AFLAC Amazing Athlete: Zach Kassel, East Syracuse Minoa boys bowling. Kassel not only rolled a 300 game in the Spartans’ January 22 win over Cicero-North Syracuse, he also had 246 and 278 games to post an 824 series, the best in Section III this winter.
Atlas Fence All-Star: Nick Pompo, Baldwinsville boys swimming. The first diver in the Bees’ program in years, Pompo finished second in the January 27 Burgos Dive Invitational at Nottingham and, with 471.25 points, qualified for March’s NYSPHSAA championship meet.
Attilios Ace Award: Kaelyn Boliver, Beaver River girls volleyball. Boliver combined 20 kills, 11 assists and nine digs to help the Beavers pull out a five-set victory over Carthage in Frontier League action on January 24.
Byrne Dairy Prime Performer: Brynn Shepardson, Little Falls girls wrestling. Shepardson pinned Shenendehowa’s Isabella Gretzinger in the second period and earned the 152-pound championship during the NYSPHSAA Girls Invitational held January 26 at SRC Arena.
CNY Sealing and Paving Defensive Standout: Isabella Davis, Indian River girls basketball. When Indian River routed Watertown 74-34 on January 25, Davis put up 12 rebounds and recorded five steals to go with her team-high 18 points.
Ethan Allen Award of Excellence: Uzziah Grimes, Rome Free Academy boys basketball. The Black Knights ended Cicero-North Syracuse’s nine-game win streak on January 23 with a 97-78 victory as Grimes led the RFA attack, pouring in a game-high 29 points.
Holbrook Heating and Air Conditioning Outstanding Athlete: Landon Copley, Carthage wrestling. The Comets won the Frontier League championship on January 20 as Copley earned the 131-pound title by beating Indian River’s Kane Lynch in the finals.
The Image Press Icon: Jack Pineau, Auburn ice hockey. The Maroons worked its way past Oswego 5-3 on January 24 and Pineau had almost everything to do with it, pouring in a career-best four goals.
M. Lemp Jewelers Rewarding Effort: Brayden Huntley, Central Valley Academy boys volleyball. Huntley earned 27 assists and added nine digs, which helped the Thunder roll past Utica Proctor in straight sets on January 25.
Mooney Marketing Group/Bristol 7 Enterprises Major Performance: Hudson Hunt, Sandy Creek boys basketball. Hunt earned 22 points, five rebounds and four assists as the Comets rolled past Copenhagen 66-45 on January 22.
North Syracuse Lawn and Snow Notable Effort: Troy Luley, New Hartford boys swimming. With quick times in the 500 freestyle and 100 breaststroke, Luley was instrumental in helping the Spartans earn the team title in the January 27 Tri-Valley League championships.
Nye Automotive Mark of Excellence: Lydia Land-Steves, Fayetteville-Manlius girls basketball. Setting a new career mark with 29 points, Land-Steves all but carried the Hornets to a surprising 55-52 win over Auburn on January 26.
Purcell Paints Prime Performer: Aidan Trimper, Watertown IHC ice hockey. The Cavaliers kept its strong season going with a 4-3 win over Fayetteville-Manlius on January 25 as Trimper led the attack with a pair of goals.
Syracuse Orthopedic Specialists Student-Athlete: Leon Smith, Phoenix wrestling. Smith won all four of his bouts at 160 and 170 pounds and was his team’s Most Outstanding Wrestler as the Firebirds won the team title in the January 20 Akley Duals at Oswego.
University Sports Shop/Manny’s Major Moment: Andre Pasha, Syracuse Academy of Science boys basketball, hitting a one-handed, full-court shot at the buzzer to give the Atoms a dramatic 64-61 victory over Utica Academy of Science on January 20.
Upstate Urology Upstart: Lily Kennedy, Skaneateles girls ice hockey. earning two late third-period goals, Kennedy helped the Lakers rally and pull out a 3-3 tie with rival Clinton on January 25 at Allyn Arena.
U.S. Army Athlete of the Week: Emma Taylor, Port Byron girls basketball. A double-double of 14 rebounds and 12 points was what Taylor produced and helped the Panthers battle past Onondaga 49-46 on January 25.
Wilkins RV Winning Player: Josie Lachut, Christian Brothers Academy girls volleyball. Lachut earned 43 assists, an average of better than 10 assists per sets, to help the Brothers beat Chittenango in four sets on January 25.
