By S. Quinn DeJoy and J. Murrer

Nov. 11, 2015:  It was a family affair at the cross country sectional championships held at Bowdoin State Park last Saturday. Of the seven Bronxville students who crossed the finish line in the top fifteen, five were named either Ryan or Rizzo. Senior Sean Ryan and sister Kaitlin each finished first for the Broncos, and both finished fourth in their sectional races. Senior Hilary Rizzo crossed the finish line in 10th place, and younger brothers Matt and Alex finished 6th and 15th, respectively. Overall, it was a good day for the Broncos. The girls won their nineteenth consecutive Section 1 Class C championship, and the boys' team finished a solid second behind a very strong Pleasantville team. 

For the Bronxville girls, who often run away with the Class C sectional title, this race was far more competitive than usual, with a strong Dobbs Ferry team running on their heels. Bronxville pulled off a win, but the score was close: Bronxville 42, Dobbs Ferry 48. 

In addition to Ryan and Rizzo, the seven-member girls' cross country team includes Olivia Scotti, who placed 7th, Carlie Hoffer (8th), Saige Sunier (20th), Sydney Coddington (24th), and Gigi Chrappa, (27th). Freshman Kirsten Ircha, one of the top runners this season, was unable to compete due to illness. These seven girls have qualified for the New York State Championships, which will be held next Saturday at Monroe Woodbury High School. The girls will face a tough East Aurora team. East Aurora is ranked number one in the state in Class C, and it could be ranked as high as number three in the state for schools of all sizes. 

The Bronxville girls' team has won twelve state championships since 1981 and Ryan and Rizzo have both been on previous state teams. 

"Hilary Rizzo has had a very strong season, perhaps her best," said Coach Jim Mitchell. "She was on three previous state championship teams." It is the final high school cross country season for Rizzo, but she will continue to run on the indoor and outdoor track teams. 

On the boys' side, strong finishes by Sean Ryan and Matt Rizzo earned them each an individual spot at the state championships. Other racers for the boys' varsity team included Alex Rizzo, Henry Vollmer (20th), Hiroshi Kawakatsu (22nd), Tim Murray (47th), and Joe Dougherty (48th). 

The cross country teams are not the only Broncos headed to the state championships. The weekend before Thanksgiving, four members of the girls' swim team, Maggie O'Reilly, Lain Miller, Nicole Veru, and Alisa Fominkyh, will get a chance to compete in the 200 freestyle relay at the swimming state championships. Freshman Fominkyh will compete as an individual in the 50 free after qualifying with a time of 24.61 in the first leg of the 200 free relay. States will be held at Ithaca College. 

In the Class C regional field hockey finals held last Saturday at Valhalla High School, a strong and skilled Whitney Point team from Section 4 overwhelmed the Bronco defense, scoring four goals in the first half. Whitney Point, the defending state champion, held the Broncos scoreless and finished with a 6-0 victory. Bronxville lost to Whitney Point in the state semifinals last year. 

Go Broncos.

Pictured here (two rotating): Bronxville girls' cross country wins the class C Section 1 championship (photo courtesy Jim Mitchell); Bronxville girls' 200 free style relay team qualifies for states (photo by K. Miller).