APEX Ace Award: Alana Bates, Jamesville-DeWitt girls volleyball. Bates served up eight aces to go with her 14 digs as the Red Rams survived a five-set battle with Fulton in the November 5 Section III Class A semifinal on the way to a third consecutive sectional title.
Atlas Fence All-Star: Kardiear Shepherd, Cicero-North Syracuse football. Recruited by Syracuse University, Shepherd led a dominant offensive line that produced nearly 400 yards on the ground in the Northstars’ 35-13 win over Liverpool in the November 8 Section III Class AA semifinal.
Byrne Dairy Prime Performer: Ryan Rauber, Tully boys soccer. With four goals all earned in the first half, Rauber helped the Black Knights rout Fabius-Pompey 5-0 on November 5 and win the Section III Class C championship avenging its 2023 title-game defeat to those same Falcons.
Energy Savers Defensive Standout: Alice Bender, Westhill girls volleyball. Bender passed 1,000 career digs and recorded 20 digs overall which helped the Warriors defeat Marcellus in three sets to earn another Section III Class B championship on November 8 at Phoenix.
Holbrook Heating and Air Conditioning Outstanding Athlete: Fiona McMahon, Rome Free Academy field hockey. McMahon scored both goals helping the Black Knights rally past Orchard Park 2-1 in the Class A regional playoffs on the way to a state final four appearance.
The Image Press Icon: Greta Kuhl, Beaver River girls cross country. Kuhl’s top-10 finish in a time of 20:08.4 helped the Beavers battle its way to the team title in the November 9 Section III Class D championships at Mount Markham High School.
JKS Roofing High Achiever: Ariana Matthews, Skaneateles girls swimming. With her wins in the 200 and 500 freestyle in the November 8 Section III state qualifying meet Matthews was named the meet’s Outstanding Swimmer after she helped the Lakers to another sectional Class C title two days earlier.
Little York Plantation Play of the Week: Gavin Warner, South Jefferson football. Warner scored all five touchdowns in the second and third quarters on his way to 207 yards as the Spartans earned the Section III Class B-2 championship November 7 defeating South Jefferson 49-22.
M. Lemp Jewelers Rewarding Effort: Delaney Petrie, Copenhagen girls soccer. Petrie’s second-half goal was the difference-maker for the Gold Knights who defeated South Kortright 1-0 November 9 for the Class D regional championship and a state final four berth.
Mooney Marketing Group/Bristol 7 Enterprises Major Performance: Danny Casatelli, Remsen boys cross country. Not only did Casatelli win the individual Section III Class D championship at Mount Markham going 15:47.7, he helped the Rams edge South Lewis by one point, 48-49, for the team title.
North Syracuse Lawn and Snow Notable Effort: Gavin Hames, Hamilton boys soccer. Hames’ pair of goals keyed the Emerald Knights’ 3-2 win over Faith Heritage November 5 for the Section III Class D championship and he added a goal in the regional final as Hamilton beat South Kortright 4-0.
Nye Automotive Mark of Excellence: Gabriella Gemelli, Clinton field hockey. Gemelli’s fourth-quarter goal completed a Comets comeback to beat Akron 2-1 in the first round of the Class C regional playoffs, Clinton going on to beat East Rochester 7-0 and earn a state final four berth.
O’Hara Electric Electrifying Play: X’Zavion Streiff, Bishop Ludden/SAS football, throwing a 70-yard touchdown pass to J’Shon Goolsby that helped to clinch the Gaelic Knights’ 48-6 win over Cazenovia in the November 9 Section III Class C semifinal.
110 Grill Award of Excellence: Nathan Geroux, Vernon-Verona-Sherrill boys cross country. Crossing the finish line in 15 minutes 53.4 seconds, Geroux claimed the individual title in the November 9 Section III Class B championships at Mount Markham High School.
Onondaga Flooring Outstanding Achievement: Charlie Schroder, Fayetteville-Manlius boys volleyball. The Hornets avenged two regular-season losses to Liverpool and won the Section III Division I championship November 9 led by Schroder’s front-line work that included 23 kills, two blocks, six digs and three assists.
Purcell Paints Prime Performer: Tenly Baker, Marcellus girls soccer. Baker’s 10 saves, including a big one late in the first overtime period, allowed the Mustangs to eventually defeat Mechanicville 1-0 on November 9 and earn the Class B regional championship.
Syracuse Orthopedic Specialists Student-Athlete: Emily Kane, Cooperstown girls swimming. Kane won the 200 individual medley and 100 breaststroke in both the Section III Class C championships on November 6 at Nottingham and the sectional state qualifier two days later.
University Sports Shop/Manny’s Major Moment: Rose Piorkowski, Liverpool girls cross country, finishing 18th in the Section III Class A championship race November 9 at Mount Markham which allowed the Warriors to edge Auburn by one point, 49-50, for the sectional team title.
Upstate Urology Upstart: Sydney Parsons, Jordan-Elbridge girls volleyball. The Eagles rallied from two sets down to beat Weedsport in five sets for its first-ever Section III Class C championship November 9 at Phoenix as Parsons paced the front line with 16 kills, adding four aces.
Wilkins RV Winning Player: Ariel Raymond, Indian River football. With 14 carries for 181 yards and two touchdowns, Raymond helped power the Wolves past Carthage 60-0 in the November 8 Section III Class B semifinals.
