Combined Energy
Athletes Team Up In Splendiferous Tri-Valley Relays; New Paltz Boys and Rondout Valley Girls Are Tops; Tri-Valley Girls 2nd Overall And Tops In Small Division; Ellenville 2nd In Boys And Tops In Small Schools; T-V Boys 3rd Overall, 2nd In Small Schools Array; Spackenkill’s Sahsche Allen And New Paltz’s Alfredo Mazzucca Outstanding Track Athletes; Ellenville’s Jeff Nuñez And New Paltz’s Cora Butler Outstanding Field Athletes
Boys Team standings and key: 1. New Paltz (NP) 180 points; 2. Ellenville 157.3; 3.Tri-Valley (TV) 143; 4. Rondout Valley (RV) 124.3; 5. Liberty (Lib) 84.5; 6.Saugerties 76; 7. Sullivan West 66.5; 8 John A. Coleman Catholic (JAC) 61.33; 9. Spackenkill 53; 10. Eldred (Eld) 49; 11 Millbrook 17; 12. Chapel Field 11
Girls Team standings and key: 1. Rondout Valley (RV) 197.5 points; 2. Tri-Valley (TV) 174; 3. New Paltz (NP) 124.5; 4. Ellenville and Liberty 90; 6. Saugerties 77; 7. Spackenkill 69; 8. Sullivan West 54; 9. Eldred 44; 10. Chapel Field 35; 11. Coleman Catholic 24; 12. Millbrook 7.
By RICHARD A. ROSS
Photos at www.sportsinsights.smugmug.com
Scenes from the Tri-Valley relays (clockwise) T-V's Autumn Bender wins the 2000 steeplechase, Spackenkill's Sahsche Allen wins the 100. She was the Outstanding track athlete of the meet. Eldred's Hunter Proscia captures the 2000 steeplechase. T-V's Jimmy Bernstein is second in the 1600. SW's John Masten shows great form in the 1200 shuttle hurdle relay as does T-V's Ali Reynolds. New Paltz's Alfredo Mazzucca was the outstanding track athlete at the meet. Here he is en route to winning the 1600. Sullivan West's Amanda Rosenberger wins this semifinal 100 heat. She finished third overall. Sullivan West's Corrine Van Wagner soaks up the water in the 2000 steeplechase. She finished 5th. Eldred's Christine Donnelly took 2nd in the 1500. Liberty's Andy Hazelnis completes the anchor leg of Liberty's winning varsity 400 relay. Lara Jane Heslop does the same for the Lady Indians' victorious team. Tri-Valley's Raphael Ramirez does his part to capture the hammer throw relay. Brendan Tierney added his throw after taking the SAT's. Eldred's Craig Burns wins the 100. Sullivan West's Matt Cardona combined with Mitch Paciga to win the high jump relay. Tri-Valley's Katlynn Greffrath leaps over the hurdles as she completes one third of the winning 1200 hurdle relay for the Lady Bears. T-V's Sabrena Smith carries the baton in the winning 3200 relay. .
GRAHAMSVILLE, NY—Given the wisdom of the old adage that two heads are better than one, imagine how much more viable are three or four, especially when they’re attached to strong young bodies in pursuit of a combined victory in any given event in track and field.
That is the modus operandi of the annual Tri-Valley relays, a departure from the normal track meet proceedings wherein the only combined events are the 400, 800,1600 and 3200 relays. In this relay meet, the individual events on the docket were the 100, the girls 1500 and boys 1600 and the 2000 steeplechase. Every other event was scored by combining the times, heights or distances of a team’s participants.
Needless to say every athlete strives for his or her best individual performance and indeed the day would evince numerous personal best marks. But even with such landmarks posted, teams could lose an event if one of the other participants failed to muster a sufficient time, distance or height. Track meets are always a blend of individual efforts that combine for team standing, but in meets such as this, the combined effort is even more consequential.
As it was two weeks prior for the Tri-Valley Invitational, the weather was magnificent, perhaps in deference to Coaches Joe and Missy Iatauro who will retire after next season and who have witnessed more than a few maelstroms and frigid outings on the days on which landmark meets have been staged over more than three decades.
For the purpose of this meet, schools were divided by T-V Coach Joe Iatauro into Division I and II though those classifications have little to do with the state size categories. For this meet Division I was comprised of New Paltz, Rondout Valley, Saugerties and Spackenkill. Division II participants included Chapel Field, John A. Coleman Catholic, Eldred, Ellenville, Liberty, Sullivan West and Tri-Valley. Invitees Livingston Manor/Roscoe and Clarkstown South were not present. Events were scored through the eighth place finishers.
Continuing their spring barnstorm of success, Tri-Valley’s boys and girls teams excelled with the girls taking second place overall and first among the small schools on hand. This followed team victories at the Tri-Valley Invitational wherein the Lady Bears not only won out over Division II schools (by state size standard) but also held sway over every one of the other 26 schools competing. They followed that up a week later with a team win at the Monticello Games.
In the Tri-Valley Relays The Lady Bears were gold medalists in the following:
F/S Sprint Medley Relay 4:36.7; 6400 relay 24:34.6 (Brooke Gillette, Olivia Rehm, Danielle Graham and Sabrena Smith); F/S Discus relay 162-3; hammer relay 237-8 Dominque Darby and Heidi Furman; varsity shot put relay 68-5 ½ Darby and Mareena DiMilia; 2000 steeplechase 7:58.9 Autumn Bender; 300 shuttle hurdles 51.8 DiMilia, Vicky Tingley and Ali Reynolds; distance medley relay 14:14.6 Bender, Alex Brooks, Sabrena Smith and Rehm; javelin relay 185-9 and the 1200 intermediate hurdle relay 3:42.5 behind the combined effort of Katlynn Greffath, Sabrina Smith and Ali Reynolds.
As for the boys squad, a third place finish overall and second among small schools marked yet another stellar outing. The boys finished first among Division II schools at the Tri-Valley Invitational and fourth overall at the Monticello Games.
The Bears were gold medalists in the following:
F/S sprint medley relay 3:54.4 Aidan Woolsey, Tyler Greffrath, Josh Winters and Justin Weintraub; and the hammer relay 269.4 Brendan Tierney and Raphael Ramirez.
Jimmy Bernstein took 2nd in the 1600 (4:32). This was Bernstein’s last competition on the Tri-Valley track completing a storied home career.
But Tri-Valley was far from alone among Sullivan County schools in capturing its moments of glory on the day. Eldred’s Hunter Proscia won the 2000 steeplechase in 6:25.3, just three second shy of the mark he had posted to win the event at the Tri-Valley Invitational. Craig Burns won the 100 in 11.3.
Christine Donnelly took 2nd in the 1500 (5l08.3).
Sullivan West took gold in the high jump relay as Mitch Paciga and Matt Cardona combined for a height of 11-6. Amanda Rosenberger recorded a blistering 12.6 in the 100 and 27.1 in her legs of the 400 and 800 relays for personal best times. She took 3rd in the 100. The 1500 racewalk (non-scoring) was easily won by Rachel Deppa (8:09.4).
Liberty claimed the gold medal in the 1200 intermediate hurdle relay 3:00.5 as Erick Cuellar, Andy Hazelnis and Kane Sauchuk combined for the speedy win. The Indians also garnered gold in the varsity 400 relay (46.) as Cuellar, Nick Campos, Kenny Jaycox and Hazelnis marshaled the victory. Liberty’s girls varsity 400 relay (52.7) was also victorious as Amanda Bertholf, Nikole Snyder, Rebeccah Harman and Lara Jane Heslop took turns speeding forward with the baton.
Staged on the day when SAT’s and ACT’s were being given, the meet always has a 12:00pm start. As those students who were undergoing the rigors of the long tests arrive, they find their way to the events they are slated for and compete, usually after the other members of their teams have finished at that particular venue.
For this photographer the prime agenda was two-fold: First and foremost was to amass a collection of hundreds of stunning photos of athletes at their craft, with a particular concentration on the Sullivan County schools. Second and nearly as important was to stay abreast of milestones both on an individual and team basis.
Track is a complex matter, not for the feint of heart of the occasional unfamiliar correspondent for whom the entire mélange of events taking place all around is undoubtedly confusing and impossible to fathom.
As for me, being a ten-year veteran of these multi-ring circuses, it all makes perfect sense.
During the course of a track meet I always find time to schmooze with many of the kids I have come to know so well and to encourage them to press on with the tasks at hand. Invariably they seem to appreciate the attention both in words and in the photos that pour onto the www.sportsinsights.smugmug.com.
So too do the parents who are grateful for the up close, professional photographs that will grace their albums and walls as mementos of these halcyon days of their children’s youthful ardor.
Medals were awarded to first, second and third place finishers. Team trophies were awarded as well.
First through third place finishers are listed below but for more edification I have provided the score sheets that show all eight place finishers courtesy of T-V scorekeeper Kevin Giroux.
Boys Team standings and key: 1. New Paltz (NP) 180 points; 2. Ellenville 157.3; 3.Tri-Valley (TV) 143; 4. Rondout Valley (RV) 124.3; 5. Liberty (Lib) 84.5; 6.Saugerties 76; 7. Sullivan West 66.5; 8 John A. Coleman Catholic (JAC) 61.33; 9. Spackenkill 53; 10. Eldred (Eld) 49; 11 Millbrook 17; 12. Chapel Field 11
100 meters: 1. Craig Burns (Eld) 11.3; 2. Kenny Jaycox (Lib) 11.6; 3. Charlton Tsai (NP) 11.7; 1,600: 1. Al Mazzucca (NP) 4:27.2; 2. James Bernstein (TV) 4:32.0; 3. Marco DiBella (JAC) 4:37.6; 330 shuttle hurdles relay: 1. Ellenville (Bruce, Echols, Groat) 51.3; 2. Tri-Valley 53.1; 3. Sullivan West 54.7; 2,000 steeplechase: 1. Hunter Proscia (Eld) 6:25.3; 2. J. Grout (Ell) 7:11.5; 3. Eric Dunham (Sau) 7:21; 400 relay: 1. Liberty (Cuellar, Campos, Jaycox, Hazelnis) 46.0; 2. Rondout Valley 46.4; 3. Ellenville 46.5; 800 relay: 1. Spackenkill (Wilson, Mastmann, Bonden, Clear) 1:35.3; 2. Rondout Valley 1:35.7; 3. Coleman 1:37.4; 1,200 intermediate hurdles relay: 1. Liberty (Eric Cuellar, Andy Hazelnis, Kane Sauchuk) 3:00.5; 2. Tri-Valley 3:02.2; 3. New Paltz 3:04.6; 1,600 relay: 1. New Paltz (Stewart, Hasbrouck, Lamarche, Climer) 3:29; 2. Spackenkill 3:35; 3. Tri-Valley 3:35.8; 3,200 relay: 1. New Paltz (Busby, Hasbrouck, Mazzucca, Mazzucca) 8:30.7; 2. Tri-Valley 8:36.2; 3. Spackenkill 9:47.5; 6,400 relay: 1. New Paltz (Rizza, Torquato, Mazzucca, Busby) 20:32.9; 2. Tri-Valley 21:31.8; 3. Liberty 23:20.8; distance medley relay: 1. New Paltz (Mazzucca, Climer, Mazzucca, Busby) 11:11; 2. Tri-Valley 11:44.5; 3. Sullivan West 12:34.6; sprint medley relay: 1. Coleman (Vansteenburg, Catalano, Discovo, DiBella) 3:46.3; 2. Rondout Valley 3:48.8; 3. Libery 3:53.4; high jump relay: 1. Sullivan West (Mitch Paciga,Matt Cardona) 11-6; 2. (tie) Coleman and Ellenville 11-4; long jump relay: 1. Ellenville (Quicero, Echols) 39-2; 2. New Paltz 37-1; 3. Rondout Valley 35-7; triple jump relay: 1. Ellenville (Echols, Quiceno) 79-9; 2. Coleman 77-1.5; 3. Rondout Valley 76-3; shot put relay: 1.Tri-Valley (Brendan Tierney, Raphael Ramirez) 82-3; 2. Ellenville 78-2.5; 3. Saugerties 74-3; discus relay: 1. Ellenville (Jeff Nunez, Preston Bazemore) 261-4; 2. Coleman 234-3; 3. Liberty 233-2; javelin relay: 1. Ellenville (Gaetta, Boriello) 245-2; 2. Liberty 244-10; 3. Tri-Valley 226-4; hammer relay: 1. Tri-Valley (Ramirez, Tierney) 269-4.5; 2. Ellenville 269-3; 3. Liberty 181-7; pole vault relay: 1. Ellenville (Kasloski, Farrenkopf) 23-0; 2. (tie) Eldred and New Paltz 21-0; Pentathlon: 1. Shamar Corum (NP) 2,571 points; 2. J.P. Heylde Ortiz (NP) 2,127; 3. Mateo Julia-Wise (NP) 1,864.
Outstanding field athlete: Jeff Nunez (Ellenville).
Outstanding track athlete: Alfredo Mazzucca (New Paltz).
Girls Team standings and key: 1. Rondout Valley (RV) 197.5 points; 2. Tri-Valley (TV) 174; 3. New Paltz (NP) 124.5; 4. Ellenville and Liberty 90; 6. Saugerties 77; 7. Spackenkill 69; 8. Sullivan West 54; 9. Eldred 44; 10. Chapel Field 35; 11. Coleman Catholic 24; 12. Millbrook 7.
100 meters: 1. Sasche Allen (Spac) 12.8; 2. Christine Kelly (RV) 12.9; 3. Amanda Rosenberger (SW) 13.1; 1,500 race walk (non-scoring): 1. Rachel Deppa (SW) 8:09.4; 2. Mary Alongi (TV) 9:54.5; 3. Lindsay Green (E)) 11:11.1; 1,500: 1. Shannon Averill (Saug) 4:55.7; 2. Christine Donnelly (Eld) 5:08.3; 3. Cami Ferguson (NP) 5:11.2; 300 shuttle hurdles relay: 1. Tri-Valley (Mareena DiMilia, Vicky Tingley, Ali Reynolds) 51.8; 2. Liberty 54.5; 3. Rondout Valley and New Paltz 57.7; 2,000 steeplechase: 1. Autumn Bender (TV) 7:58.9; 2. Megan McGowan (CF) 8:02.0; 3. Olivia Rehm (TV) 8:31.6; 400 relay: 1. Liberty (Amanda Bertholf, Snyder, Rebeccah Harman, Lara Jane Heslop) 52.7; 2. Rondout Valley 53.0; 3. Chapel Field 54.1; 800 relay: 1. Rondout Valley (Mondini, Ospina, Winnie, Kelly) 1:51.9; 2. Liberty 1:51.5; 3. Ellenville 1:57.6; 1,200 intermediate hurdles relay: 1. Tri-Valley (Katlynn Greffrath, Sabrena Smith, Ali Reynolds) 3:42.5; 2. New Paltz 3:46.1; 3. Rondout Valley 3:49.8; 1,600 relay: 1. Saugerties (Averill, Kilmer, Averill, Averill) 4:19.5; 2. Rondout Valley 4:23.3; 3. Chapel Field 4:25.6; 3,200 relay: 1. Saugerties (Averill, Doyle, Averill, Averill) 10:29.3; 2. Tri-Valley 10:35.7; 3. Rondout Valley 11:09.8; 6,400 relay: 1. Tri-Valley (Brooke Gillette, Olivia Rehm, Danielle Graham, Sabrena Smith) 24:34.6; 2. Rondout Valley 30:24.9; 3. Ellenville 31:47.7; distance medley relay: 1. Tri-Valley ( Autumn Bender, Alex Brooks, Sabrena Smith, Olivia Rehm) 14:14.6; 2. Sullivan West 14:52.4; 3. Rondout Valley 14:53.9; sprint medley relay: 1. Chapel Field (St. Germain, Vellenga, McDermott, McGowan) 4:36.8; 2. Eldred 4:42.5; 3. New Paltz 4:47.1; high jump relay: 1. Rondout Valley (Strang, Mathedy) 9-4; 2. (tie) Tri-Valley and Rondout Valley 9-0; long jump relay: 1. New Paltz (Butler, Bouchard) 32-0; 2. Tri-Valley 29-9.5; 3. Rondout Valley 28-6.25; triple jump relay: 1. New Paltz (Butler, Butler) 68-1; 2. Rondout Valley 64-7.75; 3. Liberty 60-0.5; shot put relay: 1. Tri-Valley ( Dominique Darby, Mareena DiMilia) 68-5.5; 2. Tri-Valley 56-9.5; 3. Rondout Valley 55-9; discus relay: 1. New Paltz (Takacs, Carroll) 177-5; 2. Rondout Valley 170-3; 3. Saugerties 139-2; javelin relay: 1. Tri-Valley (Mareena DiMilia, Heidi Furman) 185-9; 2. Tri-Valley 135-9; 3. Ellenville 131-7; hammer relay: 1. Tri-Valley (Dominque Darby,Heidi Furman) 237-8; 2. Ellenville 196-9; 3. Tri-Valley 155-2; pole vault relay: 1. Rondout Valley (Gribbon, Agustaro) 16-0; 2. Eldred 10-6; 3. Liberty 8-6; Pentathlon: 1. Grassi (RV) 1,576 points; 2. Hart (NP) 1,370; 3. Bader (RV) 1,059.
Outstanding field athlete: Cora Butler (New Paltz).
Outstanding track athlete: Sasche Allen (Spackenkill).
Results of the Tri-Valley Relays showing places from 1st through 8th. Scoresheets compiled and generously contributed by Kevin Giroux.
Once again, photos are located at www.sportsinsights.smugmug.com
More Red Than Black
Tri-Valley’s Depth Leads To Convincing Boys And Girls Division IV Track Wins Over Rival Sullivan West As Several Individuals From Both Schools Evince Impressive Personal Bests
Boys: Tri-Valley 100.5, Sullivan West 40.5
Girls Tri-Valley 104, Sullivan West 46
By RICHARD A. ROSS
Photos at www.sportsinsights.smugmug.com
Scenes from the Tri-Valley vs. Sullivan West Division IV track meet (clockwise): Sullivan West's Rosa Martinez prevails in the 400. Sullivan West's Amanda Rosenberger evinces a personal best to beat T-V's Katlynn Greffrath's personal best in the 100. Rosenberger came back and clipped Greffrath in the 200 as well. Sullivan West's Hannah Feinman goes skyward to win the triple jump. Katlynn Greffrath won the high jump with a mark of 5-0. T-V's Brendan Tierney wins the 100. He also captured the discus and the shot put. Tri-Valley's Autumn Bender takes the baton from Sabrena Smith in the 1600 relay. Bender won the 1500 and the 800 and ran a leg in the winning 3200 relay as part of her busy day. T-V's Omar Lopez runs the anchor leg in the winning 3200 relay. He also won the 800. T-V's Andrew Malone outpaces SW's Mitch Paciga in the 110 high hurdles. Malone also won the 200. Sullivan West's Kristina Sumfleth sails over the 400 intermediate hurdles en route to a win in the event.
GRAHAMSVILLE, NY—By dint of sheer numbers, Tri-Valley currently dwarfs its once most contentious rival Sullivan West on both the boys and girls side of the ledger. Consider this: Tri-Valley boys outnumber Sullivan West 48-23, while the Lady Bears have 35 to SW’s 23. This disparity was not always the case.
Tri-Valley’s burgeoning numbers have served them well in track meets where points pour in from first, second and third place finishes in dual meets like the one hosted by the Bears against the Bulldogs, six places like in the recent Tri-Valley Invitational won overall by the Lady Bears as they bested the other 26 schools large and small, and eight places in Sectionals which they have won for the past five years in a row.
In short, having competent contenders across the board like Tri-Valley does leads to big wins against schools which lack sufficient depth. Unfortunately for proud Sullivan West, thin ranks are part of the new world order. That said, what they lack in numbers they make up for in heart and grit.
But when it comes to the war between the red and the black, the legion of Tri-Valley red shirts born of a program that has continued its meteoric rise the past few years, Sullivan West finds itself no longer able to keep up with the school it last bested in a Division –clinching clash back in the spring of 2008.
That history-making win, which shattered Tri-Valley’s 23-year streak of 129 straight dual meet wins, set the stage for Sullivan West’s girls to do what they had done in the prior winter; namely to beat the Lady Bears for the division title. The winter of 2007-08 brought Sullivan West its first-ever girls indoor Section Nine Championship as well.
That historic April 16, 2008 afternoon in Grahamsville when diminutive Rianne Erlwein came from behind to edge Caroline Bertholf in the anchor leg of the meet’s final event, the 1600 relay, that passage led to the one-point victory and the story in The River Reporter entitled, “Won By One.”
For Westie veterans Dani Myers, Rachel Deppa, Kristina Sumfleth who were part of that victory which was soon supplanted by Tri-Valley’s subsequent Section Nine title win which in turn, preceded wins in all three running seasons ever since over Sullivan West, it now comes down to trying to marshal great individual efforts given the current imbalance of the teams overall.
For Sullivan West senior sprinter Amanda Rosenberger who was part of that 2008 Section Nine indoor title win, opting to run track this spring in lieu of playing softball represented a major sea change. It wasn’t an easy decision to forego her spring life on the ball diamond in favor of the track, but Rosenberger was committed to giving it her all in her final sports season.
Needless to say, she was all smiles by this day’s end having turned in personal best times to edge out Tri-Valley’s speedy Katlynn Greffrath in both the 100 and the 200. Greffrath also clocked her fastest times in the events to date.
Both races were incredibly close and clearly highlight moments on the track during the bright, sunny afternoon. Rosenberger got a great start in the 100 and turned in a blistering 12.8 to Greffrath’s 13.2. But as close as the 100 was, the 200 was even dicier.
Greffrath had the lead coming out of the turn heading into the home stretch but Rosenberger edged by her in 27.5 beating the athletic sophomore by a mere tenth of a second. Greffrath cleared 5-0 to capture the high jump and assailed the bar at 5-2 but failed to clear the state standard mark in he three attempts. She also took second in the long jump (14-10 ½) finishing behind her basketball cohort Mareena DiMilia (15-5).
DiMilia who earned a share of the Tri-Valley Invitational’s Outstanding Field Athlete honors, won the 100 high hurdles in 16.4. She was second in the shot put (33-7 ½) behind Dominique Darby (33-8 ¼), who also was an Outstanding Field Athlete at the T-V Invitational.
Sullivan West’s Hannah Feinman won the triple jump (32-2) and took third in the 100 hurdles (17.8).
In more girls action T-V’s Autumn Bender ran a winning leg in the 3200 relay with Alex Brooks, Sabrena Smith, Brooke Gillette and Danielle Graham (11:19.5). Bender came back to win the 1500 (5:24) and the 800 (2:41.1). Olivia Rehm (12:13.8) helped to advance the T-V sweep of the long distance runs with a win in the 3000. The Lady Bears won the 1600 relay (4:39.1) as Smith, Bender, Brooks and Gillette combined their speedy efforts.
Sullivan West got wins from Rosa Martinez (69.4) in the 400 and from Sumfleth (74.4) in the 400 intermediate hurdles as well as in the pole vault (7-0).
In the boys meet, Sullivan West had to forego the normally stalwart efforts of distance maven Reed Scott who was nursing a sore hamstring and opted to eschew the meet rather than aggravate the injury.
Tri-Valley swept the distance events beginning with the 3200 relay as Brandon Bobic, Justin Weintraub, Hauk Boyes and Omar Lopez turned in a winning time of 9:18.2. Lopez won the 800 (2:18.8), while Boyes claimed the 3200 (10:56.4). Weintraub captured the 1600 (5:02.1). Lopez, Andrew Malone, Zach Nilsen and Weintraub combined for the 3:54 win in the 1600 relay.
Andrew Malone was victorious in the 110 high hurdles (16.2) as he edged out Sullivan West’s Mitch Paciga by .3 of a second. Malone won the 200 in 24.7. Brendan Tierney was victorious in the 100 (12.2), the shot put (42-1/2) and the discus (119-5). Eugene Morton won the triple jump (36-10), while Aidan Woolsey won the 400 (55.9) and the pole vault (9-6).
Sullivan West got victories from Matt Cardona in the long jump (17-2) and from John Masten in the 400 intermediate hurdles (62.5).
Complete results are shown below on the score sheets courtesy of scorekeeper Kevin Giroux.
Meet results courtesy of Kevin Giroux, Tri-Valley scorekeeper
Tri-Valley will send a contingent of its best to the Penn Relays as the girls participate on April 26 and the boys do their part on April 27. Both schools will vie at the Monticello Games on April 28.
For an album of photos from the meet, visit www.sportsinsights.smugmug.com
Grandeur and Grace
Magnificent Tri-Valley Invitational Offers A Panoramic Tableau Of Outstanding Track and Field Athletes From 27 Schools Including Some Of Section One’s Best; Arlington Boys and Girls Are Tops In Division I, While Host Tri-Valley Boys and Girls Capture Division II; Middletown’s Goodspeed Is Outstanding Track Athlete; T-V’s DiMilia and Darby and O’Neill’s Carpenter Are Outstanding Field Athletes
Boys results:Division I team scores and key: 1. Arlington (A) 219.5 points; 2. Somers (Som) 96; 3. Middletown (Mid) 95.5; 4. Monticello (Mon) 83; 5. Port Jervis (PJ) 51; 6. Our Lady of Lourdes (OLL) 38; 7. Byram Hills (BH) 37; 8. Hendrick Hudson 22; 9. Goshen (G) 21; 10. Red Hook 6; 11. Peekskill 2.
Boys Division II team scores and key: 1. Tri-Valley (TV) 90.5 points; 2. Rhinebeck (Rhb) 61; 3. Bronxville (Bx) 44; 4. James I. O’Neill (JIO) 43; 5. Pine Plains 40; 6. Pawling (Paw) 35.5; 7. Ellenville (Ell) 29; 8. Dover 28; 9. John A. Coleman Catholic (JAC) 27; 10. Liberty (Lib) 19.5; 11. Eldred (Eld) 18; 12. Sullivan West 15; 13. Spackenkill 10; 14. Chapel Field 5; 15. Livingston Manor 1.5.
Girls Results:Division I team scores and key: 1. Arlington (A) 137 points; 2. Middletown (Mid) 61; 3. Hendrick Hudson 54.5; 4. Somers (Som) 45; 5. Red Hook (RH) 43.5; 6. Monticello (Mont) 41; 7. Byram Hills 39; 8. Port Jervis (PJ) 26; 9. Goshen (G) 23; 10. Our Lady of Lourdes 20; 11. Peekskill 19; 12. Albertus Magnus 5.
Girls Division II team scores and key: 1. Tri-Valley (TV) 169 points; 2. Bronxville (Bx) 152; 3. Eldred (Eld) 60.5; 4. (tie) Spackenkill (Spac) and Liberty (Lib) 41; 6. Dover (Dov) 36; 7. Ellenville (Ell) 24; 8. Pine Plains 21; 9. Rhinebeck 19; 10. Sullivan West (SW) 17.5; 11. (tie) Livingston Manor and Pawling (Paw) 17; 13. James I. O’Neill (JIO) 12; 14. Chapel Field 9; 15. John A. Coleman Catholic 1.
By RICHARD A. ROSS
Photos at www.sportsinsights.smugmug.com
Scenes from the 2012 Tri-Valley Invitational (clockwise): Tri-Valley's Mareena DiMilia runs in the Lady Bears' winning 300 shuttle hurdle relay. DiMilia was selected as one of the meet's three Outstanding Field Athletes along with teammate Dominque Darby and O'Neill's John Carpenter.T-V's Raphael Ramirez sends up a mighty heave to win the hammer throw. Monticello twins Sydney. left and Camryn Johnson run in the 3000. Camryn was third and Sydney was fifth. Middletown coach Eric Hipsman bathes in the glory of winning the coaches/alumni 400 relay with his enthusiastic team. Ellenville's Justin Farrenkopf goes skyward to win the pole vault. O"Neill's John Carpenter wins the 100. He came back to win the 200 and won the high jump with a leap of 6-8 as well. He earned the honor of being named one of the meet's Outstanding Field Athletes. Tri-Valley's Autumn Bender wasn't planning on swimming but a miscue in the steeplechase caused her submersion. She still managed to finish fifth. Liberty's Rebeccah Harman shows her prowess in the 300 shuttle hurdle relay. Monticello speedster Tino Taylor was second in the 400. Eldred senior Chirstine Donnelly proves she can run with the best as she took fourth in the 3000 running against elite distance mavens from Somers and Middletown. Liberty's Amanda Bertholf races to a third place finish in the 400. Tri-Valley's Katlynn Greffrath wins the F/S high jump. Eldred's Hunter Proscia wins the 2000 steeplechase. Middletown's Amber Goodspeed wins the 2000 steeplechase. She was the meet's Outstanding Female Track Athlete. Sullivan West's Mitch Paciga takes second in the F/S high jump. Liberty's Vinny Webbe clears 11-0 in the pole vault for fifth place.
GRAHAMSVILLE, NY- Tri-Valley Coach Joe Iatauro often jokes when welcoming schools to the sports complex that bears his and his wife Missy’s name by saying, “Welcome to rinky dink Tri-Valley.”
His oft-repeated remark refers to the school’s diminutive size as compared with some of the behemoths that the Bears find themselves competing against in meets such as this day’s humongous Tri-Valley Invitational and others staged far and wide across the state and indeed the nation.
But there is nothing rinky dink about the Bears as they have proven time and time again across the nearly four decades during which the Iatauros have been coaching season after season of cross country, indoor and spring track.
Across that span of time has marched a cavalcade of outstanding athletes bringing a bevy of medals, division, Section Nine and state titles adding to the school’s remarkable legacy.
Now another chapter in that historical dominance can be added with the first place finish of the T-V boys and girls teams among the 15 Division II schools at this year’s Tri-Valley Invitational. Added to the glory for the Bears was the selection of Mareena DiMilia and Dominiqe Darby as Outstanding Field Athletes, an honor they shared with James I. O’Neill’s John Carpenter. Arlington’s Sebastian Hanson and Eddie Meranda were Outstanding Track Athletes. The duo finished one-two in the 3200.
DiMilia won the shot put and javelin and ran a leg in the winning 300 shuttle hurdle relay. She finished second in the long jump. Darby won the discus and hammer throw and finished third in the shot put. Carpenter was victorious in the high jump, 100 and 200.
Tri-Valley’s girls landed an impressive 27 top six places on the day all of which will be spelled out in the Sullivan County school-by-school breakdown listed below. The T-V boys were also top notch with 15 top six spots outpacing all of the other Sullivan County schools.
Given the grand scale of the meet and the pleasant surprise of the weather which for the first time in this writer’s memory did not mar the event with a maelstrom of rain, freezing temperature or other variations of Mother Nature’s early spring weaponry, the day would offer up a panoply of great stories and a veritable feast for the eyes.
Coaches from Section Nine and Section One would agree that the meet is one of the best run on the circuit. With 27 schools on the docket, there were legions of athletes who took part in the running, jumping and throwing events that were taking place in the fine facilities of the Iatauro Sports Complex.
Indeed, as this photographer roamed the grounds knowing full well that it would be impossible to capture it all, the sights were overwhelming as the album of upwards of 600 photos will attest to. From the strength evinced at the boys hammer throw and girls shot put, to the soaring grace of the elite boys pole vaulters, the morning hours were interspersed with lightning quick sprinters and hurdlers on the track as well as the stalwart distance runners evincing their stamina and determination.
In the afternoon there was the unbelievable spectacle of the 2000 steeplechase with its aquatic interludes as some runners found the water pit to be all-encompassing. The 400 meter hurdles and the coaches and alumni 400 relay race, the latter won by Middletown amidst an outpouring from the team’s enthusiastic horde who swarmed Coach Eric Hipsman who ran the anchor leg, provided a non-stop display of memorable track and field.
For the local kids from the participating Sullivan County schools that included Tri-Valley, Monticello, Liberty, Eldred, Sullivan West and Livingston Manor, the chance to compete against elite athletes afforded them motivation to push themselves harder as many achieved personal best times and distances in an effort to stay competitive. It’s vital for athletes to get outside of the smaller milieu of local competition to understand the ascending tiers of achievement and what exists as a possibility in their events if they devote themselves assiduously to training.
The top three in each event are listed below but I am also including a photo reprint of the scoring sheet which shows the top eight places of which the top six were scored. But for my Sullivan County readers I decided to do a breakdown to show the top six performances from each school. I’ll begin with the boys.
Sullivan West 6th in 300 shuttle hurdles (53.6); Mitch Paciga 2nd in F/S high jump (5-6) and F/S pole vault (9-0).
Eldred Hunter Proscia 1st in 2000 steeplechase (6:32.1); team finished 5th in F/S 400 relay (59.7). Liberty Peter Koval 5th in javelin (136-7); Vinny Webbe 5th in pole vault (11-0).
Monticello team finished 2nd in 400 relay (44.7); I. Drayton 5th in F/S long jump (17-4 ¼); Terrry Duncan 2nd in F/S 400 (53.5); Trevon Rainey 2nd in F/S shot put (37-7); Tino Taylor 2nd in 400 (51.5); Garrett LaPolt 1st in shot put (50-2) and fifth in discus (119-10) and Talon Watson 3rd in triple jump (39-10 ¼).
Tri-Valley team finished 2nd in F/S 400 relay (52.8) and 5th in F/S 1600 relay (4:00.3); Justin Weintraub was 6th in sophomore 800 (2:08) and 5th in F/S 1600 (4:52). Brendan Tierney was 5th in the hammer throw (118-5) and third in the discus (113-4). Jimmy Bernstein was 5th in the 800 (2:01.7). Omar Lopez was second in the 2000 steeplechase (6:32.3) finishing just one tenth of a second behind Eldred’s Hunter Proscia. Josh Winter was 3rd in the javelin (138-9). Andrew Malone was 5th in the 400 intermediate hurdles (60-0); Aidan Woolsey was 4th in the F/S high jump (5-8) and 3rd in the F/S pole vault (9-6); Gavin DuBois was 5th in the high jump (5-8); Eugene Morton took 6th in the pole vault (10-6).
Now for the local girls:
Sullivan West team finished 6th in the 400 relay (55.6). Kristina Sumfleth was 5th in the high jump (4-6) and 4th in the 400 intermediate hurdles (71.5); Hannah Feinman was 6th in the long jump (14-5); Amanda Rosenberger was 6th in the 200 (28.2); Rachel Deppa was 3rd in the non-scoring 1500 meter racewalk (7:54.2).
Eldred team finished sixth in the 300 shuttle hurdle relay (56.2) and third in the 400 relay (54.6); Christine Donnelly was an impressive 4th in the 800 (2:24.3); Equasia Edwards took 3rd in the high jump (4-6); Erika Bowring was 1st in the long jump (15-10) and 1st in the triple jump ( 32-10 ¼); Melissa McGonagle, Lauren Frey and Savana Finck tied for 3rd in the F/S pole vault (6-0).
Liberty team was 3rd in the 300 shuttle hurdle relay (54.1) and 2nd in the 400 relay (53.7); Amanda Bertholf was 3rd in the 400 (67.6) and 3rd in the pole vault (8-6). Rebeccah Harman was 2nd in the 400 intermediate hurdles (69.2) and 4th in the triple jump (31.8).
Livingston Manor Katherine Ellis was 4th in the F/S shot put (27-4); Ami Calo was 5th in the triple jump (31-6 ½).
Monticello team was 6th in the 3200 relay (10:55.5); Camryn Johnson was third in the 3000 (10:52.8) and 3rd in the 1500 (5:16); Sydney Johnson was 5th in the 3000 (11:17.1); Tania Walker was 2nd in the 400 (65.0).
Tri-Valley team was 4th in the 3200 relay (10:51.1), 1st in the 300 shuttle hurdle relay (51.3) and 6th in the F/S 400 relay (61.8); Autumn Bender was 5th in the freshman 800 (2:31.4) and 5th in the 2000 steeplechase (7:58.3). The latter was most impressive given her submerged snafu at the water pit on one of her sojourns. Brooke Gillette was 6th in the sophomore 800 (2:38); Colleen Jones was 3rd in the F/S shot put (28-0) and 5th in the hammer throw (73-0); Claire Tierney was 5th in the F/S shot put (27-0). Katlynn Greffrath was 1st in the F/S high jump (5-1); 1st in the F/S long jump (14-99 ½); and 5th in the 400 intermediate hurdles (72.3); Dominque Darby was 1st in the hammer throw (127-4) and 3rd in the shot put (32-4 ¼); Sarah Schneyer was 4th in the hammer throw (80-9); Sarah Coney was 6th in the hammer throw (64-7) and 3rd in the discus (93-3); Heidi Furman was 3rd in the hammer throw (119-8); 2nd in the javelin (88-5);6th in the discus (88-6) and 3rd in the shot put (29-10); Mareena DiMilia was 1st in the shot put (34-7); 1st in the javelin (103-1) and 2nd in the long jump (15-6 ½); Vicky Tingley was 6th in the pole vault (6-4).
Boys results:
Boys Division I team scores and key: 1. Arlington (A) 219.5 points; 2. Somers (Som) 96; 3. Middletown (Mid) 95.5; 4. Monticello (Mon) 83; 5. Port Jervis (PJ) 51; 6. Our Lady of Lourdes (OLL) 38; 7. Byram Hills (BH) 37; 8. Hendrick Hudson 22; 9. Goshen (G) 21; 10. Red Hook 6; 11. Peekskill 2.
Boys Division II team scores and key: 1. Tri-Valley (TV) 90.5 points; 2. Rhinebeck (Rhb) 61; 3. Bronxville (Bx) 44; 4. James I. O’Neill (JIO) 43; 5. Pine Plains 40; 6. Pawling (Paw) 35.5; 7. Ellenville (Ell) 29; 8. Dover 28; 9. John A. Coleman Catholic (JAC) 27; 10. Liberty (Lib) 19.5; 11. Eldred (Eld) 18; 12. Sullivan West 15; 13. Spackenkill 10; 14. Chapel Field 5; 15. Livingston Manor 1.5.
Boys 100 meters: 1. John Carpenter (JIO) 11.0; 2. Matt Mungo (G) 11.3; 3. Lazarus Perez (Mid) 11.7; 200: 1. Carpenter (JIO) 22.2; 2. Kevin Hunter (Paw) 22.7; 3. Tino Taylor (Mont) 22.9; 400: 1. Scott Friedman (Som) 51.1; 2. Taylor (Mont) 51.5; 3. Stefan Buechele (A) 52.2; 800: 1. Chris Koenitzer (A) 1:57.4; 2. Marc Violone (BH) 1:59.7; 3. Marco DiBella (JAC) 2:01.1; 1,600: 1. Marc Violone (BH) 4:24.2; 2. Eddie Merenda (A) 4:25.1; 3. Sibby Hanson (A) 4:26.6; 2,000 steeplechase: 1. Hunter Proscia (Eld) 6:32.1; 2. Omar Lopez (TV) 6:32.3; 3. Rodolpho Nieto (Mid) 6:39.8; 3,200: 1. Sebastion Hanson (A) 9:25; 2. Eddie Merendz (A) 9:27.7; 3. Johnny Marvin (Rhb) 9:39.3; 400 hurdles: 1. Josh Wright (A) 56.1; 2. Daniel Genender (Mid) 59.5; 3. Kane Sauchuk (Lib) 59.6; 330 shuttle hurdles: 1. Middletown (Ruiz, Gennder, Pierre) 47.3; 2. Pine Plains 50.3; 3. Bronxville 51.8; 400 relay: 1. Bronxville (Marrone, Kraemer, Hudson, Behrens) 44.3; 2. Monticello 44.7; 3. Middletown 45.0; 1,600 relay: 1. Middletown (Bryan, Perez, Ruiz, Wilborn) 3:29.1; 2. Arlington 3:29.7; 3. Somers 3:34.2; 3,200 relay: 1. Arlington (Chiavelli, Wimmers, Lotocky, Haering) 8:28.2; 2. Somers 8:28.3; 3. Port Jervis 8:54.1; throwers relay (non-scoring): 1. Monticello (Riancy, Braunstein, LaPolt, Allen) 50.2; 2. Goshen 50.6; 3. Rhinebeck 51.2; high jump: 1. Carpenter (JIO) 6-8; 2. Josh Collins (JAC) 6-1; 3. John Donahue (Mid) 6-0; long jump: 1. John Enker (OLL) 19-7.75; 2. Luke Marrone (Bx) 19-4.5; 3. Stefan Buechele (A) 19-1.5; triple jump: 1. Omri Blair (Som) 41-0.25; 2. John Enkler (OLL) 41-0; 3. Talon Watson (Mont) 39-10.25; shot put: 1. Garrett LaPolt (Mont) 50-2; 2. Rajiv McSwine (A) 46-8.5; 3. Chris Groten (Som) 45-4; javelin: 1. Josh Collins (JAC) 142-2; 2. Robert Borriello (Ell) 140-9; 3. Josh Winter (TV) 138-9; hammer: 1. Raphael Ramirez (TV) 156-11; 2. Robert Borriello (Ell) 148-9; 3. Alex Preisig (Som) 127-3; discus: 1. Chris Groton (Som) 131-2; 2. Billy Stahlman (G) 123-0; 3. Brenden Tierney (TV) 121-4; pole vault: 1. Justin Farrenkopf (Ell) 14-0; 2. (tie) Stefan Buchele (A) and Scott Porter (Paw) 12-0.
Outstanding track athlete: Sebastion Hanson (Arlington) and Eddie Meranda (Arlington).
Outstanding field athlete: John Carpenter (O’Neill)
Girls Results:Division I team scores and key: 1. Arlington (A) 137 points; 2. Middletown (Mid) 61; 3. Hendrick Hudson 54.5; 4. Somers (Som) 45; 5. Red Hook (RH) 43.5; 6. Monticello (Mont) 41; 7. Byram Hills 39; 8. Port Jervis (PJ) 26; 9. Goshen (G) 23; 10. Our Lady of Lourdes 20; 11. Peekskill 19; 12. Albertus Magnus 5.
Girl Division II team scores and key: 1. Tri-Valley (TV) 169 points; 2. Bronxville (Bx) 152; 3. Eldred (Eld) 60.5; 4. (tie) Spackenkill (Spac) and Liberty (Lib) 41; 6. Dover (Dov) 36; 7. Ellenville (Ell) 24; 8. Pine Plains 21; 9. Rhinebeck 19; 10. Sullivan West (SW) 17.5; 11. (tie) Livingston Manor and Pawling (Paw) 17; 13. James I. O’Neill (JIO) 12; 14. Chapel Field 9; 15. John A. Coleman Catholic 1.
Girls 100 meters: 1. Kalissa Caesar (PJ) 12.4; 2. Emily Polvere (Som) 12.5; 3. Shasche Allen (Spac) 12.8; 200: 1. Polvere (Som) 26.3; 2. Allen (Spac) 26.6; 3. Lucy Kohlhoff (Bx) 27.0; 400: 1. Grace Weisbecker (RH) 63.5; 2. Tania Walker (Mont) 65.0; 3. Amanda Bertholf (Lib) 67.6; 800: 1. Chelsea Ogindo (Pk) 2:19.9; 2. Meredith Rizzo (Bx) 2:20.1; 3. Amber Goodspeed (Mid) 2:22.8; 1,500: 1. Delphi Cleaveland (A) 4:54.8; 2. Meredith Rizzo (Bx) 5:04.8; 3. Camryn Johnson (Mont) 5:16.0; 1,500 racewalk (non-scoring): 1. Kristi Licursi (Som) 7:41.3; 2. Maria Gorecki (Som) 7:42.4; 3. Rachel Deppa (SW) 7:54.2; 2,000 steeplechase: 1. Amber Goodspeed (Mid) 7:26.3; 2. Olivia Beltrani (A) 7:31.6; 3. Sarah Marvin (Paw) 7:57.3; 3,000: 1. Isabella Burda (A) 10:23.3; 2. Emilie Hoffer (Bx) 10:36.3; 3. Camryn Johnson (Mont) 10:52.8; 400 hurdles: 1. Sarah Haley (Dov) 66.9; 2. Rebecca Harman (Lib) 69.2; 3. Weisbecker (RH) 70.6; 300 shuttle hurdles relay: 1. Tri-Valley (DiMilia, Tingley, Reynolds) 51.3; 2. Bronxville 53.1; 3. Liberty 54.1; 400 relay: 1. Port Jervis (Burke, Barbone, Green, Caesar) 53.3; 2. Liberty 53.7; 3. Eldred 54.6; 1,600 relay: 1. Bronxville (Campbell, Phillips, Rizzo, Rizzo) 4:16.3; 2. Arlington 4:23; 3. Rhinebeck 4:32.2; 3,200 relay: 1. Somers (Casey Spor, Jackie Krueger, Juliette Cooper, Sarah Corning) 10:00; 2. Bronxville 10:05.3; 3. Arlington 10:24.2; throwers relay (non-scoring): 1. (tie) Lourdes (Liporace, Cacioppo, Farrell, Castellano) and Pawling (Maguire, Ketchum, Owens) 60.5; 3. Red Hook; high jump: 1. Taylor Carlin (Spac) 4-10; 2. Brianna Clarke (A) 4-9; 3. Equasia Edwards (Eld) 4-6; long jump: 1. Erika Bowring (Eld) 15-10; 2. Mareena DiMilia (TV) 15-6.25; 3. Sam Mason (PP) 15-4.5; triple jump: 1. Bowring (Eld) 32-10.75; 2. Carmel Joseph (Dov) 32-2; 3. Kim Goldhirsch (RH) 32-0.5; shot put: 1. DiMilia (TV) 34-7; 2. Danielle Borriello (Ell) 33-4; 3. Dominique Darby (TV) 32-4.5; discus: 1. Darby (TV) 105-5; 2. Borriello (Ell) 104-1; 3. Sarah Coney (TV) 93-3; hammer: 1. Darby (TV) 127-0; 2. Borriello (Ell) 124-4; 3. Heidi Furman (TV) 119-8; javelin: 1. DiMilia (TV) 103-1; 2. Heidi Furman (TV) 88-5; 3. Brianna Scott (JIO) 86-10; pole vault: 1. Weisbecker (RH) 9-6; 2. Marissa Robbino (G) 9-6; 3. Amanda Bertholf (Lib) 8-0.
Outstanding track athlete: Amber Goodspeed (Middletown)
Outstanding field athlete: Dominique Darby (Tri-Valley) and Mareena DiMilia (Tri-Valley)
Results of the Tri-Valley Invitational courtesy of T-V scorekeeper Kevin Giroux.
This coming week Tri-Valley will host rival Sullivan West for Division IV supremacy. On April 28 the local schools will participate in the Monticello Games minus those boys who will be travelling to the Penn Relays.
For an album of photos, visit www.sportsinsights.smugmug.com
Three Dawg Day
Jeffersonville Whirlwind Tour Provides Early Glimpses Of Bulldogs Track, Softball and Baseball
Softball: Hancock 8, Sullivan West 2
Baseball: John S. Burke Catholic 16, Sullivan West 4
Girls Track and Field: Non-league: Sullivan West 104, Livingston Manor 29; Sullivan West 113, Chester 10; Livingston Manor 52, Chester 10
Boys Track and Field Non-league: Sullivan West 110, Livingston Manor 30; Sullivan West 100, Chester 39; Livingston Manor 66, Chester 56
By RICHARD A. ROSS
Photos at www.sportsinsights.smugmug.com
Scenes from Sullivan West track, softball and baseball (clockwise): Sullivan West's Mitch Paciga wins the 110 hurdles. Sullivan West shortstop Carly Grishaber tags out a Hancock's Kayla Berringer via a fine throw from third baseman Victoria Haas. Burke's Tom Sullivan went 3-for-4 in the Eagles' win over Sullivan West in the opener of their Division IV series. Sullivan West's Hannah Feinman wins the 100 hurdles. She also captured the long and triple jump.Livingston Manor's Neal Mock comes around the final turn of the 800. Sullivan West's E.J. Franskevicz swings away at a pitch from Burke's Ryan St. John. Chester's S. Ryan wins the 800 and Amanda Rosenberger sets off at a speedy pace in the uncontested 400 relay. Rosenberger won the the 100 and 200.
JEFFERSONVILLE, NY—It’s not often that a school has three home sports events going on simultaneously in the same town. Sensing a chance to zoom in with my camera to capture track, softball and baseball photos all in one whirlwind afternoon, I headed out to land all three for the price of one.
Literally speaking, with gas prices as high as they are, I find myself looking to be much more efficient with my sports sojourns knowing I’ve got five schools I have to cover completely and that means a slew of photos for baseball, softball, track and field, boys and girls golf and tennis. It’s a lot of ground to cover so I do look for opportunities wherein I’ll find a mix of what I’m searching for in the same place.
The easiest sport to accomplish this is track and field. Not only are there dual meets to visit, but there are also the invitationals, the league and county meet as well as the sectionals. Track meets do present a different challenge and that is that events are taking place simultaneously on the track, in the jumping pits and at the throwing circle. Sometimes you’ve got to choose to shadow one event knowing you’re missing another so by season’s end, it is necessary to see to it that you’ve gotten photos of all of the events and the athletes that participate in them.
After a decade of covering track meets I have this down to a science but naturally, since I was only spending a limited amount of time at this small track meet that featured Chester and Livingston Manor against their larger hosting non-league counterpart, it was going to be just a glancing overview of some of the events including long jump, 110 hurdles, 3200/3000, 100 and the pole vault.
The bright sun and blue sky gave the kind of gorgeous background I look for at track meets. No doubt when it comes to the iconic Tri-Valley Invitational slated for April 21, the weather will revert to its usual fare for that meet with rain and cool temperatures. If we’re lucky, that’s all we’ll see. In bygone years it’s been far worse.
Sullivan West had little competition at this meet except in a few events. Even with its diminished numbers, the girls team readily outpointed both schools. Sullivan West’s boys team fared well too. Listed below are the first place finishers. It will be interesting to see how the Westies hold up against stiffer competition. Tri-Valley will offer the most significant challenge in Division IV as the Bears far outnumber their rivals and in track, depth is vital to racking up points towards team victories.
100 meters: Amanda Rosenberger (SW) 13.4; 200: Rosenberger (SW) 28.0; 400: Rosa Martinez (SW) 73.0; 800: S. Ryan (Chester) 2:29; 1,500: Ryan (Chester) 5:47; 3,000: Corrine VanWagner (SW) 13:22; 100 hurdles: Hannah Feinman (SW) 19.8; 400 hurdles: Kristina Sumfleth (SW) 74.3; 400 relay: Sullivan West (Rosenberger; Sumfleth; Martinez; Feinman) 55.4; 1600 relay: Sullivan West (Rosenberger; Deppa; Martinez; Myers) 5:43.6; 3,200 relay: Sullivan West (Myers; Deppa; Rhodes; VanWagner) 13:35; high jump: Arthi Calo (LM) 4-8; long jump: Feinman (SW) 14-4.75; triple jump: Feinman (SW) 30-6; shot put: Kelly Ellis (LM) 27-10.5; discus: Autumn Thiel (SW) 69-11; pole vault: Sumfleth (SW) 7-6.
100 meters: Hunter Cassisi (C) 12.9; 200: 1. Matt Cardona (SW) 25.1; 400: Shaughn Goggin (SW) 57.6; 800: Reed Scott (SW) 2:33; 1,600: Scott (SW) 5:06; 3,200: Scott (SW) 11:34; 110 hurdles: Mitch Paciga (SW) 17.8; 400 hurdles: John Masten (SW) 65.6; 400 relay: Chester (Cassisi; Matt Perry; Lawrence Young; Billy Bukowski) 50.3; 1,600 relay: Sullivan West (Sam Smith; Goggin; Ben Kline; Masten) 4:16; 3,200 relay: Sullivan West (Scott; Goggin; Jonah Bauer; Eric Hableri) 9:36; high jump: Cardona (SW) 5-10; long jump: Nick Zeimis (LM) 16-7; triple jump Mastens (SW) 34-7.25; shot put: Jesse Jurgen (LM) 36-2.5; discus: Anthony Rydell (SW) 107-3; pole vault: Ben Kline (SW) 10-6.
From the track I ambled across the road to the softball diamond where Sullivan West was trailing 3-1 to Section IV’s Hancock in a non-league tilt. Fresh off their commanding win over Family School and the forfeit they benefited by in the second game as part of the Benny Chesnick tournament, the Westies hoped to build on their 2-2 record but alas it was not to be.
Staying only for an inning or two I could not provide any details of the loss except to say that the Lady Bulldogs weren’t able to parlay baserunners into runs in the time I was on hand. The following brief details come from the Times Herald-Record.
Hannah Schwatz had an RBI triple for Sullivan West in a non-league loss in Jeffersonville.
Sullivan West is 2-3. Lindsay McGraw struck out 15 and went 2-for-3 with a triple for Hancock (3-1).
Into my car I jumped thankful for the blast of air conditioning in the 85 degree swelter. The brief ride to capture some baseball at Lion’s Field got me there in time to see Sullivan West holding a 3-1 lead behind a pair of RBI from Greg Stevenson and one run batted in from Patrick Pierce.
Pierce was on the mound and the lefty was already up to 62 pitches as I watched Burke tie the game and go ahead 4-3 as it used timely hitting and heads up base running to make up the deficit and take the lead. By game’s end Sullivan West would score only one more run while the Eagles piled it on. Strong pitching by Ryan St. John was key in holding the Bulldogs at bay in their season opener. The series continues down at Burke on April 17 and resumes in Jeffersonville on April 19.
Once again, these details are from the Times-Herald Record.
Ryan St. John struck out seven and scattered seven hits over 52⁄3 innings of work and Tom Sullivan was 4-for-5 in the OCIAA Division IV victory for Burke Catholic (3-3, 1-0 OCIAA).Sawyer Erlwein and Greg Stephenson each had two hits for Sullivan West (0-1, 0-1 OCIAA).
For an album of photos from all three Sullivan West encounters, visit www.sportsinsights.smugmug.com
Night And Day
Lady Monties Complete Season Sweep of Sullivan West Under The Lights As Purcell Returns To Action With A Hat Trick; Fallsburg Boys Garner First League Win Of The Season With Crisp Performance Vs. Tri-Valley
Boys: Fallsburg 4, Tri-Valley 1
Girls: Monticello 5, Sullivan West 2
By RICHARD A. ROSS
rross@sportsinsightsny.com
Two games for the price of one (Clockwise) Monticello's Mara Resnick and Sullivan West's Amanda Rosenberger vie for a ball in the heated encounter between the Cats and Dawgs in their rematch. Fallsburg keeper Dustin Foertsch goes airborne in one of his graceful patented saves. Tri-Valley's Christian Reynolds and Fallsburg's Felix Martinez angle for control. Monticello's Annie Purcell, center leads the advance with teammate Kerissa Bennett as Sullivan West's Jasmine Davis follows close by.
SULLIVAN COUNTY, NY—One sporting event a day is more than enough for a photojournalist who takes hundreds of photos, stays up into the night processing and uploading them and then devotes his mornings to telling compelling stories which range far beyond a laundry list of game details.
So imagine trying to reckon with two soccer games in one day; something I am down for at least one more time before this season is out when I travel to Tri-Valley to watch the boys and girls sequentially take on Fallsburg under the lights on October 20.
Just such a double dip was on tap on October 11 as I scurried around trying to catch up with four teams I haven’t seen nearly enough of this fall.
Fallsburg's Alan Sierra and Tri-Valley's Tyler Greffrath look to wrest control of the ball.
Two games supplied two compelling stories which I will combine in this post. Oddly enough for all of the talent on display among the teams who took their verve to the pitch, not one currently sports a winning record and were the season to end today, which thankfully it won’t, neither the Fallsburg or Tri-Valley boys nor the Sullivan West or Monticello girls would be in sectionals.
By season’s end that is apt to change but time will tell.
Fiery Comets Look To Make Headway As Second Half Of The Season Begins With A Win
I began my sojourn in Fallsburg to watch the Comets try to regain some swagger on their home pitch. The schedule for the first half of the season has been brutal , availing Coach Herb Foertsch’s squad nary a league win against four league defeats prior to this tilt with the Bears. With Tuxedo and Seward currently sitting atop of Division V, the Comets are glad to have most of those trials in the rearview mirror as they now turn their attention to T-V, Eldred and a rematch with Chester to try and parlay a series of league wins into a return to sectionals where they feel they can make some serious noise.
Fallsburg had posted a couple of non-league wins affording them a better record than Tri-Valley whose only victory came against Chapel Field. The Bears had already come up on the wrong side of six league games coming into this one and hoped to turn it around with a win over their traditional rival.
But from the opening kickoff it soon became apparent that the Comets would get the better part of the play as keeper Dustin Foertsch had time to daydream with his long range view of the ball which resided principally in the Tri-Valley end of the field.
Fallsburg’s sophomore midfielder Arturo Perez fired the Comets’ first shot on goal only 53 seconds in as Tri-Valley keeper Mike Devault went north into the upper left hand corner to snare it. The Comets held the ball in the T-V end as they set up for the first of seven first half corner kicks. A direct kick by Perez was snared by Devault as Coach Foertsch yelled encouragement to his team to keep the pressure on.
Talented and quick, Tri-Valley's Josue Ramos is tough to defend.
Offensively Tri-Valley was trying to use its speed up front coupled with the deft ball skills of Josue Ramos to get something going. Fallsburg was successful in repulsing rare runs as Kyle Miller, Austin Halchak and Daniel Justiniano were key in sending it quickly back.
At 6:30 the Comets nearly scored as Perez sent a nice cross to forward José Rubio which went just a bit wide. Tri-Valley was whistled for holding in the box but Perez missed on the PK try at 9:11. Halchak blasted one over the top as the Comets kept on coming.. At 11:40 in Felix Martinez turned the ball upfield and drove in an unassisted goal for the 1-0 lead.
Martinez was abetted by an assist from Rubio for his second goal at 17:00 in for the 2-0 edge. The Comets nearly got another one soon thereafter as Devault came out of the goal but Patrick McHugh’s heads up play averted that contingency.
As the first half wound down T-V’s Tom Monforte sent a blast over the top of the crossbar. Another Monforte shot was saved by Foertsch who punted it mightily back into the T-V end where Martinez took a feed from Rubio and sent it over the top of the cage. T-V’s Anthony Beale had a great run up the side and a shot by Zach Nilsen was saved by Foertsch as the half ended.
T-V Coach Jason Closs provided me with the second half scoring as I had to leave to get back for the Suliivan West-Monticello girls game under the lights.
Tri-Valley scored on a cross from Zach Nilsen to Tyler Greffrath who headed the ball into the goal 15:00 minutes into the second half. Fallsburg scored their final goal with under 8 minutes to play in the second half on a penalty kick by A. Halchak following a penalty on a TV player for holding inside the 18. Hope this helps. The other Comets’ score came via Rubio with an assist from Sam Didinsky.
Foertsch had five saves for the Comets; Devault had ten for the Bears. Fallsburg improved to 3-5-0 (1-4-0 OCIAA)l, while Tri-Valley fell to 1-10-0 (0-7-0 OCIAA).
Questionable Call Opens The Floodgates As Monticello Breaks A 2-2 Deadlock With A Trio Of Unasnwered Goals
The Sullivan West Lady Bulldogs gather around Coach Mike Ellmauer at the start of the game.
The night rippled with excitement as the Sullivan West players gathered with their parents prior to the rematch with Monticello. Adorned in their painted shirts that read “No Goals Fo’ You,” the Lady Bulldogs looked to defend their home pitch under the lights and to come out with fire, something they severely lacked in their 3-0 loss to the Lady Panthers two weeks prior.
During the latter moments of that game, Monticello junior Annie Purcell had sustained a concussion and had missed the intervening games. On this night she was back at it and it was clear from the get go that there was no rust from her enforced hiatus.
Reckoning with Purcell had been very much on the mind of Sullivan West Coach Mike Ellmauer as he implored his players to mark her like, “white on rice.” But Purcell’s ball skills, rendered razor sharp by her year-round play on Quickstrike FC would net her a hat trick in the Lady Monties 5-2 win.
That said, it would be amiss to infer from that score that this one a one-sided affair. In fact, it was anything but. It would be more apt to describe this non-league clash as toe-to-toe encounter which had seen each team grab the momentum leading to a 2-2 tie as the Lady Westies tied it up on a PK by Emma Seidl at 26:15 of the second half..
The game took a dramatic turn when an official whistled Sullivan West’s Amanda Rosenberger for a dangerous kick even though there was no one within ten yards of her in any direction.
Iconic match up: Sullivan West's Amanda Rosenberger looks to stymie Monticello's Annie Purcell as the latter turns the ball. Purcell returned from a concussion-induced hiatus to score a trio of goals in the win.
The event would signal a change in momentum in the second half as the Lady Panthers would add three goals for the 5-2 victory. After the game, Ellmauer cited the call as key in the outcome. “That was an awful call. How do you call a dangerous play when the nearest person is more than ten yards away? This has been our modus operandi all year with calls like this from local officials,”Ellmauer went on to say, while not taking anything away from Monticello, a team he noted is far better than their record would indicate.
More on the post-game commentary erelong but first here is the game chronology.
After honoring all of its players including seniors Stephanie Hauschild, Amanda Rosenberger, Emaa Seidl, Alika Simon, Kristina Sumfleth, Kassie Thelman and Giselle Vega, the Lady Bulldogs got set to go to work.
The Lady Westies kicked off but the Lady Monties got control of the initial parry. Seidl sent it deep ahead to Rosenberger but as she would all night long, Monticello defender Laurie Schoonmaker quickly reversed it. Soon Purcell was weaving in and out. Heather Miller’s advance resulted in an offsides call.
Monticello held it in as the two teams continued to strongly contest for the ball. The Lady Panthers pressed the attack with Kerissa Bennett, Jordan Fredell, Purcell and Mara Resnick but the Lady Bulldogs were making their own runs as Rosenberger just missed a nice cross looking to draw first blood.
After a handball call gave the Lady Bulldogs the ball, the Lady Monties held in and Purcell missed a wide-open net at 30:49. Purcell rocked one off the crossbar and Resnick missed on the rebound. Purcell had a shot just under 26 minutes as Jordan Parsons made a sliding save.
Quickly the action reverted to the Monticello end as the Lady Bulldogs looked to break through with a couple of nice chances. Defense was sharp for both squads who appeared to be very evenly matched.
At 16:48 Bennett nearly got one in. Resnick’s shot was blocked by Parsons. The Lady Monties were getting a steady advance up the far sideline but having trouble getting the needed cross in front at times.
Carly Grishaber takes an assist from Cassidy Sauer to score the first goal of the game.
It was Sullivan West that got the first goal at 8:33 as Carly Grishaber poked it through on the left hand side of the net by keeper Morgan Halloran on an assist from Cassidy Sauer for the 1-0 lead. Just one minut e later Resnick answered to tie it up on an assist from Purcell at 7:29. Monticello amped its energy behind the goal and pressed their cause. A great play by Kristina Sumfleth broke up on great run but Purcell had the last word of the first half as she buried an unassisted goal with 19.6 seconds to give the Lady Panthers the 2-1 upper hand at the break.
Sullivan West came out on all cylinders to start the second period. Sullivan West was afforded a penalty kick with 26:25 after a trip in the box. Seidl sent it by Halloran but the official waved it off saying the keeper wasn’t ready. Seidl dialed it up and did it again and the game was now knotted at two-all.
Purcell had a direct kick saved by Parsons as the ball continued to go back and forth. Neither team scored but both had chances. Parsons fell on a shot by Fredell for the save. It was then that Rosenberger was whistled for the dangerous play that set up a goal Bennett assisted by Purcell for the 3-2 lead at 12:54.
It had occurred at a time when the Westies appeared to have the momentum but suddenly things went south in a hurry as Purcell fired in an unassisted goal in to make it 4-2 just 31 seconds later at 12:23.
Monticello gets the bragging rights in this year's chapter of the Cats and Dawgs spat but this feud is far from over.
Purcell’s final goal came on a perfectly lofted direct kick at 9:35, giving the talented junior the hat trick and assuring the Lady Monties of the this year’s last word in the Cats and Dawgs Spat. While the last story was entitled Cats and Dawgs Redux, I’m sure Ellmauer might have been okay with this one being called “Cats and Dawgs Reflux,” as in acid reflux given the bitter taste of the game which slipped away behind the questionable call.
Purcell was upbeat about her return to action. “I think we really kept our intensity up which was an important factor. We’re coming off a lapse over our last few games. We didn’t’ take it for granted that we beat them the last time. We really kept it up and had some nice combinations,” she said.
Asked to comment about her team’s answer to the penalty kick that tied it up, she noted “We never got down and kept the energy positive.” Purcell attributed her direct kick placement to her year-round play with Quickstrike FC, her travel team. We play all year round.
Monticello Coach Bill Stento referred to his team as “Up and down. We’ll have games where we play like this as opposed to losing to Liberty 5-0. It’s been an inconstant year but when these girls come to play, they really show it,” he averred.
Stento felt his backline defense abetted by Lauren Katz who was able to push up as the Lady Westies deployed just to up front, helped to keep the flow heading towards the Lady Bulldogs end a significant part of the time. “That allowed us to control the midfield a little better.”
With a daunting schedule ahead, Monticello will have an uphill battle to make sectionals but they are not technically out of it at this juncture, nor is Sullivan West who must now face Burke for its next challenge while the Monties try to wrangle with Cornwall.
Morgan Halloran had seven saves for the Lady Panthers; Jordan Parsons had 15 for the Lady Bulldogs.
Monticello improved to 3-8, while Sullivan West fell to 4-6-1
For albums of photos from both games, visit www.sportsinsights.smugmug.com
Cats And Dawgs Redux
Monticello Clicks On All Cylinders In Dominant Win Over Injury-Plagued Sullivan West Youngsters; Monties’ Victory The Latest Chapter In An Ongoing Back-And-Forth Non-League Rivalrry
Monticello 3, Sullivan West 0
By RICHARD A. ROSS
rross@sportsinsightsny.com
Scenes from the Monticello vs. Sullivan West soccer match won by the Lady Monties 3-0 (Clockwise): Monticello's Annie Purcell turns the ball upfield. Purcell would score the first goal of the game. Team photos showing the Monticello Lady Panthers and the Sullivan West Lady Bulldogs, Annie Purcell drives it home, Monticello's Jordan Fredell wins a ball and is pursued by Sullivan West's Dana Borowski. Sullivan West's Kristina Sumfleth reaches out to handle a ball. Monticello's Brianna Bennett races up the field towards the Sullivan West end of the field.
MONTICELLO, NY—Darkening gray skies suggested an end to the brief respite of gorgeous weather in a soccer season already all too familiar with rain. And to be sure, by day’s end there would be a change of weather as far as Monticello was concerned as they were about to uncork what Coach Bill Stento would later refer to as his team’s “Best performance” since he assumed the coaching reins two years ago.”
They say “Into every life a little rain must fall,” but figuratively speaking as far as the lady soccer teams from Monticello (2-4) and Sullivan West (3-5), are concerned, the response to that bit of wisdom would have be, “Enough already!”
I’m referring here not merely to torrential rains and soggy fields, but more poignantly to the dampening effects of adversity brought on by tough opponents, injuries and the scarcity of wins.
As the teams got set to play on this late September afternoon, the memories of their October 2, 2009 night clash came to mind and while this year’s young Sullivan West squad currently fields only one veteran from that fray in Hannah Feinman, you can be sure that the Monticello elder stateswomen remember it all too well.
Back in October of 2009, the last time these two teams played, Jordan Fredell received a bloody nose from the intense action. No doubt, she and other Montie veterans remember it well making this day's win that much sweeter.
The photo of Jordan Fredell with blood emanating from her nose says it all about that over-the-top physical game appropriately named “Cats and Dawgs.”
That fray was won by the Lady Bulldogs who nearly saw a 3-0 lead turn into a stultifying defeat at the hands of the fiery Lady Monties who tied it up with just six minutes left to play. Perhaps the soccer gods saw fit to give the two teams a year off from each other before aligning the stars for this rematch.
For Sullivan West Coach Mike Ellmauer, the prospect of fielding a young team populated by one freshman and nine sophomores to go alone with three juniors and eight seniors was already going to be a challenge.
That was before a spate of injuries began to take their toll. Senior Stephanie Hauschild is out for the season with what may be a torn ACL. Amanda Rosenberger missed time from a knock in the head. Keeper Jordan Parsons has been to the school of hard knocks and on it goes.
Parsons left her cleats in her locker and couldn’t man the cage this day, leaving the task up to junior Cassidy Sauer, more agitata for Ellmauer who still hoped his team could muster the moxie to sunder the struggling Lady Monties who had only one win to date coming into this game.
Hope is one thing; reality is often another. Monticello quickly took advantage of Sullivan West’s inexperience which manifested itself most assuredly in its recurring inability to kick the ball out of its own end, make effective throw ins and goal kicks and pass the ball to people in space.
The result was that nearly the entire game was played in the Sullivan West end.
Sullivan West kicked off but the Monties had it almost immediately as Jordan Fredell, Annie Purcell and Kerissa Bennett all got touches on the first Lady Panthers’ push up. Sauer was called upon to make a save right away, a preview of coming attractions as the view of charging white jerseys was going to become a familiar sight erelong.
Monticello's Stef Viera heads the ball between Sullivan West's Amanda Rosenberger and Giselle Vega.
When Sullivan West failed to clear a goal kick, Purcell, Monticello’s talented year-round soccer maven drove it home just 3:09 into the first period for the 1-0 lead on an assist from Mara Resnick.
Sullivan West freshman Carly Grishaber fired one on goal but SW couldn’t hold the ball in the Monticello end. Monticello won the majority of the 50-50 balls, but Sullivan West tried to use its speed up front with Feinman and Rosenberger to make something happen.
Feinman got a breakaway and nearly scored as Monticello freshman keeper Katrina Zicot held on for the save.
Purcell was getting her fair share of shots, looking for her second goal but she failed to hit the mark. Montie sophomore Katelyn Radlein fired one on goal and missed. A subsequent push by Feinman saw the ball quickly swerving back towards Sauer as the Monties took the ball back. Becky Mitchell to Mara Resnick resulted in a missed shot but the Monties kept up the pressure.
Rosenberger sent it up to Giselle Vega on the right corner but Monticello’s back line defense was proving to be effective in kicking the ball out.
Purcell fired a shot as Sauer was out. That led to a corner kick which hit Kerissa Bennett on the top of the head. A biz dizzy but grinning, the feisty forward played on. Monticello passed the ball effectively but continued to struggle to finish as shots were often poked or sent wide.
Sullivan West backline defenders Kassie Thelman and Katie Taylor were doing a good job of keeping things out of harm’s way.
That is until Mara Resnick scored at 27:18 in on an assist from Kerissa Bennett to make it 2-0. Resnick sent it in to the left side of the net as Sauer lost the ball, leaving Resnick free to poke it in.
Rosenberger had a nice shot from Rosenberger that crossed in front of the goal but Sullivan West had no one at the opposite post to drive in a goal in what was a vast empty space.
Cats and Dawgs war veteran: Sullivan West's Hannah Feinman was a freshman the last time these teams went at it. The speedy junior had her breakaways but couldn't connect this time out. She'll try to reverse that outcome on October 11 when the venue switches to Lake Huntington under the lights.
Monticello nearly scored off a corner kick. Purcell’s subsequent corner kick went behind the goal affording the Lady Bulldogs another charge up the field. Feinman’s shot, like Rosenberger’s prior one just needed someone at the opposite post to send it in. Again, no one was in position..just another manifestation of the steep learning curve this team will have to surmount.
Monticello took the 2-0 lead into the halftime break.
Monticello picked up where it left off with an attack led by Brianna Miller. A third goal eluded the Lady Panthers as they didn’t follow shots that sat in front of the goal at times or dangled in front of the opposite post.
In a scary moment, Grishaber had to be helped off the field after injuring her knee. Needless to say her absence was yet another blow to the already depleted SW troops. The nature or extent of her injury was not known at the time of this writing but she was unable to play the rest of the game. She insisted on standing for the handshake.
She is the last of the Grishabers and follows in the footsteps of her brother Logan and sister Shelby. The trio share a tough, gritty work ethic even in the face of injury and adversity. Here’s hoping Carly is okay and back at it soon.
Monticello would score its third goal as Heather Miller drove it up the field and fired an unassisted goal in at 15:13. That would be the end of the scoring for the match.
Zicot recorded three saves for Monticello; Sauer had 15 for Sullivan West.
Monticello Coach Bill Stento was clearly pleased with his team’s play. “We got off to a rough start down at Port. We had gone to a five-man midfield with two forwards and it really wasn’t working. So we went back to three and today it really clicked.”
Stento added, “The experience shows. I had these girls when they were freshmen and sophomores and now they’re juniors and seniors. They’ve been playing together at this level for two years. I’ve told the girls the wins we get won’t necessarily be pretty, they’re more apt to be scrappy”. Monticello faces Burke on October 3.
Kaboom! Kerissa Bennett bangs in goal to the right side of the net to make it 2-0, the Monticello lead at the half. Heather Miller punctuated the win with a goal in the second period..
Sullivan West Coach Mike Ellmauer sized things up this way: “We get to play them again and hopefully we can pull something out in the second half of the season.” Ellmauer alluded to his team’s inexperience and nagging injuries as “The things that are killing us.”
Ineffective throw-ins, goal kicks and a failure to clear the ball are major issues as they keep the team back in an ongoing defensive posture leaving people out of position for an attack when the opportunity presents itself.
Sullivan West (3-5) is also 0-2 in the division. “We’re trying to make the best of it,” Ellmauer said.
For the hard-working Lady Bulldogs, the hope is that with the experienced gained over the upcoming games that they can trigger a change in the weather to emerge from this early gloom into the brighter light of late season success.
They’ll host Monticello under the lights on October 11. I guess we’ll call that one “Cats And Dawgs III.”
For an album of photos visit www.sportsinsights.smugmug.com
