2012 Cross Country Preview
2012 Women's Cross Country Preview
Head coach Mike Woods (Geneseo '69) begins his 21st year leading the Geneseo women's cross country team and the veteran mentor thinks the Blue Knights are poised for a top finish at the NCAA Division III national meet. In 2011, Geneseo finished 12th at the national championships after finishing second at the Atlantic Region and winning the SUNYAC championship despite losing 2010 All-American Marissa Liberati (Manchester/Red Jacket) to an early season injury.
Liberati returns to lead an experienced group that includes senior Danae Polsin (Baldwinsville/C.W. Baker), who claimed All-Region and first team All-SUNYAC recognition in 2011. Senior Emily Sullivan (West Seneca/West Seneca West) and sophomore Cassie Goodman (Phelps/Midlakes) return to the fold after earning All-Region last year, while senior Brigid Heenan (Liverpool) and sophomore Alyssa Knott (Smithtown/West) join the group after earning second team All-SUNYAC in 2011.
Woods expects a trio of veterans and a pair of newcomers to challenge for the top seven. Senior Cailin Kowalewski (Fredonia), who played three seasons of soccer for the Blue Knights, has made the jump from the 800 meters to the longer distances, junior Mary Aldridge (Rochester/Brighton) comes off a breakout season on the track and junior Bekah Steinke (Lima/Honeoye Falls-Lima) seems poised to contribute. First years Ashton Hughes (Fairport) and Krista Roncone (Pittsford/Mendon) will push the veterans.
Seniors Erin Dorset (Clifton Park/Shenendehowa) and Esther Lok (Woodbury/Syosset) and juniors Celeste Hoelzl (Wilton, CT/Wilton), Allison Hoh (Honeoye Falls/Honeoye Falls-Lima), Towi Kuberka (Clarence) and Lauren McKnight (North Massapequa/Farmingdale) give Woods added experience and leadership.
Sophomores Joanna Castrogivanni (Smithtown/West), Chinasa Ekweremuba (Brooklyn/Brooklyn Generation), Jolie Siegel (Voorheesville), Laura Szczesniak (Whitesboro), Mallory Warner (Baldwinsville/C.W. Baker) and Keira Wood (Lake Ronkonkoma/Sachem North) push the seasoned veterans, while first years Sarah Anstett (East Aurora), Winny Chen (New York/Brooklyn Tech), Leanora Karnath (Buffalo/Buffalo Seminary), Rayanne Luke (Williamson), Shannon Murphy (Jamestown/Falconer), Stephanie Newman (West Seneca/Mt. Mercy), Jane Rosenthal (Fairport), Kylie Ryan (Pittsford/Mendon), Ellie Trelstad (White Plains) and Blair Wigsten (Lansing) complete the roster.
The Knights begin their season on Friday, August 31 at the Buffalo St. Invitational and will host the 32nd Annual Geneseo Invitational on Saturday, September 29 at Letchworth State Park at 11 a.m.
2012 Men's Cross Country Preview
The Geneseo men's cross country team begins the 2012 season with high expectations after finishing a program-best fourth at the 2011 NCAA Division III championships. Head coach Mike Woods (Geneseo, '69) enters his 21st season after earning his ninth SUNYAC Coach of the Year award in 2011. The team finished second at the NCAA Atlantic Regional after capturing their third straight and 11th overall SUNYAC championship last season.
Woods' first challenge is to replace graduated All-America runners Lee Berube and Eddie Novara. Seniors Tom Clark (Wantagh/Wantagh) and Chris Carter (Grand Island) return to lead the Blue Knights and senior Chris Mateer (Webster/Thomas) joins the mix after missing last season due to injury. Clark claimed All-Region and first team All-SUNYAC recognition, while Carter and senior Chris Moore (Syracuse/Westhill) were second team All-SUNYAC choices.
A trio of sophomores should contend for a spot in the top seven as Ryan Moynihan (Geneseo) and Billy Gabriel (Syracuse/West Genesee) return to the roster after solid first years, while transfer Cohen Miles-Rath (Cohocton/Wayland-Cohocton) earned All-Atlantic Region recognition at St. John Fisher last season with a 20th place finish. Senior Alex Brimstein (Webster/Thomas), who reached the NCAA championships in the 3,000-meter steeplechase on the track last spring, looks to match those performances at the longer distance.
Woods expects junior Patrick Wortner (Dobbs Ferry/Dobbs Ferry), a 2010 All-Region selection, and sophomore Liam Cody (Ithaca) to compete for one of the top spots.
Seniors Tim Chambers (Baldwinsville/C.W. Baker), Rob Harmon (Milford/Cooperstown), Mike Mattiucci (Webster/Thomas) and Greg Printy (Rochester/Eastridge) add experience and leadership to Geneseo's roster.
Sophomores Chaz Abad (East Setauket/Ward Melville), Matt Byrnes (Syracuse/West Genesee), Cole DeClerck (Webster/Thomas), Tim Mateer (Webster/Thomas), Kevin O'Connor (East Aurora), Nathan Traynor (Adams Center/South Jefferson), Kent Upham (LeRaysville, PA/Northeast Bradford) and Ben Wach (Mamaroneck) strive to improve their position on the team.
First years Joe Chapman (Ballston Lake/Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake), Noah Chauvin (Painted Post/Corning Painted Post West), Michael Custance (Commack), Alex Raymond (Rush/Rush-Henrietta) and Brendan Wortner (Dobbs Ferry) will be mentored into championship caliber competitors.
The Blue Knights open their season Friday, August 31 at the Buffalo State Invitational. They host the Geneseo Invitational on Saturday, September 29 at Letchworth State Park at 11 a.m.