Fueling Excellence

2022-23 Fueling Excellence Athletes of the Week

Head to our Podcenter to listen to interviews with the athletes below!
3/20-3/25
  • Payton Gilbert – Union Springs Girls Basketball – Recorded 12 points and 5 rebounds in a 45-40 loss to Randolph in the Wolves’ first-ever appearance in the NYSPHSAA Class C semifinal.
  • Kyler Proper – Moravia Boys BasketballScored 10 points and dished out 4 assists in a 50-43 loss to Randolph in the NYSPHSAA Class C semifinal.
3/13-3/18
  • Kailey Kalet – Union Springs Girls Basketball – Scored a team-high 20 points (15 of which came in the second half) and dished out 8 assists in a 60-47 win over Cooperstown in the NYSPHSAA Class C regional.
  • Aiden Kelly – Moravia Boys Basketball – Scored a game-high 17 points in a 58-38 win over Dolgeville in the NYSPHSAA Class C regional.
3/6-3/11
  • Hayley Beebe – Newark Valley Girls Basketball – Scored a game-high 18 points in a 51-35 win over Chenango Forks in the Section IV Class B Championship, helping the Cardinals win their second straight sectionals title and their first ever in Class B.
  • Moss Dengler – Ithaca Boys Indoor Track & FieldFinished 2nd place in the pole vault at the NYSPHSAA Indoor Track & Field Championships, setting an indoor school record at 14 feet, 6 inches.

2/27-3/4

  • Eliza DeRito – Ithaca Girls Indoor Track & Field – Won the 600-meter run at the Section IV State Qualifiers with a time of 1:39.86 to qualify for the NYSPHSAA Indoor Track & Field Championships.
  • Aidan Shufelt – Groton Boys WrestlingFinished 3rd place in the 110 weight class in Division II at the NYSPHSAA Wrestling Championships, beating Unadilla Valley-Unatego’s Caleb Cole in the 3rd place match by a 5-3 decision.
2/20-2/25
  • Xavia Evener – Union Springs Girls Basketball – Scored 14 points off the bench in a 67-24 win over Odessa-Montour to help the Wolves win the IAC Small School Championship for a second straight season.
  • Luke Little – Ithaca Boys BasketballScored a team-high 20 points (including assisting the go-ahead basket to Will Holmes with 11 seconds to go and 2 free throws with 3.5 seconds left) in a 61-58 win over Union-Endicott in the STAC Championship, helping the Little Red win its first title since 2017.
2/13-2/18
  • Melodie Sutton – Marathon Girls Wrestling – Won the 120 weight class at the Section IV Championships with pins against Watkins Glen/Odessa-Montour’s Jackie Mace and Chenango Forks’ Kathryn White.
  • Tyler Verrill – Trumansburg Boys Indoor Track & Field – Won the 55-meter hurdles at the Section IV Championships with a personal record of 8.34 seconds to help the Blue Raiders win the boys Division II title.
2/6-2/11
  • Allison Kehoe – Moravia Girls Basketball –Set a program record with 7 3-pointers in a single game in a 54-41 win over Southern Cayuga, then tied her own record with 7 more 3s in a 42-28 win over Port Byron.
  • Jadon Heidl – Candor Boys Basketball –Recorded a 20-point, 10-rebound double-double in a 66-33 win over Groton, then scored a game-high 15 points in a 62-34 win over Bainbridge-Guilford.
1/30-2/4
  • Hannah Nolan – Odessa-Montour Girls Basketball – Recorded a team-high 14 points (plus 8 rebound and 7 steals) in a 39-20 win over Jasper-Troupsburg, then recorded a 16-point, 10-rebound double-double (plus 8 steals) in a 47-34 win over Newfield.
  • Ryan Dean – Watkins Glen/Odessa-Montour Boys Swimming –Won 3 events (200 medley relay, 200 individual medley, and 100 fly) in a 95-80 win over Elmira, then won the 100 free and the 100 back to help beat Southern Cayuga 84-66.

1/23-1/28

  • Charli Bennett – Southern Cayuga Girls Basketball – Recorded three double-doubles in a trio of road wins (15 points/10 steals/9 rebounds at Dryden; 24 points/15 rebounds at Groton; 28 points/17 rebounds at Newfield).
  • Cadin Creeley – Newark Valley Boys Wrestling – Won the 138 weight class at the IAC Championships with a trio of pins, then beat Spencer-Van Etten/Candor’s Shane Neal in a 8-3 decision.
1/16-1/21
  • Kristen Johnston – Lansing Girls Indoor Track & Field – Won 3 events (high jump, long jump, and triple jump) at the Twilight Invite, then won the high jump at the Winter Classic while also placing 4th in the long jump and triple jump.
  • Stephen Yang – Ithaca Boys Ice Hockey – Scored a hat trick and added an assist in a 7-1 win against Mohawk Valley on Senior Night.
1/9-1/14
  • Janelle Marsh – Spencer-Van Etten/Candor Girls Bowling – Bowled a team-high 617 series in a 4-0 sweep of Groton, then bowled a team-high 508 in a 4-0 sweep of Thomas A. Edison
  • Donovan Mitchell – Groton Wrestling – Won the 215 weight class at the Ross Kordell Rotary Tournament and received the Most Outstanding Wrestler award for his weight class. He also won at the 285 level against Odessa-Montour earlier in the week.
1/2-1/7
  • Mia Little – Ithaca Girls Basketball – Named Tournament MVP as the Little Red won the regional division title of the Josh Palmer Fund Clarion Classic. Little scored a team-high 16 points in a 53-43 win over Thomas A. Edison, then put up a game-high 28 points (including 4-3 pointers, 6 steals, and 5 rebounds) in the final to beat Elmira-Notre Dame 48-43.
  • Tyler Malnoske – Odessa-Montour Boys Basketball – Named Tournament MVP as the Grizzlies won the Addison Holiday Tournament. Malnoske scored a game-high 21 points (including 3 3-pointers) in a 62-53 win over Campbell-Savona, then put up a game-high 18 points to beat Cowanesque Valley 52-45 in the final.
12/26-12/31
  • Kailey Kalet – Union Springs Girls Basketball – Had a game-high 25 points, 11 assists and 7 steals in a 76-28 win over Marathon, then surpassed 1,000 career points in a 63-38 win over Odessa-Montour with 21 points, 7 rebounds, 9 assists, and 7 steals.
  • Nicholas Hwang – Lansing Boys Swimming – Won 4 events (200 medley relay, 200 free, 500 free, and 400 free relay) to beat Dryden 92-59, then won the 200 medley relay and 400 free relay and finished second in the 50 free to beat Southern Cayuga 57-32.
12/19-12/24
  • Charli Bennett – Southern Cayuga Girls Basketball – Recorded a game-high 20 points, 17 rebounds, and 7 steals in a 43-38 win over Marathon.
  • Kody Floyd – Spencer-Van Etten/Candor Boys Bowling – Bowled a team-high 710 series in the Eagles’ 4-0 sweep of Thomas A. Edison.
12/12-12/17
  • Carlea Davis – Dryden Girls Indoor Track & Field – Won the 55 hurdles and the long jump events while also finishing second in the triple jump at the Hurley Invitational.
  • Daniel Parker – Ithaca Boys Wrestling – Won in the 152 weight class at the Dave Buck Memorial Wrestling Tournament and picked up wins against Binghamton and Johnson City

12/5-12/10

  • Cha Gardner – Newark Valley Girls Basketball – Recorded doubles-doubles in the first two games of the season (11 points/12 rebounds vs. Horseheads, 13 points/14 rebounds vs. Oneonta) to win the Anthony C. Drago Tournament.
  • Brandon Vanacore – Southern Cayuga Boys Basketball – Scored 63 points across two games (30 @ Thomas A. Edison, 33 vs. Cato-Meridian) to get the Chiefs off to a 2-0 start.

11/28-12/3

  • Caroline Smead – Union Springs Girls Bowling – Bowled a team-high 542 series in the Wolves’ 4-0 sweep of Newark Valley.
  • Benson Patterson – Odessa-Montour Boys Bowling – Bowled a team-high 639 series in the Grizzlies’ 3-1 win over defending IAC Small School champions Tioga in their season opener.
11/21-11/26
  • Faye Mooney – Watkins Glen/Odessa-Montour Girls Swimming – Finished 18th in the 100 breaststroke in the consolation finals at the NYSPHSAA Championships with a time of 1:07.85. She also set the school record in that race in preliminarires the day prior with a time of 1:07.03.
  • Crosby Woods – Ithaca Boys Cross Country – Finished 25th in the New York Federation Championship with a time of 16:43.9.
11/14-11/19
  • Tsadia Bercuvitz – Ithaca Girls Cross Country – Finished 10th in the Girl’s Class A race at the NYSPHSAA Cross Country Championships with a time of 19:02.3.
  • Ben DeMatteo – Groton Football – Recorded four total touchdowns (2 passing, 2 rushing) and an interception in a 48-14 win over Moravia to clinch the Section IV 8-man title.
11/7-11/12
  • Tennessee Gooch – Lansing Volleyball – Recorded 59 kills (including 18 in a 3-set win in the final against Oneonta) in the Section IV Class C tournament, helping the Bobcats win the title for the second straight year.
  • Jay Miles – Dryden Football – Recorded four rushing touchdowns in a 41-12 win over Whitney Point in the Section IV independent league semifinals.
10/31-11/5
  • Skye Honrath – Watkins Glen Girls Soccer – Scored 5 goals and 2 assists across the semifinal and championship games in the Section IV Class C tournament to help the Senecas win their first-ever sectional title.
  • Addison Young – Spencer-Van Etten/Candor Boys Soccer – Scored 9 goals across the semifinal and championship games in the Section IV Class C tournament to help the Eagles win their first-ever sectional title as a combined team.
10/24-10/29
  • Thalia Marquez – Watkins Glen/Odessa-Montour Girls Swimming– Won four events at the IAC Championships (200 Free, 100 Free, 200 Medley Relay, and 200 Free Relay) and helped the Schuyler Storm win IACs.
  • Chandler Wright – Trumansburg Football – Excelled on both sides of the ball in a 57-0 win over Thomas A. Edison. Offensively, he racked up a season-high 223 yards and 4 touchdowns on 8 carries. Defensively, he recorded 10 tackles, a sack, and an interception.
10/17-10/22
  • Zade Gomez-Fitzsimmons – Watkins Glen Girls Soccer – Scored the game-winning goal in a 2-1 double overtime victory against Groton, helping the school capture its first-ever IAC Championship.
  • Noah Banks – Spencer-Van Etten/Candor Boys Soccer – Scored both goals in the IAC Large School Championship game to beat Lansing 2-1.
10/10-10/15
  • Olivia Genson – Moravia Cross-Country – Won the varsity girls race at the IAC North Division Championship with a time of 20:43. She was also named as a First Team All-Star.
  • Addison Young – Spencer-Van Etten/Candor Boys Soccer – Recorded 7 goals and 3 assists across wins against Newark Valley (10-0) and Watkins Glen (9-0).
10/3-10/8
  • Kayla Palmer – Lansing Volleyball – Played a key part in another perfect week, including a massive 3-0 win against Trumansburg where she recorded 14 service points, 4 aces, 2 kills, and 25 assists. The Bobcats also swept Moravia and Dryden. Against the Lions, Palmer tallied 11 service points, 24 assists, and 4 aces.
  • Bryce David – Southern Cayuga Boys Soccer – Scored the game-winning penalty in a 1-0 overtime win against Moravia, then netted a brace in a 5-0 rout over Union Springs.
9/26-10/1
  • Tori Brewster – Odessa-Montour Girls Soccer – Recorded three goals and two assists across three games. Her standout performance was against rivals Watkins Glen, scoring both goals in a 2-1 comeback win in overtime.
  • Trent Thibault – Lansing Boys Cross Country – Finished first in the 5k meter race at Whitney Point and finished third at the Baldwinsville Invitational. The freshman helped the boys team place first at both meets.

9/19-9/24

  • Lauren Millspaugh – Trumansburg Volleyball – Recorded 13 aces and 12 kills in a pair of three-set wins over Groton and Dryden.
  • Austin Hunt – Groton Football – Tallied over 300 total yards and five touchdowns (two passing, three rushing) at quarterback in a 54-6 win over Newfield.
9/12-9/17
  • Ally Deeley – Dryden Girls Soccer – Had seven goals and three assists in a pair of wins, including a five-goal performance against Moravia.
  • Ryan Willett – Watkins Glen/Odessa-Montour Football – Racked up 147 rushing yards and two touchdowns while making a joint team-high five tackles in a 40-6 win against Afton/Harpursville.

9/5-9/10

  • Heidi Andersen – Moravia Girls Soccer – Had four goals and an assist in a pair of wins, including a hat trick performance against Tioga.
  • Hajo Wise – Dryden Boys Soccer – Recorded a pair of shutouts in goal, turning away 11 total shots in wins against Elmira Notre Dame and Newark Valley