Youthful Lady Billies pose a threat on the track
by PATRICK J. NAGY Reporter

Senior Colleen Hurtubise, far left, sophomore Amanda Breymeier and junior Ashley Ferenczy captain the Williamsville South indoor track team. Photo by Joe Eberle Purchase color photos at www.BeeNews.com

The Williamsville South girls indoor track team only has four seniors but that doesn't mean they are not running with maturity.

In the Lady Billies' first meet of the season, an A/B division meet on Dec. 7 at Buffalo State College, South won four events, had three second place finishes and placed six others in the top six. South followed with five first place finishes last Friday in an B/D division meet at Lancaster High School.

"It shows our maturity even though we're young," said South coach Sam Hasan. "Plus, it shows we have team depth. I'm real excited about the season."

Some of Hasan's top athletes on the girls side are underclassmen. Sophomores Allie Van Buren, Jenny Mooney and Amanda Breymeier are returning New York State Championship qualifiers.

Van Buren is the returning section champion in the 55-meter hurdles; Mooney broke her own school record at sectionals to place second in the 1500 racewalk. Breymeier high-jumped 4-10 at sectionals for second place.

Van Buren has gone to the state meet since seventh grade. She took second in the 55 hurdles and 300 at Buffalo State. She also won the 50 hurdles at Lancaster in 7.7.

In addition to the racewalk, Mooney will run the 1000, 1500 and 4x800 relay. Mooney took third in the racewalk at Buffalo State and first at Lancaster.

Besides the high jump, Breymeier, a tri-captain, is also a threat in the 600, 1000, 55 hurdles, high jump, and 4x200, 4x400 and 4x800 relays. She opened the 2007-08 season after winning the high jump in 4-10 at Buffalo State. She was also third in the 55 hurdles. She won the high jump at Lancaster with a leap of 5-1.

Other sophomores who should perform well are Rachel Zucker (4x400 relay, 600, Rachelle Moyer (4x200 relay up to 600), Meagan Munroe (4x800 relay, 600, 1000) and Skye McCullen (55 dash, 300, 4x200 and 4x400 relays).

Returning upperclassmen include juniors Ashley Ferenczy and Laura Johnston and seniors Colleen Hurtubise and Jennifer Lopez.

Ferenczy, a tri-captain, missed the state cut time in the 600 last year by eight hundredths of a second, finishing fourth at sectionals. Ferenczy will also be doing the 4x400 and 4x800 relays and possibly the 1000. She has the top 600 time in Section VI this season after posting a first-place 1:45.3 at Buffalo State. She also took fifth in the 300.

Johnston, a three-year runner, can compete from the 4x800 up to the 3000. Hurtubise, a tri-captain, is strong in the 1500, 3000 and 4x800 relay. Lopez, whose specialty is the shot put, is back on the team for a sixth year. She won the event at Buffalo State.

Kristina and Kailyn Arcury make their debuts. Kristina, a senior, has the top 55 hurdles time in the section with a 9.22 at Buffalo State. She was also second in the 55 dash. She can also run the 4x200 relay and high and long jump. Kristina is coming off winning a section all-around title in girls gymnastics.

Kailyn, an eighth-grader, took fourth in the hurdles at Buffalo State. She is a state qualifier in gymnastics in vault, bars and balance beam. Like her older sister, Kailyn can run the 55 dash, taking third in the event at Buffalo State. She was sixth in the high jump.

Nine girls qualified for sectionals after the Buffalo State meet. They are Kristina Arcury (55 hurdles, 55 dash), Kailyn Arcury (55 hurdles, 55 dash), Van Buren (55 hurdles, 300 dash), Breymeier (55 hurdles, high jump, missed 1000 by three hundredths of a second), Ferenczy (600) and Mooney (racewalk).

Boys

The strength of the boys team will come from a group of athletes.

Included in the mix are senior Alex Podvezko, juniors RJ Grampp, Nick Hoffman, John Stark, sophomores Peter Galbo, Bruce Hibler and Reed Corbett and freshman Nick Helmick.

Podvezko, a four-year runner, can run anything from 800 up to the 3200 and also the long jump.

Hoffman and Grampp, each first-year runners, run the 55 hurdles, 55 dash, 4x200 relay and long jump. Stark and Galbo can run from the 400 up to the 1600. Hibler can race the 600 and 1000.

Helmick runs the 55 hurdles, 55 dash, 300 and 4x200 relay. Corbett can long and triple jump.

Also on the team is freshman Sammy Hasan, a sprinter and long jumper.

Coach Hasan is seeing improvement from the boys and girls teams.

"Everyone is working hard and improving," said Hasan. "Their work ethic is great. It's a good young team and fun to be around. They're starting to bond and its feeding off each other. They want to do well."

Hasan said if both teams stay healthy and continue their steady improvement, they will have success.

Hasan is assisted by Dan Syracuse.

South races Friday at 4:30 p.m. at Buffalo State College. They will then compete in the Marine Corps Holiday Classic Dec. 27 at the Armory Track and Field Center in New York City. Hasan and North coach Julian Blake will each bring 22 athletes to the meet.

South 2007-08 Schedule 12-21 Buffalo State College 4:30 p.m. 12-26-27 Marine Corps Holiday Classic at Armory Track and Field Center in New York City.... TBA 12-28 Fredonia State College .. 9 a.m. 1-4 Buffalo State College 4:30 p.m. 1-5 Cornell University Southern Tier Invitational ................ 9 a.m. 1-13 Varsity Select No. 1 at Fredonia State College .............. 9 a.m. 1-19 Buffalo State College 8 a.m. 1-21 Seventh, tenth grade meet at Fredonia State College.... 9 a.m. 1-26 Varsity Select No. 2 at Lancaster .................................... noon 2-2 RIT Invite ....................... TBA 2-3 Varsity Select No. 3 at Fredonia State College .............. 9 a.m. 2-9 Western New York Relays at Fredonia State College.... 9 a.m. 2-16 Section VI Team Championships at Fredonia State College ............................................... 9 a.m. 2-24 Varsity Select No. 4 at Fredonia State College .............. 9 a.m. 3-1 Section VI New York State Qualifier at Fredonia State College ..................................... 9 a.m.

e-mail: pnagy@beenews.com