Whether the setting was an indoor track or a ski slope, McQuaid Jesuit High School athletes stayed ahead of the competition this winter.
The Knights’ track squad rode a swarm of top-three finishes to a first-place team showing at the Section 5 Class A1 meet Feb. 18. That win came five days after McQuaid’s Alpine skiing squad earned a Section 5 Class A title.
McQuaid powered to the indoor track crown thanks to first places by Rhoan Kaulder in the 300-meter dash and long jump, and Brenton Paladino in the high jump. In addition, second places were achieved by Kaulder in the 55 dash, Corinthian Reed in the 600, Owen Begemann in the weight throw and the 1,600 relay. Third places came from Collin Brown in both the 1,600 and 3,200, Charles Raymond in the weight throw and the 3,200 relay.
Kaulder went on to place 10th in the long jump at the state-championship meet March 4.
In skiing, the Knights were led to their sectional triumph Feb. 13 by Hudson Proia, who earned second-place finishes in both the slalom and giant slalom; and Ronan Turkovich, who placed third in the giant slalom and sixth in the slalom. At the state championships, held Feb. 27-28, Turkovich took fourth in the slalom while Proia finished sixth in both the slalom and giant slalom.
More winter sports highlights
Indoor track
- In girls’ indoor track, Elmira Notre Dame’s Makenna Keough recorded a pair of first places at the Section 4 meet Feb. 10, winning the Division 2 55-meter hurdles and triple jump while taking second in the long jump. Teammate Eleanor Green ended up second in the 55-meter dash as the Crusaders placed third in team scoring.
- More girls’ indoor track highlights came from Our Lady of Mercy’s Polly Bogdan (600) and Sophia Daeschner (pole vault), who claimed first places at the Section 5 Class A2 meet Feb. 18; and Aquinas Institute’s Maya Parks (triple jump) and 800 relay, who all finished first in Section 5 Class A3 competition Feb. 19.
- In boys’ indoor track, Aquinas’ 800 relay placed first at the Section 5 Class A3 meet Feb. 19. And in Class A4 that day, Bishop Kearney’s Jack Valentine topped the field in the high jump.
Basketball
- In boys’ basketball, Kearney reached the Section 5 Class B1 semifinals. The Kings, seeded No. 4, recorded a 72-65 quarterfinal win over No. 5 Vertus Feb. 25 before falling to No. 1 Batavia, 66-62, in semifinal play March 1.
- In girls’ basketball, Kearney made the Section 5 Class AA semifinals as the No. 3 seed. BK won over 72-47 over No. 6 Hilton in quarterfinal action Feb. 25 before being edged, 56-54 in overtime, by No. 2 Penfield in a semifinal contest March 1.
- Mercy girls’ basketball scored a pair of upset wins in the Section 5 Class A playoffs. The 12th-seeded Monarchs won 46-41 over No. 5 Webster Thomas in prequarterfinal action Feb. 21, and 68-62 over No. 4 Honeoye Falls-Lima in quarterfinal play Feb. 24. Mercy was stopped by No. 1 Pittsford Sutherland, 45-38, in the semifinals Feb. 27.
Hockey
- In hockey, McQuaid earned the No. 1 seed in the Section 5 Class A playoffs. The Knights scored a 3-1 quarterfinal win over No. 9 Spartan Hockey Feb. 16 before dropping a 2-1 semifinal decision to No. 4 Pittsford Feb. 22.
- Aquinas hockey gained a No. 2 seed in the Section 5 Class B tournament. The Little Irish won 6-1 over No. 7 Irondequoit in quarterfinal play Feb. 16, then fell 1-0 to No. 3 Webster Schroeder in semifinal action Feb. 21.
Swimming
- In boys’ swimming, McQuaid earned second place at the Section 5 Class B meet Feb. 10. The Knights’ Luke McCormack won both the 200-yard freestyle and 500 free, and teammate Benjamin Hinds topped the field in the 100 breaststroke.
Wrestling
- In boys’ wrestling, McQuaid’s Harrison Aguirre won the Section Class A2 crown in the 189-pound division Feb. 4. Aguirre pinned Canandaigua’s Mason Depew in the title match. In addition, the Knights’ Casey Liess finished second in the 145-pound division.
Cheerleading
- Aquinas’ cheerleading squad placed second in the Division 2 Small A category at the Section 5 winter championships, held Feb. 18-19.
Bowling
- In girls’ bowling, Mercy’s Miley Bohrer earned a spot on the Section 5 composite team, made up of the top individual bowlers in the section.
