AFLAC Amazing Athlete: Tawakal Omar, Corcoran boys indoor track and field. During the February 6 Section III Class A championships at SRC Arena, Omar managed victories in both the 55-meter dash and 55-meter hurdles.
Atlas Fence All-Star: Shayla Benedict, LaFayette girls basketball. Benedict put together 13 points, five rebounds, five steals and four assists, all of them important as the Lancers upended rival Tully 47-34 on February 8.
Attilios Ace Award: Ella McKay, Oneida girls volleyball. With her combined 57 assists, McKay helped the Express defeat General Brown and top seed Canastota in five-set battles during the opening rounds of the Section III Class B playoffs.
Byrne Dairy Prime Performer: Austin Griner, Sackets Harbor boys basketball. The state Class D no. 1-ranked Patriots defeated LaFargeville 68-50 on February 6 as Griner amassed 26 points, 12 rebounds, five assists and three steals.
CNY Sealing and Paving Defensive Standout: Elyza Smith, LaFargeville girls basketball. Smith led the Red Knights past Sackets Harbor 30-22 in the February 10 Frontier League D final by grabbing 13 rebounds and limiting the Patriots to seven or fewer points in every single quarter.
Ethan Allen Award of Excellence: Arianna Piazza, New York Mills girls indoor track and field. Wins in the 600 and 1,000-meter runs by Piazza helped the Marauders win the Section III Class D championship February 8 at SRC Arena.
Holbrook Heating and Air Conditioning Outstanding Athlete: Ryley Monica, South Jefferson wrestling. Monica was named Most Outstanding Wrestler as he made his way to the 145-pound championship during the February 3 Section III Class B championships at Homer.
The Image Press Icon: Aiden Soika, Clinton ice hockey. Soika, with his two goals and one assist, led a well-balanced Comets attack as it roared past Auburn 7-1 on February 6 at Clinton Arena.
M. Lemp Jewelers Rewarding Effort: Carter Impson, Cato-Meridian boys basketball. The Blue Devils upended Weedsport 66-49 on February 9 with Impson in a central role thanks to his 24 points and eight rebounds.
Mooney Marketing Group/Bristol 7 Enterprises Major Performance: Tristan Bey, Syracuse ITC boys track and field. During the February 7 Section III Class B-1 championships at SRC Arena, Bey was victorious in the 55-meter dash and triple jump.
North Syracuse Lawn and Snow Notable Effort: Izzy Burton, Fabius-Pompey girls volleyball. Burton combined 18 kills with 19 digs and it helped the Falcons edge Sandy Creek in five sets in the February 9 Section III Class D quarterfinals.
Nye Automotive Mark of Excellence: Nick Giuliano, Sauquoit Valley boys volleyball. Earning seven aces and eight assists, Guiliano helped Sauquoit stay undefeated on February 8 with a three-set sweep over Westmoreland.
Purcell Paints Prime Performer: Rhiley Montoya, Cazenovia ice hockey. With a three-goal hat trick, Montoya led the Lakers as it went on the road and defeated state-ranked Rome Free Academy 6-3 on February 6 at Kennedy Arena.
Syracuse Orthopedic Specialists Student-Athlete: Alex Sylstra, Chittenango girls volleyball. The Bears swept Vernon-Verona-Sherrill in three sets in the February 9 Section III Class B quarterfinal as Sylstra had 14 assists and 12 digs.
University Sports Shop/Manny’s Major Moment: Cora Major, Skaneateles girls ice hockey, converting a short-handed goal in the third period that clinched the Lakers’ 4-2 victory over Oswego February 7 that secured the Section III championship.
Upstate Urology Upstart: Kennedy Jones, Cicero-North Syracuse girls indoor track and field. Just an eighth-grader, Jones won the 1,000-meter run during the Northstars’ team victory in the February 6 Section III Class AA championsihps at SRC Arena.
U.S. Army Athlete of the Week: Chris Belmonte, New Hartford wrestling. At 41-3 this season, Belmonte was the 285-pound champion and Most Outstanding Wrestler during the February 3 Section III Class AA championships at Jamesville-DeWitt.
Wilkins RV Winning Player: Nolan Brunelle, Jordan-Elbridge boys basketball. Brunelle surpassed 1,000 career points on February 7 during the Eagles’ 58-38 victory over Mater Dei Academy – and he’s just a sophomore.
