Pleasantville Cross Country Wins Class C Championship

Pleasantville's boys country team team earned the school the first Section I title since 1967, according to Coach Tom Patterson.

He wrote to Patch in an email:

Escorted through town with sirens and flashing lights, the Pleasantville High School Cross Country Team returned home Friday evening from Bowdoin Park in Wappinger Falls having won their first Section 1 Class C Championship since 1967.

Led by junior Eli Waxler and followed closely by sophomore Aidan McDermott, the Panther squad pushed their top five across the finish line in the top 25 and all seven in the top 35. According to Waxler, it was a "total team effort," with only 54 seconds separating the first and fifth runners, which provided the margin of victory.

In a meet that was anticipated to be very close with any one of five teams capable of winning, the Pleasantville squad pulled out a 79 to 77 victory over Bronxville; with Pawling, Dobbs Ferry, Irvington and Briarcliff not far behind.

As a result of the win, the Panther team will be heading up state on Saturday to compete against the winners from the other 10 Section Champions across the state  In addition to Waxler and McDermott, Pleasantville will send senior captain Zeke Brynin, senior captain Charlie Finn, freshman JC Yahia, sophomore Drew Dorflinger, junior Eamon Coburn and senior alternate Aaron Huang to the meet next weekend. Race time will be at 9 a.m. at Queensbury High School.