History '99-'00
1999
November 6, 1999 just before the Sectional race at SUNY Utica.
The 1999 Squad, Front row: Coach Roman, Geoff Meixner, Mike Case, Josh Dexter, Mike Braudrick, Matt Whelan.Back: Chris Green, Clint Side, Billy Austin, Gabe Waite, Jim Magera, and Jeff Whitmore.Missing from photo: Paul Swimm, Jon, Kent, Justin Wood, Justin Gravius.
The 1999 season saw the Eagels win 3 of four league meets (3 - 1 record). Their lone loss came to league champ Skaneateles on October 13th (20 - 38). J-E won the Weedsport Invitational by 2 points over the state's number 5 Class C squad (Waterloo). J-E took 6th at Sectionals and were third in the B1 - B-2 Crossover Meet. The Eagles also won a trophy for a 3rd place finish at the Auburn Invite. Senior Jeff Whitmore led the squad in scoring by being J-E's number one man in 11 or J-E's 12 races. Jeff also qualified for the state meet by finishing 3rd at sectionals. Whitmore was the team's MVP. Fellow senior teammate Gabe Waite made his second straight First Team All League squad (it was Whitmore's 3rd straight honor). Senior Matt Whelan made his first all league squad. Three Eagles made the 2nd All League squad and they were Josh Dexter, Clint Side, and Mike Case.
Other than Whitmore, the only other Eagle who accomplished three state meets in a row was Mark Schneider (1986-88). Mark ran with the sectional qualifier squads in 1986 and 1987, and made states as an individual in 1988. Bryan Place qualified for three state meets but competed in only two as he was an alternate for the 1988 meet and never ran. Jeremy Cornue likewise qualified for three state meets but did not compete in 1996 as he was an alternate. Cornue ran in the 1997 and 1998 races. Therefore, Jeff Whitmore has to go down in J-E Cross Country history as one of the very best ever to compete in the sport wearing Eagle blue.
Top photo: J-E's Gabe Waite and Jeff Whitmore flank J-D's Toby Hogarth (Coach Roman's Nephew)
2000
The 2000 cross country season found the Eagles again finishing in 2nd place behind their rivals Skaneateles. The season was marked by two major upsets, the first being a 27-28 victory on the road to Westhill. The 2nd was a spanking (22 - 37) of higher ranked APW at home. Although the Eagles lost in their championship quest, they still defeated Westhill, Cazenovia, Marcellus and APW - all traditional powers in cross country competition.
Junior Clint Side was the Eagles top scorer and team MVP by scoring 104 points. Side was an All Division runner for the 2nd year in a row. Soph. Tim Braudrick was 2nd man with 100 points and a 2nd team All Division runner, followed by Josh Dexter (78), Justin Wood (71), Jim Magera (69) {Coaches Award recipient}, Geof Meixner (66) {Most Improved Award winner}, and Mike Casse (34) {2nd team All Division}. J-E's season took a hard blow when number one runner Josh Dexter went down to injury. Before the injury, Dexter was J-E's # 1 man in 6 of 8 races. Dexter was a 2nd team All Division qualifier. J-E stumbled to an 11th place finish in Sectionals and a 30th place finish at the OHSL Meet. J-E's best performance at an invitational was its 6th place finish at B1 - B2 Championships. Sopomore Ben White was awarded the 'Corn Thrower of the Year Award'.
The squad visited New York City for the Manhattan Invitational and circled Manhattan Island on the famous Circle Line Cruise. Ironically, this would be the last J-E squad to see the World Trade Center as history would take its toll on New York City oh too soon.
