Hilton’s Jeff Hibbard, left, battles for the ball against Walt Whitman’s Sean Zagorski during a NYSPHSAA Boys Soccer Championships Class AA semifinal played at Middletown High School on Saturday, November 14, 2015. Hilton’s season ended with a 7-3 loss to Walt Whitman-XI.

Hilton’s Simon Garno, left, celebrates his goal with Jeff Hibbard during a NYSPHSAA Boys Soccer Championships Class AA semifinal played at Middletown High School on Saturday, November 14, 2015. Hilton’s season ended with a 7-3 loss to Walt Whitman-XI.

Geneseo’s Tucker Lyons, right, gets a hug from Ethan Roth after their loss in a NYSPHSAA Boys Soccer Championships Class C semifinal played at Middletown High School on Saturday, November 14, 2015. Geneseo’s season ends with a 1-0 loss to Schecter-I.

Hilton’s Brady Farrell, center, consoles Tyler Nettnin following their loss in the NYSPHSAA Boys Soccer Championships Class AA semifinal played at Middletown High School on Saturday, November 14, 2015. Hilton’s season ended with a 7-3 loss to Walt Whitman-XI.

Geneseo’s wall of Danny Cannon, right, Mike Caruso, Ethan Roth and Sean Kelly stop a free kick by Schecter’s Jonathan Rand during a NYSPHSAA Boys Soccer Championships Class C semifinal played at Middletown High School on Saturday, November 14, 2015. Geneseo’s season ends with a 1-0 loss to Schecter-I.

Stefan Mickol had 21 kills and six aces to help lead Brighton to a four-set win over Williamsville North of Section VI to advance to the Class B state volleyball final for the first time in school history on Saturday.

Tristan Judd added seven kills and five blocks and Tim Francis had three kills and five blocks for the Barons (21-4), who won 25-15, 25-21, 19-25, 25-20.

Graham Trolley chipped in 24 digs and Evan Silver tallied five kills and three blocks for Brighton.

“We lost in the western regionals in 2012, so we’re building hopefully toward a state final,” Brighton coach Brad Rosenbaum said. “This is uncharted water, so we’re taking it one day at a time.”

Class A State Regionals at Midlakes

McQuaid 25-25-25, Orchard Park-VI 17-21-20

Spencer Wickens had 24 digs and Christopher Mahar added 34 assists, 2 aces, and 3 digs for McQuaid (18-1).

“We’re very appreciative that we get to represent Section V and try to bring back a state title,” McQuaid coach Chris Parks said.

Joseph Crosby added 14 kills and seven blocks and Charlie Siragusa recorded 7 kills, 3 aces and 4 blocks for the Knights.

McQuaid advanced to the state final last year.

Soccer

Class AA State semifinals at Middletown

Walt Whitman-XI 7, Hilton 3

Simon Garno scored a pair of goals and Jeff Hibbard tallied the third goal for Hilton (11-10-1).

Hilton goalie Brian Wilkin, left, dives for the ball and collides with Walt Whitman’s Anthony Palazzolo during a NYSPHSAA Boys Soccer Championships Class AA semifinal played at Middletown High School on Saturday, November 14, 2015. Hilton’s season ended with a 7-3 loss to Walt Whitman-XI.

Class C State semifinals at Middletown

Schechter-I 1, Geneseo 0

Schechter scored with five seconds remaining in the game to advance to the final.

“The first half we were into the wind … I think that took away some opportunities for more scoring chances,” Geneseo coach Chris Masters said. “But the boys did a good job defending and holding them off.”

Masters said Geneseo (19-2-1) had three or four scoring chances in the second half.

“It was obviously heartbreaking, but at the same time it was a great experience for the team,” Masters said.

Geneseo’s Kyle Rollins, right, takes a shot on goal while defended by Schecter’s Ben Goldberg during a NYSPHSAA Boys Soccer Championships Class C semifinal played at Middletown High School on Saturday, November 14, 2015. Geneseo’s season ends with a 1-0 loss to Schecter-I.

Class D State semifinals at Middletown

Fort Ann-II 2, Alfred-Almond 1

Senior captain Levi Bayus scored with six minutes left in the first half for Alfred-Almond (19-2-1).

“I’m very proud of the boys,” Alfred-Almond coach Burt Turner said. “They put a lot of good elements to a good season and made the most of their potential.”

Donny Glavin

VICTOR – Like father, like son.

Two of the most prominent names in Rochester running the last 20 years were dominant at the Section V cross country championships Saturday.

Glavin, this time son Donny of McQuaid, and Bathgate, this time son Dawson of East Rochester, turned in stirring performances to win their classes and make their dads proud.

“I think about him most every step of the way,” Donny said of his late father, Pete, who was a 14:14-minute 5K-er in college at Rutgers and later a race club founder and race director. He died five years ago of brain cancer at age 48.

“Just as I was finishing today,” Donny said,  “I looked up to the sky and held up a No. 1 for him. I was in sixth grade when he died, so I don’t remember any race advice he’d give, but I believe he’d say ‘keep working hard and the results will follow.’ ”

Donny’s 15-minute, 57-second finish in Class A led McQuaid to a successful defense of its sectional title and was almost a minute faster than Fairport’s No. 1, Matt Orcutt (16:51) on the redesigned double-loop 3.1-mile course at Victor High School.

“You made it look so easy,” McQuaid coach Todd Stewart said to Donny. Deceptively so.

“It was a tough race,” Donny said. “The team title was really close (44 to Fairport’s 53), so everybody had to push hard.”

He pointed to junior Joe Doerr, who was fifth, as McQuaid’s real MVP of the day, just like he was a year ago.

“I was probably a couple dozen back at the start,” Doerr said. “I made up a lot of ground, especially in the woods in the back section.”

Livonia’s Palotti wins cross country championship

Dawson Bathgate

Dawson won by more than a minute in Class DD (16:30 to 17:45), is undefeated heading to states, but just like a coach and veteran runner, his dad, ER head coach Jim Bathgate, said there’s still room for improvement.

“About a 5:08 first mile,” Jim said. “That’s too slow. But he hasn’t had anybody to race with yet.”

Dawson thought his start was too fast, though he didn’t have any familiarity with the course.

“We didn’t do the invitational here in September,” Dawson said. “But that’s OK. I like being surprised, then I don’t overanalyze things.”

The Pittsford Mendon boys juggernaut was no surprise, with sophomore Nathan Lawler leading all the way to Mendon’s fourth straight title. Lawler had the other sub-16 of the day for the state’s top-ranked B team, a 15:59.2.

Still, he said  “I took it out too hard . . . got caught up in the adrenaline . . . and then had to struggle in the third mile. I was just trying to hold on. “

But he finished with a 20-second cushion on teammate Isaac Goodman.

Honeoye Falls-Lima finally caught up with Mendon’s girls, making a return trip to states for the first time in four years, and 17th time overall under coach Bernie Gardner.  HF-L’s Sydney McDaniel and Payton Reed went 3-4 as HF-L scored 49 to Mendon’s 71.

Other highlights:

•  Rush-Henrietta junior Sammy Watson fought off a stomach ache most of the way but still cruised to win Class A by 12 seconds over Churchville-Chili’s Anna Kostarellis. They ran side-by-side for awhile, and occasionally touched shoes, saying “sorry,” Watson said.
•  Harley-Allendale Columbia junior Eileen Reinhardt was the Class D champion, running a 20:29 in the combined DD/D race.
•  Webster Thomas’ Amanda Vestri, Ellie Songer and Claire Ashton went 3-5-6 to help defend their team title.

Jim Castor, retired assistant sports editor of the Democrat and Chronicle, has covered running in the Rochester area for more than four decades. He can be reached at jcastor@jimcastor.com

Cross Country

Section V Championships

at Victor High School

5K (3.1-mile) open-loop course. *qualified for state tournament next Saturday at Monroe-Woodbury H.S., Woodbury, Orange County, (Sec. IX).

BOYS

Class A

Teams: 1. McQuaid* 44 points, 2. Fairport 53, 3. Penfield 90, 4. Churchville-Chili 104, 5. Hilton 106, 6. Webster Thomas 124, 7. Rush-Henrietta 188, 8. Victor 188, 9. Webster Schroeder 250, 10. Gates Chili 297, Robert Brown/Rochester Science Academy, East inc.

Individuals (72 finishers): 1. Donny Glavin* (McQ) 15:57, 2. Matt Orcutt* (Fai) 16:51, 3. Majd Rouhana* (Fai) 16:54, 4. Nick Neamtu* (WTh) 17:00, 5. Joe Doerr* (McQ) 16:59, 6. Brad Farnham* (Pen) 17:05, 7. Tyler Senall* (Pen) 17:07, 8. Stephen Loce (WTh) 17:12, 9. Jacob Scheg (Hil) 17:22, 10. Justin Scheg (Hil) 17:22.

Class B

Teams: 1. Pittsford Mendon* 35, 2. Honeoye Falls-Lima 80, 3. Brighton 100, 4. Brockport 144, 5. Pittsford Sutherland 150, 6. Irondequoit 159, 7. Canandaigua 169, 8. Greece Arcadia 220, 9. Spencerport 250, 10. Newark 254, 11. Batavia 257, 12. East Irondequoit Eastridge 365, 13. Aquinas 367, 14. Geneva 399, 15. Wayne 444, 16. Greece Athena 478, 17. Greece Olympia 490. Wilson/E. Coll., School of the Arts, Vanguard Academy inc.

Individuals (124 finishers): 1. Nathan Lawler* (PMe) 16:00, 2. Isaac Goodman* (PMe) 16:21, 3. Paul Dellinger* (Bri) 16:27, 4. Caleb Covell (Eir) 16:33, 5. Jackson Tate* (HF-L) 16:36, 6. Luke Robbins* (PSu) 16:39, 7. Griffin Hess* (PMe) 16:41, 8. Liam Lyle* (HF-L) 16:46, 9. Scott Loforte (Can) 16:53, 10. Jonah Simpson (Bri) 16:58.

Class C

Teams: 1. Bath* 59, 2. Marcus Whitman 71, 3. Wayland-Cohocton 87, 4. Waterloo 108, 5. Hornell 128, 6. Greece Odyssey 218, 7. Mynderse 233, 8. Dansville 236, 9. Palmyra-Macedon 252, 10. Livonia 256, 11. Le Roy 265, 12. Midlakes 288, 13. Penn Yan 309, 14. Attica 392, 15. Holley 405, 16. North Rose-Wolcott 441. Sodus, inc.

Individuals (109 finishers): 1. Austin Miller* (Hor) 17:40, 2. Eddie Ely* (P-Ma) 17:44, 3. Nate Mayton* (MWh) 17:54, 4. Maxin McKenzie* (Le R) 17:57, 5. Gabe Stash* (MWh) 18:00, 6. Aaron Stewart* (Bath) 18:03, 7. Ben Parrow (Wat) 18:09, 8. Tyler Smith* (Bath) 18:17, 9. Jordan Cash-Rawleigh* (Bath) 18:22, 10. Dominic Guarglia (Hor) 18:23.

Class DD

Teams: 1. Addison* 57, 2. Oakfield-Alabama/Elba 79, 3. East Rochester 81, 4. Alexander 156, 5. Red Creek 169, 6. Clyde-Savannah 208, 7. Williamson 215, 8. Byron-Bergen 224, 9. Geneseo 236, 10. Lyons 243, 11. Avon 263, 12. Warsaw 294, 13. Bloomfield 296, 14. Caledonia-Mumford 331, 15. World of Inquiry 339.

Individuals (100 finishers): 1. Dawson Bathgate* (ERo) 16:30, 2. Eric Wright* (War) 17:46, 3. Evan McIlwain* (Add) 17:4, 4. Cole O’Donnell (O-A/E) 17:53, 5. Josh Larmon (O-A/E) 17:53, 6. Joseph Thompson* (Add) 18:05, 7. Breandan Mantz (RCr) 18:10, 8. Ethan Dorow (ERo) 18:11, 9. Aaron Vivlamore (RCr) 18:11, 10. Sam Atwater (C-Sa) 18:12

Class D

Teams: 1. Honeoye 56, 2. Wheatland-Chili 107, 3. Arkport/Canaseraga 112, 4. Keshequa 119, 5. Marion 164, 6. Campbell-Savona 171, 7. Red Jacket 174, 8. Avoca 198, 9. Hammondsport 235, 10. Notre Dame Batavia 237, 11. Lima Christian 258, 12. Jasper-Troupsburg 274, 13. Harley-Allendale Columbia 289, 14. Kendall 368. Bishop Kearney, Cuba-Rushford, Northstar inc.

Individuals (98 finishers): 1. Alex Hogue* 16:48, 2. Hunter Clark* (Ark) 17:24, 3. Nick Harrian* (C-Sa) 17:30, 4. Jake Blanchard (Kes) 17:55, 5. Zach Ericson (Hon) 18:18, 6. Friend Olsen (Hon) 18:32, 7. Ryan Snyder (Kes) 18:33, 8. Daniel Ferreri (Mar) 18:37, 9. Jesse Hallett (Hon) 18:38, 10. Aaron Clark (W-Ch) 18:38.

GIRLS

Class A

Teams: 1. Webster Thomas* 41, 2. Rush-Henrietta 68, 3. Penfield 70, 4. Churchville-Chili 108, 5. Fairport 111, 6. Victor 155, 7. Hilton 161, 8. Webster Schroeder 184, 9. Gates Chili 285.

Individuals (61 finishers): 1. Sammy Watson* (R-He) 19:01, 2. Anna Kostarellis* (C-Ch) 19:13, 3. Amanda Vestri* (WTh) 19:15, 4. Claire Miller* (Pen) 19:25, 5. Ellie Songer* (WTh) 19:33, 6. Claire Ashton* (WTh) 19:44, 7. Bailey Pierce* (R-H) 19:45, 8. Haley Arguien* (C-Ch) 19:45, 9. Haley Riorden (R-H) 20:00, 10. Megan Sedita (Pen) 20:04.

Class B

Teams: 1. Honeoye Falls-Lima* 49, 2. Pittsford Mendon 71, 3. Pittsford Sutherland 98, 4. Canandaigua 116, 5. Mercy 128, 6. Spencerport 178, 7. Geneva 227, 8. Brighton 228, 9. Irondequoit 238, 10. Wayne 287, 11. Aquinas 322, 12. Greece Arcadia 329, 13. East Irondequoit Eastridge 356, 14. Batavia 360, 15. Brockport 368, 16. Greece Athena 466, 17. Newark 515. School of the Arts inc.

Individuals (118 finishers): 1. Clancy Rheude* (Can) 19:15, 2. Katie Cobos* (Can) 19:25, 3. Sydney McDaniel* (HF-L) 19:28, 4. Payton Reed* (HF-L) 19:28, 5. Madeleine Shellard* (Iro) 19:33, 6. Rebekah Preisser* (PSu) 19:49, 7. Megha Singh* (PMe) 19:56, 8. Maddy Hobika (PSu) 20:01, 9. Charlotte Kurzweil (Mer) 20:03, 10. Gabby Wangler* (HF-L) 20:06.

Class C

Teams: 1. Livonia* 49, 2. Waterloo 84, 3. Attica 88, 4. Mynderse 121, 5. Wayland-Cohocton 151, 6. Palmyra-Macedon 158, 7. Midlakes 166, 8. Greece Odyssey 188, 9. Dansville 210, 10. North Rose-Wolcott 281, 11. Holley 308, 12, Marcus Whitman 322. Bath, Hornell, Le Roy, Penn Yan, Sodus inc.

Individuals (94 finishers): 1. Hayleigh Palotti* (Liv) 18:57, 2. Meghan Curtin* (W-Co) 20:16, 3. Clarissa Hensler* (Liv) 20:30, 4. Grace Kibler* (Att) 20:57, 5. Maci Nicholson* (PYa) 21:14, 6. Riley Corey* (Wat) 21:18, 7. Lindsey Allen* (Hol) 21:41, 8. Jordan Hurlbut (P-Ma) 21:48, 9. Samantha Miller (Dan) 21:51, 10. Sennett Turner (Wat) 21:52.

Class DD

Teams: 1. Addison* 30, 2. Red Creek 56, 3. Byron-Bergen 58, 4. Alexander 108, 5. Caledonia-Mumford 148, 6. Williamson 162, 7. World of Inquiry 181. Avon, Bloomfield, Clyde-Savannah, East Rochester, Geneseo, Lyons, Pavilion/York, Pembroke, Warsaw inc.

Individuals (74 finishers): 1. Chloe Weaver* (RCr) 20:21, 2. Cameron Perry* (Pem) 20:34, 3. Veronica Dailey* (Add) 20:37, 4. Sydney Beach* (RCr) 21:03, 5. Isabella Painter* (Add) 21:13, 6. Alivia Arliss (C-Sa) 21:22, 7. Jaime Kurmis (ERo) 21:25, 8. Siomara Caballero (B-Be) 21:32, 9. Emily Gonyea (B-Be) 21:51, 10. Bethany Van Pelt (ERo) 21:54.

Class D

Teams: 1. Harley-Allendale Columbia 43, 2. Honeoye 85, 3. Wheatland-Chili 104, 4. Keshequa 123, 5. Marion 146, 6. Red Jacket 152, 7. Jasper-Troupsburg 172, 8. Oakfield-Alabama 180, 9. Kendall 195, 10. Notre Dame Batavia 214. Arkport/Canaseraga, Avoca, Bishop Kearney, Cuba/Rushford, Hammondsport, Northstar inc.

Individuals (84 finishers): 1. Eileen Reinhardt* (H-AC) 20:29, 2. Mikayla Gallace* (Hon) 21:04, 3. Sylvia Thompson (Kes) 21:46), 4. Josie Litchner (C-Ru) 22:00, 5. Tracy Stutzman (Hon) 22:05, 6. Alyssa Connelie (W-Ch) 22:08, 7. Morgan Evarts (Avo) 22:13, 8. Liza Cotter (H-AC) 22:13, 9. Alysono Vancamp (Mar) 22:19, 10. Nicole Hurlburt (A/Ca) 22:22.

Complete results online at www.yentiming.com

.

Hilton will advance to the final four for the first time since 1987 after defeating Williamsville North-VI 3-2 in the Class AA soccer state quarterfinals on Saturday.

Simon Garno scored two goals and Nick Simone added a goal to lead the Cadets.

1987 was also the last time Hilton won a sectional title.

Class B State quarterfinals

East Aurora-VI 2, Livonia 0

Class C State quarterfinals

Geneseo 4, Allegany-Limestone-VI 0

Sean Kelly and Kyle Rollins each had a goal and an assist for Geneseo (19-1-1).

Danny Cannon and Brian Linton each added a goal for the Blue Devils.

Mitchell Walton had four saves for his 12th shutout of the season.

Volleyball

Class A semifinals

No. 2 McQuaid 25-15-25-25, No. 3 Fairport 20-25-17-22

Spencer Wickens had 14 digs and four aces and Joseph Crosby added 11 kills for McQuaid (16-1).

Christian Pawelek had six kills and five blocks for the Knights.

Chad Riordon had 38 assists and 17 digs and Donovan Dey added 15 kills for Fairport (15-4).

Ryan Algier tallied 11 kills and six blocks for the Red Raiders.

This is the seventh consecutive year McQuaid has made it to the sectional finals.

No. 1 Penfield 25-25-25, No. 4 East 12-13-12

Jordan Solomon had nine assists and Trevor Isselhard added three kills and three blocks for Penfield (18-1).

East finishes the season 15-4.

Class BB semifinals

No. 2 Brighton 25-25-23-25 No. 3 Irondequoit 21-18-25-20

Ben Delacruz had 20 kills and two aces and Stefan Mickol had 14 kills 5 aces and 18 assists for Brighton (18-4).

Jesse Lefler had 43 assists and four kills for Irondequoit.

Brighton last won sectionals in 2012.

No. 1 Spencerport 25-25-25, No. 5 Brockport 12-12-10

Trevor Lane and Josh Rabidoux each had 10 kills and Mike Dinh tallied eight aces and 12 digs to lead Spencerport (13-3).

Jared Barnard added 33 assists for the Rangers.

Spencerport has not been to the sectional finals since 2013 and last won sectionals in 2002.

Class B Semifinals

No. 2 Midlakes 25-25-25, No. 3 Pavilion 21-10-18

Seth Welker led Midlakes (17-5) with 11 kills and six digs.

Gavin Record added five kills and three aces and twin brother Kamren had 20 assists for the Screaming Eagles.

No. 1 North Rose-Wolcott 25-25-25 No. 4 Sodus 22-15-8

Luke Gerstner had 24 assists and four blocks and Tyler Norris added 13 kills for NR-W (18-4).

Reese Morris tallied six kills for the Cougars.

This will be NR-W’s third consecutive trip to the sectional final. It defeated Midlakes in 2013 and lost against Midlakes in 2014.

Bishop Kearney’s Devin Green carries the football in Saturday’s state quarterfinal win over Franklinville/Ellicottville. The Kings won their first sectional football title since 1989 this season.

Bishop Kearney’s Devin Green carries the football in Saturday’s state quarterfinal win over Franklinville/Ellicottville. The Kings won their first sectional football title since 1989 this season.

Section V’s executive committee and athletic council met Tuesday, and Ed Stores had to set the record straight.

Stores, executive director of the region’s high school sports sanctioning body, said no schools were on the way out of Section V as members before, during or after the meeting.

That includes Aquinas Institute and Bishop Kearney, two of the private schools named in a letter endorsed by 18 school district superintendents who “encourage the New York State Public High School Athletic Association to discontinue the practice of allowing non-public schools to participate in post-season play.”

“You had people thinking that we were going to meet and throw the private schools out,” Stores said. “We are not doing that, not even close.

“I don’t know what’s going to happen in the future, but that’s not the goal.”

The letter, dated Oct. 2 and signed by some members of the Monroe County Council of School Superintendents, was shared with representatives from nine high school leagues during Tuesday’s Section V meeting at the Burgundy Basin Inn.

The Monroe County Council of Superintendents sent the letter to Robert Zayas, executive director of the NYSPHSAA, the parent organization of Section V and similar sanctioning bodies around the state.

“It our belief that the NYSPHSAA rather than promoting it’s goal to foster consistency and fairness for its public school members, and those that provide the bedrock financial and participatory support, is instead conducting tournaments that serve as a showcase for it’s non-public school programs that have ignored the premises of no solicitation/recruitment of athletes.”

Zayas has responded to this letter, according to Stores.

“It was the members that put them in and his take back to the superintendents of Monroe County is that it will be the members who make any future decision about their membership in the state association,” Stores said.

Stores expects another letter that supports the Monroe County Council of School Superintendents’ position from another group of superintendents from Genesee, Wyoming, Livingston and Steuben Counties.

“There is no question that there are people in Section V who would like to see the private schools out altogether,” Stores said. “I’m here to tell you today that the Section V executive committee and with the support of the athletic council, is nowhere near ready to make any kind of statement about that.

“Nobody is here today to tell anybody that we are going to make any kind of knee-jerk reaction to responding yes or no to those letters,” Stores said. “What we are telling you is that we are going to take a cross-section of our population in Section V, including those superintendents and including our Private-Parochial League, as well as our other leagues, we’re going to get together and start having some serious discussions about what we can do to overcome the issues that have been around for 50 years.

“There’s nothing new about this.”

JAMESJ@GANNETT.COM

There is a call for more high school and youth boys lacrosse officials.

The Genesee Valley Lacrosse Officials Association hopes you would like to answer.

A four-week orientation class that begins Jan. 11 is offered by the GVLOA. Anyone interested should send an e-mail to kevinc@pariskirwan.com for more information, such as start-up costs, physical requirements, flexible time commitments and pay.

The Genesee Valley Lacrosse Officials Association wants to train potential boys lacrosse officials.

Aquinas players celebrate following their 17-14 win over Rush-Henrietta in the Section V Class AA football title on Nov. 8.

Players from Aquinas, a private school, celebrate following their 17-14 win over Rush-Henrietta, a public school, in the Section V Class AA football championship on Nov. 8.

Here’s the best thing about public schools in the Rochester area trying to remove the private schools from the Section V postseason: Thankfully, someone finally had the guts to put it down in writing.

All that has gone on around here for decades has been whining and complaining and finger-pointing by the public schools. But last month’s letter by the Monroe County Council of School Superintendents to the New York State Public High School Athletic Association basically says this: We want the private schools out; please do something about it.

Don’t get me wrong. I’m not saying I agree with that MCCSS, which I didn’t even know existed until last week. I’m not saying I think the public schools are right. I actually see both sides of this controversial issue. While there’s a whiny, take-my-ball-and-go-home tone to the superintendents’ letter, I’m glad some people finally had the guts to do something about this.

Sec. V: No schools going anywhere just now

Now, maybe someday soon we can figure this out, make a change or keep it the same, but at least we can stop the complaining.

“The ratio of tournament successes of certain non-public school members, with student populations minuscule in comparison to their public school rivals, cannot be explained by outstanding coaching, physical resources or school pride driven performance,” the superintendents wrote in their letter, showing apparent ignorance to what really goes on.

Show me a private school or public school that dominates and I’ll show you a dedicated, hard-working coaching staff that motivates and develops his or her players to be the best.

Ultimately, I think the NYSPHSAA and executive director Robert Zayas should get his hands dirty on this and create a statewide policy. Section V Executive Director Ed Stores can say all he wants about the member schools in this area deciding if they want to keep the private schools in — we already know what the answer would be — but this should end up being the state’s call. Why? Because when private schools such as Aquinas, McQuaid, Bishop Kearney, Mercy or Batavia Notre Dame win Section V titles, they move on to play in the state tournament and usually face public schools.

Of course, there was that time in 2014 when the Kearney girls played Utica Notre Dame in the state basketball championship and people snickered, as two private schools squared off for the public school crown.

Public schools want private schools out of Section V

Is it an unlevel playing field? Absolutely. Can private schools recruit for athletic gain which can lead to more tuition dollars? Of course they can, and I don’t see how you explain it otherwise. But private schools HAVE to recruit students to boost enrollment and if they use their academic, athletic or drama programs to do so, so be it. They are what they are.

I know what my old man would say about this whole thing, though: Who cares what advantage you think they have; just get better, get good enough to beat them.

Do you think public school teams who have dominated locally have worried about all the noise over the public vs. private debate? No, their coaches and athletes just worked harder to win and maybe, just maybe, that Section V Tournament victory felt sweeter if a private school was in their path.

Full disclosure: I don’t have a dog in this fight. My daughter is 2 years old. We live in Webster because of the schools, not the sports. I don’t even know if she’ll want to play sports. But if she does and there’s a private school that’s dominating her sport, I’d just tell her to work harder, get better, convince your friends and teammates to do the same and try to beat that school.

And if you do that and still lose, it’s OK, you’ll live. Even if that trophy isn’t yours, the sun will come up tomorrow. Why are we placing so much emphasis on winning? Does it have to be all or nothing?  Maybe I’ll feel different one day if it’s my kid, but right now I don’t and I hope I don’t change.

I played sports at a public school east of Syracuse and I loved every minute of it. I was an average player with an above-average work ethic in soccer, basketball and baseball at Canastota, a Class C school in Section III. We were awful in soccer, a slightly better than .500 basketball team and won a couple league titles in baseball. We lost three heart-breakers in sectionals in each of my varsity baseball seasons. But do I feel any less enriched because we didn’t win a sectional trophy?

Nope.

(Footnote: Each loss was to a public school).

Fast forward to two weeks ago: Canastota football got walloped 69-32 by Utica Notre Dame in the Section III Class C title game, a second straight title for the private school. Canastota has never won a title in football. I get it. Losing stinks. I hate losing.

But it’s not the worst thing in this crazy world in which we live. It’s important to teach kids how to handle losing. Big picture: Sometimes it’s more about the journey than the destination.

Letter from Sec. V superintendents to the NYSPHSAA

Jackson Tate

POUGHKEEPSIE – Jackson Tate, his goal of a top-30 finish signed, sealed and extracted, yanked off his left shoe.

“Look at this,” he said excitedly. “Oops, nope, other foot.”

Off came the right bright green Nike Luna Racer.

“See those holes?” asked the Honeoye Falls-Lima senior at the state Federation cross country championships Saturday. “I got a big nail right clean through it in warmups. I was lucky to find it before the start.”

Freed of the skewed extra spike – it punctured the sole but never broke through the fabric to his skin – Tate led all Section V finishers by placing 23rd, and his team was a surprising seventh in the state’s 42nd annual postseason meet combining 54 public, private and parochial school teams and 132 selected individuals.

“This was really exciting for all of us,” Tate said, after he covered the 3.1-mile Bowdoin Park course in 16 minutes, 33.4 seconds, then turned to watch his Cougar teammates Liam Lyle, Nolan Hoh, Bryan Tornatore and Dave Harvey cross under the finish banner in 31st, 84th, 103rd and 156th.

“We were just five points off Corning, the No. 2 A team at states last week, and I beat Corning’s No. 1 today. Very satisfying.”

Left to right: Sammy Watson of Rush-Henrietta, Claire Miller of Penfield and Hayleigh Palotti of Livonia.

With Livonia sophomore Hayleigh Palotti’s 26th-place finish (19:08.5) and the 38th by Rush-Henrietta track All-American Sammy Watson (19:20.5), the Rochester-area’s tiny 13-person contingent landed four medals (top 40) in the day’s two races.

Senior Lyle, the fourth medalist, ran a personal-best 16:40.6 on one of the state’s toughest courses. Tate said “he ran out of his mind great today.”

No one was pretending this was a banner year for Section V cross country – the 13 entries are the lowest ever for Feds – but the gains Tate, HF-L and Palotti have made since September are plenty impressive.

“This is just as satisfying,” coach Bernie Gardner said, “as all those championship years and the days with Steve (Mangan) and Alex (Deir). For the improvement they’ve achieved . . . look at who we beat today. It’s a Who’s Who of cross country . . . Saratoga Springs, Ithaca, Sachem, Burnt Hills, Shenendehowa.”

“We are now arguably the second-best boys team in Section V behind Pittsford Mendon, and all glory and honor to them.”

HF-L’s boys are four-time state public school titlists. Mendon owns the last three.

For Palotti, a left ankle she rolled landing on a stone during warmups didn’t deny her a fast start (“made it to the bridge near the front”) and a solid finish.

“I like this course a lot,” she said. “Better than Monroe-Woodbury (at states last week). And beautiful weather, too. I’m smiling.”

Her coach, Dave Crabb, and dad, Mike Palotti, were beaming, too.

“What do you always remind me when I’m playing golf?” Crabb asked her.

“Trust your training and trust your clubs.

“Well, she followed her own advice today. She told me to stand about 800 meters from the finish and yell. She came by and I told her she was in the 30s, then she turned it on.”

East Rochester senior Dawson Bathgate, state Class D champion, never got out of the pack and was 90th. His time was 17:17.2, still a vast improvement from the 18:01 he ran here as a sophomore.

Jim Castor, retired assistant sports editor of the Democrat and Chronicle, has covered running in the Rochester area for more than five decades. He can be reached at jcastor@jimcastor.com

Cross Country

Federation Championships

Forty-second NYS Federation of Secondary Schools Athletic Association Cross Country Championships on the 5K (3.1-mile) Bowdoin Park open-loop course near Wappingers Falls in the town of Poughkeepsie, Dutchess County. Medals to top five teams, top 40 individuals.

BOYS

Teams (27): 1. St. Anthony’s, Melville, Nassau County-VIII 89 points. Section V: 7. Honeoye Falls-Lima 255.

Individuals: (255 finishers) 1. Aidan Tooker (Saratoga Springs-II) 15 minutes, 42.8 seconds. Sec. V finishers: 23. Jackson Tate (HF-L) 16:33.4, 31. Liam Lyle (HF-L) 16:40.6, 84. Nolan Hoh (HF-L) 17:12.3, 86. Tyler Senall (Penfield) 17:14.5, 90. Dawson Bathgate (East Rochester) 17:17.2, 103. Bryan Tornatore (HF-L) 17:25.7, 121. Brad Farnham (Penfield) 17:33.5, 156. David Harvey (HF-L) 17:50.5, 191. Devin Perry (HF-L) 18:08.1, 207. Cam McDaniel (HF-L) 18:14.1.

GIRLS

Teams (27): 1. Saratoga Springs-II 77. Section V: None.

Individuals (255 finishers): 1. Jessica Lawson (Corning-IV) 17:46.8. Sec. V: 26. Hayleigh Palotti (Livonia) 19:08.5, 38. Sammy Watson (Rush-Henrietta) 19:20.5, 56. Claire Miller (Penfield) 19:47.0.

Complete results on-line at www.leonetiming.com

Above: Yianni Diakomihalis of Hilton, right, wrestles Mike Venosa of Victor in the championship match of the 120-pound weight class at the state qualifier on Feb. 14, 2015.

Yianni Diakomihalis of Hilton has been named to the USA Today High School Sports preseason All-American wrestling team.

The junior has already won three state championships since he joined the varsity team as an eighth-grader and added a gold medal to his resume this summer.

“It’s cool, it’s always a cool accomplishment when people acknowledge what you have been doing,” Diakomihalis said of being selected to the preseason All-American team. “If you told me when I was 6 years old that I would be on the All-American team and have all of these opportunities I wouldn’t believe it. It’s really great, everything has played out and I love it.”

Diakomihalis won the gold medal at 58-kilogram (127.5-pound) weight class to become the United World Wrestling Cadet World Champion in Bosnia-Herzogovina this summer. Diakomihalis won five matches to take the title after finishing as the Cadet Nationals runner-up in 2014. He also won the 2015 UWW Cadet Nationals.

Yianni Diakomihalis Hilton wrestling

“It was one of my first experiences living off on my own, it was very college-like,” Diakomihalis said. “You have to practice and eat your meals, it gave me the opportunity to get used to living like an adult and caring for myself.”

Diakomihalis started out his junior campaign on a strong note at Super 32 in Greensboro, North Carolina in October. He won his third high school championship belt after allowing just six points over seven matches.

“It was a good weekend overall,” Diakomihalis said. “It was a good performance, I was able to see the things I can work on, it’s such as tough tournament. No matter how well I do I can always identify how to improve and what I can get better at.”

The most impressive thing about Diakomihalis may be his attitude. He has not lost a match since eighth grade but continues to seek ways to get better.

“I try to think about it like this — if I’ve already accomplished these things, I’m capable of more,” Diakomihalis said. “People congratulate me and it’s nice, but if I’m able to accomplish what I’ve done so far, I know I can do more. So I think of the next thing I can do — what’s next for me.”

BANTONIO@gannett.com

Yianni Diakomihalis receives championship welcome

The Brighton team after winning the Class B title.

Division 1 and 2 boys volleyball state crowns are back to Section V.

Both McQuaid and Brighton survived pool play and defeated their opponents in three sets Saturday at Suffolk County Community College.

McQuaid head coach Christopher Parks was feeling some mixed emotions.

On one hand, his team was bringing home its fourth state title in six years. But on the other hand, he wouldn’t get to spend time with his team in the gym on Monday. That reality was sinking in.

McQuaid celebrates

“We are exceedingly proud of these young men,” said Parks after his Knights secured a 25-23, 25-13, 25-19 win over Sachem North-XI, the same team that upended McQuaid in last year’s state championship. “We are proud to represent Section V and return a state title to Section V. It was a real nice experience for Section V, especially to see Brighton win and then have those guys cheering us on..”

Senior swing hitter Erik Johnsson totaled 14 kills, 4 digs, and 2 blocks to earn Division 1 MVP honors for the Knights, who went 6-0 during pool play in the morning to advance to the final.

Junior libero Spencer Wickens (19 digs), senior Joseph Crosby (six kills, six blocks), and senior Christopher Mahar (30 assists, seven digs) were each named to the all-tournament team for McQuaid.

Junior middle hitter Charlie Siragusa added 10 kills, 6 blocks, and 4 digs for the Knights.

McQuaid celebrates

Division 2

Brighton 25-25-25, Hauppauge-XI 18-20-21

Brighton’s Ben De La Cruz

Stefan Mickol had 18 kills and three aces and was named MVP of the state tournament for Brighton (22-4).

“I got to watch an incredible group of young men reach their goal,” Brighton coach Brad Rosenbaum said. “I thought it was possible, as the season started going on we started thinking this was possible.”

Ben De La Cruz added 19 kills and three blocks and was named to the all-state team for the Barons.

Evan Silver had five kills and 11 blocks and Luke Basler had 33 assists for Brighton.

Football

Class C state semifinals

Chenango Forks-IV 44, Bath 24

Senior quarterback Michael Rice ran for a touchdown and threw for another score for Bath (11-1).

Patrick Brewer, who scored Bath’s first touchdown, played with a knee injury. He twisted a knee on the final play of Bath’s win over East Rochester/Gananda in the sectional final two weeks ago.

“Eleven and one, I can’t complain,’’ Bath coach Wayne Carroll said. “There were a lot of years where I was like .500 or below .500, so 11-1, I’m tickled to death.”

Bath 0-6-8-8—22

Chennango Forks 9-14-7-14—44

CF – Trevor Borcahrdt 20 pass Tony Silvanic (Silvanic kick)

CF – Safety, Bath snap out of end zone

CF – Dylan Studer 14 run (Silvanic kick)

B – Patrick Brewer 4 run (pass failed)

CF – L.J. Watson 12 run (Silvanic kick)

CF – Jacob Krupp 24 pass Silvanic (Silvanic kick)

B – Michael Rice 1 run (Jake Taggart pass Rice)

CF – Watson 8 run (Silvanic kick)

CF – Studer 62 run (Silvanic kick)

B – Taggart 34 pass Rice (Jeremiah Kinner pass Rice)

Fairport, which went 16-5-1 and reached the Section V Class A championship game last season, received the nod from area high school hockey coaches as the top team in the Democrat and Chronicle’s preseason poll.

Fairport’s Mason Eichmann celebrates after scoring a goal during a Section V Class A tournament win over Rush-Henrietta last season. Eichmann, a junior, is the top returning scorer for the Red Raiders.

The Red Raiders received five of the nine first-place votes and finished with 82 points, four more than second-ranked Pittsford. Fairport is expected to be a deep team with strong goaltending led by senior Ethan Kaiser, an All-Greater Rochester selection who finished last season with a 1.14 goals-against average, .942 save percentage and five shutouts. Kaiser also helped the Red Raiders to a sectional title and berth in the state semifinals as a sophomore.

Pittsford (78 points), which went 13-6-3 last season, received one first-place vote and is led by junior Quinn Doyle, an AGR selection who had 33 points on 14 goals and 19 assists as a sophomore.

Webster Thomas (60 points) is ranked third, followed by Hilton (57) and defending state Division I champion McQuaid (55). The Cadets received one first-place vote and the Knights garnered two.

Victor (45) is ranked sixth followed by the Greece Athena/Odyssey Thunder (40), Brockport (26), Irondequoit (10) and Aquinas and Penfield (7).

The season opens on Tuesday night.

table.tableizer-table {
border: 1px solid #CCC; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;
font-size: 12px;
}
.tableizer-table td {
padding: 4px;
margin: 3px;
border: 1px solid #ccc;
}
.tableizer-table th {
background-color: #104E8B;
color: #FFF;
font-weight: bold;
}

.

Colin O’Leary had two goals for Greece Athena/Odyssey in a 5-2 win over Aquinas in Section V hockey game Tuesday.

Antonio Lombardo scored on a penalty shot to tie the game at two for the Thunder (1-0).

Rush-Henrietta 4, Batavia 1

Justin Varney, Nick Mezzoprete, A.J. Mestler, and Jonathan Gerhardt each scored for R-H (1-0).

Bryce Polito scored the lone goal for Batavia (0-1).

Geneseo/Livonia/Avon 5, Geneva 0

Reid Mattle had two goals and an assist and Jordan Holley added two goals for the Lakers (1-0).

Morgan Brown had 17 saves in the shutout.

Boys Basketball

Non-league

School of the Arts 83, Bloomfield 62

Christian Simmons broke a school record scoring 45 points for SOTA (1-0).

Girls Basketball

Non-league

Naples 34, Campbell-Savona 27

Chloe Shearing had 14 points and Aysia Pompeo had 13 points for Naples.

Boys Swimming

Non-league

Palmyra-Macedon 95, York-Pavilion 89

Mitchell Moon won the 200 freestyle (1:59.46) and 500 freestyle (5:22.87) for P-M.

Collin Lajoie won the 50 freestyle (25.13) and 100 freestyle (55.19) for Y-P.

.

Jack Stone scored the winner with 4 minutes, 24 seconds left in regulation to lift McQuaid 2-1 over Williamsville North of Section VI in a non-league hockey game Friday night.

Johnny Tachian had an earlier goal for the Knights (1-0).

Conner Pulli made 41 saves in net for McQuaid.

Boys basketball

Warsaw Tournament

Pembroke 38, Pavilion 37

Zach VonKramer scored 10 points to lead Pembroke (1-0).

Caleb Hoffman had 10 points and seven rebounds and Caleb Milligan added 9 points, 6 rebounds and 6 assists for Pavilion (0-1).

Red Jacket 52, Warsaw 31

Dan Brown scored 14 points for Red Jacket (1-0).

Logan Motz recorded 11 points and six rebounds for Warsaw (0-1). Red Jacket faces Pembroke 7 p.m. on Saturday in the championship.

Girls basketball

Non-league

Marion 34, Honeoye 29

Brianna DeLyser had 17 points for Marion (1-0).

Savannah Brewington scored a game-high 23 points for Honeoye (0-1).

Syracuse Orange players celebrate winning the championship against the Texas A&M Aggies in the 2015 Battle 4 Atlantis championship.

PARADISE ISLAND, Bahamas (AP) — Syracuse coach Jim Boeheim doesn’t hand out compliments lightly.

He gave his team a big one after their performance in the Battle 4 Atlantischampionship game.

“This was a great tournament for us. I don’t think we’ve ever gone through a tournament where we’ve been the underdog for two straight games,” he said. “So this might be one of our better wins.”

Michael Gbinije had 20 points, Malachi Richardson added 16 and the Orange held off No. 25 Texas A&M 74-67 on Friday. It is Syracuse’s first early season tournament title since the Orange won the 2013 Maui Invitational.

It took a second-half spurt for Syracuse to pull out a three-point win over Connecticut in the semifinals. This time the Orange relied on the toughness-driven brand of basketball that was its hallmarks in its Big East Conference days.

Gbinije was selected the tournament’s most valuable player. Trevor Cooney added 15 points and also made the all-tournament team.

Syracuse Orange forward Michael Gbinije (0) drives past Texas A&M Aggies guard Admon Gilder (3).

The game was tight throughout the second half and featured nine ties and 12 lead changes.

But after the score was tied at 61, the Orange (6-0) outscored the Aggies (6-1) 13-6 over the final 5:38.

“We made 3’s early so they had to come out and cover us,” Cooney said. “We were about to get the lane and make plays. That’s what we gotta continue to do.”

Jalen Jones led Texas A&M with 23 points, and Danuel House added 15.

Syracuse forward Michael Gbinije (0).

The Aggies led by two at halftime. That changed in the final 20 minutes as they struggled to get easy baskets. They also finished just 7 for 11 from the free throw line.

“We were all around the basket and didn’t get fouled, and we didn’t make layups,” Aggies coach Billy Kennedy said.

The game was played within a basket for most of the second half.

The Orange was aggressive with its zone, but the Aggies were just as patient working for open shots.

The 3’s kept falling for Syracuse, though, and it finally got some separation at 72-63 on a three-point play by Cooney with 3:10 remaining.

Texas A&M got 16 first-half points from Jones and took two-point lead into halftime.

The Aggies held the edge despite a strong shooting performance from the Orange that included six 3-pointers.

Syracuse Orange guard Malachi Richardson (far right) celebrates the victory with teammates.

TIP-INS

Syracuse: Finished 11 for 25 from the 3-point line. … Had just two fast-break points.

Texas A&M: Had 36 bench points. … Had 18 assists on its 27 field goals.

CARRYING THE LOAD: Friday marked the second straight game that the trio of Gbinije, Cooney and Tyler Roberson played at least 32 minutes. Cooney played the entire game against the Aggies, with Gbinije logging 37 minutes. “These guys really played hard and played huge minutes three days in a row,” Boeheim said. “We were better at the end of games than we were at the beginning. So that says a lot about their character and their toughness.”

TAKING STOCK: Even with the loss, Kennedy said there is a lot to build on from this week. “We just gotta keep getting better as a team. We gotta play some zone. I think our freshmen had had freshmen moments. It’s a high-level game and just something we’ve gotta learn from. And we will. It’s a great experience for our team to be in that atmosphere three nights in a row.”

AWARD TIME: The Aggies’ Jones and House, along with Gonzaga’s Kyle Wiltjer rounded out the all-tournament team.

UP NEXT

Syracuse hosts Wisconsin on Wednesday.

Texas A&M hosts Florida Gulf Coast on Wednesday.

Stock photo.

1. Fairport

Nickname: Red Raiders. Coach: Chris Moretter, 9th year.

Last season: 16-5-1, lost to eventual state champion McQuaid 3-2 in the Class A Finals.

Players to watch: G Ethan Kaiser (sr.), D Michael Ball (sr.), D Cameron Gebhardt (sr.), F Mason Eichmann (jr.), F Jake Spaiches (sr.).

Outlook: Fairport may have the most depth in Section V and have a defensive mindset that the team buys into. The Red Raiders have a couple of players returning from travel leagues in forwards Zach Bell and Spencer DeRidder.

“They bring a ton of talent to the team and we’ll certainly need their contributions later in the season,” said Moretter.

2. Pittsford

Nickname: Panthers. Coach: Steve Thering, 9th year.

Last season: 13-6-3, lost to McQuaid in the Class A semifinals.

Players to watch: F Quinn Doyle (jr.), F Connor Haims (jr.), F Ryan Walpole (jr.), F Jack Kaufman (sr.), D Griff Avery (sr.), G Aidan Richardson (sr.).

Outlook: The Panthers have most of their key players from a year ago returning, which makes them a big threat for the Class A title. They have a group that not only could contend this year, but next year as well. They have talent up front, and experience in the back.

3. Webster Thomas

Nickname: Titans. Coach: David Evans, 12th year.

Last season: 11-8-1, lost to Greece Thunder in the Class BB semifinals.

Players to watch: F Pierce Currie (jr.), F Tyler Cooligan (so.), D Zachary Fosdick (jr.), D Luke Sciarrone (jr.).

Outlook: The Titans lead a deep Class BB group in 2015-2016. They will be looking to end a three-year drought without a sectional title.

They look to be a defensive-minded team with the driving force being goaltender Dalton Jerzak and experience on the blue-line.

4. Hilton

Nickname: Cadets. Coach: Chris Monfieletto, 6th year.

Last season: 13-6-3, lost to Victor in the Class BB semifinals.

Players to watch: G Patrick Dennehy (sr.), F Jesse Edwards (sr.), F Jake Coon (sr.), F John Rutherford (sr.), D Hunter Howell (sr.), D Spencer Norris (sr.).

Outlook: Hilton will be a team that’s going to have to find new players to score. They will need to replace the top three scorers from a year ago that accounted for 110 points. The defense will have to carry the Cadets with goalie Patrick Dennehy looking to build off of last season.

5. McQuaid

Nickname: Knights. Coach: Al Vyverberg, 29th year.

Last season: Won the Class A state tile.

Players to watch: D Craig McCabe (sr.), D Zak Schuler (sr.), F Luc Rosedale (sr.).

Outlook: To say there’s many new parts for the Knights is an understatement. Nearly the entire team that won a state title a year ago has left.

Vyverberg said he’s going to learn a lot about his team early because he doesn’t know what to expect with so many new players.

6. Victor

Nickname: Blue Devils. Coach: Mike Ferreri, 13th year.

Last season: 17-7-1, Won the Class BB Section V title.

Players to watch: G Chayse Ierlan (so.), F Patrick Manning (sr.), F Max Lambert (sr.), F Mitch Rydzynski (so.), D Dylan Smith (sr.), D Ben Cary (sr.).

Outlook: The Blue Devils lost the player of the year from a year ago in David Farrance. Patrick Manning, who scored the winning goal in the Class BB finals against Greece Thunder a year ago, along with goalie Chayse Ierlan, who was named MVP of the sectional title game, should build off of last year’s late-season success.

7. Greece Athena/Odyssey

Nickname: Thunder. Coach: Andy Rice, 4th year.

Last season: 15-5-1, lost to Victor in the Class BB final.

Players to watch: D Mathew Clark (sr.), F Dylan O’Hare (jr.), F Sean Ryan (jr.), G Luke Green (jr.).

Outlook: The Thunder are always tough but they will be without their top two scorers from a year ago in Marc McNeil and Derek Mazeau, who combined for 56 points. However, players such as Dylan O’Hare, Sean Ryan and Mathew Clark, who owned the next three highest point totals from a year ago, return.

8. Brockport

Nickname: Blue Devils. Coach: Greg Stahl, 8th year.

Last season: 9-8-3, Won the Class B title.

Players to watch: F Mitch Henshaw (sr.), D Ben Leach (so.), D Walden Grady (jr.), G Riley Emmerson (sr.).

Outlook: Coaches believe last year’s Class B champion is the favorite to win the title again. At No. 8, Brockport is the highest-ranked Class B team, but this year’s team may have its key players come from the back end. Mitchell Henshaw, who led the Blue Devils with 30 points last year, will lead the offensive attack.

9. Irondequoit

Nickname: Eagles. Coach: Rick Giuffrida, 12th year.

Last season: 10-10, lost to Brockport in the Class B finals.

Players to watch: G Josh Lupo (jr.), F Phil Barilla (so.), F Gus Aldridge (so.), D Carter Whittemore (sr.), D David Regan (so.).

Outlook: The Eagles are going to have to find different places for goals with most of their top scorers from last year moving on. Louis Cup and Anthony Thurston combined for 66 points, each with 20 goals. The sophomore class may play a big role in determining Irondequoit’s success.

T-10. Penfield

Nickname: Patriots. Coach: Nathan Miller, 10th year.

Last season: 7-13-2, lost 2-1 in overtime to Greece Thunder in the Class BB quarterfinals.

Players to watch: F Mike Streff (sr.), F Cooper Allen (jr.), D Carson Bartlett (sr.), G Nick Rockhill (sr.).

Outlook: Penfield struggled to score goals a year ago and will need better offensive output to contend in Class BB. Nick Rockhill had a .893 save percentage last season but only finished 4-11-2. The Patriots will need him to be a wall to improve off last year’s finish.

T-10. Aquinas

Nickname: Little Irish. Coach: Jim Hofford, 7th year.

Last season: 5-14, lost to Geneseo/Livonia/Dansville in the first round of the Class B tournament.

Players to watch: F Elliot Clemmons (sr.), F Tyler Kelly (jr.), F Alex Opladen (sr.), F Eddie Giblin (sr,), G Sam Prior (sr.)

Outlook: Finished tied for 10th in the coaches poll, Aquinas could be a sleeper in Class B. They are returning their two top scorers in Elliot Clemmons and Tyler Kelly, who combined for 53 points and 27 goals last season. They have a lot of upperclassman that could lead a run in sectionals.

Ethan Kaiser stopped 94.2 percent of the shots he faced as a junior and is one of the key returning players for Fairport this season.

Ethan Kaiser stopped 94.2 percent of the shots he faced as a junior and is one of the key returning players for Fairport this season.

The Section V hockey coaches released their preseason poll earlier this week, with Fairport receiving the most votes, and the most top votes. Pittsford was a close second.

Many top players from the top teams a year ago have moved on, leaving voids for other players to come up and fill.

The season kicked off with a few games Tuesday with most teams starting the regular season this weekend.

The top 10: Section V hockey capsules

As the season begins, here are five questions we have going into the 2015-2016 season:

What makes Fairport a contender?

Head coach Chris Moretter laid out the attributes he likes about the 2015-2016 Red Raiders, and the rest of the Section V coaches must see the same traits.

Fairport has experience — winning experience. The Red Raiders won the Class A title two years ago and lost to McQuaid in the finals last season. Moretter said even the players called up from JV have experience winning at that level.

However, the backbone of the Red Raiders is goaltender Ethan Kaiser, who posted a 1.14 GAA, .942 save percentage and five shutouts last season.

Kaiser won the job two years ago going into sectionals and has never given it back.

“We’ll certainly be relying on him as we go along,” Moretter said. “Knowing we have a solid backstop, the rest of the team rallies around that. They take great pride in team defense and they know if they make a mistake that Ethan is back there.”

Moretter added that the depth of this year’s team is something they haven’t had in years.

“All four lines have a lot of skill and can contribute in different areas,” he said.

Fairport tops first Section V hockey poll

What are some other teams to watch?

— Pittsford is always a team to watch and was voted a very close second to Fairport in the coaches poll. Head coach Steve Thering said experience at the forward position will be the strength of the Panthers.

“We were a very young team last year. By the end of our season, our starting line was all sophomores,” Thering said.

The forward position will be helped by adding Ryan Walpole and Trevar Hall, who have returned from their travel league teams.

— Webster Thomas was voted third in the coaches poll, and the top team in Class BB.

Like Fairport, the back end will be the strength of the team for Thomas, starting with goalie Dalton Jerzak. He had a 1.54 GAA with a .922 save percentage and four shutouts a year ago.

— Hilton has always been a team near the top but has never gotten over the hump to win a sectional title.

Hilton head coach Chris Monfiletto said with the help of many returning players from a year ago, this could be the year.

“We have built an attitude already in the first two weeks being together that we can take that next step,” Monfiletto said. “We just have to believe in ourselves and accept that belief.”

What about McQuaid, which won the state Division I title last year?

It’s hard to imagine a team going through a roster overhaul like McQuaid is this year. The Knights have three returning players from a year ago, leaving head coach Al Vyverberg in a situation he said he’s never been a part of in his 29 years at the school.

“When people ask me how I think we’ll do, I say I don’t know,” Vyverberg said. “I like what I see, but be honest, I really have no idea how we’ll do. I don’t even know who will be on my power play yet.”

Among the talent missing from the state championship team is last year’s top scorer and Division I Player of the year Jack Dugan. He is now at Northwood School in Lake Placid playing for former Amerks head coach Chadd Cassidy.

What will Victor be like now that David Farrance has moved on?

Last year’s AGR Player of the Year has moved on to USA Hockey’s National Team Development Program after leading the Blue Devils to the Section V Class BB championship, while scoring 46 points as a sophomore.

In 18 games with the with the Under-17 team, Farrance has nine points (two goals, seven assists).

Despite losing Farrance, Victor head coach Mike Ferreri said he still thinks the target is on their back in a deep class.

“Every time you’re sectional champs, everyone is gunning for you,” he said. “If you look at BB, there are quite a few teams that will be really good this year.”

What ever happened to the first AGR Hockey Player of the Year?

Brendon Rothfuss led Section V with 37 goals as a senior at Webster Thomas in 2006-07 and was named AGR Player of the Year.

Since then, Rothfuss played junior hockey for three years and then went to The College at Brockport, where he played hockey and lacrosse. He graduated in 2014 with a degree in physical education.

Rothfuss is in his first year as the head coach of Brighton/East Rochester/Honeoye Falls-Lima. He said he thinks the Barons may surprise some people this year.

“I expect to be competitive in every game,” Rothfuss said. “Losing eight games by a goal last year and six in overtime, it shows this team is right there.”

.

Sarah Lacey had 14 points and six assists to help lead Gates Chili to a 55-52 victory over Webster Thomas in a Monroe County girls basketball game on Saturday.

Erika Oechsle added 12 points and nine rebounds for the Spartans (1-0).

Finger Lakes

Bloomfield 56, Honeoye 28

Braelin Scott recorded 11 points, 26 rebounds and 3 assists and Theresa Matuck had 13 points and three assists for Bloomfield.

Boys Basketball

Rochester Career Mentoring 72, Cuba-Rushford 58

Jhtye Griffin scored 25 points and Amas Williams added 23 points to lead RCM (1-1).

Brandon McCoy earned his first career victory as a coach for RCM.

Non-league

Wayne 52, Greece Olympia 22

Braeden Zenelovic had 12 points and Logan Blankenberg added nine points for Wayne (1-0).

Hockey

Non-league

McQuaid 5, Williamsville South-VI 4

Luc Rosedale had three goals and an assist and Craig McCabe had a goal and an assist in McQuaid’s (2-0) come from behind win.

Conner Pulli and Alex Prato combined for 20 saves for the Knights.

Craig Charron Classic

Victor 7, Gates Chili 2

Brendan Manning had a hat trick and an assist and his brother Patrick Manning had a goal and two assists for Victor (1-0).

Chayse Ierlan had 25 saves in net for the Blue Devils.

Webster Thomas 4, Spencerport 2

Spencer Nuccitelli scored his first varsity goal and goalie Ryan Babineau got his first varsity win in net for Webster Thomas (1-0).

Webster Schroeder 7, Churchville-Chili 0

Matt Montgomery had a goal and two assists and Connor Ball added two goals and an assist for the Warriors (1-0).

Peyton Hall made 16 saves to earn the shutout for the Warriors.

Rush-Henrietta 4, Penfield 1

Darrick Smith scored two goals and Justin Varney added a goal and an assist for R-H (1-0).

Jack Schlifke scored the lone goal for Penfield (0-1).

Section V

Canandaigua 6, Geneva/Waterloo/Romulus/Bloomfield 1

Alex Burley scored two goals and Jarrett McWilliams, Roger Panara and Joe Post each recorded a goal and an assist for Canandaigua (1-0).

Jack Cutri had a goal and Spencer Taft added two assists for the Braves.

Donny Glavin of McQuaid finished fifth and qualified for the national championship.

POUGHKEEPSIE, N.Y. – Clutching a big black umbrella dripping with an all-morning drizzle while wiping away happy tears, Chris Glavin waited anxiously to hug her all-grown-up-now son in a classic proud-mom moment.

Twelve hours before his 17th birthday, McQuaid senior Donovan “Donny” Glavin, had qualified for the Nike Cross national high school cross country championship Saturday on a rugged hillside along the east bank of the Hudson River.

“I am so, so happy,” Donny said. “This is just so awesome. I can’t believe it”

His finish, in 16 minutes, 3.2 seconds, extends a streak of eight straight years a Rochester-area runner has qualified. He is the sixth boy to go, second from McQuaid.

“Some way, somehow,” Chris said, “I’m going to get to Portland.” Anticipating a week’s vacation in the home city of Nike headquarters, she said “I cannot not go now.”

Donny’s fifth-place finish on the historic 3.1-mile Bowdoin Park course was the result of “a really fast start, and throwing in a surge” in the last half mile. Webster Thomas junior Amanda Vestri used the same strategy and was Section V’s top girl, 27th in her race. The top five individuals not on qualifying teams advance, all expenses paid.

When Donny slumped onto a picnic table just beyond the finishing chute of his race, he lowered his head to his arms, remembering his late father, Pete. Then he pulled on a black windbreaker to get warm, but paused and lifted the waistband for a peek at his shirt.

Across the chest of a neon blue singlet was “PG TC. Camp Dingle.”

It honors his dad, who died of brain cancer, and the late Tony Canali, a McQuaid coach and guidance counselor who died of leukemia in 2009.

Camp Dingle? That’s a sort-of-a-hideaway training location on Lower Dingle Hill Road in Delaware County. It’s where McQuaid coach Todd Stewart’s family has a place and where he takes his team to camp out and pound hills in July.

“I am sooo glad I decided to run here instead of at Foot Locker,” Donny said. A week ago he had cruised to an easy but unsatisfying victory at the Jesuit championships at Van Cortlandt Park in the Bronx, site of Saturday’s Foot Locker regional.

“He told me afterward he hated the course,” Stewart said.

“I didn’t like the steps in the back, and the railroad ties along the path,” Donny said.

“Last day as a 16-year-old,” Stewart cracked. “I was confident he could do it, and he was, too. What a way to go out as Sweet 16. Are we going to throw a party!”

McQuaid’s Donny Glavin, left, and Webster Thomas’ Amanda Vestri.

There’s also apt to be a party in the Lawler household Sunday as well. Pittsford Mendon sophomore Nathan Lawler was 8½ seconds back of Glavin in ninth, but if East Aurora’s team is selected Sunday as an at-large entry (it’s very likely), Lawler moves to fifth and final qualifying position, since top teams Liverpool and Fayetteville-Manlius placed three runners in the top eight. Lawler filled out required paperwork after the race, just in case.

“I had no idea I was possible for a qualifying spot,” Lawler said, “until about two hours after the race. I got so tired going up the hill in the first mile and a half, I didn’t know if I could hold on. The competition is so tough!”

That was primarily why his team stayed stuck in sixth, same spot as a year ago here.

“There are so many good teams very close in talent,” Mendon coach Chris Compson said. “We had what we thought was a disappointing day overall, but considering the field, we did all right.”

An hour south at Foot Locker, Wheatland-Chili’s Alex Hogue was the top finisher in 32nd.  Top 10 go to nationals in San Diego. East Rochester’s Dawson Bathgate, still feeling the effects of the fever and flu symptoms that hit him the week before Federations, was 44th.

Jim Castor, retired assistant sports editor of the Democrat and Chronicle, has covered cross country and road racing in the Rochester area for more than five decades. He can be reached at jcastor@jimcastor.com

NIKE N.Y. REGIONALS

Eleventh annual Nike Cross Nationals New York State Regional Cross Country qualifying races for national championship Dec. 5, held on the 5K (3.1-mile) Bowdoin Park open loop course in the town of Poughkeepsie, Dutchess County. Top two teams (*), top five individuals (*) not on qualifying teams, qualify for national race in Portland, Ore. Third- and fourth-place teams and additional individuals may be chosen as at-large qualifiers by a national selection panel Sunday.

Boys qualifier

 Teams (27): 1. Liverpool Warriors* 77 points, 2. Fayetteville-Manlius Cross Country Club* 107, Aurora Runners 109. Rochester area: 6. Pittsford Mendon 175, 13. Honeoye Falls-Lima Cougars 308, 19. Webster Thomas Titan Ridgerunners 513.

 Individuals (233 finishers): 1.  Ben Petrella*, Liverpool Warriors 15 minutes, 31.4 seconds. Rochester-area finishers: 5. Donovan Glavin*, McQuaid 16:03.2, 9. Nathan Lawler, Pittsford Mendon 16:11.6, 32. Henry Burton, PMe 16:41.4, 36. Jackson Tate, Honeoye Falls-Lima 16:42.9, 37. Liam Lyle, HF-L 16:43.1, 57. Griffin Hess, PMe 16:57.2, 62. Majd Rouhana, Fairport 17:02.9, 68. Isaac Goodman, PMe 17:07.2, 71. Nick Neamtu, Webster Thomas 17:09.4, 85. Casey Woodward, PMe 17:18.5, 89. Stephen Loce, WTh 17:22.1, 95. Nolan Hoh, HF-L 17:24.4, 103. Bryan Tornatore, HF-L 17:27.7, 104. Samuel Trawick, PMe 17:28.1, 121. Jasper Suhr, WTh 17:44.5, 140. David Harvey, HF-L 17:55.1, 186. Devin Perry, HF-L 18:31.4, 193. Jason Ziskind, WTh 18:37.5, 195. Cole Ziskind, WTh 18:39.3, 196. Riley Maloney, WTh 18:40.2, xx. Connor Fitzgerald, PMe xx:xx, 199. Tommy Hanley, WTh 18:43.1, 202. Zachary Szczublewski, HF-L 18:49.5, 231. Colin Shellard, Irondequoit 21:24.1.

Girls qualifier

Teams (15): 1. Fayetteville-Manlius Cross Country Club* 38, 2. Saratoga Springs Kinetic* 80, 3. North Rockland Lady Raiders 117. Rochester area: 7. Webster Thomas Titan Ridge Runners 194, 15. Pittsford Mendon Vikings 366.

Individuals (142 finishers): 1. Kaitlyn Neal, F-M 17:37.8. Rochester-area finishers: 27. Amanda Vestri, WTh 19:14.8, 39. Anna Kostarellis, Churchville-Chili 19:41.3, 40. Ellie Songer, WTh 19:41.8, 41. Hayleigh Palotti, Livonia 19:42.9, 57. Natalie Neamtu, WTh 20:03.8, 62. Claire Ashton, WTh 20:07.3, 66. Sydney McDaniel, Honeoye Falls-Lima 20:14.9, 69. Megha Singh, PMe 20:17.2, 70. Haley Arguien, C-C 20:19.4, 72. Chloe Weaver, Red Creek 20:23.0, 76. Kate Welch, WTh 20:28.4, 99. Julia Tomanovich, PMe 21:01.5, 103. Madeleine Shellard, Irondequoit 21:08.4, 107. Jamie Amoroso, PMe 21:28.9, 117. Alena Wisniewski, WTh 21:51.0, 118. Jing Chang, PMe 21:53.6, 121. Katherine Novak, PMe 21:55.7.

Complete results on-line at www.leonetiming.com

FOOT LOCKER REGIONALS

Foot Locker Northeast Regional cross country qualifying races on the 5K (3.1-mile) Van Cortlandt Park course in the Bronx. Top 10 individuals qualify for national championship Dec. 12 in San Diego, Cal. State team medals to top five in each of the 11 participating states, Washington, D.C. and children of military personnel living overseas. Overall medals to top 24.

Boys championship (168 finishers)

1. Noah Affolder, Carthage H.S., Fort Drum, Jefferson County 15:23.9. Rochester-area finishers: 32. Alex Hogue, Wheatland-Chili H.S., Scottsville 16:20.4, 44. Dawson Bathgate, East Rochester H.S., Pittsford 16:27.1, 95. Brad Farnham, Penfield H.S. 17:10.7, 120. Rob Grasso, Victor H.S. 17:41.6, 159. Aaron Clark, Wheatland-Chili H.S., Scottsville 19:31.3.

Girls championship (104 finishers)

1. Madeleine Davison, Wexford, Pa. 17:39.1. Rochester-area entries: None.

Complete results on-line at www.footlockercc.com or www.milesplit.com  

Running back Luch Pietropaolo – Class of 2014

Aquinas senior captains Mike Messina (21), left, and Chris Bostick hoist the 2010 Class A championship trophy after the state final.

A second appearance in the Class AA high school football final in three years by Aquinas has led to a look back at a successful period for the team.

Since we ranked the top five Aquinas teams during the last decade, let’s also look at our choices for the top 22 players during this period, including kicker Eric Terhaar (Class of 2011):

D&C Top 5 Aquinas football teams during last decade

OFFENSE

Quarterback Jake Zembiec – Class of 2016

Running back Billy Lombardi – Class of 2013

Running back Mike Messina – Class of 2011

Wide receiver Earnest Edwards – Class of 2016

Wide receiver Chris Bostick – Class of 2011

Offensive lineman Nick Velte – Class of 2015

Offensive lineman Bishop Simmons (black shoes) – Class of 2016

Offensive lineman Ben Woolston, – Class of 2010

Offensive lineman James Thomas

Offensive lineman Marquis Albert – Class of 2009

DEFENSE

Defensive linemanJarron Jones – Class of 2012

Defensive lineman Matt Jones (11) – Class of 2008

Defensive lineman Mike Holley – Class of 2014

Defensive lineman Darryl Parker – Class of 2009

Lienbacker Jamir Jones – Class of 2016

Linebacker Devin Worthington, – Class of 2009

Lienbacker Marc Pettrone – Class of 2012

Linebacker Charlie Rist (left) – Class of 2014

Defensive back Todd Wingate – Class of 2008

Defensive back Jahmahl Pardner – Class of 2012

Punter Alex Bianchi – Class of 2014

In this file photo, Aquinas’ Mike Messina, left, is hoisted into the air by teammate Chris Bostick after a touchdown during a 2010 regular season game versus McQuaid.

Maybe our idea of fun needs work, but let’s spark one of those debates for message boards, barber shops or commentary that goes back-and-forth between friends.

There is no way to know if we — or anyone else — are right, but let’s rank the top five Aquinas high school football teams from the past decade, on the eve of the team’s latest appearance in a state final.

Aquinas (12-0) faces Saratoga Springs (11-0) of Section II, the Albany-region, at 3 p.m. Sunday inside Syracuse University’s Carrier Dome for the Class AA championship. Let the “say what?” shouts begin. Win or lose, the 2015 Aquinas team that shares the No. 1 ranking in the state, is in this top-five.

Top Aquinas football players in last decade

Yes, the trip for Aquinas through the Section V tournament included more games that felt more like nail-biters than lopsided romps. Same with the state tournament semifinal against Liverpool. Maybe you don’t put much stock into Aquinas’ slot at No. 22 in the USA TODAY’s national rankings. And maybe four games against teams in Section V is not nearly enough of a sample for your list.

Let’s look at the talent. At least five players on the current roster are all but certain to be on the sidelines of teams in the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision next year. Yes, this happens in boys lacrosse, but name another school in the area with that many football players headed to that level. In some cases, these are the teams with national or huge regional fan bases, like Notre Dame and Penn State.

The common link to all of these teams is Chris Battaglia, who is completing his 10th season as the Aquinas coach. Battaglia wanted no part of making these lists, so we will go ahead and take care of it, plus list the top players at Aquinas during this last decade.

1. 2010 State Champion:

Aquinas’ Jahmahl Pardner, left, lets out a scream while celebrating with coach Chris Battaglia after returning a punt 67 yards for a touchdown against Sweet Home during the 2010 Class A state regional.

This 13-0 team, for the most part, rolled through three Class A state playoff games, including 36-6 against two-time defending champion Sweet Home of Section VI (Buffalo). Aquinas topped Harrison 24-13 in the state final. The defense allowed 87 yards of offense to Victor during the sectional final. “They hardly let them get across the 50-yard line,” running back Mike Messina said. “We’re going to ride them the rest of the way.” Messina chipped in, as a state co-Player of the Year who ran for 1,571 yards with 19 touchdowns. Marc Pettrone (United States Military Academy at West Point) and Messina (Syracuse) played Division I college lacrosse. A junior named Jarron Jones was headed up the list of college football prospects at defensive tackle. Jahmahl Pardner (Pittsburgh/Towson State) also stuck with football. The roster included a professional baseball player, Chris Bostick, who was placed on the 40-man roster of the Washington Nationals on Nov. 19.

2. 2007 State Champion: 

Aquinas’ Dwayne Smith tries to reel in an interception during the 2007 Class A state title game between Aquinas and Lansingburgh at the Carrier Dome in Syracuse.

Five players from this team were considered among the top 22 players in Section V, when they were voted on to the Democrat and Chronicle All-Greater Rochester Team by coaches in the area. The images of defensive end Matt Jones chasing down smaller ball carriers during the Class A state final left a lasting impression. So did watching Aquinas opponents score 7, 0 and 12 points in three state playoff games. A dominant offensive line included not one, not two but three 300-pound players, AGR selections James Thomas and Rick Antelli among them. That offense didn’t throw much, and rarely needed to. Defensive back Todd Wingate, listed at 6-foot-1-inch tall and 200 pounds, intercepted six passes.

3. 2015 State Finalist:

Aquinas head coach Chris Battaglia brings the Section V Class AA championship trophy to his players earlier this month at Sahlen’s Stadium.

It’s tempting to move this year’s team up to No. 1, if it can get past Saratoga Springs. Injuries have sidelined or slowed Aquinas starters most of the season, but that hasn’t resulted in a loss in 12 games. It’s largely about the quarterback today at almost every level of football, when it comes to offensive firepower. Senior Jake Zembiec is considered one of the top recruits from the area in at least 30 years. It’s a strong finish to his high school playing days: 33 passing touchdowns with a Section V single-season record 2,545 yards and counting. Zembiec will graduate early and move on to the Penn State campus in mid-January. We may also see senior linebacker Jamir Jones on televison, as part of the defense at Notre Dame. You can argue that no Aquinas player has been more versatile and still played at an all-state level. Division I schools also are interested in Earnest Edwards (24 touchdowns), who has scored a touchdown at the end of a run, kickoff return, interception and pass reception this season. Taylor Riggins has accepted a scholarship offer to play defense at Syracuse and Conrad Brake has been invited to become a long-snapper at Pittsburgh.

Jake Zembiec’s 2015 statistics

4. 2013 State Champion:

Aquinas quarterback Jake Zembiec celebrates with teammates during the 2013 state regional at Sahlen’s Stadium.

This team, which also finished undefeated, has familiar names, including some of the players we’ve mentioned as starters during their sophomore seasons. This was also the first season Aquinas was reclassified. Zembiec was named the Class AA state Player of the Year. Aquinas still had the familiar look of a running back providing the legs in the team’s offense, as Luch Pietropaolo ran for 1,218 yards with 15 touchdowns. Jamestown was the only team to top 21 points against Aquinas. Eight players were on the season’s AGR team.

5. 2011 State semifinalist:

Aquinas’ Billy Lombardi, top, hurdles Sweet Home’s Jorden Johnson at the line of scrimmage during 2011 Class A state regionals.

There was talk of a repeat as Class A state champion, as Aquinas was ranked No. 1 in the state from the preseason to the postseason. Aquinas lost 19-16 to Maine-Endwell, however, as the Spartans of Section IV (Binghamton-region) were on the way to becoming one of the state’s most dominant teams. Aquinas junior running back Billy Lombardi shared the classification’s state Player of the Year award. The offense ran for more than 300 yards and with Cory Benedetto at quarterback, scored on two pass plays of 40 yards or more against Sweet Home during the state regional. The team’s defense allowed a total of two field goals in two sectional games.

JAMESJ@GANNETT.COM

CLASS AA FOOTBALL STATE FINAL

Matchup: Aquinas (12-0), ranked No. 1 in the state, vs. No. 3 Saratoga Springs (11-0, Section II).

When: 3 p.m. Sunday.

Where: Carrier Dome, Syracuse University.

Admission: $10 each ticket, not including parking.

On the turf: Saratoga’s high-scoring offense versus the Aquinas defense seems to be the most intriguing matchup. Dakota Harvey (1,440 rushing yards, 23 touchdowns, a 250-pound senior at Saratoga, is an even larger ball carrier for Aquinas to deal with than Rush-Henrietta quarterback Jared Gerbino. Senior quarterback Brian Williams (1,305 passing yards, 17 touchdown passes/8 touchdown runs) may really be the player to keep under wraps in Saratoga’s spread offense. Can the Blue Streaks play keep-away from Aquinas with its ground game led by a good-sized offensive line? “You have to be as physical as they are,” Aquinas coach Chris Battaglia said. All of the close games Aquinas has had to win to reach this final may be useful, if Saratoga’s offense puts pressure on with production or the Section V champion’s offense gets off to a slow start.

History says Chris Baudo knows a little bit about building a hockey program from down-and-out to outstanding.

When he took over as boys hockey coach at The Gunnery prep school in Washington, Connecticut, the team was coming off a 1-21 season. By his third year, the team finished over .500.

When he left the post following the 2014-15 season, the Highlanders were coming off their seventh consecutive 20-win season and they had reached the New England Preparatory School Athletic Council’s elite 8 five times in six years.

Now it’s on to the next challenge, only this time he starts from scratch.

The 36-year-old Baudo, who grew up in the Buffalo suburb of Tonawanda, has been hired as head coach of the girls prep-school program, Selects Academy, at Bishop Kearney.

The Under-16 team, with a target roster of 20 players, will begin play in September. The Under-18 team will start the following school year.

Baudo isn’t looking to merely be competitive, either. When girls from across the country choose to attend the Kearney boarding school in Irondequoit, they’ll be coming to win.

“We are expecting to be an elite option right away,” he said.

Selects Academy is a joint venture between Kearney and Legacy Global Sports, an events and player-management company based in Portsmouth, New Hampshire.

Baudo is still at The Gunnery. He will serve as assistant head of school, dean of students until the end of the current academic year. But he also is on the recruiting trail, looking for freshmen and sophomores to fill the Selects Academy roster.

The program will be about hockey and academics, he says.

“In our world (of boarding-school hockey), it’s sometimes hockey-heavy or academics-heavy,” Baudo said. “This is the best of both worlds. What appealed to me were the values, the holistic point of view as students, as people, as leaders. No family wants to sacrifice academics.

“But then from the hockey end, this will help the girls achieve their goals. They will have prime exposure and the program will mirror the lifestyle of NCAA student athletes.”

In accepting the job at Kearney, Baudo and his wife, Shannon, get closer to their families. Shannon, an Oswego native, is already in Rochester, working as director of enrollment management and financial aid at Allendale Columbia.

“We have 4 ½-year-old twins and we want them to grow up around their grandparents, and aunts and uncles, and cousins,” Chris Baudo said. “We will always love The Gunnery but family means everything.”

For Kearney, it’s quite a score for the upstart program.

“Somebody’s looking out for us,” said school president Steve Salluzzo. “He gives us instant credibility.”

Legacy Global Sports will lead the recruiting efforts. Baudo said there has been interest from players in California, Arizona and Florida, “and I’m really excited about the population in the upstate New York area.”

The Kearney schedule will have about 60 games and will include other prep schools, high-level club teams and showcase events, Baudo said. The team will be at their home rink (Bill Gray’s Regional Iceplex in Brighton) about eight or nine weekends between the season that will run from September to March.

The unused third floor at Kearney is being remodeled to house the players. The space was once a home for teachers.

The cost of tuition hasn’t been finalized, Salluzzo said. “It will be in line with other boarding schools.”

KEVINO@gannett.com

Chris Baudo will be the first girls hockey coach for Bishop Kearney’s prep-school program. He spent 12 seasons at The Gunnery in Connecticut, posting seven straight 20-win seasons while winning seven consecutive prep-school league titles.