A state title for Elmira Notre Dame’s Jon Buice highlighted a stellar post-season by numerous teams and athletes representing Catholic high schools in the diocese.
Buice won the state boys’ indoor track championship in the high jump, posting a leap of 6 feet, 6 inches at the state meet held March 4 at Cornell University. He went on to finish ninth, with a mark of 6-4{3/4}, at the Nike Indoor National Meet on March 12 in Landover. Md.
Earlier this season, Buice won Section 4 Division 2 titles in both the high jump and long jump. He also topped the field in those events at the sectional state qualifier.
More highlights
* Another top performer in state boys’ track was Aquinas Institute’s Noel Bateman, who took third place in the 3,200-meter run with a time of 9 minutes, 21.33 seconds. Bateman also won the 3,200 at the Section 5 state qualifier as well as the sectional Class C championship meet. In addition, Bateman had sectional wins in the 1,600 and 1,000 meters.
* Despite only winning one event, McQuaid Jesuit’s supreme depth enabled the team to grab first place at the Section 5 Class B boys’ track sectionals. The 1,600 relay was victorious, and the Knights also posted four second-place finishes.
* Mercy finished second in team scoring at the Section 5 Class C girls’ track title meet. The Monarchs were led by first-place finishes from Kendra Zaffuto, who won the 1,000 and 1,500 meters; Emily Pryslak, who captured the 300; and Erika Eberhardt, who won the 600. Zaffuto also finished first in the 1,000 at the state qualifier.
* Aquinas’ Caitlyn Brennan took first in the 55-meter hurdles at the Section 5 Class C girls’ meet, and Bishop Kearney’s Louis Holt won the 55-meter dash at the Section 5 Class D boys’ finals.
* McQuaid Jesuit’s Christ Burgart won the slalom event and teammate Kurt Voss placed second in the giant slalom at the Section 5 Class A boys’ Alpine skiing meet. Voss and Burgart went on to finish fourth and fifth, respectively, in the giant slalom at the state meet on March 1 at Bristol Mountain.
* The Nazareth Academy girls’ bowling team won the Section 5 Class B title, with the Lasers’ Christina Mangiola throwing a six-game series of 1,211 to lead all individuals in her division.
* Aquinas’ Anthony Mangiola had the high game in the Section 5 Class B boys’ bowling tournament, rolling a 278.
* Bishop Kearney’s cheerleaders placed first in the Section 5 Class B tournament, and Aquinas Institute finished second in the Class A division.
