Boys Cross Country Aiming High With Young Talent

After graduating 13 seniors–notably Hamer Garag and William Wenrich–Morristown boys cross-country will be looking to the depth of talent in its sophomore squad this upcoming season.

"We are very young this year," head coach Paul Buccino said of the 50-member team. With only a few key upperclassmen returning to this year's lineup Buccino said, "our strength will be in the very talented sophmore squad."

Sophmore runners to watch include CJ Katz, Vince Leahey, Joe Ganning and newcomer Alex Cary.

Returning for his 13th season, Buccino said he believes this year's sophomores have the potential to be one of the top teams. Last season Katz, Leahey and Ganning were members of the winning Morris County Championship freshman team.

"This year they are a lot stronger and maturing very well," he said. "I feel confident the sophmore boys will continue and improve and score amongst the five teams in the championship season, within the county and the sectional."

"It's good for us to have a lot of talented sophomores, they will push the upperclassmen," Buccino said. Key veterans include seniors Brain Bowmaster, Jeremy Gauell and juniors Colin LaPenta and Brandon Ellison.

While Bowmaster praises the sophomores contributions, "we have a lot of sophomores who will be very good for our team," he said. Bowmaster attributes the core of the team's ambition and success to Buccino.

"Coach runs with us during practice," Bowmaster said. "When he is out there on trail runs it makes us push ourselves to run faster. We know we can't slack off, we have to keep up with him."

Buccino utilizes the practice time to bond and as an opportunity to guide his team, Bowmaster said. "He talks to us about how we're going to improve this season, always encouraging us to be optimistic," he said. "He outlines goals and asks us what we want to do with our season."

"I want us to do the best we can–place well in our important meets, like counties, conference meets, regionals and sectionals are all key," Bowmaster said. "I've been training a lot over the summer, hoping to improve my times."

After finishing last season at 7-2, with a fourth place at counties, third in the New Jersey Athletic Conference and third in sectional play, Buccino has set ambitious goals for the Morristown boys cross country team again this year.

"I'd like to have a winning dual meet season, ideally place among the top three at counties, the top three at Sections (North I, Group IV) and in the top 15 in Group IV," he said, outlining his goals.  

"We have the potential to be amongst the top three, more realistically top five in counties, in sectional top six. But, we will certainly shoot for higher," he said. "I believe we can win at least six of the dual meets. Our toughest competitors will be Delbarton and Mendham."

The cross-country team will face Delbarton on Sept. 14 and Mendham on Sept. 28, both NJAC meets will be held at Greystone Park in Piscataway.

"If everyone runs the best they can and we all work as a team to be better runners I think we have a shot at the podium (a top three position at counties) against top competitors like Delbarton," Bowmaster said.