2008 Season Preview
Purchase, NY (Sept. 1, 2008) -- With the 2008 men and women’s cross-country season gearing up, Purchase students are hopeful for yet another successful showing in the field. Why not? Last season saw the first ever ECAC Championship berth for the Panthers, not to mention a gallant showing in the Skyline Conference Championships.
That’s right, the women’s team finished in second place out of eight teams in the Skyline with 63 points. The men’s team came right behind in third with a total of 91 points.
Remember fans, the lower the score, the better.
The Panthers have fast shoes to fill with the departures of Patrick Martin (Sr/Greenwich, NY) and Patricia Gaeta (Sr/Niagara, NY), who were among the top runners in the Purchase clan.
Fear not orange and blue faithful, for last season’s All-Skyline honors recipient Maya Seegers (JR/Greenwich, NY) returns to lead a hungry Panthers pack. Joining forces with Seegers on the women’s trail will be co-captains Noel O’ Donnell (SR/Staten Island, NY) and last year’s freshmen standout Kelly Cau-McPhee (SO/Newton, CT). Veteran speedster Breanna Schebell (SR/Niagara Falls, NY) will be looked upon to lead the new freshmen recruits. They are: Collen walker (FR/Mastic, NY) and Jessica Phumalee (FR/Queens, NY). Standout upperclassman Amelia Feuer (SR/Pine Bush, NY) is also expected to do big things in her first season with the team.
Phillip Gallo (JR/Sparta, NJ) and Daniel Stringer (JR/Dallas, TX) are the new captains on the men’s side. Aiding them in the quest for the Skyline title are graduating seniors Max Hendrickson (SR/Shirley, NY), Alex Litzky (SR/Larchmont, NY) and Robert Strang (SR/Huntington, NY). Top rookies include Zach Wilson (FR/Troy, NY), Julian Norton (FR/Loudonville, NY) and Frederick Gunzel (JR/Farmingville, NY).
For the first time in school history, come on down and cheer on the Panthers at the first ever Purchase Invitational on Saturday, Sept.13 at 11:30 a.m. Purchase will also run in the annual Skyline Conference Championships on Saturday, Nov. 2 at Bard College.
-Oren Vourman
