South starts fresh, Sweet Home returns ECIC champ
by PATRICK J. NAGY Reporter

Colleen Hertubise captains Williamsville South's varsity girls cross country team. Photo by Joe Eberle

Chuck Godfrey has seen a lot in his 29 years of coaching cross country but he is experiencing something new this year.

For the first time in his career, Godfrey has no returning runners for his Williamsville South varsity girls cross country but still feels he will field a presentable team.

Godfrey said junior captain Colleen Hurtubise, a two-year track veteran who improved greatly last spring, has continued to train over the summer and should do well this year.

Freshman Maxine Meyerhofer looks to be the strongest of the team's runners. Godfrey said she is able to train very well at the pace of some of the boys.

Sophomores Gretchen Szal and Laura Johnston and freshman Jenny Mooney have also been training well.

Freshmen Kelly Weisansal, Pam Macakanja, Krista Pomeroy, and Allison Shubert joined the team late but will provide depth when they are ready to compete, Godfrey said.

Godfrey feels Amherst could be the strongest team in the division, but Lake Shore is also a perennial power.

"Starpoint and Hamburg should not be overlooked," he added. "West Seneca East also has two of the top runners in the area and must be watched."

Godfrey said the goal for the team is to be more competitive in the division and sectionals and continue to improve throughout the season.

"The best attribute has been their great attitudes, work ethics, and competitiveness," said Godfrey. "Everyone has been working hard to try to improve."

South finished 3-11 in the league and was 13th out of 18 teams at sectionals.

The Billies opened Saturday at the 17th annual Franklinville Invitational at Ischua Valley Country Club. Meyerhofer was 104th (24:25), Hurtubise was 125th (25:22), Szal came in 167th (28:20), Mooney was 175th (30:57), and Johnston was 177th (31:09).

They competed Tuesday in the Don Hall Memorial Classic but results were unavailable before The Bee went to press.

South 2006 schedule 9-26 Amherst (Grover Cleveland Golf Course)................. 4:30 p.m. 9-30 at McQuaid Invitational (Genesee Valley Park) TBA 10-3 at Iroquois w/East 4:30 p.m. 10-6 at Town of Amherst Championships (Sweet Home)........ 4:30 p.m. 10-10 Lake Shore, Starpoint (Bassett Park)...................... 4:30 p.m. 10-14 at Alden Stampede (Alden High School) ........................ TBA 10-17 W.S. East w/Pioneer (Bassett Park)...................... 4:30 p.m. 10-21 at Clarence Fall Classic (Akron Falls Park) .............. TBA 10-28 ECICs (East Aurora High School) .................................. TBA 11-3 Section VI Championships (Elma Meadows) ................. TBA

Sweet Home

Injuries at last year's Section VI Championships resulted in a 4-8 season for Sweet Home. Coach Nilam Yagielski is looking for her team to rebound at this fall's sectionals, which will be held Nov. 3 at Elma Meadows Country Club.

Yagielski returns ECIC 2000-meter steeplechase champion, senior Megan Niblock. Niblock is a team captain with senior Laura Daniels.

"They bring experience, talent, and dedication," Yagielski said.

New runners include freshmen Katie Niblock and Laura DelSignore. Both were modified runners last year.

Yagielsi said her team's strength lies in experience (seniors Niblock, DelSignore, Kelly Monfea, Kristin Victor) and how well the girls run and work together.

"We have a great blend of experience from the seniors and enthusiasm from the seven newcomers," said Yagielski.

With powerhouses Clarence and West Seneca West on the schedule, Yagielski knows it will be a difficult season.

"Our division includes many of the top ranked teams but we are confident that we will be able to compete."

Sweet Home 2006 Schedule 9-23 at East Aurora Invitational (East Aurora High School)..... TBA 9-26 at W.S. West ........................................................................... 5 p.m. 9-30 at McQuaid Invitational (Genesee Valley Park) .................. TBA 10-3 at Orchard Park w/Clarence ......................... ......................... TBA 10-6 at Town of Amherst Championships (Sweet Home)... 4:30 p.m. 10-10 at North w/Lancaster (Bassett Park) .................................. TBA 10-14 at Alden Invitational (Alden High School)......................... TBA 10-17 Frontier................................................................................. 5 p.m. 10-21 at Clarence Invitational (Akron Falls Park) ...................... TBA 10-21 at Clarence Invitational (Akron Falls Park) ...................... TBA 10-28 ECICs (East Aurora High School)....................................... TBA 11-3 Section VI Championships (Elma Meadows) ...................... TBA

e-mail: pnagy@beenews.com