The summer Patch season will showcase the Recreation Notebook each Friday. The College Sports Notebook will resume Sept. 21. Please continue to forward items of interest to Marc Maturo at marcmaturo@aol.com.
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The years, as well as the victories, have piled up for elementary school teacher Arthur Gunther Jr. of Upper Nyack, who once again is the odds-on favorite in the annual South Nyack 10-mile run, set for Sunday morning.
The 24th edition of the race has been designated the USA Track & Field-New York 10-mile championship. Race proceeds are to benefit the Orangetown Fire Company No. 1 (South Nyack) and Piermont volunteer fire departments, the Nyack Ambulance Corps and Nyack soup kitchens.
USA Track & Field is the national governing body for road racing, track & field and race walking. The local chapter encompasses the metropolitan New York region.
The race, sponsored by the Rockland Road Runners, is scheduled to begin at 8:30 a.m. It will be preceded by the children’s fun runs at 8:15 a.m. Check-in for the 10-mile run is from 7 to 8:15 a.m., and the fun runs from 7 to 7:45 a.m.
Gunther, the defending champion, is a former standout at Tappan Zee High School who later starred at Binghamton University, where he is a member of the Hall of Fame.
Gunther, 41, has won the race 14 times in 16 attempts and—let the field be forewarned—is ready to roll, as he uses the run as a tune-up for his third New York City Marathon, scheduled Nov. 4.
“I am running, I’m ready, I’m in good shape, definitely,” said Gunther the Younger, who will be rooted on by an earnest rooting section led by his parents, his wife, Laura, and two children—3-year-old Beatrice, and 5-year-old kindergarter Sam.
“This is usually my first race of the fall season, but I’ve been training for the marathon, doing a lot of mileage. This is a good race if you’re preparing for the marathon, and want to build up. I feel pretty good,” Gunther added.
Gunther, the affable king of the race and a fierce but friendly competitor, does not feel good, however, that one longtime rival, Jamie Kempton of Nanuet, and up-and-coming threat Nick Roosa, another Tappan Zee alum, will not be in the field.
Roosa, who had a remarkable 40th-place finish in the NYC Marathon a year ago, will be sidelined due to a conflict at work, and reportedly is also nursing a minor injury. Kempton’s only problem, but a major one, is a lingering knee injury.
“It stinks, he was indestructible,” offered Gunther, in discussing Kempton, who has covered 130,000 miles since Oct. 1972, when he was a baby-faced freshman at Albertus Magnus HS, and who will mark 40 years of running next month.
But not to worry. The race is one of the most popular in Rockland, attracting more than 500 participants last year from throughout the New York metropolitan region. The challenging out-and-back, USATF-certified course begins and ends near Franklin Street Park. It offers picturesque views of the Hudson as it runs along the river through the villages of South Nyack, Grand View and Piermont and turns around at the end of the Piermont Pier. The last mile of the course is on the Esposito Trail, a converted rail-trail that was once part of the Erie Railroad line.
Last year’s race generated $6,500 for its designated charities, and if the weather cooperates, a record-breaking field might be attracted.
The overall male and female winners will be awarded Citizen watches, and the winning masters (40 or older) runners will receive trophies and a $50 prize. A special trophy will be awarded to the first male and female resident of South Nyack, Grand View or Piermont. Amenities include post-race raffle prizes, food and refreshments.
For more information visit www.rocklandroadrunners.org or contact Kathleen Daly at vp@rocklandroadrunners.org or 845-536-3052, or Mike Angarola at mangarola@yahoo.com.
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This and that
- More than $100,000 was raised by United Hospice of Rockland (UHR) at the organization’s 12th annual golf classic, which was held at Paramount (formerly Dellwood) Country Club in New City. The event was presented by Dr. Edward and Raselle Fisher, and Dr. Varsha Reddy in support of UHR patients and loved ones. The classic’s volunteer and development team consisted of Mandi Bergenfeld, Beth Raines and Robin Posnack, all of New City; UHR assistant director of development Lisa Denburg, UHR director of development Lanie Etkind, UHR special event coordinator Laurie Bandremer; and UHR executive director AmyStern.
- The Rockland Boulders ended the season with a total attendance of 161,375, shattering their mark of 123,704 a year ago and topping Quebec in Can-Am League attendance by more than 8,000 fans. The total places Rockland fifth on the league’s all-time single-season attendance list, is the highest in the Can-Am since the 2009 season, and the second-highest since 2007. The all-time record was set by Brockton with 190,675 in 2005. Deposits are being accepted for 2013 season tickets, starting as low as $399 each. For a list of benefits of being a season ticket-holder call 845-364-0009, or visit www.rocklandboulders.com.
- The AquaSox, the Seattle Mariners’ minor-league affiliate in Everett, WA, lost to the Vancouver Canadians, 7-4, and were eliminated from the playoffs. En route to the playoffs, third baseman Pat Kivlehan of West Nyack had an MVP season in the Northwest League. The Rutgers University alum, playing his first season in professional baseball, tied for the league lead in home runs with 12, tied for second-best in RBI with 52, tied for third with a .301 batting average, and ranked third in the league with 46 runs. Kivlehan also showed a knack on the base paths, with 14 stolen bases in 15 attempts.
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Mortarboard musings
- Junior goalie Gab Lawrence of Yorktown and the Skidmore College women’s soccer team hopes to snap a 0-2 slide to open the season when the Thoroughbreds host Farmingdale State at 1 p.m. on Saturday in Saratoga Springs. Lawrence has 13 saves on the infant season.
- Sophomore forward Nicole Genzardi of New City has seen action in two games for the University of Rhode Island women’s soccer team. URI, which is 4-1 with a one-goal loss to Iona College marring the record, hosts Manhattan College (1-1) on Sunday. Genzardi is a graduate of Immaculate Heart Academy.
- The SUNY Cortland cross country team competes at the Rochester Invitational on Saturday. Among the Red Dragons expected to compete are senior Val Basciano and sophomore Bianca-Alexis Ilarraza, both of New City; sophomore Sami Randazzo of Suffern; and junior CassandraViola of Orangeburg.
- Muhlenberg College in Allentown, PA, hopes to follow up a season-opening win in football with another win on Saturday when it hosts Franklin & Marshall University of Lancester, PA. Game time is 1 p.m. The visiting Diplomats also won their opener, beating Washington & Lee, 35-28. Junior wide receiver Tim Muller, an alum of Fox Lane HS, had one reception for 54 yards. Other Diplomats include Fox Lane grad T.J. Tynan, a senior running back; freshman linebacker Joe Simolacaj of Rye; freshman receiver Tim Leone of Scarsdale; and senior linebacker Sam Wojciechowski of Larchmont. Muhlenberg, which defeated The Apprentice School of Newport News, VA, 27-7, features a solid linebacker in junior Elijah Sorel of Nyack, senior nose tackle Chris Galletta of Ardsley, and senior center SpencerKane of Somers.
- Horace Greeley HS graduate Zach Fried of Chappaqua is a junior midfielder on the men’s soccer team at Franklin & Marshall (2-0), which competes this weekend at the Shellenberger Memorial Classic at Virginia University at Lynchburg. The Diplomats meet Lynchburg on Saturday at 4 p.m., and take on Roanoke College on Sunday, also at 4 p.m.
- The Dominican College women’s cross country finished ninth at the Delaware Valley College Invitational in Doylestown, PA. Junior Krystal Campbell of New Windsor led the Lady Chargers, placing eighth with a time of 25:19.58. Renee Roncace of Valley Cottage took 76th in 30:05.74 while Jessica Avila of Mount Vernon clocked 32:13.39 for a 94th-place finish. Dominican takes to the road again on Saturday, visiting Van Cortlandt Park in the Bronx to compete at the Fordham Fiasco.
- Sophomore Brian McNicholas is a goaltender on the men’s soccer team at SUNY Cortland, with junior Bryan Merlos of Harrison playing at forward. The Red Dragons (0-3) meet RIT (1-1) at Tiger Stadium in Rochester at 1 p.m. on Saturday.
- SUNY Cortland will host a four-team women’s soccer tournament Saturday and Sunday. Kerry Bretti of Katonah and Fox Lane HS is a sophomore on defense for the Red Dragons, who play St. Lawrence Saturday at 1 p.m. and Bard on Sunday at 3:30 p.m. Medaille will also compete and faces Bard and St. Lawrence.
- Monroe College, introducing football for the first time in its history, had a successful debut, defeating the Wagner College JV, 27-7, on Staten Island. The Mustangs were led by freshman quarterback Manny Cortez of Pennsauken, NJ, who scored on an 8-yard run in the second quarter. Monroe's defense was stellar, too, as they limited the Seahawks to just 60 yards on the ground and one first-quarter touchdown, which was largely made possible by a fumble. Tyrell Walker of Nyack, James Cole of White Plains and Diamente Robinson of Peekskill are wide receivers for the Mustangs, who visit Dean College in Franklin, MA, on Saturday. Julian Griffin of New Rochelle is a running back.
- The women’s soccer team at Dominican College lost to visiting University of New Haven, 5-1, in a non-conference contest. Junior forward Oliva Antonopoulos of Baldwin netted Dominican’s goal. Katie Burrell of New City, an all-state selection at Clarkstown South, is a junior defender for the Chargers.
- Ekene Okerekeof Beliefield, Germany, was named the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference men’s soccer player of the week after scoring two goals to lead Concordia College past St. Anselm, 3-2. Okereke also scored in a 2-1 loss at Stonehill College in Easton, MA. Luis Barajas of Port Chester is a senior goalkeeper for the Clippers, who challenge Philadelphia University on Saturday in a 3 p.m. game at Purchase College.
- Rebecca Wakeley, a freshman at Nyack College, was named rookie of the week in cross country by the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference. Wakeley, of Pittsburgh, PA, finished fourth at the Delaware Valley College Invitational, clocking 25:01 in her collegiate debut.
- The SUNY Cortland football team returns 11 starters, including running back Justin Autera of Mahopac. Autera, the 2010 NJAC co-Offensive Player of the Year, suffered an injury in the second game last fall and received a medical hardship to re-gain that year of eligibility. In 2010 as a sophomore, Autera ran for 1,380 yards and 18 touchdowns, caught 32 passes for 220 yards and two scores and returned a kickoff for a TD. He ran for 155 yards in two games before his injury last year. Other stalwarts on the team include junior linebacker Gabe Ostrow of Nanuet, sophomore defensive back Kente Umezaki of Pearl River and freshman defensive back Frank Tucek of New City, who starred at Clarkstown South. The Red Dragons, who lost at Buffalo State, 49-31, to open the season, are idle this week, but open New Jersey Athletic Conference play on Sept. 15 at home against Western Connecticut St
