Relay team leads boys’ track in early going

Last year, the boys track team had a very successful with several runners going down state. In particular, the 4 x 800 relay was one of the best in RB track’s history. The relay team consisted of Alex Amaya, Keegan Buttimer, Peter Lyson, and Mark McDonagh and finished tenth in state. It would be easy to be happy with that result with only half of the relay team returning this year (Amaya and Buttimer), but Amaya is hoping for a better finish.

“This 4 x 800 relay team could be the best ever at RB. If we don’t go to state, it would be a disappointment,” said Amaya. 

Replacing McDonagh and Lyson are juniors Travis Treviso and Chris Dziagawa. It is evident that they are more than capable of filling in as the relay team broke the conference indoor record in the process at Glenbard South. They finished with a time of 8:50.10, which beat the second place finished by nearly ten seconds.

There are standouts for the Bulldogs in other events. Since the Glenbard South Invite, the Bulldogs have competed in meets at Lemont and in the Gary Johnson Bulldog Relays at RB. Jayson Kerber does the high jump for RB and was good enough for second at Glenbard South, and won the high jump at Lemont. Buttimer was also second in the individual 800 at Glenbard South.

Other individuals who should be strong this year include senior George Smith (200 meter) and junior John Kingzette.  The 4 x 400 should also be able to compete for first place in conference. Both Buttimer and Amaya are part of this relay and are able to run the quarter mile under 55 seconds. 

As for the team’s chances, Amaya is optimistic. “We should have a good team overall, too, “ he said.

At the first meet at Glenbard South, the team finished second to Glenbard South. Glenbard South had 199 points and RB finished with 85 points as six teams competed in the meet. At Lemont, the Bulldogs finished a modest fourth out of seventh team and they also had a good showing at the RB invite, despite several juniors missing to take the ACT. The Bulldogs finished fifth out of ten teams.

The team is coached by Tim Olson, Gary Johnson, Tim Brasic and Larry Forberg. The captains for the 2011 boys’ track team are Amaya, Buttimer, Treviso, John Schraidt, and Joey Malone. Malone and Treviso are both juniors, while Amaya, Buttimer, and Schraidt are seniors.

Spring sports seasons officially underway

Though February 28^th is still considered winter, this is the date that most spring sports at RB begin. Excluding boys volleyball (which holds tryouts on March 7^th), every spring sport will hold their first practice or tryout on February 28. Most spring sports are non-cut sports. These include boys’ and girls’ track, boys’ and girls’ water polo, boys’ tennis, and badminton. So anybody play for these teams if they please. Here is the outlook for a few Riverside-Brookfield spring teams.

The baseball and softball teams both finished last year losing in their sectional championship. Both teams will try to take the next step in advancing further, despite losing some key graduates. The softball team was ranked in the top ten in the area for much of last year, so expectations are high. The baseball squad also has high expectations, with their tryouts and early practices being held at 5:30 in the morning. All-time RB single season batting average Matt Scott record holder graduated so the Bulldogs need a big bat to fill the number three spot in the batting order. 

As for the girls’ and boys’ track teams, they both return a lot of key members. The boys’ team has several runners coming back that ran in the state meet. Alex Amaya and Keegan Buttimer were on last year’s 4 x 800 meter relay team and are seniors this year. Amaya and Jason Pomey (now a senior) were both on the 4 x 400-meter relay team that went down state. Two girls went down state last year for the girls’ track and field team: Alexis Adams (graduate) and Brenna Mossman (now a senior). Adams took third in state in the discus and Mossman took 12^th. Look for Mossman among others to make it to Eastern Illinois for state in 2011.

The boys’ volleyball team holds tryouts a week after most spring teams, but this is most likely because they don’t play a game until they open against Morton on March 24. They have a strong schedule with plenty of games against bigger schools. The Bulldogs have games against OPRF, Hinsdale Central, and Hinsdale South, in addition to the teams they will face at tournaments during the season. This schedule should help the volleyball team in the playoffs.

The other spring sports at RB that started February 28 include boys’ and girls’ water polo, badminton, girls’ soccer, and boys’ tennis. These  are all no cut sports for spring excluding girls’ soccer.

Boys and Girls Track have success at State

Boys and girls track is wrapping up the 2010 season. Both have been successful so far this year with qualifiers to state for both girls and boys track.

The girls finished 1^st in the Metro Suburban Conference Meet on both the Freshman/Sophomore level and the Varsity level. Nine girls also qualified for State, marking the 5^th year in a row RB Girls Track has had a state qualifier.

Junior Claire Schraidt and Senior Vija Lietuvninkas qualified for State for the High Jump, and Junior Brenna Mossman qualified for state for the Long Jump. Senior Alexis Adams qualified for the shotput and the discus. Girls relay teams for the 400, 800, and 1600 all qualified for sate. The 400 m relay race team consisted of Seniors Stephanie Sauer and Alyssa Kmet, Mossman, and Sophomore Cynina Mason. The 200 m relay race team was Mossman, Kmet, Mason, and Junior Kate Walsh. The 400 m team consisted of Mossman, Mason, and Walsh.

With nine different girls qualifying, this is the most to ever qualifiy in a single year in RB history.

On the other side Boys Track has had a successful season as well. They have qualifiers for three categories: 1600 m relay, 3200 m relay, and the 800 dash. The 1600 m relay team consists of Seniors Justin Pomey and Kirk Razon, and Juniors Jason Pomey and Alex Amaya. The 3200 m relay team is Seniors Mark McDonagh and Peter Lyson, and Juniors Keegan Buttimer and Amaya. Lyson also qualified for the 800 m dash.

Boys Track state competition is this Thursday-Saturday.