FROM PRESS ROW: STSR EXCITED FOR SECOND YEAR OF HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS COVERAGE AFTER A FUN FIRST YEAR (2022-09-05)
As volleyball and the remainder of the football teams kick off this week, year two of the Southern Tier Sports Report is fully underway.
It’s hard to believe that it was just a year ago that the site was launched, because so much has happened in the past year.
There were STAC titles, sectional crowns and state champions.
But, more than that, it’s been such an honor to get a chance to meet all the amazing athletes and coaches in the area and tell the stories of their successes.
Last year was a crazy one for me. I got married, we moved into our first home, and I started this new job all within one month time.
It was such a crazy time for me, but all the people in the area made things so much easier with their helpfulness. I can honestly say the coaches around here are not only top notch coaches, they are amazing people that make my job so easy.
The athletes around here are not only as talented as you’ll find in the state, they are also amazing kids that are so easy to deal with.
And, a special shoutout has to go to the athletic directors, and administrations at the schools. I’ve never had things easier in terms of dealing with schools. The athletic directors are all among the best in the business, and the schools have all been welcoming and helpful from day one.
I also have to make sure I give a huge amount of thanks and gratitude to the parents, families and community. Not only have people gone on the site and looked at the pictures and read the stories, but people have been so kind sharing stories, and submitting photos, and sending in information. You truly all have made my job easier.
And, of course I save one of the most important thank you’s for last. None of this would be possible without the amazing sponsors that our website has. The site has been lucky to have such amazing businesses sponsor the site.
The amazing current sponsors include Williams Auto Group and Simmons-Rockwell, Gannon Associates, Guthrie, First Heritage, Dandy, Cayuga Health and Coldiron, Watkins Glen International, Fagan Engineers, Owen Insurance Agency LLC, Rainbow Lettering, Sutryk & Son, Naglee Moving & Storage, Gerould's HealthCare Center, Rye Bar & Restaurant, Corning Credit Union, Best Buy, Wineglass Race Series, Knolles Real Estate, Foot & Ankle Specialists of the Twin Tiers, Traeling Portraits, CVS, The Dunn Group, GHC (Gough Holding Corporation), Chemung Supply.
The sponsors are such a key part to the site’s success, and are owed so much thanks. If anyone ever wants to consider advertising please reach out anytime.
It’s definitely been different the past year. This area has such high quality sports, but it also has so many sports.
It’s amazing how many sports teams are in this area, but it’s also amazing how competitive each and every one of them are.
In one year’s time I had more memorable moments covering sports than most sports writers get in a lifetime.
Just a few moments that will always stand out.
* In a 24 hour period in the winter the Corning Hawks won 3 state titles (one in swimming, two in indoor track and field), and added a pair of basketball sectional titles, quickly becoming the City of Champions.
* Jack Gregorski of Corning had a season that may never be matched. 2 individual state championships in track and field, a cross country state championship, a relay state championship in track and field, and helping to lead the Hawks team to a state cross country title. Overall, five state titles in one year.
* The Corning boys’ cross country team won a state title, while the Hawks had two top five individual finishers in the state, and three state medalists, including state champion Jack Gregorski.
* The Notre Dame girls’ soccer team made it to the state Final Four. On the same day they won an overall IAC title and a sectional title on the path to the magical year.
* The Corning girls’ basketball team made a magical run to a sectional title, then took regionals to make the state final four.
* Culllin Cole of Horseheads went to states in four events. When the meet was over he was coming home with an amazing four state medals.
* The Horseheads volleyball team not only won a sectional title, they also won their subregional game, returning home to a firetruck escort and a heroes welcome.
* Horseheads turned the spring season into their own personal success story as the Horseheads baseball and softball teams each won sectional titles.
* The Edison basketball team won a sectional game for the first time in two decades.
* The Corning boys’ golf team captured the school’s first ever STAC title.
* Mike Johnston Jr. had one heck of a coaching year as he led the Hawks football and boys’ basketball teams to sectional titles and helped guide the softball team to a STAC title.
* The Elmira girls soccer team brought home a sectional title, while the Corning boys brought home a sectional title. It was an all Elmira/Corning final day as Elmira’s boys and Corning’s girls were the opponents in the final.
* The Horseheads boys and girls swimming and diving teams each won STAC and sectional team titles.
* There were state medalists, and state qualifiers for days in both indoor and outdoor track and field, including two indoor state champions (Ellie DeRosa (weight throw) and Jack Gregorski (3000) indoors and Gregorski (3200) and the Corning Hawks 4x800 relay (federation title) outdoors).
* Lucia Chen led a 1-2-3 finish for area golfers at the sectional championships, while the Hawks won the team title. Hannah Masaki of Corning and Brooklyn Moffe of Horseheads tied for second behind Chen.
* After missing more than six months with an injury Matt Printup came back in the spring to make states and earn a top 30 finish in the state.
* Area college athletes had a year to remember, highlighted by the amazing run of Lindsey Butler of Corning, who captured a national indoor track and field championship in the 800.
* Two local athletes won team national titles in college, with Corning’s Logan McNaney helping Maryland win a Division I title, and earning NCAA Tournament MVP honors, while Corning’s Seth Grottenthaler helped RIT win a second straight D3 national title.
