SOUTHERN TIER SPORTS REPORT: CORNING'S FARRELL HEADLINES NIFTY NINE GIRLS' ATHLETES OF THE WINTER SEASON (2024-03-24)

By Brian Fees
Southern Tier Sports Report
With the winter season in the books it is time to recognize the top girls athletes of the season.

It’s the All-Southern Tier Sports Report Nifty Nine gores athletes of the winter season.

We will list the first athletes in no particular order, and then we will do the second runner-up, the runner-up and the female athlete of the winter season.

This year's female athlete of the winter season is Corning state champion Taylor Farrell.

Teagan Walsh, Corning, skiing
A state qualifier in both of her events and a Sectional champion this season. Won the slalom sectional title and was second in the giant slalom. Was unable to compete at states due to an injury.

Payton Littlefield, Edison, girls’ basketball
* Averaged nearly 25 points a game, while being the focus of opposing defenses. Hit 90 threes this year and finished her career with a school record 1,725 points. Also averaged 6.6 rebounds and 3.7 assists a game. Scored 523 points this season.

Chloe Owen, Horseheads, wrestling
* 16-3 record. 2nd at STAC championships. State qualifier. 2-2 at states. Second at Penfield Tourney. Injury prevented her wrestling at sectionals.

Alivia Augustine, Lexi Ostrander, Alivia Augustine, Horseheads, cheerleading
* The three seniors helped the Horseheads cheer team to the best state finish in school history. The three were key members of the Blue Raiders team as they finished third at the state championships. They also were Section 4 champions.

Madison Smith, Elmira, bowling
* Averaged 195 on the season for the Express, tops in the STAC. Was a state qualifier for Elmira.

Mariah Matias, Elmira, girls’ basketball
* Had 18 double-doubles this year in 21 games. Established school records for rebounds in a game, with 28, and for a season, with 301. She averaged 16 points and 14.3 rebounds a game. Also averaged 3.1 steals and 1.2 blocks a game. Was the winter newcomer of the season for the girls.

SECOND RUNNER-UP: Sophia Bonnell, Horseheads, girls’ basketball
* Averaged 16.5 points, 5.5 assists and five rebounds a game. Had a 2-1 assist to turnover ratio and averaged two steals a game, shooting 41% from three. Had 73 threes this year, second in school history, and 179 career threes, second in school history. The driving force for only the second team in Horseheads history to win STAC and Section IV titles. Helped Horseheads have a 16-game win streak, second longest in coach Andy Scott’s 26 years with the program. Three of the five losses for Horseheads this year were to state finalists.

RUNNER-UP: Sarah Lawson, Corning, track
A state medalist in both the 3000 meters and 1500 meters. Took fourth in the 3000 in 9:42.24. Took fifth in the 1600 meters in a personal best of 4:37.15. Became an All-American with a third-place finish in the 5000 at nationals in 16:55.83. It was a new personal best and a Corning indoor school record.

ATHLETE OF THE WINTER: Taylor Farrell, Corning, track
* Won the New York State title, and federation title, in the race walk at 6:40.09, a school and Section IV record. 12th fastest time by a high school athlete in U.S. history. Also won the New Balance Nationals title with a time of 7:05.14, a new meet record for New Balance Nationals.