Eli Hernandez has high hopes for this year. And why not?
The Citizen file photo
Chris Mason, rear, will be a key to the Maroons success in the distance events this winter.
Chris Mason, rear, will be a key to the Maroons success in the distance events this winter.
With a solid core of returning seniors, the coach of the Auburn High School boys indoor track and field team has plenty to be happy about.
Especially when one of those seniors is Chris Mason. The perennial all-star holds the school record in the 3,200-meter run, and took third place in the event at the Colonial American Division at the OHSL Championships. He was also third in the 1,600-meter run at the OHSL meet.
“We're looking for great things from our seniors,” Hernandez said, adding that he's expecting to see Mason make it to the state championships again.
“We're relying on two disciplines,” Hernandez said. “Chris Mason in distance, and then the sprints.”
That's where Ray Richardson comes in. The senior was second at the OHSL meet in the 300-meter dash a year ago, and he also runs on sprint relays.
Richardson also took care of business last year in the field events, competing at the state championships in the triple jump after finishing second in Section III, Class AA.
From top to bottom, the Maroons will be strong with the depth from having 23 players, and the addition of middle-distance runners Joey Leogrande and Jack Cavanaugh - both freshmen - will only help.
Also helping out this year is outdoor track coach BIll Allen, who has joined the team as an assistant.
“He brings some good experience,” Hernandez said.
Jordan-Elbridge
Coach: Todd Wolfanger
Top returners: Senior Andy DeGray (long jump), senior Steve Heffernan (triple jump), junior Donato DiRenzo (mid-distance).
Top newcomers: Junior Jeff Donohue (mid-distance), freshman Mike Marrero (mid-distance), freshman Nick Piedmonte (long sprints)
Outlook: In his final season, DeGray should be one of the top long jumpers and triple jumpers in Section III. He was third at the Empire State Games in the decathlon, and he'll have a strong supporting cast as the Eagles have 21 listed on the roster including nine seniors.
Moravia
Coach: Jan Hunsinger
Top returners: Sophomore Larry Bentley (distance)
Top newcomers: Sophomore Jonathan Garcia (shot put), freshman Joe Grobelny (distance), freshman Chane Corp (sprints, jumps)Outlook: The Blue Devils will no doubt miss Pat Nevius, who holds two school records. Numbers will likely plague Moravia again this season, but Hunsinger's young squad is showing promise. Grobelny is coming a very strong cross country season, and could make an impact this season.
Skaneateles
Coach: Jack Reed
Top returners: Senior Josey Witter (high jump), junior Sam Smolenski (mid-distance)
Top newcomers: Sophomore Matt Wild (sprints, jumps), sophomore Patrick Rooney (hurdles, jumps)
Outlook: Though the Lakers are lacking numbers - only 11 are listed on the roster - the team's top athletes can cover a wide range of events to keep them competitive. One of those top athletes is Witter. The 6-3 high jumper was the OHSL and Section III champ, and was also the OHSL champ in the triple jump. He represents the only senior on the team, but he's joined by five juniors.
Southern Cayuga
Coach: Bill Mullarney
Top returners: Evan Bassett, Sam Fessenden
Top newcomers: Alex Schmidt, Corey Field
Outlook: The Chiefs have more runners than they've had in the past but still carry a thin roster. They will however have enough to run some relays this winter. Mullarney expects his team to ease into the season after a tough cross country season, but will have his Chiefs running personal bests by the time spring rolls around. The youngster Schmidt has great speed, and could surprise some people
Union Springs
Coach: Mark Gaffney
Top newcomers: freshman John Carroll (distance), sophomore Vinnie Salato (sprints), freshman Chris Warner (jumps)
Outlook: Gaffney has his work cut out for him with more than a third of his roster being freshmen and not a single senior listed. Not to mention the Wolves lost Cheol Kessler, who was a first place waiting to happen in sprinting events. Their times will likely drop quickly, though, as the youngsters gain experience.
Especially when one of those seniors is Chris Mason. The perennial all-star holds the school record in the 3,200-meter run, and took third place in the event at the Colonial American Division at the OHSL Championships. He was also third in the 1,600-meter run at the OHSL meet.
“We're looking for great things from our seniors,” Hernandez said, adding that he's expecting to see Mason make it to the state championships again.
“We're relying on two disciplines,” Hernandez said. “Chris Mason in distance, and then the sprints.”
That's where Ray Richardson comes in. The senior was second at the OHSL meet in the 300-meter dash a year ago, and he also runs on sprint relays.
Richardson also took care of business last year in the field events, competing at the state championships in the triple jump after finishing second in Section III, Class AA.
From top to bottom, the Maroons will be strong with the depth from having 23 players, and the addition of middle-distance runners Joey Leogrande and Jack Cavanaugh - both freshmen - will only help.
Also helping out this year is outdoor track coach BIll Allen, who has joined the team as an assistant.
“He brings some good experience,” Hernandez said.
Jordan-Elbridge
Coach: Todd Wolfanger
Top returners: Senior Andy DeGray (long jump), senior Steve Heffernan (triple jump), junior Donato DiRenzo (mid-distance).
Top newcomers: Junior Jeff Donohue (mid-distance), freshman Mike Marrero (mid-distance), freshman Nick Piedmonte (long sprints)
Outlook: In his final season, DeGray should be one of the top long jumpers and triple jumpers in Section III. He was third at the Empire State Games in the decathlon, and he'll have a strong supporting cast as the Eagles have 21 listed on the roster including nine seniors.
Moravia
Coach: Jan Hunsinger
Top returners: Sophomore Larry Bentley (distance)
Top newcomers: Sophomore Jonathan Garcia (shot put), freshman Joe Grobelny (distance), freshman Chane Corp (sprints, jumps)Outlook: The Blue Devils will no doubt miss Pat Nevius, who holds two school records. Numbers will likely plague Moravia again this season, but Hunsinger's young squad is showing promise. Grobelny is coming a very strong cross country season, and could make an impact this season.
Skaneateles
Coach: Jack Reed
Top returners: Senior Josey Witter (high jump), junior Sam Smolenski (mid-distance)
Top newcomers: Sophomore Matt Wild (sprints, jumps), sophomore Patrick Rooney (hurdles, jumps)
Outlook: Though the Lakers are lacking numbers - only 11 are listed on the roster - the team's top athletes can cover a wide range of events to keep them competitive. One of those top athletes is Witter. The 6-3 high jumper was the OHSL and Section III champ, and was also the OHSL champ in the triple jump. He represents the only senior on the team, but he's joined by five juniors.
Southern Cayuga
Coach: Bill Mullarney
Top returners: Evan Bassett, Sam Fessenden
Top newcomers: Alex Schmidt, Corey Field
Outlook: The Chiefs have more runners than they've had in the past but still carry a thin roster. They will however have enough to run some relays this winter. Mullarney expects his team to ease into the season after a tough cross country season, but will have his Chiefs running personal bests by the time spring rolls around. The youngster Schmidt has great speed, and could surprise some people
Union Springs
Coach: Mark Gaffney
Top newcomers: freshman John Carroll (distance), sophomore Vinnie Salato (sprints), freshman Chris Warner (jumps)
Outlook: Gaffney has his work cut out for him with more than a third of his roster being freshmen and not a single senior listed. Not to mention the Wolves lost Cheol Kessler, who was a first place waiting to happen in sprinting events. Their times will likely drop quickly, though, as the youngsters gain experience.
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