Marc My Words!

Suffern HS boys, girls on run, but race far from over     

Suffern High School, once again, is on the run.

The Mounties again hosted the prestigious Suffern Cross Country Invitational at Bear Mountain State Park, and proved to be the best that day by winning both the Boys Varsity ‘A’ and Girls Varsity ‘A’ banners in a field of 137 schools.

Suffern won with 70 points, with Tappan Zee HS taking the runner-up spot with 102 behind overall champion Brendan Hehir, a junior who was clocked in 16:30.2 to top a field of 137 competitors.

Clarkstown North was third with 123 points while Clarkstown South placed sixth with 186.

“We had a lot of dual races already; finished second at the Bear Mountain Invite and third at the Washingtonville (Wizard) Invite,” noted longtime veteran Head Coach Joe Biddy of New City, who is assisted by Wendell Haler.

Suffern, led by the one-two punch of Marry Hennelly and Rachel Ludwikowski, won the girls title with 61 points while Clarkstown South was sixth with 199 and Nanuet eighth with 211. The girls race drew a field of 128 runners, with Hennelly leading the way in 18:10.6 and Ludwikowski right behind in 18:12.7.

Biddy, into his 47^th year coaching cross country (he has 38 in girls track and 43 in boys track), is already pointing toward the Rockland County Championships, which is set for Oct. 29 at 2:30 p.m. at Bear Mountain and which, he believes, is stacking up as a wide-open competition.

“It’s looking like a down year in the county,” said the always-candid Biddy, a physical education teacher who has been around long enough that 1974 graduate Mike Hagon – who he considers to be the best-ever to come out of Rockland – has already retired and living in Florida.

(Ed note: Hagon clocked 4:07 in the full mile in 1974 for a county standard that still stands 41 years later and which held up as a state recod for nine years.)

“There are no superpowers this year in the county,” added Biddy, whose top boys runners this season appear to stack up as Patrick Hennelly, Patrick’s younger brother Mike, Ben Hochheiser and Jeremy Giardina.

In the county, Biddy expects to vie for the crown with North Rockland, Pearl River and Tappan Zee.

“Tappan Zee if they stay healthy,” continued Biddy. “Even Clarkstown South is hanging around. As I said there are no dominant teams this year.”

         At the Suffern Invitational, the Tappan Zee girls placed third in the Varsity ‘B’ race, led by Caitlin Hartnett, 9^th in 20:26, and Trinity Lundemo, 10^th in 20:31 against a field of 98 competitors.         Top Rockland finisher was sophomore Louise Jones of fifth-place Nyack, who was sixth in 20:16.1.          In the boys Varsity ‘B’ race, which drew a field of 120 runners, Nyack High School finished seventh behind fifth-place finisher Jemar Ortega, a junior who was clocked in 16:58.5.SUFFERN INVITATIONAL RESULTS             BOYS VARSTIY ‘A’: Top 10 finishers, plus Rockland finishers in top 50 (a total of 137 runners completed the course):             1 — Brendan Hehir, Tappan Zee, 16:30.2; 2 — Patrick Henelly, Suffern, 16:45.9; 3 — Ben Hochheiser, Suffern, 16:50.2;  4 — Brian Camillieri, Nanuet, 16:54; 5 — Ryan Corbett, Eastport South, 16:56.9; 6 — Ted Oster, William Floyd, 17:02.7; 7 — Doug Mullen, Kings Park, 17:06.7; 8 —Anthony DiIorio, Bergen Tech, 17:07.1; 9 — Matt Sayre, Lakeland/Panas, 17:10.9; 10 — Henry Driesen, Pelham Memorial, 17:11.5 11 — Josh Kansky, Clarkstown North; 13 — Jack Collins, TZ; 14 — Jeremy Giardina, Suffern; 15 — Jared Chin, Clarkstown S.; 17 — Michael Hennelly, Suffern; 20 — Conor Malagraph, Clarkstown S.; 21 — James Betts, Clarkstown N.; 2 — Oscar Vidal, Clarkstown N; 25 — Dylan Mitlof, Clarkstown N.; 26 — Brian Wunsch, TZ; 27 — Ryan Guerci, Nanuet; 29 — Isaac Wecht, TZ; 33 — Tyler Kenny, TZ; 34 — Ryan Tso, Suffern; 38 — Mike Kiely, TZ; 39 — Ben Boston, Suffern; 42 — Zachary Hasenbalg, Nanuet; 44 — Ryan Vignali, Clarkstown N.; 47 — Brandan Milich, Clarkstown S.; 48 — Austin Labbe, Clarkstown S.       GIRLS VARSITY ‘A’: Top 10 finishers, plus Rockland finishers in top 50 (a total of 128 runners completed the course):         1 – Mary Hennelly, Suffern, 18:10.6; 2 – Rachel Ludwikowski, Suffern, 18:12.7; 3 – Agnes Ollivier-Yamin, Ardsley, 18:33.9; 4 – Dana Lynch, Middletown, 19:14.7; 5 — Abigail McLaughlin, Bergen Tech, 19:19.2; 6 – Sarah Trainor, FD Roosevelt, 19:36.9; 7 — Jenna Borenkoff, Suffern, 19:37.5;               8 – Ruth Segal, Ardsley, 19:39.8; 9 – Kristen Carbone, Nanuet, 19:55.4; 10 – Amanda Carlson, Sachem North, 19:57.2; 26 – Jackie Becker, Suffern; 27 – Emily Reda, Suffern; 30 – Tegan Jones, Clarkstown S.; 34 – Sofia Echeverria, Clarkstown N.; 35 – Olivia Nikac, Nanuet; 36 – Katherine Byrnes, Clarkstown S; 44 – Mia Lowery, Nanuet; 45 – Meaghan Burke, Clarkstown S; 46 – Kyra Guerci, Nanuet.

GRIDIRON REWIND

Clarkstown North 21, Mahopac 0: At North, senior Michael Porco scored on a 70-yard run in the second period to ignite the unbeaten Rams’ third-straight victory. Senior quarterback Jack Abrams also scored before the half, while Matt Asheim added a 26-yard TD run later in the game

Clarkstown South 31, Ossining 21: At South, the Vikings of Coach Mike Scarpelli won their second straight after a season-opening loss to cross-town rival Clarkstown North in the annual Supervisor’s Cup. The Vikings got three touchdowns from Ryan Thomas, and Matt Jung fired TD passes to Thomas and Jack O’Shea. Kyle Samuels added a touchdown and Jack Spreckman had an interception. The Vikings hit the road on September 26, traveling across the river to meet Mount Vernon at 1:30 p.m.

Tappan Zee 41, Nyack 37: The Dutchmen, directed by veteran coach Andy DiDomenico, needed three late touchdowns to overcome an outstanding one-man effort by the Indians’ LJ Norfleet. Norfleet ran 20 times for 258 yards and went 6-of-10 for 109 yards and two touchdowns through the air. Malyk Michel had three receptions for 99 yards and two TDs in the setback. Tappan Zee looks to extend its streak at home against Ramapo on September 25 at 7 p.m. Nyack, which had won its first two games, hopes to rebound in Poughkeepsie on September 25 when its challenges Our Lady of Lourdes at 7:30 p.m.

In other games: Spring Valley (1-2) routed Pelham Memorial, 40-0; Nanuet defeated Pleasantville, 27-7; North Rockland (1-2) was blanked by New Rochelle, 33-0; Pearl River (3-0) beat Port Chester (0-3), 34-12; Ramapo (1-2) bowed to Carmel (3-0), 41-2; Albertus Magnus (2-1) lost to Bronxville (2-1), 16-8; Suffern (2-1) shut out Mount Vernon (1-2), 6-0.

September 25: Spring Valley (1-2) hosts Byram Hills (0-3), 7 p.m. at Torne Valley Sports Complex, Hillburn; Clarkstown North (3-0) at Mamaroneck (0-3), 7 p.m.; North Rockland at Carmel, 7 p.m.; Ramapo at Tappan Zee, 7 p.m.;p Nyack at Our Lady of Lourdes, Poughkeepsie, 7:30 p.m.

September 26: Nanuet (3-0) hosts Westlake (1-1), 1:30 p.m.; Albertus Magnus hosts Edgemont, 12:30 p.m.; Clarkstown South at Mount Vernon, 1:30 p.m.; Pearl River hosts Harrison, 1:30 p.m.; Suffern hosts Ketcham, 7 p.m.

LATEST ON THE GREATEST: The first word in support of Nyack twins Jason and Devin McCourty as we seek votes to decide the greatest amateur and pro amateur athlete to come out of Rockland County comes from Spring Valley native Andre Chiavelli. Not surprising, since Chiavelli’s FB page, Rockland’s Greatest, continues to gain interest. The twin defensive backs are both playing in the NFL: Jason in his seventh season with the Titans and Devin in his sixth season with the Patriots. “It’s a tough choice,” Chiavelli said. “Let’s hope the public responds. Could be that WW (pro baseball player and manager Walt Weiss of Suffern) and RR (Nyack High School and Detroit Lions great Roger Brown) run 1-2 at the finish line. As for amateur status, little JoeD (Tappan Zee HS legend and ace golfer Joe D’Auria of Sparkill) leads the way at this time, but I am surprised there is not more support for (John) Jemison (softball pitching great) and JoJo Mackey (baseball great).” Chiavelli then captures the heart of the matter: “It is all good. The way I look at it, at least someone is talking about former greats and they are not forgotten.” Please respond to marcmaturo@aol.com.

COLLEGIATE CLIPS: Newcomers and sisters Elina and Anna Breton of Suffern are competing on the women’s cross country team St. Lawrence University in Canton. The Saints won the 21-team Saratoga Invitational for a fourth straight time behind sophomore Megan Kellogg of Queensbury. Elina placed 25^th in 18:53.9 while Anna was 47^th in 19:13. … The Nyack College women’s soccer team dropped its fourth game of the season, bowing to Mercy College, 8-0, in Dobbs Ferry. Senior midfielder Brittany Cruz of Suffern ranks third on the Warriors in scoring with five points on two goals and one assist. … Freshman Donny Davis of New City carried 16 times for 102 yards and junior Shane Cronin of West Nyack booted a 38-yard field goal as the Cortland football team raised its record to 3-0 with a 34-17 victory over St. John Fisher in Pittsford. The field goal by Cronin, a Clarkstown South alum, was his longest for the Red Dragons, who host Utica College on September 26, at 1 p.m. on Homecoming Weekend. … Sophomore defensive back Luke Kern of Stony Point had five solo tackles and assisted on four others as the Catholic University football team outlasted the Coast Guard Academy, 40-28, in Washington, D.C.

RIP: The Rockland community mourns the loss of Guy Malcolm Stead of Hillburn, who died peacefully on September 17 at the age of 77. An Army veteran and retired Lieutenant from the Town of Ramapo Police Dept, Stead was also known as a basketball referee, track and field official, swimming/diving referee, and volleyball official over the last 35 years.