APEX Ace Award: Chylure Bucktooth, LaFayette girls volleyball. Though the Lancers lost in four sets to Candor in the Class D regional final Bucktooth had a sensational performance putting together 31 assists, 12 digs, five kills, two blocks and four aces.
Atlas Fence All-Star: Lionel Coulthurst, Frankfort-Schuyler football. Coulthurst ran 25 times for 154 yards and scored twice to help the Maroon Knights roll past Morrisville-Eaton 50-14 on November 14 at the JMA Dome and repeat as Section III eight-man football champions.
Byrne Dairy Prime Performer: Danny Casatelli, Waterville boys cross country. Casatelli’s fourth-place finish in the state Class D championships November 16 at Queensbury was the best finish recorded by a Section III runner in any of the eight events.
Energy Savers Defensive Standout: Allie Coombs, Marcellus girls soccer. It was Coombs who was the anchor and leader of a Mustangs defense that did not allow a single goal in eight post-season games on the way to the program’s fourth state Class B championship.
Holbrook Heating and Air Conditioning Outstanding Athlete: Brayden Smith, Christian Brothers Academy. Smith ran for a touchdown and threw for another to put his team out in front for good as the Brothers turned back Cicero-North Syracuse 21-13 in the November 15 Section III Class AA final at the JMA Dome.
The Image Press Icon: Kalyna Dannenberg, Fayetteville-Manlius girls volleyball. With her three aces to go with 12 kills and 17 digs, Dannenberg led the Hornets to a three-set sweep of Niskayuna in the November 16 Class AA regional final to secure the program’s first-ever state final four trip.
JKS Roofing High Achiever: Ellie Roberts, South Jefferson girls cross country. Just an eighth-grader, Roberts finished ninth among individuals and led the Spartans to a third-place team performance in the November 16 state Class C championships at Queensbury.
Little York Plantation Play of the Week: Sophia Vitullo, New Hartford girls soccer, scoring midway through the second half to help the Spartans complete a 2-1, come-from-behind victory over defending champion Rye int he November 16 state Class A semifinal.
M. Lemp Jewelers Rewarding Effort: Cassi Adams, Clinton field hockey. Adams kept the Comets close in its 1-0 defeat to Rondout Valley in the November 16 state Class C semifinal at Arlington, stopping six of Rondout Valley’s seven shots on the afternoon.
Mooney Marketing Group/Bristol 7 Enterprises Major Performance: Memphis Ferguson, Whitesboro football. As Whitesboro defeated Corcoran 35-20 in the November 14 Section III Class A final Ferguson ran for 133 yards on 20 carries while also leading the defensive unit earning 11 tackles.
North Syracuse Lawn and Snow Notable Effort: Brooke Chiaramonte, Jordan-Elbridge girls volleyball. Chiaramonte pulled off a double-double of 10 assists and 11 digs as the Eagles battled hard in a four-set defeat to Tioga in the Class C regional final on November 16.
Nye Automotive Mark of Excellence: Cam Thomas, General Brown football. It was Thomas pacing the Lions with 111 yards on 20 carriers, all of which helped lead the Lions past Bishop Ludden/SAS 19-6 in the November 15 Section III Class C final at the JMA Dome.
O’Hara Electric Electrifying Play: Hamilton boys soccer defeating Naples 3-2 in double overtime in the state Class D semifinal November 15 at Middletown on the way to the state championship as Gavin Hames scored the game-winner and then had a hat trick against Stillwater in the state final a day later.
110 Grill Award of Excellence: Trevor Borst, Dolgeville football. The Blue Devils’ 49-8 romp over Mount Markham in the Section III Class D final November 15 at the JMA Dome could be tied directly to Borst, who gained 270 yards on 21 carries and netted a trio of touchdowns.
Onondaga Flooring Outstanding Achievement: Even though the Cincinnatus girls soccer team lost in the state Class C semifinals 2-1 to Stillwater November 16 it still accomplished 44 consecutive matches without a defeat that included the 2023 state Class D championship.
Purcell Paints Prime Performer: Taylor Page, Liverpool girls cross country. Already a Section III champion on the team side, Page added a 15th-place finish in the November 16 state Class A championships at Queensbury, helping Liverpool to take third in the team portion.
Syracuse Orthopedic Specialists Student-Athlete: Eric Holstein, Westhill boys soccer. The reason the Warriors were able to get past East Aurora 3-1 in the November 16 state Class B semifinal at Middleton was Holstein scoring thre times, two of them in the second half to break a 1-1 tie.
University Sports Shop/Manny’s Major Moment: Trevor Shawcross, Indian River football, intercepting John Vitullo’s pass in overtime to clinch the Wolves’ 34-26 victory over New Hartford in the November 15 Section III Class B championship game at the JMA Dome.
Wilkins RV Winning Player: Nevin Cosbey, Jamesville-DeWitt boys volleyball. Cosbey tied his season-best mark with seven kills, stepping up in a big way to lead the Red Rams to a three-set sweep of Eastchester in the November 16 regional Division II final.
