Cross Country Completes 2016 Class As 8 Runners Sign NLIs

ST. BONAVENTURE, N.Y. – St. Bonaventure men's and women's cross country coach Bob MacFarlane announced on Monday that eight runners have signed a National Letter of Intent to join the programs beginning in the fall of 2012.

"I am very excited about the ability, both athletically and academically, that our new recruits will bring to our program, as well as the depth they will provide," MacFarlane said about his 2016 class. "I feel that we can continue to build on the foundation that we started a year ago with this incoming class of young men and women. They are driven, intelligent, talented and hard working. They will be looked upon to make an immediate impact in both cross country and the classroom. I am thrilled to welcome them to the program."

MacFarlane's class includes four men and four women. Below is information about each, as well as MacFarlane's comments.

WOMEN
Aubrie Russell
A native of Elmira, N.Y. and product of Candor High School, Russell was a medalist and top-10 finisher at the New York State meet as a senior en route to earning IAC First Team accolades. The First Team honor was the third of Russell's career as she also earned that award as a junior and sophomore. As a junior and sophomore, Russell finished in the top-20 at the state meet both years, including a personal-best 19:54 in the 5K as a sophomore. Russell has won multiple science awards throughout her high school career and plans to major in Biology at St. Bonaventure. Russell is also a member of the National Honor Society and participated in track throughout her career.

MacFarlane's Quote: "Aubrie is a multi-talented runner and has participated in cross country and track. She has an upbeat and positive personality that will be a great addition to our group dynamic. She is a positive person and has a great enthusiasm for running."

Kerry Caher
Caher's Shenendehowa High School team placed second at the Section 2 Championships at Saratoga State Park as a senior, setting a personal-best time at the 5K course of 19:15. That time set a mark of six personal records in a row during her senior year. As a junior, Caher's team placed second at the Section 2 Championships and had a season-best time of 19:36 at the Suburban Council Championships. Caher was named a Scholar-Athlete both her junior and senior seasons and also lettered in outdoor track in high school. A native of Clifton Park, N.Y., Caher plans to major in Education at St. Bonaventure.

MacFarlane's Quote: "Kerry is a determined and hard-working runner out of Shenendehowa High School. She has proven herself in track and cross country and is just beginning to tap into her true potential."

Rachel Dorogi
Dorogi, a native of Williamsville, N.Y. and product of Williamsville North High School, was named to the Second Team ECIC in her both her sophomore and junior seasons. This past year, she posted a best time of 21:23 in the 5K, but as a junior ran a 20:48 in the same event and 20:16 as a freshman. An honor-roll student and member of the National Honor Society, Dorogi plans to major in Elementary and Special Education at St. Bonaventure. Dorogi also participated in indoor and outdoor track during her high school career.

MacFarlane's Quote: "Rachel was a good high school track & cross country athlete and I expect her to adapt well to collegiate cross country training. I believe she will make a great contribution to our women's program."

Maggie Schunk
Schunk, a native of Hamburg, N.Y. and Immaculata Academy, served as the captain of the cross country and track teams during her senior year. Schunk led her team to the Monsignor Martin League All-Catholic Championship both her senior and junior years. Just recently, she won the Western New York Track and Field and Cross Country Officials Scholar-Athlete Award to go along with a previous Hamburg Chamber of Commerce Character Award she garnered. A member of the National Honor Society, Schunk has been extremely active in the community and plans to major in Elementary Education at St. Bonaventure.

MacFarlane's Quote: "Maggie, a team captain at her high school, has continued to grow and progress as a runner over her high school career. We are looking at her to develop over the next couple years and turn into a quality runner for us."

MEN
Joe Ferencik
Ferencik, a product of Massapequa, N.Y., was named all-league cross country NSCHSAA in his junior and senior seasons. His team won the CHSAA indoor city championship during his junior year and finished third in his senior year. Ferencik finished 23rd in the 1600m at the New York State Indoor Championship, was named most improved runner and came in 36th at the New York State Federations as a senior. Ferencik also lettered in crew and indoor and outdoor track in high school and plans to major in Philosophy at St. Bonaventure.

MacFarlane's Quote: "Joe, with his experience and athleticism, has the foundation to become a strong runner for our men's team. I anticipate watching him grow as a distance runner with additional experience and training."

Kevin Sidoran
As a senior, Sidoran won the Tri-Valley League individual title in guiding his Holland Patent team to the league championship. Sidoran also led his school to the Section III Championship crown and Class C State Championship with a best time of 17:07 in the 5K. He was a member of the Tri-Valley League championship team as a junior, and also paced HP to the Section III Championship and Class C State Runner-Up. Sidoran also lettered in soccer, swimming and track in high school and plans to major in Biology at St. Bonaventure.

MacFarlane's Quote: "Kevin shows great promise to be an integral runner with the men's program. He has strong athletic traits and a desire to improve."

Nick Konotopskyj
As a senior at Williamsville North, Konotopskyj won the ECIC's large-school division and the local Old Home Days 5K. He earned All-Western New York Second Team honors and finished third in Sectionals as he served as team captain this past year. As a junior, he won four dual-meet races, ECIC's large-school division, the All-Amherst Championship and qualified for states in Class AA – the highest level in New York State. During his sophomore campaign, he was named to the Second Team All-ECIC and was a State Class A qualifier. Konotopskyj also lettered in track and basketball in high school and plans to major in Accounting at St. Bonaventure.

MacFarlane's Quote: "Nick is exactly the type of person and athlete that we are looking for. I believe he will make an impact on our team in the coming years. He has the ability and desire to run at a Division I school."

Caleb Lecker
So far in his senior year, Lecker was a district runner-up and finished 33rd in the state meet. As a junior, the St. Marys, Pa. native finished sixth in the district and 30th in the state. The sixth-place finish at the district race came just three races after Lecker broke his ankle during basketball season. As a sophomore, he finished in the top-35 in the state and second in the district. A four-year letterwinner and captain of the cross country team, Lecker also played basketball and participated in track and field during his high school career. Lecker has been on the Honor Roll all four years at Elk County Catholic and plans to major in Business at St. Bonaventure.

MacFarlane's Quote: "With his solid background and dedication, Caleb should be in the mix with our top five runners. His mental toughness is also a positive attribute."