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Kruszka takes home boys title at Sectionals

Submitted Photo Fredonia’s Mike Meredith, far right, is seen in a sprint to the finish during Friday’s Section VI Sectional cross country race.

GRAND ISLAND — After finishing in the top three the last couple of years, Gowanda’s Matt Kruszka took home first place in the Section VI Class C race held at Beaver Island State Park, in Grand Island.

“He was very excited,” Gowanda head coach Tim O’Donnell said. “He was predicted to win so he was feeling a lot of pressure. He came in second, third and fourth the last couple of years, so to finally win was a really big deal for him.”

With the top finish on the 3.1-mile course, Kruszka earned a spot in the New York State Public High School Athletic Association meet, which will be held at Chenango Valley State Park next weekend.

Elsewhere for the Panthers, Lyle Warrior took ninth, as Gowanda finished third with 123 points behind Newfane (98) and first-place Alden (89).

Fredonia’s Mike Meredith also advanced to states with a third-place finish. He finished with a time of 17:10.63

“He ran a really great race,” Fredonia coach Carol Zirkle said. “It was a really smart race. I am just so happy for him. He has been working on it for a long time.  I am proud of him. He stuck to his strategy. It was a sprint to the finish.”

Also for Fredonia, which finished fifth with 128 points, seniors Will Schrantz (17:50.88) and Jacob Lesch (18:23.90) ran career-best races.

“It’s very exciting for them to finish on a high note,” Zirkle said. “We are pleased with their effort.”

In the boys Class D race, Silver Creek-Forestville took sixth with 157 points, as Riley Wilson led the Black Knights with a 24th-place finish in a time of 19:03. Also finishing for Silver Creek-Forestville were Jon McDaneld (33rd, 19:40), Zak Bogosian (35th, 19:41), Austin Myers (36th, 20:07), Stephen Romanik (39th, 20:28), Mark Eggleston (48th, 22:13) and Ryan Rocque (51st, 22:25).

“Wilson, Bogosian, Myers and Romanik all had personal bests,” Silver Creek-Forestville coach Mike Janisch said. “So we were very pleased with their effort on a fine day to run a Beaver Island State Park.”

Maple Grove’s Michael Peppy won the race in a time of 16:16 while teammate Pete Auer was second in 16:53. Randolph’s Matthew Evans rounded out the top three, as he finished in a time of 17:10.

The Red Dragons won the team scoring with 21 points while Barker was second at 68 and Clymer-Sherman-Panama was third with 79.

In the girls Class C race, Fredonia finished fourth with 112 points, as Anna Buchanan (21st, 21:58.12) ran her best race of the season while Sydney Swan (16th, 20:55.42) and Kate Fiorella (42nd, 23:05.20) ran their final high school races.

“We are very pleased with Anna and our seniors,” Zirkle said. “We are thankful for the Sydney and Kate. They put a lot into cross country and we are happy with their efforts all season.”

Also for the Lady Hillbillies, Emily Brown took 15th in a time of 20:47.88.

Meanwhile, in the Class D race, Silver Creek-Forestville’s Emma Seiders earned the right to participate in her fifth NYSPHSAA meet, as she finished ninth in a time of 20:18, 28 second ahead of teammate Jaylah Cossin, who took 10th in 20:46. Also finishing for the Black Knights were Julia Kennedy (15th, 21:51), Lily League (19th, 22:13), Juliana Flick (25th, 23:03), Mikayla Clark (38th, 24:32) and Grace Overbeck (45th, 26:53).

“Emma ran an outstanding race in a very tight bundle of runners that were positioned 7-8-9,” Janisch said. “And they all came in within a second or two of each other. And Julie, Lily and Juliana each ran personal-best times.”

Silver Creek-Forestville finished second with 78 points, 52 points behind top finishing team Maple Grove (26). Clymer-Sherman-Panama was third with 88 points.

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