2023 Wave MANIA TAKE-A-WAYS

Section 9 recap from all the action at Warwick's Wave Mania. 

​1. Crusaders Conquer

In the merge, Crusader Boys and Girls took away the team victory. In the Varsity I race, the Lady Crusaders scored 46 points behind a second place finish of Olivia Heim. Senior Anna Kearn would go on to place 5th for 4 points and Molly Foley ran 11th for 9 points. Boys similarly placed all 5 of their scorers in the top 20 of the Varisty II race with strong races from Oliver Jibb (3) , Shane Golio (5) and Gavin Catherwood (8). 

​2. Van Furman Has Arrived

​​With big brother gone, Van Furman let everyone know he’s ready to lead the way. We had him at 4:38 at the opening mile to break away the Varsity I race. The sophomore is going to be tough to beat this season and we’re excited to see what’s to come. 

​3. Good time to toot my own horn

​​I’m new at this and I’m not going to lie when you go out and make predictions, it’s nice when those “heavy hitters” hit. Donovan Baird, Andrew Lee, and Oliver Jibb rounded out the top 4 Varsity boys on the day behind Van Furman. Olivia Heim was second in the Varisty I race behind Roy C Ketcham Junior Abigail Kowalczyk.  And…

​4. Anna Furman's Chill 19:05

​​Not sure there was a more chill 19 minute 5k. Anna Furman breezed for the win in the Varisty II race in front of Pine Bush Senior Shaylen Goslen. 

​5. Watch out For Wallkill

​Those Wallkill girls are going to be in the mix in Class B. The fourth girls team on the day, they scored 58 points behind Monroe-Woodburys 46 in the Varsity I race. Caitlyn Murphy, Emma Dilemme, and Addie Psilopoulos went 4, 6, 8 in that race for a big finish. Speaking of strong team finishes… 

​6. Summer miles bring Warrior Smiles

​How about the Minisink Girls squad with top 20 performances by Kathryn Jones (7), Farrah Hill (9), Emily Murphy (16) and Emma Pollock (20). We caught this squad putting in the miles on the heritage trail this summer and it looks like it’s paying off.

​7. Noah Klugman, Gladiator in the Arena.  

​​Great to see Goshen Junior Noah Klugman hang in for second in the Varsity I race after Furman broke it open. He’ll be my Class B early favorite with the Mount Boys moving down to class C.

​8. ​Bryce Shannon, Back in Black 

​Here’s a Section 9 shake up, former Homestead School JR Bryce Shannon transfers to his home district of Port Jervis and runs just under 17:00 to go 13th in the Varsity II race. He’ll be a player in Class B going forward. 

​​9. Going to school with Mount Academy 

​We talked about Donovan Baird, but it’s astounding how well Mount Academy does this Cross Country thing. Not sure there is a stronger team in the state in Class C right now, with a big core of guys running 18 flat and under. The Mount Academy girls (Class D) top 5 averaged 22:23 behind Tri-Valleys 22:06, finishing behind Tri-Valley by just 8 points. Get excited for small schools! ​

​10. ​It never rains in Warwick 

​At this point it is comical the historical amount of  apocalyptic forecasts we’ve experienced before a Wave Mania, an OCIAA meet, a Fast times and so on and time and time again, it just never rains. Kudos to Coach Potter and Co. for hosting another quality invitational on Warwick grounds.