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The 2007 – ’08 Boys Section VI Indoor Track & Field Preview
Although, we say goodbye to Newfane who has dropped their Indoor Program due to budgetary costs; we welcome newcomers – Allegany-Limstone/Olean along with Niagara Falls to this years record setting number of boy’s teams (34 Teams including Canisius, St. Joe’s and St. Francis).
This year’s Indoor Track & Field Teams will be hard pressed to duplicate last season’s outstanding talent. The graduating class had some outstanding individuals in several events that will now be opened to a variety of seekers. Every year several outstanding athletes’ graduate, but someone always seems to fill their shoes the following year(s). With that in mind, it surely will be a very interesting year indeed. We will see a lot of new faces along with many of the past name(s) in several events.
Sprints & Hurdles - (55m Dash, 55m High Hurdles & 300m Dash)
The boys sprint races might very well be the deepest of all the events among the boy’s competitions this season in Section VI. Ten of the top thirteen boys will be returning for the 55m dash while several of the 55m dash sprinters will also double up in the 300m dash. The boys sprint races will most likely come down to six athletes who have broken 7 seconds for the 55m and 39 seconds for the 300m dashes. They are:
- Spencer Evans & Taylor Kensey ( Holland)
- Brandon Muire (Iroquois)
- Aaron Bapst ( Lancaster)
- Michael Babcock & Matthew LaMancuso ( Jamestown)
Six of the top ten hurdlers are also returning this season. Seniors – Greg French (Williamsville East) & Steve Ohler (Williamsville North) are the fastest returning hurdlers from last season. Watch out for Junior – Will Cole from Hamburg who is coming off an outstanding outdoor season while taking the 400 Intermediate Hurdle State Title in Section VI Record time. Word is out, that William will be ready to fly this indoor season based on his conditioning program of running cross country this past fall for the Section VI - Class ‘A’ Champion Bulldogs of Hamburg. Will had been Hamburg’s #6 runner for most of the cross country season.
If those three falter, Taylor Kensey ( Holland), Ryan Pericozzi ( Lancaster), Jared Voelker ( North Tonawanda) and Andy Wrazen (JFK) will be ‘waiting in the wings’.
Mid-Distance/Distance Events - (600m, 1000m, 1600m & 3200m Runs)
The boy’s distance events will also be hotly contested among the boy’s competitions this season in Section VI. But the ‘Biggest News’ here is that Junior – Joe Whalen Runner of the Year from Section VI in cross country this past season will be out due to two broken metatarsals that he suffered towards the end of the cross country season. We wish Joe a fast and quick recovery.
Otherwise, the middle-distance/distance races look to be led by at least a bakers-dozen number of athletes who have had very impressive resumes thus far in either outdoor track or this past cross country season. Look for Senior Zack Ball (Kenmore East) and Sophomore Drew Perilli (Lockport) to do battle in the 3200m run while Senior – John Inzina (Clarence) and Junior – Evan Tembelis (Grand Island) will most likely battle it out in the 1600m run.
Ironically, all four runners were recently named to the First-Team All-WNY Cross Country Team. The 1000m and 600m runs also look to be a heavily contested battle among the remaining nine mid-distance/distance runners. They are strangely enough all seniors led by:
- Bobby Biniaszewski (West Seneca West)
- Adam Burns ( North Tonawanda)
- Chris Carter ( Grand Island)
- Joe Kreuger (Pioneer)
- Andy MacDonald (Williamsville East)
- Tim Metivier ( Kenmore East)
- Casey Perdziak (Clarence)
- Ben Thuman ( Lancaster)
- David Szymkowiak ( Amherst)
Jumps & Pole Vault - (Long, Triple & High Jumps)
These events except for the Pole Vault will definitely be the scene for some new faces indeed. Only two Long Jumpers return who have jumped over the 20’ 0” barrier; they are seniors - Brain O’Shea ( Hamburg) and Mike Babcock ( Jamestown). Look for fellow teammate Justin Hatten of Hamburg to be among those involved in the Long Jump as well. Only one triple jumper who was ranked in the top ten last season returns and that is Junior – John Conti (Fredonia).
Others to watch here will be seniors - Shawn Battle ( Jamestown), Dan Polino (Clarence), Aaron Ryan (Maryvale) andsprint specialist Mike Babcock ( Jamestown). In the High Jump, only three qualifiers return with senior – Justin Hatten ( Hamburg) leading the way at 5’ 10”. Also, look for seniors – Sean Felton (Williamsville North) and Taylor Kensy ( Holland) to contend with Justin Hatten. Both Sean and Taylor have cleared 5’ 8”.
In the Pole Vault, all eyes will be on Senior – Ryan Pericozzi of Lancaster. Ryan is the defending Gold Medalist of the Empire State Games and will be looking to break the 15’ barrier mark this coming season. Ryan is clearly one of the Top Five returning Pole Vaulters in all of New York State. Look for seniors - Adam Hauser (Frontier), Nick Hilliard (Pioneer) and the duo of Ryan Miller and Howie Hayden both of Hamburg to be contenders for the second qualifier.
Shot Put
Although, this event lost the most to graduation (15 of the 28 qualifiers last season), only Senior – Andrew Hopkins from Sweet Home returns as a 50’ or better thrower from a year ago. As always, look for Lancasterto turn a few other unnamed throwers into the mix here along with Junior - Gino Buono. Others to watch here will be seniors – Tim Boorady ( Grand Island) and Carlos Roman ( Lockport).
Relays - (4 x 200m, 4 x 400m and 4 x 800m)
The 4 x 200 Meter Relay Team as well as their 4 x 400 Meter Relay Team from Holland returns three of their four members from last season’s indoor shocker to some. They return experienced seniors – Evan Spencer and Taylor Kensey along with Junior - Tim Pendergast. They won this past outdoors 4 x 400 Meter Relay Division II State Title. This team was put together three years ago with the idea of winning a State Title in mind all along. To some, it has come faster than expected. Look for Iroquois to challenge Holland all season in both relays along with the always-strong teams from Frontier and North Tonawanda.
The 4 x 800 Meter Relay Team from Clarence returns three of their four members from last season’s Championship team. Rumor has it though that junior Mike Plis will not return this season. Mike was clearly Clarence’s best 800 Meter man last year and will truly be missed indeed. Hence, Clarence may be hard-pressed to duplicate last season’s winning scenario. But don’t count them out yet, they return a nucleus of distance runners from this past season’s #1 Ranked Cross Country Team in Section VI. If they falter, look for Lancaster and the always-strong Frontier Team to fill the void. Also, watch out for North Tonawanda’s and Grand Island’s Teams.
Team Competition
Look for the Large Schools to dominate as they traditionally do due to the fact that they have the numbers in their favor; as the saying goes ‘Winning Takes Care of itself’. Lancaster along with Frontier will probably contend for Supremacy along with, Clarence, Hamburg, and North Tonawanda rounding out the Top Five places. Frontier was last year’s winner at the Team Championships while North Tonawanda won the WNY Relays.
The Catholic Teams
Although, the above-mentioned teams involve only those affiliated approved Section VI – Teams, the three catholic school teams - Canisius, St. Joe’s & St. Francis) will indeed have an abundance of talent across the board as well. Canisius traditionally has a strong core of distance runners led by juniors – Jordan Hamm & Barry Fitzgerald along with seniors – Sam LoPresti & Ned McGrath. Rumor also has it that sophomore - Colin Bogdan will not run this indoor season as well. They virtually return all four members of their 4 x 800 Meter Relay team that are capable of running with the best that New York has to offer. Also, look for Junior – Jon Urschel to compete among the best throwers in WNY as well.
St. Joe’s usually have a few distance runners as well. Watch out for Matt Collins, Matt Conway and Ben Kuch.
St. Francis is traditionally strong in the sprints and jumps. They are led by senior sprinter - Richard Brooks and a slew of jumpers in the likes of seniors – Andrew Gordon & Grant Fiegl. They also return senior – Cory Gotowka - a 43’ 0” shot putter. It will also be very interesting to see what kind of relays they can put together. St. Francis is traditionally very strong in both the 4 x 200 & 4 x 400 Meter Relays.
As always, it will come down to Canisius’s distance runners verse’s St. Francis’s sprinters & jumpers.
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