SOUTHERN TIER SPORTS REPORT: RIJO HEADLINES ALL-STSR SUPER 7 FEMALE ATHLETES OF THE SPRING (2022-06-20)

By Brian Fees
Southern Tier Sports Report
There is a state player of the year, a state medalist and multiple sectional champions among the Super 7 All-Southern Tier Sports Report Female Athletes of the Year.

A number of the Super Seven are high level college commits and among the best in the state, making for some tough choices on the list.

The first four athletes are chosen in no particular order, and then we do the second runner-up, the runner-up and the athlete of the spring.

ASHLEE VOLPE, CORNING, GIRLS’ LACROSSE
Ashlee Volpe was an All-American pick and a sectional all-star. She’s a Syracuse commit who had a dominant return to the field this year coming back from an injury. She headlines the girls’ lacrosse all-star team as the All-STSR Player of the Year.

SARAH LAWSON, CORNING, T&F
Lawson was the overall track and field all-STSR athlete of the year. She was undefeated in the 3000 meters in the STAC West. She was a state medalist in the 3000, taking sixth in D1 states and seventh in the Federation race with a time of 9:56.99 this year.

Lawson was also part of the 4x800 relay team that qualified for states. She didn’t run the race at states, after running the 3000 the day before, but she was part of the team’s journey to states.

ANA (VICKY) MORDVINOVA, ELMIRA, T&F
While Lawson is the overall athlete of the year for track and field, Elmira’s Ana (Vicky) Mordvinova was the track athlete of the year.

Mordvinova set the Elmira school record in the 800 (2:14.12) and won the 800 at the STAC meet, Class A sectional meet and the state qualifier. She was eighth in D1 at states.

The Elmira standout won the 1500 at the Fast Time Invitational and won the state qualifier and took 13th at states in 4:36.57. She also won the 3000 meters at the Blue Shoes Invite.

JENNA DINARDO, CORNING, GIRLS’ LACROSSE
Volpe’s teammate Jenna DiNardo reached 100 career goals this year as a junior and the Virginia commit is the girls’ lacrosse offensive Player of the Year.

SECOND RUNNER-UP
MAREN LUTZ, EDISON, TENNIS
Lutz headlined the all-STSR boys’ and girls’ tennis all-star teams, earning player of the year honors among all the best boys and girls tennis players in the area.

Lutz had a dominant regular season, going 9-3 in singles while playing in a co-ed league. She then teamed with Abe Johnson to win the Section 4, Class C-D Doubles Championship.

RUNNER-UP
LUCIA CHEN, CORNING, GOLF
Lucia Chen had a top 20 finish in the state this year and she was the girls’ golf All-STSR Player of the Year.

Chen shot a three-under par 68 at the sectional tournament to win sectionals. She posted two straight under-par rounds prior to sectionals as well.

FEMALE ATHLETE OF THE SPRING
ATLYIA RIJO, CORNING, SOFTBALL
Corning’s Atalyia Rijo capped her fantastic career by being named the Gatorade New York Softball Player of the Year and she was the all-STSR softball player of the year.

Rijo hit .585 with seven home runs. She led the area with 43 runs this year and stole 10 bases. Rijo was tied for the area lead with 20 extra base hits, eight doubles, five triples and the seven home runs. She had a .675 on-base and a 1.185 slugging percentage.

Rijo, who has one of the best gloves you’ll ever see at shortstop, was also the defensive player of the year this season.

Rijo is among the top recruits in the nation and she’s committed to play in the SEC at Arkansas.
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IN TOP PHOTO: Corning’s Atalyia Rijo. . . STSR PHOTO.



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