Congratulations to the girls for winning a second straight Class C State Cross-Country Championship on Saturday, November 10th, at Norwood-Norfolk HS. The witches were the most dominant team of all classes, boys and girls, placing four runners in the top five of one hundred and thirty-one runners.

In the pre-season, Coach Patrick and the girls had designs on winning the State Championship, earning a national “top ten” ranking and when the high school season ended, being invited, as a club, to the Nike Team National Meet, in Portland, Oregon. At their very best, the Witches competed at a level consistent with their goals. They earned “merged meet” victories over the eventual 3^rd and 5^th place teams (Saratoga Springs and Burnt Hills, respectively) at the Nike Team Nationals.  New York State is the national hotbed of girls high school cross-country running and the New York qualifying meet for the Nike Team Nationals pitted a handful of teams capable of running in the nation’s top ten. A high powered meet like this allows no misstep, and the Witches finished just out of contention.

As the dust from the season settles, this team’s accomplishments are brought into perspective. No other athletic team in GCS history has risen to this height. With a second, consecutive State Championship and a final national ranking of #13 (there are approximately 37,000 high schools in America and cross-country is a mainstream sport), the Witches’ extraordinary success becomes clear.

The formula for the success of this team was not exotic. The girls have committed to consistent, year-round, sometimes grueling training with devoted coaches. Steve Patrick and Dena Lane coach three seasons of running at GCS and independent summer camp coach Bob Lane has been there to prepare GCS and other area runners for their cross country seasons.

It is remarkable that athletes of this caliber have so many other assets. The Witches have once again been named a New York State Public High School Athletic Association Scholar-Athlete award winner for having a team grade point average over 90. Hard work may be their mantra, but they are also a happy, fun-loving group.

Three girls will be lost to graduation, providing an opportunity for other runners to compete for the seven spots on the varsity team and another run at a State Championship next year.

The girls...

Ashley Fung
Senior Ashley Fung completes a sterling, six-year varsity cross-country career with six top-five performances on her team at State Championship meets and four State team titles. Rising to the occasion, she placed 13^th at this year's Class C State Meet, with her best speed rating in two years. She earned first quarter honor roll with an 87.4 average. Presently, Ashley is considering SUNY Oneonta and Alfred State College and intends to major in graphic arts and art education. After five seasons on the GCS varsity cross-country team, her departure will signal the end of an era.
 

Emily Fung
Senior Emily Fung completes her marquee, GCS cross-country career as the most decorated four-year performer in school history. She has won numerous invitational titles, including Manhattan and has been a runner-up at the State Meet three times. This year she placed 4^th at the State Meet and finished the season as the 5^th ranked Class C runner in New York State. At the final meet of the year, the NY Nike Team National qualifier, she ran second for the Witches. On an entire team of unpretentious stars, Emily is the most unassuming. As Varsity Club president, you will see her working at the snack bar during basketball and football games. Emily is a member of the National Honor Society and has a 93.5 cumulative grade point average. She has taken official NCAA DI recruiting trips to West Point and Annapolis and is also considering SUNY Albany. She is interested in pursuing a major in Biology.

Caitlin Lane
Senior Caitlin Lane is the undisputed team leader. In two seasons at GCS, her success, work ethic and competitiveness set the standards for teammates. She was undefeated against teammates in invitational meets. This season she won her second, straight individual Class C State Championship and at the NY Nike Team National (NTN) qualifier, she beat every runner from the National Champion Fayetteville-Manlius High School club. She demonstrated, once again, that she is the consummate team player, foregoing a chance to run in her third  Footlocker National Championship (for individuals) to run with her team at the NTM qualifier. She was named to the 1^st Quarter High Honor Roll, with a 91 average. After an active athletic recruitment, Caitlin has committed to an NCAA DI athletic scholarship to Penn State University, where she will major in sports management. The team will miss Caitlin for her leadership as much as for her championship running.

Roxanne Henningson
Relative to her circumstances, sophomore transfer Roxanne Henningson may have turned in the team’s most remarkable performances. She was a two-year varsity soccer and basketball player and in her first season of cross country, became the 3^rd ranked Class C runner in New York State. She placed 2^nd at the League and Sectional Meets and 5^th at the State Meet. Roxy is the epitome of commitment and success on the team and in school. Despite a schedule that includes AP European History, Chemistry and accelerated math, she posted a first quarter average of 97. Roxy is already receiving mail from NCAA Division I colleges.

Brittney Lane
Sophomore Brittney Lane was the comeback runner of the year for the Witches, overcoming illness early in the season to contribute mightily to the team’s success. She finished the season as the 13^th ranked Class C runner in New York State and took 5^th at both the Wasaren League and Class C, Section 2 Championships. At the Sectional meet she was the top runner in the race, save for teammates. She is a High Honor Roll student with a cumulative grade point average of 90. For the next two years, Brittney will continue to help drive the team’s success and friendly relations.

Betsy Edinger
Freshman Betsy Edinger is probably the key to the team’s future. She is an enormous talent who broke onto the State cross-country scene in the eighth grade and was the 8^th ranked Class C runner in the State before becoming injured. This season marked her return to competitive running and she made solid progress, improving throughout the season. If she can return to form, the Witches could regain National prominence next year. Betsy cross-trains with Irish Step Dancing, an activity she has pursued for ten years. Her first quarter average of 97 places her among the other top students on the team and in school.

Caitlyn Kuzmich
Freshman Cady Kuzmich is a burgeoning star. At the conclusion of the season, she was ranked 4^th among Class C runners and 5^th among all 9^th grade runners in New York State. She placed 3^rd at the League, Sectional and Class C State meets. This is her second team State Championship in two years on the varsity. Cady is a perfect compliment to a veteran team, competing fiercely in races, beating anyone within reach, including teammates, and remaining best friends with everyone on the team. She is also receiving mail from NCAA Division I colleges and is at the top of her class with a 98 average

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