Meet the 2010 Squad

Greg Bader, Senior Co-Captain  Bader enters into his senior season at J-E the unquestioned leader of the pack.  Greg set the school record in the outdoor 800 in the spring by running 2.02 and knocking off one of J-E's 'legends' (Justin Wolfanger).  Bader also set the JE indoor mile record in 2010 (4.36) and he ran 4.41 in the mile in outdoor track (6th fastest in JE history).  Clearly Greg's passion centers around cross country as he enters his 4th season.  Bader is the 3rd fastest Class C returner to Section III and looks to make it to states, not only as an individual, but as a team.  Bader is ranked 17th in the state class C pre-season rankings with his 159 speed rating.  It is clear that Bader's mission is to lead J-E to the team title in both Section III and in New York State.  Greg finished 11th last year at Sectionals (17.33), J-E's third man.  In his three years of cross country at JE, Bader has finished 29th as a freshman, 11th as a sophomore and junior.  This year may be Greg's big year as he's put in over 500 miles of summer training.  The fire burns hot inside the belly of this harrier - success therefore is almost a foregone conclusion.  Stay tuned for a terrific senior campaign.

Senior, Derrick Cheney  Derrick is entering into his third year for J-E cross country and has improved each year.  As a sophomore, Cheney just missed qualifying for sectionals, and as a junior, illness took him out of the race that he had qualified for.  Derrick tied for the team's 7th position in 2009 and had several outstanding races during the season, including a top 10 finish at McQuaid (JV) and earning a medal at the Manhattan Invitational (65th).  Cheney is also a lacrosse standout for J-E and was selected as one of the J-E varsity lacrosse team's captains.  Derrick is a fun-loving young man who keeps practices loose and his teammates on their toes.  Cheney was selected as an all star Ultimate Frisbee player by Coach Roman for his hustle and determination on the field.

Junior - Steve Slonosky  Slonosky enters into his 3rd year of varsity cross country competition and has been a top 5 scorer for his entire career.  Slonosky finished 18th in the 2009 section III finals (17.52) on the hilly and muddy terrain of Jamesville Beach and projects to be 4th in 2010.  Steve is ranked 26th in the 2010 N.Y. State class C pre-season rankings with his 156 speed rating.  An all star in 2009, Slonosky's huge 8th place finish in the league championship race against Marcellus was one of the biggest moments in the season as J-E defeated Marcellus for the Liberty Division crown by the score of 27-28.  Steve broke 5 minutes in the mile in spring track in 2010 (4.57) and became the 4th fastest J-E steeple chaser ever (10.33).  Slonosky's best in the 3200 was 10.40.  Steve's nickname is "Mountain Man" for his love of steep inclines, especially J-E's 'kamakaze' hill.  Slonosky will enjoy this year's section III finals at VVS High School which is noted for its difficult hills.  It should be a fantastic season for this J-E junior.

Jack Gugel - Freshman  Gugel, only a frosh, enters into his 2nd season of varsity cross country with high expectations.  As an 8th grader, Gugel was brought up to varsity and his presence was felt immediately.  Jack took 5th in only his second varsity-distance race of his career at McQuaid during the JV race (18.00).  Gugel was 50th at the 2009 cross country sectionals in 19.45 and was the fastest 8th grader in the race.  He projects to 26th in 2010.  In outdoor track, Jack set the J-E freshman record as an 8th grader in the 3200 by finishing an impressive 10.24.  Gugel has also run 5.02 in the mile as a junior high runner on varsity.  Unfortunately, a stress fracture ended Jack's season in April, but he has been given full clearance to train once again, and should help to make the Eagles a team to be feared in class C.

Scott rejoins the Eagles for his senior year after taking a year off to play varsity football in 2009.  Sullivan last ran for the blue and white of the Eagles in his sophomore season of 2008 where he qualified, but did not compete in sectionals.  Scott earned a starting position on the grid iron as a defensive end, but opted to return to cross country.  Also a talented basketball player, Sullivan was a starter for the JE varsity squad in '09 and looks to improve both his game and his conditioning this year.  The Eagles certainly will benefit from the all 'round athletic abilities of this very talented runner.  Don't be surprised to see Sullivan make the varsity '7' this season.

Tom Poppe, Senior Co-Captain  Tom enters his 4th year of J-E cross country with passion, dedication and a re-newed desire to be the best.  Poppe was named as one of the Eagles' co-captains with teammate Greg Bader because of his dedication to the sport.  Tom just attended the Aim High Running Camp for the third straight season, returning home with a spectacular week of training and learning.  Poppe was J-E's fifth man for the third straight season, winning the '5th-Man' Award in 2008 and 2009.  In 2007, "Pops" shared the rookie of the year with co-captain teammate Greg Bader.  Poppe's main strength now as a senior is experience as he's run in over 40 cross country races.  Tom ran 17.44 for his 5 K personal record on the state meet course last September in Plattsburgh and he also ran 14.32 for 4 K at Van Cortlandt at the Manhattan Invitational.  Tom was 32nd in sectionals last year, but projects to be 11th this year as a senior.  If the Eagles are to go far in 2010, a big year from 'Captain Tom' is a must.

Senior, Carlin Coomey  Carlin likewise is entering into his 4th year of varsity cross country for J-E along with fellow seniors Bader and Poppe.  Coomey was J-E's 7th man in 2009 (tied with Derrick Cheney) and he finished 44th in sectionals (19.06).  Carlin is projected to be 21st in 2010 at sectionals - so obviously his senior year success is a must for the Eagles.  Coomey had an outstanding junior year on the track setting personal records in the 200 (24.74), 400 (53.08), and 9' 6" in the pole vault.  Carlin ran 15.16 on the 4 K Van Cortlandt Park course earning a medal.  Coomey also set some J-E track records in 2009 and 2010 by being a member of the sprint medley relay (3.45) and the distance medley relay (11.12).  Carlin is focused and in tremendous shape and set to help lead the Eagles in 2010.

Junior - Rob Patterson  Rob enters into his third year of JE varsity cross country and looks to make the varsity '7'.  Rob ran in the 2009 cross country sectionals and finished 69th (20.47).  Patterson is projected to be 34th in 2010.  Rob's personal best time in the mile was achieved in outdoor track in 2010 and was a respectable 5.23.  Patterson has broken 20 minutes for 5 K once (19.59 at Jamesville) and his best for 4 K is 16.13.  It looks like Rob can improve on his 10th-man status for the 2010 cross country season.

Jared Bard - Sophomore  Jared "Bardy" Bard enters into his second varsity season after a successful debut in 2009.  Bard got to run in the Section III championships in November and he placed 100th (22.34).  Jared is projected to be 51st in 2010.  After cross country season, Bard played JV basketball and JV baseball for J-E.  With his tremendous work ethic and never-say-die attitude, it is not inconceivable to see Bard on the varsity squad in 2010.

The Eagles are counting heavily on this junior.  Alpha, JE's 5th man at sectionals in 2009, was the team's overall sixth leading scorer last season.  Alpha's best race in '09 came in JE's 27 - 28 victory over state-ranked Marcellus helping the Eagles to a league championship.  Alpha was the 9th fastest returner to class C for the 2010 season.  Mitch is ranked 50th in N.Y. State class C in the pre-season rankings with his 148 speed rating.  Despite this success in cross country, Alpha is more noted as being a tremendous wrestler, compiling a 26 and 4 record during last year's varsity wrestling season.  Mitch outscored his opponents 152 - 18 and had 18 pins.  Alpha looks forward to a successful cross country season and so do the Eagles.