The nine members of the HF-L Boys Varsity Nordic Ski team which took the Section V title last week pose with their trophy. Photo by Nolan Hoh
The Honeoye Falls-Lima Boys Varsity Nordic Ski team proved that its dominance during the regular season was no fluke as the Cougars won the Section V title in commanding fashion last week. Meanwhile, the Lady Cougars showed that they will be a force to reckon with in the not-to-distant future.
HF-L’s boys won the Section V title with 18 points, outdistancing runnerup Pittsford Mendon which had 32 points. The Cougars had a great start in the Individual Distance race, which used the classic technique, on February 8. Drew Larsen won the individual race with a time of 23 minutes, 52.2 seconds. Linden Bellizzi clocked 25:33.4 for third. Sawyer Ferraro finished the course at Harriett Hollister State Park in 26:53.1 for seventh. Jack Lighthouse was 11th (27:24.4), Thomas Cushman 17th (29:00.4), Nolan Guckian 24th (31:08.6), Jacob Rodriguez 28th (31:55.8), Linus Burke 30th (32:30) and Abram Armes 32nd (32:48.2). HF-L clinched the title with its “A” relay of Bellizzi, Ferraro and Larsen winning the 3-person skate relay on February 10 at Bristol Mountain as they combined for a time of 31 minutes, 27.9 seconds. Lighthouse, Guckian and Cushman teamed for a time of 36:33.7 for fifth. Burke, Rodriguez and Armes turned in a time of 37:16.1 for ninth.
“The boys really put a bow on their Section V season,” assistant coach Nolan Hoh said. “They just skied fantastic. Drew was the Overall Champion as he had the fastest split of the day among the boys in the relay race at 10:14 so he received the Ruth Hayes Award. It wasn’t just a victory in the relay for those top three guys because the other six guys in the relay pushed them to get better.“
The Lady Cougars placed second with 37 points behind only Pittsford Sutherland which had 16 points. Jenna Lawrence captured second with a time of 28 minutes, 48.6 inches. Emily Lawrence garnered 10th with a 33:12.7 time. Hazel Jokl came in 11th at 33 minutes, 16.1 seconds. Kate Brennan was 13th (34:14.7), Rebecca Rozzi 16th (35:30.4), Anneleise Corey 19th (36:21.1), Emma Rozzi 23rd (37:42.8), Finley Neenan 28th (39:15) and Irene Sesnie 29th (39:18.1). The Lady Cougars “A” relay of Emily Lawrence, Jokl and Jenna Lawrence posted a time of 37:33.2 for second in the girls’ relay. Emma Rozzi, Sesnie and Neenan teamed for a 41:35.7 for fourth. Brennan, Rebecca Rozzi and Corey were fifth (41:43.3).
“The girls had a great sectional meet,” Hoh stated. “Sutherland has a great trio as their top skiers, but our girls finishing second, fourth and fifth in the relay speaks to our depth. It was really cool to see all three relays in the top five. It was also gratifying because only two of the nine girls at sectionals are seniors, so we will be strong for quite a while.”
Three HF-L boys and three girls will be competing at the New York State Public High School Athletic Association Championships at Lake Placid on February 24 and 25. They are Larsen, Bellizzi and Ferraro for the boys and Jenna Lawrence, Emily Lawrence and Jokl for the girls.
