Nov. 19, 2008:  When pre-season begins, every Bronxville athlete dreams of having a winning season. Their hopes may even extend to winning the Section. Everyone knows, however, that capturing the ultimate prize, a state championship, is a lofty goal.  

To have one Bronxville team capture that coveted state title would be incredible. Last week, the Broncos did the incredible times two. Both the girls’ cross country team and the boys’ soccer team won the New York State Championship.

Winning states this year was something the soccer team didn’t dare think about.  The nine seniors on the team were hoping that this year, their last, would be the year they would win the Section Championship that had eluded them in 2006 when they lost to State Champ Albertus Magnus and in 2007 when they lost in overtime to Hastings. “Bronxville had never made it outside of sectionals,” said Leighton Welch. “Our first goal was to win the section.”

The Bronco team, ranked number one in the state in Class B, easily won the sectionals and regionals, and found themselves in the state semifinals at the National Soccer Hall of Fame in Oneonta. With a state semifinal win over Chenango Forks (4-1), the Broncos made it to the state final.

The weather wasn’t very cooperative for the state final. “It was a terrible, damp, muddy, snowy day,” said Rodrigo Amboss. “It was hard to play. We were sliding all over the place.” The beginning of the game was evenly matched, but 23 minutes into the game, Bronxville went ahead on a score by Brian Rogers.  The game remained at 1-0 until the final two minutes of the game when Rogers scored again to seal the victory. 

“When it was finally over, everyone was crying and hugging each other, the parents and the players,” said parent Claudia Amboss who has two sons on the team--senior Rodrigo and sophomore Renato. “I give Coach Donnie Lucas all the credit. He has taken care of our boys and kept them so united as a team,” she added.

The girls’ cross country win was equally exciting. The team, led by senior Captains Tori Flannery, Caitlin Hudson and Olivia Bruton, won the Class C Sectional Championship before heading to States at Sunken Meadow last week. The seven varsity team members knew the competition at states would be tough.

It took almost an hour for the results of the race to be posted.  The team waited anxiously, but couldn’t be certain of the outcome. “When we finished, I thought we were a close second, but it was too close to call,” said Caitlin Hudson. Finally, assistant coach Ed Stickles alerted the team that that Bronxville was the 2008 Class C Champion. The Broncos had edged Rhinebeck by a mere 4 points.

Strong finishes by the top five runners helped Bronxville clinch the state title. The girls’ finished as follows: Hudson 9^th, Flannery 13^th, Amelia Phillips 18^th, Meredith Rizzo 28^th, Henrietta Miers 31^st, Olivia Bruton 50^th and Katherine Marrone 87^th.

This is the seventh state win for the Bronxville girls’ cross country team.  No other team in Westchester can claim as many state titles.  In recent years, the team has been particularly strong, winning four championships in the last six years. Flannery, Miers and Marrone have been on three of those winning teams. “What a wonderful championship,” said Coach Jim Mitchell, “especially with…unmatched leadership all season by Caitlin and Tori to lead the team to victory.”

It’s been an awesome fall for Bronxville varsity teams. Of the eight fall varsity teams, six have sent teams and individuals to states.

The field hockey team, led by Captains Jessica Murrer, Caroline Harris and Anne Piper, finished their season 15-3. They won the leagues, sectionals and regionals to get to the state semifinals where they were defeated 3-0 by five-time Class C State Champion Marathon. 

Boys’ cross country, girls’ tennis and girls’ swimming each had individuals qualify for the state meets. Freshman Dayton Flannery and senior Jack Hutton raced in the Class C boys’ cross country state meet finishing 30^th and 50^th, respectively.

Tennis players Brooke Bonfiglio and Amanda Austi paired up as a doubles team and made it all the way to the second round of the state tournament. These eighth-graders should be a force on the tennis team for years to come. 

Finally, four Bronco swimmers head to Buffalo this Friday for the state championship meet.  Senior Coray O’Halloran qualified for the 100 breast and 200 IM, and junior Giovanna Patafio qualified for the 500 free. O’Halloran, Patafio, Claire O’Reilly and Nicole Sears will also participate in the 4x50m free.

Emotions are running high this fall, that is, emotions of sheer joy.  Two state champions, multiple state qualifiers. The hard work and dedication of Bronco athletes does pay off.

 Photo by Bea Welch