FROM PRESS ROW: JOHNSTON, JONES, LANDOLF NAMED ATHLETES OF THE WEEK, UNSUNG HEROES, BREAKOUT STARS, SIX TO WATCH NAMED (2022-02-17)

The later into the winter sports we go, the bigger the moments, and the bigger the performances by area athletes.

There were some big moments this week for area athletes.

As we look at the athletes of the week, unsung heroes, breakout stars and six to watch we keep in mind that athletes are only eligible to be chosen once in the regular season, and then again in the postseason.

Because of that Edison’s Payton Littlefield, who already was named this season, wasn’t eligible for athlete of the week after her 33-point game, while Gannon Johnston, who was chosen in the regular season, is eligible again each week of the postseason.

ATHLETES OF THE WEEK
GANNON JOHNSTON, HORSEHEADS, WRESTLING:
It’s hard to be more dominant than Johnston was at the Section 4 wrestling championships.

The Horseheads senior had a pair of first-period pins on his way to capturing the 285-pound sectional title.

It is Johnston’s first sectional title, and he qualified for states for the first time.

XAVIER JONES, ELMIRA, BOYS’ BASKETBALL:
It’s a co-athlete of the week honor this week, as Jones performance against Johnson City was impossible to miss.

Jones had a career-high 25 points for the Express as they picked up an overtime win. He added five three-pointers in the win.

That all came after Jones had nine points against Corning as the Express picked up a win over state-ranked and unbeaten at the time Corning.

EMILY LANDOLF, CORNING, GIRLS’ WRESTLING:
The Corning senior made history at the Section 4 Wrestling Championships.

Competing in the first-ever girls division at sectionals, Landolf captured the sectional title.

Landolf, who will wrestle in college, was dominant in her two matches, pinning her way to the championship.

UNSUNG HEROES
EVA KORATSIS, HORSEHEADS, GIRLS’ BASKETBALL:
Came off the bench had had a big performance for Horseheads in a game against Binghamton.

Koratsis had 11 points between the second and third quarters for the Blue Raiders in the STAC matchup.

RYLAN BREWER, NOTRE DAME, BOYS' BASKETBALL:
Came off the bench and had a big game for the Crusaders in a win over Newark Valley.

Brewer scored 11 points for Notre Dame in the victory as they wrapped up the regular season.

BREAKOUT STARS
CAEL OWEN, HORSEHEADS, WRESTLING:
The junior had a smile that you could see from the top of the rafters as the captured his first sectional title at the Section 4 Championships.

Owen, who reached the final as a freshman and was pinned in the final, earned his first trip to states by getting a pin in this year’s final.

TEAGAN WALSH, CORNING ALPINE SKIING:
The Corning eighth-grader earned her first sectional title in alpine skiing.

Walsh brought home the sectional crown in the slalom and qualified for the state meet.

SIX TO WATCH
CAMDEN MCCONNELL, CORNING, WRESTLING:
Earned his first sectional title at the Section 4 Wrestling Championships.

McConnell got a pin in the final to qualify for states for the first time.

TYLER KEEFE, ELMIRA, WRESTLING:
The Elmira senior avenged to regular season losses, by getting a win in the sectional final for his first sectional title.

Keefe qualified for states for the first time.

MIKEY MIDDAUGH, ELMIRA, BOYS’ BASKETBALL:
Played a key role for the Express in a huge win over Corning.

He had a team-high 13 points, going 7-for-10 from the line as Elmira picked up a win over state-ranked, and unbeaten at the time Corning.

Middaugh hit three huge free throws when the lead was down to five, and Elmira never relinquished the lead in the win.

SETH MYLES, ELMIRA, BOYS’ BASKETBALL:
Had a big night as the Express picked up the big win over Corning.

Myles had 12 points in the win, scoring nine in the second half of the victory.

AMARIONAH DIXON, ELMIRA, GIRLS’ BASKETBALL:
Had 11 rebounds for the Express as they picked up a win over Corning to capture the STAC West division title, and go unbeaten in division play.

Dixon has been a key player off the bench for the Express this season.

CHARLEE STROMAN, EDISON, GIRLS’ BASKETBALL:
Since she came up from the JV ranks Stroman has played a key role for the Spartans.

She had five points against Waverly, which was her career high at the time, and followed that up with a new career high of seven against Candor.