N-O cross-country season begins Tuesday

By Mike Wertman, Sports Writer Posted 22 September 2019 at 10:00 am

Photos by Mike Wertman – Veteran members of the Albion cross-country teams include, in front, Zack Fuller, Greg Neptune, Reuben Rivers, Brian Spall, Owen Hunt and Jayden Allport. In back are Lillian Mathes, Alexis Hess, Kyle Pappalardo, Alanna Holman, Ashleigh Mowatt and S’koi Sanders.

The Niagara-Orleans League cross-country season will be underway Tuesday with three meets at 5 p.m.including Albion and Medina at Newfane, Barker at Wilson and Akron at Roy-Hart.

The Newfane boys have captured the N-O title the last two years and the Pnthers are led by sophomore Austin Burkard who won the All-League meet race last fall.

The Newfane girls have claimed the N-O crown the last four years but the Lady Panthers graduation losses included four time N-O All-League meet winner Kim Goerss.

Underclassemn dominate the lineup for both the Albion boys and girls team.

The boys lineup includes seniors Zack Fuller and Kyle Pappalardo; junior Josh Depoty; sophomores Reuben Rivers, Brian Spall, Owen Hunt, Jayden Allport, Rowan Ford and Sam Williams and freshman Greg Neptune. Rivers earned second team All-League honors by placing 12th in the All-League race.

The girls squad includes junior Alanna Holman, sophomore Lillian Mathes, freshmen Alexis Hess and Ashleigh Mowatt and eighth grader S’koi Sanders. Holman, who earned first team All-League honors by placing third at the All-League meet, went on to place third in the sectionals and 23rd at the state championship meet.

Medina, which has a large contingent of 26 runners, is led by veterans August Pietrafesa, Alwyn Cayea, Cameron Castenon, Isaac Pace and Arian Cayea on the boys side and Sabrina Quiros, Hannah Heil and Corinne Hill on the girls side. All are juniors except Pace and Arian Cayea who are sophomores.

Roy-Hart is led by seniors Anna Rickard, who placed second at the All-League meet, and Ozzy Moore who took seventh.

Veteran members of the Medina cross-country squads include, in front August Pietrafesa, Alwyn Cayea, Cameron Castenon, Isaac Pace and Arian Cayea. In back are Sabrina Quiros, Hannah Heil and Corinne Hill.