(New Fairfield's Gabby Richichi, left, and New Milford's Mia Nahom take control at Friday's SWC meet.)
By MARTY OGDEN
It’s one thing to come into a meet as a favorite; it is something else to come out a champion.
Pre-meet oddsmakers felt this was the New Fairfield girls and New Milford boys’ year to take home the Southwest Conference team titles and they didn’t disappoint. Led by overwhelming favorites, Gabrielle Richichi and Stosh Davis, the two neighboring towns dominated the SWC taking home both the team and individual titles for their schools with Pomperaug as the runners up in both races.
Richichi, the defending champion and conference record-holder in the 1600-meter run and 5000m from last spring, was heavily challenged most of the way by New Milford's Mia Nahom, a sophomore who gave up soccer to compete in her first high school cross country season. Richichi and teammate Sabrina Rautter hung in back the first 800m and moved up to control the pack through the mile mark. By the 2K mark, it was a two-person show with Richichi and Nahom battling it out and the tenth-grader taking the lead up the significant hill on the course known as “The Beast”.
Nahom stated, “I was just trying to stick with Gabby… she is so incredible.”
The veteran Richichi stayed relaxed and made a move coming down "The Beast" the last 1000m of the course to take her second SWC title in a time of 18 minutes, 48.91 seconds, just 10 seconds ahead of her main challenger.
To add to the excitement of the day, the New Fairfield Rebels won their first conference meet in school history. While the individual race was tight most of the way, the team competition was even tighter and came down to a 60-60 tie with Pomperaug. The hero of the day was sophomore Courtney Yarocak, a sprinter on the track team who outkicked a couple of runners the last 100m, including Pomperaug’s number six to break the tie.
New Fairfield’s scoring runners were Richichi (first), Rautter (third), Bridget Zima (11th), Melissa Evans (14th), Kristen Richichi (31st), Yarocak (32th) and Dana Nevins (37th)
Former Bethel Coach for who the cross country course at Bethel is named and is now coaching at Pomperaug stated, “I guess Pomperaug is the Avis of cross country. We are number two and will have to try harder.”
On the boys’ side, the race wasn’t as close for the team or individual title, but it was just as significant for the New Milford runners. The Green Wave has dominated the SWC, taking home the winner’s trophy for 10 straight years and 13 of the last 14 before they were dethroned by Newtown in 2012 and again by Brookfield last year. What was once thought of as a given, became an elusive prize that became more important to take back.
Individual champion Stosh Davis, a junior who led from the gun and secured a nearly 12-second victory over Pomperaug’s Alexander Abraham - 16:38.50 to 16:50.45 - felt the sting of the team loses and focused his celebration on the team win saying, "We've been working since June to get this back. This has been our goal,"
With five of the top 18 and four earning All SWC first-team honors, New Milford left little doubt they meant business and wanted the crown back, defeating second-place Pomperaug, 44-84.
To highlight their depth, they did it without normal No. 3 man, Lucas Simmonds, who was taken away by ambulance after the race where he finished an uncharacteristic 45th overall for what appeared to be dehydration, according to New Milford head Coach Chris Bacich. But like all great teams, their normal No. 7, Zachary Pitcher, moved up to the fifth spot and grabbed 18th place.
The Green Wave was made up of Davis (firstt), Gregory Hansell (fourth), Rich Grudzwick (ninth), Brady Clarke (12th), Pitcher (18th), Eric Vazquez (24th) and Simmonds (45th).
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SWC CROSS COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIPS
at Bethel High
Distance - Five kilometers
GIRLS' RESULTS
Team scores: 1. New Fairfield 60*; 2. Pomperaug 60; 3. Newtown 75; 4. New Milford 134; 5. Barlow 136*; 6. Immaculate 136; 7. Bethel 139; 8. Weston 231; 9. Brookfield 236; 10. Bunnell 252; 11. Masuk 315. (* won sixth-runner tie-breaker).
Top 25: 1. Gabrielle Richichi, New Fairfield, 18:48.91; 2. Mia Nahom, New Milford, 18:58.03; 3. Sabrina Rautter, New Fairfield, 19:52.53; 4. Sara Tarascio, Pomperaug, 20:12.50; 5. Erin Tressler, Newtown, 20:16.31; 6. Sarah Mawdsley, Newtown, 20:17.30; 7. Diana Kirkman, Immaculate, 20:40.50; 8. Gabrielle Lemma, Barlow, 20:48.06; 9. Michaela Meyer, Pomperaug, 21:01.28; 10. Allison Meyer, Pomperaug, 21:18.95; 11. Bridget Zima, New Fairfield, 21:27.65; 12.Nicole McCarthy, New Milford, 21:31.43; 13. Danielle Marcone, Immaculate, 21:41.85; 14. Melissa Evans, New Fairfield, 21:42.69; 15. Ashley Wargo, Pomperaug, 21:53.93; 16. Savanah Pipkin, Bethel, 21:55.77; 17. Julia Fragomeli, Bethel, 21:55.77; 18. Emma Bayuk, Newtown, 22:03.86; 19. Rachel Buddenhagen, Weston, 22:05.22; 20. Gwen Gallagher, Bethel, 22:11.34; 21. Madison Findley, Newtown, 22:13.45; 22. Sydney Malaspina, Pomperaug, 22:19.95; 23. Isabella Puzzo, Bunnell, 22:23.36; 24. Shannon Ducey, Immaculate, 22:31.19; 25. Hannah Schwartz, Newtown, 22:34.51.
BOYS' RESULTS
Team scores: 1. New Milford 44; 2. Pomperaug 84; 3. Newtown 101; 4. Brookfield 112; 5. Weston 148; 6. New Fairfield 166; 7. Barlow 176; 8. Bunnell 183; 9. Bethel 277; 10. Immaculate 282; 11. Masuk 292; 12. Notre Dame-Fairfield 335; 13. Stratford 336.
Top 25: 1. Stosh Davis, New Milford, 16:38.50; 2. Alexander Abraham, Pomperaug, 16:50.45; 3. Tommy Consalvo, Brookfield, 16:54.37; 4. Greg Hansell, New Milford, 17:06.06; 5. Benjamin Ruffing, Barlow, 17:09.86; 6. Chris Rivas, Brookfield, 17:18.20; 7. Michael Rautter, New Fairfield, 17:23.87; 8. Cole Clark, Weston, 17:26.47; 9. Richard Grudzwick, New Milford, 17:27.97; 10. Frank Sinapi, Pomperaug, 17:29.17; 11. Michael Petilo, Stratford, 17:32.75; 12. Brady Clarke, New Milford, 17:35.57; 13. Alex Ghajar, Bunnell, 17:39.41; 14. Michael Bortolot, Barlow, 17:44.29; 15. Kevin Michalka, Bethel, 17:45.09; 16. Scott Gaffney, Pomperaug, 17:45.50; 17. Kyle Mangold, Newtown, 17:53.27; 18. Zachary Pitcher, New Milford, 17:58.38; 19. Christopher Gamble, Newtown, 18:00.72; 20. Joel Duval, Newtown, 18:01.30; 21. Michael Schenk, Pomperaug, 18:02.80; 22. Dave Csordas, Newtown, 18:03.71; 23. Brendan Reeds, Newtown, 18:05.06; 24. Eric Vazquez, New Milford, 18:07.01; 25. A'hsantay Manning, Bunnell, 18:14.24.