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Calendar Varsity Cross Country
Girls’ Cross-Country: 2007 Season Report
Loyola’s girls were the 2007 champions of the Girls Independent Schools Athletic League (G.I.S.A.L.), racing impressively to capture the league crown in the championship meet of Oct. 30. The talented and deep squad peppered the finish line in a steady stream of maroon: Loyola took places 2, 8, 9, 10, 17, and 18 to secure a comfortable victory. The team competed in several meets outside the league: the Fifth Annual Villa Bears Classic of Sept. 15; St. Anthony’s 37th Annual Invitational at Sunken Meadow State Park on Oct. 6; and, on Oct. 13, the Manhattan College 35th Annual High School Invitational, which featured a record 386 schools from 14 states and Canada.
The team was balanced in terms of mind-set: the girls were serious and focused runners, yet happy ones as well, finding delight in the camaraderie of one another’s company. The team was also balanced in terms of experience: a battery of veteran runners, who provided an anchor of stability in the familiar, melded with an array of newcomers, who blossomed unpredictably into tough and poised harriers. This cast of harriers had an ace as well, who ran a remarkable season from beginning to end.
Junior Janelle Li-A-Ping set school records for Van Cortlandt Park’s 2.5-mile course (16:47.1) and 3.1-mile course (20:53.0). A talented and tenacious flyer, Li-A-Ping finished seventh at the Twenty-Fourth Annual New York State Association of Independent Schools Cross-Country Championships on Nov. 10. The seventh-place finish marked Loyola’s best performance ever at this state meet.
Li-A-Ping was supported by junior teammates Katie Davey, Kristen Miano, and Lauren Withers, all stalwarts of the program. The neophyte harriers were juniors Emily Miano and Jessica Bogutsky, sophomores Mary Buchanan, Kasey McKenna, Brynn Norris, and Kelly Simek, and freshman Anjelica Matiz. Emily Miano, a patient runner having uncanny instinct for the time to make a move, was the team’s number-two runner. In addition to Li-A-Ping, Emily Miano, Katie Davey, and Kelly Simek were the linchpin to the team’s championship run.
Boys’ Cross-Country: 2007 Season Report
The boys’ team registered notable individual achievements, including a second-place finish at the Independent Schools Athletic League (I.S.A.L.) championship meet on Oct. 30 and medal finishes at two prominent meets, St. Anthony’s 37th Annual Invitational on Oct. 6 and the Manhattan College 35th Annual High School Invitational on Oct. 13.
With only seven runners, the team precariously relied upon its top five to perform well in every meet, providing little allowance for error. In addition, the season-long injury to senior harrier Will Healy, the I.S.A.L.’s number-one runner in the 2006 season, was a significant blow to the team’s fortunes. Loyola’s lack of depth was telling in the I.S.A.L. championship on Oct. 30: two runners dropped off their expected paces, and the team fell to a disappointing fourth-place finish. In additon to the St. Anthony’s and Manhattan College Invitationals, the boys competed in the Regis and Xavier Invites at Van Cortlandt Park.
Senior Genaro Mancera was Loyola’s top runner. Carrying a leaner frame of greater tone, Mancera ran his best varsity season. He medaled at the Regis, Xavier, St. Anthony’s, and Manhattan College Invitationals, and he finished second at the I.S.A.L. championship—in a race he probably ran too conservatively—with a time of 18:25.83.
Mancera was supported by junior Alex Fieldcamp and senior Nick Berry, first-year harriers at Loyola. The lithe Fieldcamp, a talented athlete who took easily to the rigors of cross-country, and the mentally tough Berry, who grew in confidence with each passing race, were Loyola’s number-two and number-three runners. Juniors Tom Dore and Tim March and senior Henry Newman were steadfast contributors as well.
Team bonds strengthened noticeably over the season. So, too, did competitive focus and pride in school. The team’s motto—Run hard. Run smart. Go Loyola!—underwent a transformation of tone. By season’s end, in pre-race meetings at the start line, the motto was at last embraced, proclaimed with strong and businesslike voice.
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Varsity Soccer
With the majority of last year’s team off to college, the Loyola varsity soccer team welcomed many new additions to this year’s lineup. Co-captains Alex Antonucci and Steven Franzetti led the Knights through an outstanding season, snagging the ISAL B Division Championship from league rival Trevor Day. Using new plays and strategies developed during the Italian Soccer Camp, the new players brought a different approach to winning the games. Returning senior Rob Lagno was joined on the offense by seniors Davron Akilbaev, Luca Mannarino and Pedro Das Neves, and newcomer Aidan Tyson, all of whom led an impressive attack on Loyola’s opponents. The mid-field lineup was made up of Co-captain Steven Franzetti, who was joined by Seniors Stefano Cassar and Seamus Coffey, Junior Will Grogan, and Sophomores Marc Berardi and Tim Perin. The mid-fielders produced their fair share of goals, and fed the attackers the ball. The defensive line was graced by the able play of Seniors Mark Orlic, Nick Kanisczak, and Vincent Recca who along with Juniors Nick Doepp, James Gibaldi, and Mikhail DeJesus, impeded opposing attackers. The last line of defense was the capable tandem of Co-captain Alex Antonucci and goalie Matt Goldstein. Goldstein’s breath taking saves provided a nigh-impenetrable wall in front of the Loyola goal. Some of the season’s highlights were playing under the lights at Ichaun Stadium and the Nike Stadium in Queens, as well as the winning goal against league champs Lycee Francais. Of course none of this wonderful season would have been possible without the guidance of Coach Tram. There’s only one thing left to say: “1…2…3 ANDIAMO!”
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Varsity Volleyball
The Lady Knights’ volleyball season record was not what they had hoped, however the advances the team made in skills and teamwork were remarkable. Captains Caitlin McManus and Claudia Morell, and seniors Kerry Conroy, Maura Gallen, and Ali King led the team by example. They worked hard in each practice and game, and motivated the team throughout the season. From the beginning of pre-season, through reservoir runs and sprints, to our last game, the seniors maintained a dedicated work ethic and positive energy. They will be greatly missed next year. Juniors Kelsey Barclay, Erin Kavanagh, Ayanna Legros, Theresa Murphy, Kristen Schwam, Angelina Sanchez, and Rachel Simmons will lead the team next year. The junior class is a talented group of athletes and leaders who will help the Lady Knights thrive. Sophomores Ali Catherall, Cecilia Fassina and Lauren Meade are talented volleyball players with strong determination and will continue to add depth to the team. The Lady Knights hope to build on the skills they developed this season. The large junior varsity team will feed some talented players onto the varsity team next year, as well, adding to the skill set of the team. With the skills, dedication, and team spirit the Lady Knights demonstrated this season, they showed that they will be a force on the court next year!
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