Many Section II faces at NCAAS
Guilderland graduate Carey, Saratoga grad Tooker set to compete
The area will be well-represented in this Saturday’s Division I NCAA Cross Country Championship in Tallahassee, Fla. Penn senior Noah Carey, Syracuse senior Aidan Tooker, Columbia junior Tyler Berg and Syracuse junior Abigail Spears will all be in action.
Carey, from Guilderland and a Guilderland High graduate, earned an at-large bid after he finished third out of 198 runners at the Mid-atlantic Regional last Friday in Bethlehem, Pa. He posted a careerbest time of 30 minutes, 17.8 seconds for 10,000-meters.
Tooker, from Saratoga Springs and a Saratoga High graduate, led the Orange to a first-place finish in the New England Regional in Boston. He finished third out of 245 entrants with a career-best 10K time of 30:14.9. The team earned an automatic bid.
Berg, from Ballston Lake, earned an at-large spot when he finished 11th in the New England race with a time of 30:31.1. Stony Brook junior Evan Brennan of Ballston Lake finished 18th with a time of 30:52.6 but missed the cut. Both are Burnt Hills alums.
The Syracuse women finished second in the region and earned an automatic bid to the meet. Spears, of Niskayuna and a Niskayuna High graduate, was the third-best finisher for the Orange, coming in 17th in the 6,000-meter (3.73-mile) race with a time of 21:07.6.
Kelsey Chmiel (Saratoga Springs)
The North Carolina State senior will be shooting for her
third All-american honor in cross country when she competes in the Division I NCAA Championship on Saturday in Tallahassee.
The Saratoga High graduate stamped herself as a contender when she finished first out of 231 runners at the Southeast Region race last Friday in Louisville, Ky. She covered the 6,000-meter course in a career-best time of 19:58.4. Chmiel finished 22nd as a freshman and ninth as a sophomore in 2020 to earn her All-american status.
Ezra Ruggles (Saratoga Springs)
The junior Saratoga High graduate and senior Riley Grossman (Bethlehem High) led the SUNY Geneseo men’s cross country team to victory at the Niagara Regionals last Saturday and will lead the team in the Division III NCAA
Championships this Saturday in Louisville, Ky. Ruggles finished third out of 159 runners with an 8,000-meter (4.97mile) time of 25:35.7. Grossman finished sixth in 25:37.4. Brockport’s Ethan Carey (Queensbury High) finished second in 25:31.0 and earned a berth in the championship.
Marissa Mastracco (Glenmont)
The freshman was named Liberty League Rookie of the Week after she helped the No. 3-ranked William Smith women’s soccer team top John Jay 9-0 and Hamilton 2-1 to advance to the Division III NCAA Tournament third round. The Bethlehem High graduate is key on defense for the 18-1-1 Herons, who have held foes to just 10 goals with 14 shutouts. They face 20-1 Misericordia on Saturday in Scranton, Pa.
Jennifer Kirker (Rexford)
The junior was named to the Empire 8 Conference first team for her play with the 10-6-1 St. John Fisher College women’s soccer team. The Shenendehowa High graduate started all 17 games and had a goal, but more importantly helped the Cardinals’ defense limit foes to 25 goals (1.45 goals-against average) with four shutouts. Her goal came in a 7-1 victory over Houghton on Oct. 2.
Matt Horwedel (Delanson)
The junior midfielder was named to the Middle Atlantic Conference All-freedom first team after a solid season with the Wilkes (Pa.) men’s soccer team. The Schalmont High graduate started all 19 games for the 12-7 Colonels and finished with 14 points on four goals and six assists. His points were second on the team and his assists were tied for second in the league. He was an honorable mention pick in 2019.
Avery Pollard (Ballston Lake)
The senior setter was named Great Northeast Athletic Conference Player of the Year after leading the Rivier (N.H.) women’s volleyball team to a 21-6 record.
The Burnt Hills-ballston Lake High graduate had 836 assists, 208 digs, 100 kills and 67 service aces. Sophomore teammate Sofia Pawlusik (Burnt Hills-ballston Lake High) was named Libero of the Year. She had 352 digs, 62 assists and 40 service aces.