Wildcats Photos Archives
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New Balance National Championship 4x1mile Relay, June 2010, Greensboro, N.C.
Billy Gabriel, Steve Houghmaster, Sam Reedy and John DeLallo made the trek south to Greensboro, N.C. after qualifying for the 4x1mile Relay. Running early on a Saturday morning in the southern heat and humidity, they finished 12th in the nation.
NY State Championship, June 2010
The Wildcats qualified two individuals and one relay for the 2010 Outdoor Track State Championship at Vestal High School. Katie Bott 'switched' from her preferred 400m distance to the 800m at the Section III meet, set a school record, opted for that distance at the Open Qualfier and ran another school record(2:15.12) in qualifying for states. At Vestal, she finished 11th in Division 1 with her third consecutive sub-2:17 800m. 8th grader Laura Leff ran the fastest Section III time of the year in the 2000m Steeplechase as she qualified for states but was unable to compete due to a conflict. The boys 4x400 Relay of Jake Lafaver, Zack Lafaver, Sam Reedy and Steve Houghmaster also finished 11th with a seasonal PR time of 3:25.24, only a second off the WG school record.
Wildcats Indoor Track, March 2010
National Scholastic Championship, March 13 & 14, Armory Track & Field Center
In what was easily one of the greatest weekends of West Genesee Track & Field, two Wildcats relays and 8th grader Laura Leff in the 7th/8th Grade Mile braved a fierce northeastern storm to do some storming of their own. The 4x1mile Relay of Steve Houghmaster, John DeLallo, Billy Gabriel and Sam Reedy(above left) powered to third place and All-American status with a school record 17:53.15 clocking. Four and a half hours later, Houghmaser was joined by Jake Lafavor, Gabriel and Reedy for the 4x800. Seeded 17th in the meet and running in the second of three heats, they won their heat and placed 6th, another All-American effort in 7:59.33, a time eclipsing a record dating back to the 1980/81 season. Early the next morning, Laura Leff(below in green) took to the track for her mile event. She powered to a second-place All-American finish in a school record time of 5:13.34. Three efforts--three All-American performances. A super weekend.
State Championship, March 6, Barton Hall, Cornell University
In a twist of fate, three Wildcats wound up representing Section III on the Intersectional Relay. Steve Houghmaster(1000m), Jake Lafaver(600m) and John DeLallo(1600m) were joined by Eric Bzdick(200m) of APW as they dominated the event, crossing the line eight seconds ahead of the second finisher. Steve, Jake, Eric and John(above) ran only 1.5 seconds off the record for that event to win both the NY State and Federation championships.
Wildcats Cross-Country, November 2009
With significant top-10 step-up performances at both the State and Federation championships, with an undefeated dual-meet season and individual victories at three individuals including the Manhattan Invitational "E" race, Laura Leff was honored by being selected the 2009 8th Grader of the Year for New York State.
Wildcats XC - Federation Championship, November 21, 2009
The boys team returned to the Federation Championships for the second consecutive year, placing an improved 14th place from their previous appearance. Steve Houghmaster logged the best WG Federation finish ever with a masterful 5th. For the girls, Laura Leff continued a stellar 8th grade campaign with a 7th place, also the best WG finish ever at Federations. Front row: Martin Leff, Laura Leff, John DeLallo, Matt Gonnella. Back row: Billy Gabriel, Matt Serrao, Mark Reilly, Sam Reedy, Steve Houghmaster.
Wildcats XC -- State Championship, November 2009
A trio Wildcats made the trip north to Plattsburgh for a wet 2009 State Championship. Rain didn't slow them. 8th grader Laura Leff(above left) matched Elizabeth McMahon's 2005 9th place finish, but Laura's 17:43.1 5k was the fastest ever for a Wildcat and became the fastest 5k by an 8th grader in the United States in 2009. Anna Leo(below) registered her season best in placing 61st. Steve Houghmaster placed 4th, a Wildcat best, in 15:40.2, another West Genesee best.
Wildcats Cross-Country - Manhattan Invitational, October 2009
In the Varsity "A" race of the '09' Manhattan Invitational, the Wildcat came home with the tall trophy after placing 1st and running West Genesee's fastest team time on the historic VanCortlandt 2.5 mile course and placing all their scorers in the top 21. Front: Billy Gabriel, Sam Reedy; Middle: Matt Gonnella, Martin Leff; Back: John DeLallo, Ethan Wojcik, Steve Houghmaster.
Wildcats Cross-Country -- Federation Championship, November 2008
In the first NYS Federation Championship team qualification since 1985, the Wildcats placed 16th, with Steve Houghmaster racing to an individual 12th place on the Bowdoin Park 5k course. Punctuating their fine effort was a final #10 Class AA state ranking, the best ever for the Wildcats. Left to right: Andy Incaudo, Steve Houghmaster, Billy Gabriel, Tom Hopkins, Sam Reedy, Martin Leff, Matt Gonnella, Jon Richardson. Coach Vermeulen is in front.
Wildcats Cross-Country, November 2007
Another pair of solid team seasons were highlighted by individual team leaders Steve Houghmaster and Colleen Smith. Both qualified for the State Championship as individuals and both were selected ALL-CNY runners. Steve ran a technically perfect Class AA championship race as he surged to front in the final 400 meters to become West Genesee's first-ever boys individual Sectional Champion.
Elizabeth McMahon: Medals at a final meet--NYS Track & Field Championship, June 2007
Before heading off to Notre Dame, Elizabeth McMahon ran her last laps as a Wildcat at the NYS Track & Field Championship 1500m event in Kingston, N.Y. And they were good ones. Running out of the unseeded heat, Elizabeth assumed the lead after lap 2 and raced to her best time and a new school record. Though she finished a close second in her heat, her 4:41.87 placed 6th in Division I and 8th in the overall Federation standings, both medal finishes. It was a great conclusion to an very accomplished scholastic career.
Steve Houghmaster: Nike All-American - Indoor Track, 2007
Steve Houghmaster capped a long and successful Indoor Track season with an appearance at the Nike Indoor National Championship Freshman Mile. Running in a field of 35 elite runners from across the country, Steve placed 6th in 4:37.57 and was designated a Nike All-American.
Steve Houghmaster -- Nike National Freshman Mile VIDEO CLIP:
Outdoor Track OHSL American Division Champions - 2006
At their Team Dinner, members from the girls West Genesee Outdoor Track Team celebrate an undefeated dual meet season and their 2006 OHSL American Division Championship.
NYS Indoor State Championship - 3/4/06
Junior Elizabeth McMahon scores West Genesee's best female Indoor Track States Championship finish as she raced to a 4th place in the 1500 meter event at Cornell University's Barton Hall.
NYS Cross-Country Championship - 11/12/05
2005 Cross-Country State Championship qualifiers Colleen Smith(left) and Elizabeth McMahon(right) are joined by their 'Kayla Murphy support team' at the Queensbury High School championship site. Running in her third consecutive championship, junior Elizabeth placed 9th in the AA race. Freshman Colleen was participating in her first state championship.
Outdoor Track National Championship - Freshman Mile - 6/18/05
Katie Rothenberg(center back) gets out in the fast heat of the 2005 Freshman Mile at the National Championship in Greensboro, North Carolina.
2004 Cross-Country State Championship - 11/13/04
With 500 meters to go, Elizabeth McMahon closes in on a State Championships Top-25 Class AA finish at Chenango Valley State Park. Competing in her 2nd consecutive State Championship, Elizabeth placed 24th to also qualify for her 2nd consecutive Federation Championship.
Outdoor Track National Championship - 2000m Steeplechase - 6/19/04
Elizabeth McMahon takes a barrier in the 97o heat at the 2004 National Championship in Raleigh, North Carolina. With her freshman effort, Elizabeth finished 9th in the nation in the 2000m Steeplechase event. Elizabeth also stepped back onto the track only two hours later to place 15th in the Freshman mile.
Indoor Track National Scholastic Meet - NYC Armory Track & Field Center - 3/13/04
With a new school record, the foursome of West Genesee athletes(l. to r.) Elizabeth McMahon, Betsy Bubnack, Erin Hennigan and Stephanie Bartlett placed 13th in the national 4x1mile Relay field.
2003 Cross-Country State Championship - 11/01/03
Coach Vermeulen and Coach Stetler with State Championship qualifier Elizabeth McMahon at Marcus Whitman H.S.race site. Freshman Elizabeth placed 29th in the Class A race and 46th in the total merge of 484 state runners. By her performance, she qualified for the State Federation Meet.
2003 Cross-Country Manhattan Invitational - 10/11/03
The West Genesee girls Cross-Country team celebrate their 1st place trophy from the 32 team Fred Dwyer "D" race at the Manhattan Invitational on 10/11/03. Left to right are Stephanie McGrath, Erin Hennigan, Elizabeth McMahon, Stephanie Bartlett, Betsy Bubnack and Liz Kratz. Missing is E.J. Reedy.
2002/03 Indoor Track State Championship Meet - 3/8/03
A Two-Medal Effort: Pete DiGennaro(in Section III yellow) capped a great senior indoor season with his 600m leg of the Intersectional Relay at the State Championship in Syracuse University's Carrier Dome. Section III placed 5th place for Public Schools and 6th in the Federation standings, both medal winning finishes..
Adidas National Outdoor Track & Field Championship - 6/14/02
Kerry Banazek: 7th place, 2000m Steeplechase
Grainy but Good: Kerry Banazek(yellow singlet) races under the lights in the Adidas National Outdoor Track & Field Championship at North Carolina State University in Raleigh, North Carolina. Kerry's 7:02.33 was her third new Section III record in a month's time and the highest national championship finish ever for a West Genesee track athlete.
New York State Championship - 6/8&9/01
Kerry On The Move: Kerry Banazek(right) demonstrating excellent hurdle form in the 2nd heat of the State Championship 2000 meter steeplechase. Running in the middle heat with Lauren Noble of Little Falls(left), Kerry finished third and was fast enough to place 4th overall in Class A, one of the best finishes for Section III athletes.
Colonie Relays - 5/5/01
New OHSL DMR Record: Wildcats(l.to r.) Lindsey McConnelee, Shannon Morris, Kerry Banazek and Katie Bubnack fought off gusty winds to race to a new school and OHSL record in the DMR at the Colonie Relays in Colonie, N.Y. Their 12:59.6 eclipses the 2000 mark of 13:05.8 also held by WG.
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Indoor State Championship, 3/10/01
On The Move: Thanks to Bill Meylan of the Tully Web site for this great shot of Shannon Morris(in yellow) making a charge at the 2000/2001 Indoor State Championship 1000 meter race. Shannon was a 6th place medal finisher and will be racing for Oberlin College.
Indoor State Championship - 3/2000
West Genesee sends a foursome to the 2000 Indoor Track State Championship at Syracuse University's Carrier Dome. Katie Bubnack and Shannon Morris were Section III's two representatives in the 1000 meter run. Tracy McConnelee and Morgan Doherty both ran legs of the Intersectional Relay.