The last of the “Argyle girls” graduated
last spring and some believed that their departure would mark the
end of a winning era at Greenwich. They had first come to GCS in the
spring of 2004 and had brought elite running and championships with
them. As a result of some “big shoes to fill,” there were running
pundits skeptical about this year’s Greenwich girls’ cross-country
team. One early-season poll did not even rank Greenwich first among
fellow Class D schools in New York State.
Coaches Steve Patrick and Dena Lane knew that they still had
talented, dedicated runners, but the question was whether or not
returners would step forward and newcomers would fill in behind
them. Over the course of the season, the girls answered all
questions resoundingly. Greenwich cruised to a fifth straight
Wasaren League and Section 2 title and a third straight New York
State Public High School Athletic Association Championship. At the
Sectional Meet, Greenwich swept the first six places and the seventh
runner finished 8th.
It is testament to their high goals that despite a dominant win at
the State Meet at Sunken Meadow Park, on Long Island, the girls were
unhappy with their performances. They just knew they could run
better. One pre-season goal had been to crack the top ten among all
New York State teams, not just the smaller public schools. One week
later, at Bowdoin Park, in Wappingers Falls, NY, they got their
chance to run head-to-head with the biggest and the best, at the New
York State Federation Meet. The Witches’ 9th place finish sealed a
final, top ten ranking among all New York State schools. Adding to
the significance, New York is so dominant in girls cross-country
that the State’s top four teams were invited, as running clubs, to
the Nike Team National Meet, in Oregon. All four teams finished in
the top eight, including the championship club from Fayetteville-Manlius.
During the season, veterans Roxanne Henningson, Cady Kuzmich,
Brittney Lane, Betsy Edinger and Britney Henderson were backed up by
rookie 8th graders Madeline Montague and Candace Haskell on the
varsity seven. Many are aware that the girls work incredibly hard,
running throughout the calendar year. Less well-known and equally
impressive is what scholars and nice kids they are. The team was
once again named a New York State Scholar-Athlete team.
Only Britney Henderson will graduate this year and there are younger
runners on the Greenwich horizon. The future looks bright indeed.
Britney Henderson cracked the top five on the team this year
and ran the fastest times of her career. She has received mail from
several college coaches, including some from NCAA Division I
programs, but she does not plan to run competitively in college.
Britney’s favorite subject is Spanish and she has a 94.3 average and
ranks 5th in the senior class. She is an outstanding singer and
stage actress and intends to pursue theater arts in college next
fall.
Roxanne Henningson is among the top ranked individual runners
in New York State. The Class D Sectional Champion and State
runner-up, she competed as an individual club runner at the Nike
Team National Regional Meet and earned an expense-paid trip to
compete in the Nike Team National Meet at Portland Meadows, Oregon.
Her performance there was nothing short of heroic, as she overcame
an early fall and trampling to climb from the back to the middle of
the pack in this elite race. Roxanne ranks 1st in the junior class,
with a 97.4 grade point average and her favorite subjects are math
and French. She has received letters of interest from Princeton,
Brown and Duke, but she has no first choice as of yet and is keeping
her options open.
Brittney Lane
ran a personal best time at the Spa Park this year. She progressed
and improved throughout the year, adding speed and power to the
lineup. She was a consistent third on the Greenwich roster, which
usually meant third in the race, including at the Sectional
Championship. She is a junior and has received mail from several
colleges, but is not leaning toward a particular choice. She would
like to attend college in New York or California. Brittney’s
favorite subject is English and she ranks 15th in her class, with an
89.2 average. She is interested in fashion and perhaps, television.
Betsy Edinger returned to fine form this year, following an
injury and recovery period that spanned into last season. She was
consistently Greenwich’s fourth runner and added the kind of depth
necessary for a team to win championships. Betsy ranks 4th in the
sophomore class, with a 97.6 average. Her favorite subject is
English and she is an accomplished Irish step-dancer. She is already
receiving mail from college coaches, but her dream choice is the
University of Colorado at Boulder.
Cady Kuzmich ran second for Greenwich all season except for
the Federation Meet, at which she was the team’s top finisher. She
ran outstanding times throughout the season and was a model of
consistent performance. She was the Sectional runner-up and competed
as an individual club runner in the Nike Team National Regional
Meet. Cady is the school record-holder in the 3000 meter
steeplechase in outdoor track. She ranks #5 in the sophomore class,
with a 97.31average and has recently received mail from Brown and
Boston College. Her favorite class is Advanced Placement European
History.
Madeline Montague moved up to the varsity this season.
Running sixth for most of the year, she broke into the top five at
the last two meets. In the Sectional Championship, she was beaten
only by teammates. She is a very strong runner, with stardom in her
future. Her favorite subject is Spanish and she ranks her 8th grade
average is 97.2. During free time, she loves to ride horses.
Candace Haskell was another first-year varsity runner. She is
a spirited competitor and high performer. At the Sectional
Championship, she was beaten by only one non-Greenwich runner. Her
contribution shored up the varsity team. Candace provided security
for the Witches in a very deep lineup. Her 8th grade average is
95.88 and her favorite subject is math. She also enjoys reading and
competitive ice hockey.
Britney Henderson cracked the top five on the team this year
and ran the fastest times of her career. She has received mail from
several college coaches, including some from NCAA Division I
programs, but she does not plan to run competitively in college.
Britney’s favorite subject is Spanish and she has a 94.3 average and
ranks 5th in the senior class. She is an outstanding singer and
stage actress and intends to pursue theater arts in college next
fall.
Roxanne Henningson is among the top ranked individual runners
in New York State. The Class D Sectional Champion and State
runner-up, she competed as an individual club runner at the Nike
Team National Regional Meet and earned an expense-paid trip to
compete in the Nike Team National Meet at Portland Meadows, Oregon.
Her performance there was nothing short of heroic, as she overcame
an early fall and trampling to climb from the back to the middle of
the pack in this elite race. Roxanne ranks 1st in the junior class,
with a 97.4 grade point average and her favorite subjects are math
and French. She has received letters of interest from Princeton,
Brown and Duke, but she has no first choice as of yet and is keeping
her options open.
Brittney Lane
ran a personal best time at the Spa Park this year. She progressed
and improved throughout the year, adding speed and power to the
lineup. She was a consistent third on the Greenwich roster, which
usually meant third in the race, including at the Sectional
Championship. She is a junior and has received mail from several
colleges, but is not leaning toward a particular choice. She would
like to attend college in New York or California. Brittney’s
favorite subject is English and she ranks 15th in her class, with an
89.2 average. She is interested in fashion and perhaps, television.
Betsy Edinger returned to fine form this year, following an
injury and recovery period that spanned into last season. She was
consistently Greenwich’s fourth runner and added the kind of depth
necessary for a team to win championships. Betsy ranks 4th in the
sophomore class, with a 97.6 average. Her favorite subject is
English and she is an accomplished Irish step-dancer. She is already
receiving mail from college coaches, but her dream choice is the
University of Colorado at Boulder.
Cady Kuzmich ran second for Greenwich all season except for
the Federation Meet, at which she was the team’s top finisher. She
ran outstanding times throughout the season and was a model of
consistent performance. She was the Sectional runner-up and competed
as an individual club runner in the Nike Team National Regional
Meet. Cady is the school record-holder in the 3000 meter
steeplechase in outdoor track. She ranks #5 in the sophomore class,
with a 97.31average and has recently received mail from Brown and
Boston College. Her favorite class is Advanced Placement European
History.
Madeline Montague moved up to the varsity this season.
Running sixth for most of the year, she broke into the top five at
the last two meets. In the Sectional Championship, she was beaten
only by teammates. She is a very strong runner, with stardom in her
future. Her favorite subject is Spanish and she ranks her 8th grade
average is 97.2. During free time, she loves to ride horses.
Candace Haskell was another first-year varsity runner. She is
a spirited competitor and high performer. At the Sectional
Championship, she was beaten by only one non-Greenwich runner. Her
contribution shored up the varsity team. Candace provided security
for the Witches in a very deep lineup. Her 8th grade average is
95.88 and her favorite subject is math. She also enjoys reading and
competitive ice hockey.