He’ll be the first to tell you much is to be desired from his football team. All that lacked from an unforgettable regular season in 2009 was a toast of the bubbly. But Steve Sanzo knows that his brilliant campaign as a rookie head coach is now but a blur in the review mirror.
It’s been three seasons since Palmyra-Macedon made school history, becoming the first-ever team in the school’s now 72-year history to post an undefeated regular season and win the Finger Lakes East trophy. But the Red Raiders endured a major hiccup a week later, where, as the No. 1-seeded team in Class B, they fell in the opening-round of the sectional tournament to the lowest seed. It was only the second time in school history Pal-Mac entered the postseason with a No. 1 seed.
Winning all the first seven games of his coaching career, the Sanzo-led Red Raiders have posted a combined 7-11 record since — including one win by forfeit — and the program in general has endured nine of its last 11 seasons with four wins or fewer. Pal-Mac began its 2011 campaign with a 1-2 mark, but despite making a strong push toward the finish with a 3-1 run to cap the regular season, the red-and-white failed yet again to make noise in the postseason. The Red Raiders have never won a sectional title.
An average onlooker will exhale in relief knowing that both Hornell, the three-time reigning New York state champion, Bath-Haverling and Elba-Byron-Bergen have all dropped down into Class C this season. But Honeoye Falls-Lima is now part of Class B, and they’re likely to assume the same dominance Hornell achieved.
But regardless of those Class B woes, getting the Red Raiders out of the same, tired old routine of being a .500 ball club is top priority on the agenda. And sadly, if it hasn’t already begun in the weight room, it’s likely to be another win-one-lose-one season for Sanzo’s squad.
Tom Brady can know how to throw a football, but if he ain’t got the arm strength to do it he’s useless. Ray Lewis can know exactly when to blitz, where to blitz and what to do after he blitz’s. But if Lewis doesn’t have the steak and potatoes on his bones to punish the ball carrier, he’s going to become one with the earth.
Call them the Big Red Machine all you want, but that so-called red-and-white football thunder coming from F. Theodore Deci Field on Friday night’s is nothing more than stripes on a barbershop pole until Webster’s true definition of the word “dedication” is defined between the harsh marks and bench press like it’s a religion.
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Thursday, June 14, 2012
Monday, June 11, 2012
Track athlete didn't have to be at State Q's to make states
Before I begin to express my displeasure, know that I will not type the name of the individual ...
Last weekend in Cicero-North Syracuse, home of the New York state track and field championships, an athlete from Section 5 competed in two individual events -- one on the track, one in the field. This athlete, unlike each and every other Section 5 representative, did not compete at the State Qualifiers. Because this athlete is involved in the International Baccalaureate (IB) program at her school, testing for this esteemed academic program took place on the day State Qualifiers were being held, thus presenting a dilemma for the athlete. In one way or another, officials from the athletes school contacted the higher powers from Section 5, explained the situation and the athlete was allowed to compete on the Monday before State Qualifiers.
As the rest of Section 5 competed on a Friday night at Penn Yan Academy with temperatures in the upper 60s and sheets of rain coming down, this athlete had already competed in two events, in the sunshine with temperatures in the upper 70s. Oh, and her performances were recorded using a stopwatch -- not an FAT timer like the rest of Section 5. And who knows about the wind factor -- athletes Friday night were running into the wind.
Regardless of these factors, what's unsettling is that an athlete was allowed to compete on a day that was not the designated date of competition. On a daily basis athletes have to make decisions about commitments in their lives. Athletes have missed prom to compete, or missed the competition because of prom. Athletes have also missed competitions because of the SATs, or rescheduled their SATs in order to compete. How significant the conflict is should not matter. The bottom line should be that State Qualifiers takes place on a certain day and time, and if an athlete is unable to make it then they are ineligible to compete.
Like the blog? Hate the blog? Send your thoughts to dan.enright@aol.com
Last weekend in Cicero-North Syracuse, home of the New York state track and field championships, an athlete from Section 5 competed in two individual events -- one on the track, one in the field. This athlete, unlike each and every other Section 5 representative, did not compete at the State Qualifiers. Because this athlete is involved in the International Baccalaureate (IB) program at her school, testing for this esteemed academic program took place on the day State Qualifiers were being held, thus presenting a dilemma for the athlete. In one way or another, officials from the athletes school contacted the higher powers from Section 5, explained the situation and the athlete was allowed to compete on the Monday before State Qualifiers.
As the rest of Section 5 competed on a Friday night at Penn Yan Academy with temperatures in the upper 60s and sheets of rain coming down, this athlete had already competed in two events, in the sunshine with temperatures in the upper 70s. Oh, and her performances were recorded using a stopwatch -- not an FAT timer like the rest of Section 5. And who knows about the wind factor -- athletes Friday night were running into the wind.
Regardless of these factors, what's unsettling is that an athlete was allowed to compete on a day that was not the designated date of competition. On a daily basis athletes have to make decisions about commitments in their lives. Athletes have missed prom to compete, or missed the competition because of prom. Athletes have also missed competitions because of the SATs, or rescheduled their SATs in order to compete. How significant the conflict is should not matter. The bottom line should be that State Qualifiers takes place on a certain day and time, and if an athlete is unable to make it then they are ineligible to compete.
Like the blog? Hate the blog? Send your thoughts to dan.enright@aol.com
Sunday, June 10, 2012
Track stars shine bright at state meet
You've read numerous times the description "speed merchant" attached to the name Allison Phillips. That's because the Palmyra-Macedon junior is a merchant of speed.
In her first-ever appearance at the New York state track and field championships, Phillips sizzled the Cicero-North Syracuse track to a fourth-place finish in the Division II edition of the 100-meter dash, and in the process trimmed her electrifying school record down to 12.43 seconds. It's not only the fastest time in Pal-Mac history, but even at the collegiate level no other Red Raider female graduate has run faster. Emily Bush was the former school-record-holder with a 12.70-second effort. Bush went on to run at Slipper Rock University, and ran a career-best 12.44-second race.
Phillips' fourth-place finish, by the way, matches the best place-finish for any female sprinter in her school's history. Bush placed fourth in her senior campaign as a Red Raider.
Phillips wasn't the only Pal-Mac athlete at the state meet, though. Phillips anchored the Red Raiders' 4x100-meter relay to a fifth-place finish, crossing the finish line in 51.35 seconds, just off their season-best of 51.07 logged at the State Qualifiers. Joining Phillips were seniors Valerie VanHoesen and Josie McMullin, and eighth-grader Shelby Hutton. It was the first-time the Red Raiders competed at the state championships in the 4x100-meter relay since being ranked No. 1 in the state during the 2002 and 2003 seasons.
For the first time in five seasons, Pal-Mac also sent a male competitor to the states. Seth Bailey, a senior, placed fourth in Division II and eighth in the Federation high jump, matching his lifetime-best with a 6 foot, 4 inch clearance. Bailey finished with the same height as the second- and third-place finishers, but recorded more missed attempts throughout the competition. The state champion won with a height of 6-foot-5. Bailey also competed in the 100-meter dash, becoming the first athlete in his school's history to do so. Having participated in two individual events, it was also a first-ever for boys track at Pal-Mac.
Having not competed in the event last year, a fourth-place finish at the state championships seems all the more gratifying. Such is the case for M.J. Erb, a Victor senior headed to Syracuse University. Erb placed fourth in the Division I edition of the 3,000-meter Steeple Chase in 9:32.10, coming just short of his lifetime-best.
Sam Harding, a Canandaigua Academy senior, placed 14th in the Division I pole vault. Newark senior Jeremy Hassett was eighth in the Division II 800-meter run, running a lifetime-best 1:57.67. Hassett also anchored Newark's 4x800-meter relay team that finished 14th in 8:44.33. Ian Gillens, a junior from Marion, placed fourth in the Division II shot put with a new school record and lifetime-best 153-foot toss. Cody Engelsen, a Marion senior, was sixth in the Division II 400-meter dash (50.86). Justin Shaver, a Honeoye senior, was ninth in the Division II shot put. Clyde-Savannah senior Nick Felice was ninth in the Division II long jump (21-1.50)
Isabel Hirtelen-Booker, the only No. 1-seeded athlete from Section 5, did not disappoint. In her fourth-straight appearance at the states, the Harley-Allendale Columbia junior won her third-straight state title in the 100-meter hurdles. En route, she broke her own school record with a new lifetime-best 14.50-second race. Hirtelen-Booker also placed second in the Federation finals.
Hirtelen-Booker's teammate, senior Aedin Brennan, placed seventh in the Division II triple jump (37-2.50). Also in the triple jump was Red Creek senior Eleonore Grant, who placed eighth (37-1). Grant also ran the Division II 100-meter hurdles with Hirtelen-Booker, placing second in the state with a time of 15.72. Jeanette Schramm, an H-AC senior in her first-ever season of running track, placed 14th in the Division II edition of the 1,500-meter run with a lifetime-best 4:52.38.
Joining Hirtelen-Booker as the only Wayne-Finger Lakes-area athletes to win New York state titles was Marion junior Mackenzie Sturtz in the Division II high jump, coming just one inch from matching her lifetime-best with a 5-foot-4 clearance. Sturtz was fourth in the Federation.
Canandaigua Academy senior Meghan McCormick, in her second-straight trip to the states, placed seventh in the 3,000-meter run among Division I competitors. Her teammate, junior Christine Lyttle, competed in the 100-meter hurdles, also in Division I.
Red Jacket senior Sarah Coon placed seventh in the 2,000-meter Steeple Chase in Division II, and teammate Shealyn Doody, a freshman, was 13th in the Division II version of the 3,000-meter run. Midlakes junior Kori Hughes was seventh in the Division II pentathlon. Justina Sanders-Schifano, a Sodus freshman, was eighth in the Division II 400-meter dash (58.84) and sixth in the long jump with a new lifetime-best 17-6 measurement.
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| Allison Phillips, a Palmyra-Macedon junior, placed fourth in her first-ever trip to the New York state championships. In the process, she broke her own school record with a time of 12.43 seconds. |
Phillips' fourth-place finish, by the way, matches the best place-finish for any female sprinter in her school's history. Bush placed fourth in her senior campaign as a Red Raider.
Phillips wasn't the only Pal-Mac athlete at the state meet, though. Phillips anchored the Red Raiders' 4x100-meter relay to a fifth-place finish, crossing the finish line in 51.35 seconds, just off their season-best of 51.07 logged at the State Qualifiers. Joining Phillips were seniors Valerie VanHoesen and Josie McMullin, and eighth-grader Shelby Hutton. It was the first-time the Red Raiders competed at the state championships in the 4x100-meter relay since being ranked No. 1 in the state during the 2002 and 2003 seasons.
For the first time in five seasons, Pal-Mac also sent a male competitor to the states. Seth Bailey, a senior, placed fourth in Division II and eighth in the Federation high jump, matching his lifetime-best with a 6 foot, 4 inch clearance. Bailey finished with the same height as the second- and third-place finishers, but recorded more missed attempts throughout the competition. The state champion won with a height of 6-foot-5. Bailey also competed in the 100-meter dash, becoming the first athlete in his school's history to do so. Having participated in two individual events, it was also a first-ever for boys track at Pal-Mac.
Having not competed in the event last year, a fourth-place finish at the state championships seems all the more gratifying. Such is the case for M.J. Erb, a Victor senior headed to Syracuse University. Erb placed fourth in the Division I edition of the 3,000-meter Steeple Chase in 9:32.10, coming just short of his lifetime-best.
Sam Harding, a Canandaigua Academy senior, placed 14th in the Division I pole vault. Newark senior Jeremy Hassett was eighth in the Division II 800-meter run, running a lifetime-best 1:57.67. Hassett also anchored Newark's 4x800-meter relay team that finished 14th in 8:44.33. Ian Gillens, a junior from Marion, placed fourth in the Division II shot put with a new school record and lifetime-best 153-foot toss. Cody Engelsen, a Marion senior, was sixth in the Division II 400-meter dash (50.86). Justin Shaver, a Honeoye senior, was ninth in the Division II shot put. Clyde-Savannah senior Nick Felice was ninth in the Division II long jump (21-1.50)
Isabel Hirtelen-Booker, the only No. 1-seeded athlete from Section 5, did not disappoint. In her fourth-straight appearance at the states, the Harley-Allendale Columbia junior won her third-straight state title in the 100-meter hurdles. En route, she broke her own school record with a new lifetime-best 14.50-second race. Hirtelen-Booker also placed second in the Federation finals.
Hirtelen-Booker's teammate, senior Aedin Brennan, placed seventh in the Division II triple jump (37-2.50). Also in the triple jump was Red Creek senior Eleonore Grant, who placed eighth (37-1). Grant also ran the Division II 100-meter hurdles with Hirtelen-Booker, placing second in the state with a time of 15.72. Jeanette Schramm, an H-AC senior in her first-ever season of running track, placed 14th in the Division II edition of the 1,500-meter run with a lifetime-best 4:52.38.
Joining Hirtelen-Booker as the only Wayne-Finger Lakes-area athletes to win New York state titles was Marion junior Mackenzie Sturtz in the Division II high jump, coming just one inch from matching her lifetime-best with a 5-foot-4 clearance. Sturtz was fourth in the Federation.
Canandaigua Academy senior Meghan McCormick, in her second-straight trip to the states, placed seventh in the 3,000-meter run among Division I competitors. Her teammate, junior Christine Lyttle, competed in the 100-meter hurdles, also in Division I.
Red Jacket senior Sarah Coon placed seventh in the 2,000-meter Steeple Chase in Division II, and teammate Shealyn Doody, a freshman, was 13th in the Division II version of the 3,000-meter run. Midlakes junior Kori Hughes was seventh in the Division II pentathlon. Justina Sanders-Schifano, a Sodus freshman, was eighth in the Division II 400-meter dash (58.84) and sixth in the long jump with a new lifetime-best 17-6 measurement.
Like the blog? Hate the blog? Send your thoughts to dan.enright@aol.com
Everything Finger Lakes Sports
Welcome to the official "Everything Finger Lakes Sports" Blog, authored by yours truly, Dan Enright. Football, soccer, track and field, lacrosse ... you name it, I'll write about it. But I'm going to need a helping hand. Shoot me an email at dan.enright@aol.com with any topics you'd like me to discuss, athletes/coaches/programs you think should get some publicity, etc.
In the meantime, check back later for my first entry, which will be on the New York state track and field championships. Yeah, I know ... some inaccurate results have been printed in a few publications. Don't worry ... accuracy is my middle name.
In the meantime, check back later for my first entry, which will be on the New York state track and field championships. Yeah, I know ... some inaccurate results have been printed in a few publications. Don't worry ... accuracy is my middle name.
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