NJIC 2018 Record Sports
Girls XC Preview
By:Paul Schwartz – staff writer
COLONIAL
2017 League champions: Lyndhurst and Alex Walter, Glen Rock
Returnees in Top 5: Emily Byrnes, Eastern Christian (3rd). Samantha Green, Park Ridge/Emerson won Patriot last year.
DWIGHT-ENGLEWOOD
Top returnees: seniors Martha Miracky and Jessica Sonkin and sophs Serin Koh and Zoe Kapur.
Outlook: New head coach Alexandra Champ is also the NV/Demarest lacrosse coach and herself a competitive athlete. She’d like to bring the girls team to where the boys team already is.
EASTERN CHRISTIAN
Top returnees: senior Emily Byrnes, junior Elise Reitsma and soph Kristen Ghinelli.
Outlook: Byrnes has had a terrific career both in track and cross-country and has some great support from Reistma and Ghinelli. If the back of the pack can develop, EC might have an excellent year.
ELMWOOD PARK
Top returnees: None
Outlook: Former Rutherford standout Kellie Dunn has revived the program for the first time in many years.
EMERSON/PARK RIDGE
Top returnees: seniors Samantha Green and Michelle Galdi and juniors Julia Moran and Ali McNamara.
Outlook: Green was a sensation last year, as she was finally healthy and won the state Group 1 title and finished 17th in the State Meet of Champions. She’ll be joined in cross-country this season by junior Sarah Geormaneanu, who stepped in last spring when Green was injured and won the state sectional 1,600. Galdi and Moran give PRE a solid top 4 and if they can find a 5th, they could surprise.
GARFIELD
Top returnees; senior Natalie Nunez and soph Arianna Collado.
Outlook: Injuries, a move and several personal issues cost the Boilermakers four returnees from last year but Collado could be a surprising youngster.
GLEN ROCK
Top returnees: seniors Juliette DeMaria, Maggie Smith and Casey Rossnagel and junior Emma Goshin.
Outlook: The Panthers have some experience but have added a number of new runners with talent that have to get used to running (and training) for long distance.
HARRISON
Top returnee: senior Raiza Briceno.
Outlook: The Blue Tide continues to try and build a program.
LEONIA
Top returnees: senior Akari Uchida and junior Katie Schuller.
Outlook: New head coach Timmy Ryan takes over the program at his alma mater and has a very good #1 in Schuller. The Lions need to develop some depth behind her.
LYNDHURST
Top returnees: senior Jamie Lynn Connors and junior Gizette Perez.
Outlook: The Golden Bears lost a lot to graduation but return enough talent to be in contention again.
RUTHERFORD
Top returnees: juniors Kaitlyn Sullivan, Jenna Severino and Karen Yoo.
Outlook: The only senior is newcomer Madison Fahmy and the Bulldogs hope to reach the top half of the division by the end of the season.
MEADOWLANDS
2017 League Meet champions: Hasbrouck Heights and Giana DiLascio
Returnees in Top 5: Elizabeth Szambel, St. Mary’s (2nd); Devin Davila, Saddle Brook (3rd); Shannon Artuso, Hasbrouck Heights (4th).
BUTLER
Top returnees: senior Melissa Konopinski.
Outlook: The Bulldogs come into their new league with a solid top runner and a hard working group behind her.
CRESSKILL
Top returnees: seniors Ashley Kim, Sierra Mehlbrech, Alison Pratt and Levana Rashba, juniors Ashley Allen, Elyssa Ledven and soph Keren Binderman
Outlook: The Cougars are comfortable with their top four but needs some of the younger runners to step up so that they can contend in the new division.
HASBROUCK HEIGHTS
Top returnees: seniors Briana Kelly and Maddie Ross, juniors Mia Guerra and Robert LaBarbera and soph Shannon Artuso.
Outlook: The Aviators return four of their top five from a team that won Bergen D and NJIC division crowns last year. If the very good sophomore group develops quickly, they also make the state Group 1 meet.
IMMACULATE CONCEPTION
Top returnee: sophomore Rachel Dubur.
Outlook: The Blue Wolves continue to build.
NEW MILFORD
Top returnees: junior Kelly Anne George and soph Paris DeLaCruz
Outlook: Almost the entire team is new and the goal is simple — win a dual meet!
POMPTON LAKES
Top returnee: junior Hana Flynn.
Outlook: The Cardinals lost three seniors who finished in the top 15 of the division last fall. They’re in rebuilding mode.
SADDLE BROOK
Top returnees: seniors Kayla Artemisio and Lara Menichelli, juniors Caroline Poskrobko, Samantha Soler and Natalie Travisano and soph Devin Davila.
Outlook: The entire team is back from last year and can contend for league and county titles. They are deep, young and hunger for success.
SECAUCUS
Top returnees: seniors Alexandra Molta, Kirsten Williams and Aya Khriss, juniors Trinity Black and Ashley White, sophomore Grace Bowers.
Outlook: Legendary coach Stan Fryczynski starts his 46th year with another competitive team that can be in contention for a league title and another trip to the state group championship. The Patriots have a strong early season schedule to prepare them for championship season.
ST. MARY’S
Top returnee: junior Elizabeth Szambel.
Outlook: veteran coach Joel Pasternack takes over and hopes to improve turnout. He starts out with an outstanding individual, Szambel, who came close to making both the Bergen County and State Meet of Champions last year. She could win the league.
PATRIOT
2017 League meet champions: Samantha Green, Park Ridge/Emerson and Bogota.
Returnees in top 5; Angelie Jaipersaud, Bogota (4th) and Gabby Grant, Bogota (5th).
BOGOTA
Top returnees: seniors Angelie Jaipersaud, Gabby Grant and Ashley Gomez, juniors Natalie Hardwick and Aisling O’Hagan and soph Lara Pena.
Outlook: The Bucs won the league last year and are favored to win it again and contend for the Bergen D title.
HAWTHORNE CHRISTIAN
Top returnees: seniors Christine Pellichio and Lydia Jackson and junior Olvia Sarnel.
Outlook: The top three girls have experience and show great leadership. There’s an enthusiastic group of younger runners behind them.
PALISADES PARK
Top returnees: senior Jasleen Nanda and junior Brittany Wu.
Outlook: Nanda is one of the most versatile athletes in the area and could have a breakthrough season in cross-country.
PATERSON CHARTER
Top returnees: junior Lyanna McFadden and sophs Ivana Vicuna, Zoe Richardson and Amy Inoa.
Outlook: There’s improvement every year here and this year it’s hoped that the team will run a full schedule.
WALDWICK
Top returnees: senior Sloane Irwin and soph Ashley Rypkema.
Outlook: It’s a very small team with a very good runner (Irwin).
WEEHAWKEN
Top returnees: senior Alexsa Ruiz and soph Delaney Rice.
Outlook: Weehawken continues to gain experience.
