|
|
|
There are certain programs in Section 5 who always seem to end the year with a sectional championship.
Spencerport wrestling. PIttsford boys and girls swimming. In the sport of nordic skiing, Honeoye Falls-Lima entered this season as the undisputed top program in the area.
“HF-L has been on top for so long, they have a major presence,” said Josh Eidem, a junior on the Pittsford Mendon nordic skiing team.
Thanks to the tutelage of legendary coach Bernie Gardner, the Cougars have outclassed Section 5 for nearly three decades. The last couple of years though the Pittsford Mendon has been closing the gap.
The Vikings nearly toppled the Cougars last winter, and it became clear HF-L could be beaten. This winter Mendon made sure to follow through on the ground work laid by previous teams.
The Vikings topped the Cougars 24-28 to win the Section 5 title last week at Bristol Mountain. After trailing by three points following the distance race Mendon outscored HF-L 7-14 in the relay to earn their long-awaited sectional title.
“We were anticipating the sectional race,” said Mike D’Hont, Vikings head coach. “We had beaten HF-L in a couple of league races so we kind of had this underlying thought that we could do it. When that big day came they were ready for it. Since then they have continued to work hard, stay healthy and bond well.”
The Vikings and Cougars each had four athletes finish in the top-10 in the distance race to open sectionals but Langston Douglas’ second-place finish staked HF-L to a 14-17 lead going into the relay.
Mendon’s relay of Connor Green, Tommy Ernst and Gavin Hess finished in first place (29:30), 51 seconds ahead of the Cougars to give the Mendon boys their first sectional title in team history. Ernst and Hess recorded the second and third fastest times of any skier during the relay competition.
“Finally to get it for this school is amazing,” said Eidem, who finished 10th in the distance race and was on the fourth place relay team at sectionals. “After what happened during the season we had confidence that we could beat them.”
Eidem and the rest of his teammates gave D’Hont of glimpses in the regular season that the postseason could be something special. After two close calls earlier in the month the Vikings overtook the Cougars in a race Jan. 31 at Bristol.
There are certain programs in Section 5 who always seem to end the year with a sectional championship.
Spencerport wrestling. PIttsford boys and girls swimming. In the sport of nordic skiing, Honeoye Falls-Lima entered this season as the undisputed top program in the area.
“HF-L has been on top for so long, they have a major presence,” said Josh Eidem, a junior on the Pittsford Mendon nordic skiing team.
Thanks to the tutelage of legendary coach Bernie Gardner, the Cougars have outclassed Section 5 for nearly three decades. The last couple of years though the Pittsford Mendon has been closing the gap.
The Vikings nearly toppled the Cougars last winter, and it became clear HF-L could be beaten. This winter Mendon made sure to follow through on the ground work laid by previous teams.
The Vikings topped the Cougars 24-28 to win the Section 5 title last week at Bristol Mountain. After trailing by three points following the distance race Mendon outscored HF-L 7-14 in the relay to earn their long-awaited sectional title.
“We were anticipating the sectional race,” said Mike D’Hont, Vikings head coach. “We had beaten HF-L in a couple of league races so we kind of had this underlying thought that we could do it. When that big day came they were ready for it. Since then they have continued to work hard, stay healthy and bond well.”
The Vikings and Cougars each had four athletes finish in the top-10 in the distance race to open sectionals but Langston Douglas’ second-place finish staked HF-L to a 14-17 lead going into the relay.
Mendon’s relay of Connor Green, Tommy Ernst and Gavin Hess finished in first place (29:30), 51 seconds ahead of the Cougars to give the Mendon boys their first sectional title in team history. Ernst and Hess recorded the second and third fastest times of any skier during the relay competition.
“Finally to get it for this school is amazing,” said Eidem, who finished 10th in the distance race and was on the fourth place relay team at sectionals. “After what happened during the season we had confidence that we could beat them.”
Eidem and the rest of his teammates gave D’Hont of glimpses in the regular season that the postseason could be something special. After two close calls earlier in the month the Vikings overtook the Cougars in a race Jan. 31 at Bristol.
This an unusual winter for area nordic teams, as the mild conditions have created training sessions with far more running than skiing. Mendon was only able to use their home practice course behind Barker Road Middle School five times this winter.
“I have had more seat time on a bus that I have ever had, ever since I was in elementary school,” D’Hont said. “It was unusual for all of us.”
The Viking boys weren’t the only ones having success this winter. The Mendon girls team finished second at sectionals just two points behind HF-L.
Alyssa Likly defended her Section 5 title in the distance race finishing in 25:29. Likly will look to defend her state title next week at Mt. Van Hoevenberg in Lake Placid.
Likly will be joined at states by teammates Margot Nitschke, Maggie McMahon and Colleen Yancey.
“The girls team has done so well, you couldn’t have asked for anything better,” Likly said. “We are all focused on states, just hoping for another good race.”
