-So., Vinny Esposito-So.

Greenwich looks to be the big favorite to take the Wasaren title once again. The three-time state champions only lose one runner from their top seven from last year and are also bolstered by new runners coming up from modified. Schuylerville is a solid second this year as they only lose their number two runner from last year and bring in two very good runners from track. Hoosic Valley loses two very good runners but still have enough to hold on to third. Stillwater loses only one of their top six and may challenge Hoosic Valley for third. Tamarac, Emma Willard, and Granville look to be incomplete early on and hope to pick up some runners soon.

Greenwich has won three straight state titles and are a big favorite to take their fourth title this year. This, of course, make them the odds on favorite to take the Wasaren league title once again. The Witches only lost Britney Henderson from last year's team and returns everyone else. Senior Roxanne Henningson was the state runner up last year and looks to be the early favorite for this year since last year's champ, Amanda Moreland, has transferred to Honeoye Falls-Lima. Junior Cady Kuzmich was just under 18 minutes last year and was 8th in the state last year. Senior Brittney Lane was in the mid 18's last year and junior Betsy Edinger and sophomore Madeline Montague were both in the low 19's. Also helping the team should be 8th graders Sarah Lapham and Ginny Edinger who both come from after a strong modified season.

Schuylerville takes a hit with the graduation of state qualifier Rachel Wysocki but just might wind up with an even stronger team this season. Junior Samantha Watson leads this team. She was just over 18 minutes last year and the the returning section 2 Class C champion and also place 4th at the state meet last year. Their two and three runners should be freshman Justin Kozubal and sophomore Joradan Welch. Both are new to cross country but had very good track seasons last year with Kozubal running a 2:21 800m and a 5:50 1600m. If both can adjust well to the longer distance then the Black Horses could have a nasty top three. Juniors Sarah Reape and Jill Reilly complete the top five. Both were in the mid 21's last year. Improvement from these position could be big for Schuylerville. If they can get in the mid to low 20's then they could pose a serious challenge for the Section 2 Class C title.

Hoosic Valley took a big hit with state qualifier Emma D'Ambro and long time varsity runner Molly Stevens both graduating but should return enough to hang on for third. Sophomore Maggie Sanderson and seniors Kirstie Matheson and Hannah Nescich are all around the high 21's and are a good top three but there is a dropoff after that as senior Emily Paulsen was in the high 23's last year and Carlee Yavanksi was in the mid 24's. Improvements from all positions can bring the Indians and much better spot in sectionals, but they're probably stuck in 3rd for the league.

Stillwater lost their number four runner from sectionals last year but return everyone else. Senior Megan McKeever is a solid number one runner as she was in the mid 20's last year and is a good start for the team. Junior Samantha Griffiths is their number two runner and was in the mid 22's last year. Sophomore Katrina Teal was in the low 23's last year and looks for improvements. Fourth and fifth are the big concerns for the Warriors. Junior Alexandra Farmer was in the mid 25's last year and senior Sasha Petta was over 28 minutes so they will need some big improvements or some new blood to help the team out. Like I said with the boys, this team is only in their second year so they are on the right path for building up their program.

Tamarac had six runners last year but graduated three and as of right no do not have a complete team but Coach Parsons is working hard on trying to fill them up. Sophomore Emily Johnson, junior Ashley Sweet, and senior Chelsea Weber were all over 25 minutes last year. Johnson is looking stronger but they will need some big improvements.

Emma Willard graduated three of the five runners last year. I left them incomplete but they always seem to have enough girls for a complete team every year. The two runners returning, juniors Catherine Costly and Sophia West were in the high 20's to mid 21 minute range so they are a good start for the team.

Granville only had three runners so far this season. Sophomore Alicia Clark was in the low 21's last year and should have an improved season.

	Team Predictions	W-L	Top Individuals (in alphabetical order)
1	Greenwich	6-0	Alicia Clark	Granville
2	Schuylerville	5-1	Betsy Edinger	Greenwich
3	Hoosic Valley	4-2	Roxanne Henningson	Greenwich
4	Stillwater	3-3	Justine Kozubal	Schuylerville
5	Granville	0-6	Cady Kuzmich	Greenwich
6	Tamarac	0-6	Brittney Lane	Greenwich
6	Emma Willard	0-6	Madeline Montegue	Greenwich
			Megan McKeever	Stillwater
			Samantha Watson	Schuylerville

Projected Varsity: Bekah Cramer-Sr., Jolene Walcott-Jr., Kayla Martel-Sr., Emily Sjoman-Jr., Heidi Melendy-Jr.

Projected Varsity: Roxanne Henningson-Sr., Cady Kuzmich-Jr., Brittany Lane-Sr., Betsy Eddinger-Jr., Madeline Montegue-So., Candance Haskell-Fr., Sarah Lapham-8th, Ginny Edinger-8th, Rachel Cerrone-Sr.

Projected Varsity: Maggie Sanderson-So., Hannah Nesich-Sr., Kristie Matheson-Sr., Emily Paulsen-Sr., Carlee Yavaviski-So., Monica McNiece-So.

Projected Varsity: Samantha Watson-Jr., Justine Kozubal-Fr., Jordan Welch-So., Sarah Reape-Jr., Jill Reilly-Jr., Mary Mckenzie Zebrowski-So., Kiera Kenyon-Jr.

Projected Varsity: Megan McKeever-Sr., Samantha Griffiths-Jr., Katrina Teal-So., Alexandria Farmer-Jr., Sasha Petta-Sr.,