JEFFERSONVILLE, NY — “April is the cruelest month,” wrote T.S Elliot in his epic poem, “The Wasteland.” Given the preponderance of rain and its stultifying effect on local sports, those words describing the past month echoed a sodden truth. But despite the rain, this past week brought some intense local action. By far the largest of these outings was the 23rd annual Monticello Games, one of the highlights of the spring track season. The Montie games were staged on April 30.

Eldred junior Erica Bowring was named the meet’s Outstanding Female Field Athlete. Bowring was first in the triple jump (32-3½), second in the long jump (15-¼) and fourth in the high jump (4-6). A year ago, Eldred’s Christina Watts was named the Outstanding Track Athlete. These honors are noteworthy since Eldred is dwarfed in size by schools like Section 1 Arlington, which has over 900 students per grade as compared to Eldred’s total of 177 in grades 9-12. Eldred’s Alex Campanella ran a personal best in the 3200 in 9:43.1. He finished second. Teammate Hunter Proscia won the 3000 steeplechase in 10:35.5. Eldred’s freshman/sophomore sprint medley relay was first in 3:59.1. Sullivan West’s Todd Roeder won the discus (125-6). Teammate Brandon Wagner was second (123-4). Wagner was third in the javelin (122-11). Liberty’s Peter Koval won it with a mark of 130-7. Monticello’s Matt Rodriguez won the 400 (52.8), while Tino Taylor added a second place in the 200 (23.5). Monticello’s 1600 relay was first in 3:38. They took second in the 800 relay (1:36.5). Brandon Corley captured the shot put (43-6½). Tri-Valley’s Brian Edwards was second with a heave of 43-5½.

In the girls meet, Eldred’s Diana Schomb won the pole vault (9-0). Breanna Brucher was second in 8-6. Brucher was second in the 200 (28.2). Teammate Christine Donnelly set a personal best in the 3000 with a third-place finish of 11:23.6. She was third in the 1500 (5:14.8). Tri-Valley’s Heidi Furman was second in the hammer (105-2). Teammate Alexandria Brooks was third in the 400 (67.2). Dominique Darby was third in the shot put (30-11). T-V’s 3200 relay was second in 10:46.7. Its freshman/sophomore relay was third in 4:46.4. Sullivan West’s Hannah Feinman won the long jump (15-4) and was third in the 100 high hurdles (17.5). Monticello’s Erica Concors was third in the 400 intermediate hurdles (74.9).

In girls golf, Fallsburg remained undefeated as it bested Sullivan West and Monticello at the Villa Roma by the score of 148-161-179, respectively. The three teams tied for the Division III title last spring. It was Sullivan West’s first loss of the season. They have won their division every year except one since the program’s inception. In softball action, Sullivan West downed Monticello 5-3 to improve its record to 2-3. They played host to Burke Catholic on May 2 in a league clash. Eldred fell to Chapel Field 3-2, while powerful Livingston Manor improved to 5-1 with wins over Susquehanna Valley and Hancock. Manor is the defending NYS Class D champion. In baseball, Sullivan West defeated Chapel Field 3-2 and then downed Livingston Manor 10-8 in eight innings, while Monticello split its first two league games of the season with Port Jervis. Tri-Valley battered Chester 25-2 in a league clash. Meanwhile, Liberty remained winless after being swept by both James I. O’Neill and John S. Burke Catholic. In boys golf, Sullivan West downed Eldred 235-281. Sullivan West is in search of its eighth straight division title. Tri-Valley triumphed over Family School and Roscoe by the score of 216-225-240, respectively.

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