SOUTHERN TIER SPORTS REPORT: COLE HEADLINES TERRIFIC 10 MALE ATHLETES OF THE WINTER SEASON (2023-03-25)

By Brian Fees
Southern Tier Sports Report
Two individual state champions; an athlete helping a team win a team state title; two athletes earning All-American honors; a state runner-up; state medalists and sectional championships make for one magical winter sports season for area boys.

This year’s list of top male athletes includes a number of athletes who would be male athlete of the year in any other year.

The top three combined for five state medals, two state titles, a silver medal at states and two all-American honors.

Here is a Terrific Ten list of the best all-Southern Tier Sports Report male athletes of the winter season. The first seven athletes will be listed in no particular order, and then we will count down the second runner-up, runner-up and male athlete of the winter season.

CHRIS WOODARD, ELMIRA, BOYS’ BASKETBALL:
Woodard was a dominant force in the paint for the Express this year, averaging a double-double. He put up 16.1 points a game and 10 rebounds a contest. He added two assists, two deflections and two steals per game.

He had some of his biggest games down the stretch as Elmira finished the season 8-2 to make sectionals, and then went on and won the sectional titles.

In early February he had a 25 point, 10 board double-double against Binghamton and then 19 points, 13 rebounds and six assists in the game that clinched a sectional spot for the Express.

He had a 28 points, 13 rebound game against Pennsylvania power Bishop McDevitt in the Josh Palmer Fund Holiday Classic.

He had 18 in the sectional semifinal win over Ithaca and 19 in the sectional final win over Corning.

JOSEPH ENDERLE, CORNING, BOWLING:
Enderle led Section 4 with a 224 average on the season. However, he just missed making states at the state qualifier

CAMRYN KENNEDY, CORNING, BOWLING:
Kennedy, who averaged 215 on the year, went to states and finished fifth at the state meet. Kennedy shot a 6-game score of 1,341.

GABE CORNFIELD, CORNING, T&F:
Earned a pair of state medals at the indoor track and field championships.

Finished fifth int he public school in the 1000 meters in 2:33.51, the seventh best time int he federation field.

Was also part of the 3200 relay that took fifth in the public school and seventh in the federation in 8:03.87.

LOGAN BOOKER, CORNING, BOYS’ BASKETBALL:
He’s a 6-foot post player, who often had to guard other teams power forwards and even centers in the paint. Would often match up with players six inches taller than him and be able to contain them on defense, and then score in the paint, or from the perimeter.

Booker averaged 17 points and 8.4 rebounds a game, along with 2.3 steals a game, he shot 60% from the floor on the season.

BRENDEN JARDIN-REED, CORNING:
Jardin-Reed ended the season with the third best six-dive score in the state (325.00) and sixth best 11-dive score (538.85). He was a Section IV champion and took 15th in the state meet. He broke the Watkins Glen pool record for 11 dives and the meet record for the Maine-Endwell Invite.

ALEX SMITH, ELMIRA, BOWLING:
Was the leading bowler for the Elmira Express as they won the state team title.

He averaged 207.90 this year. He was runner-up in the team portion at states individually.

Smith shot 1,345 at states, just 40 pins behind the winner. He averaged 224.17 at states, shooting 242, 217, 232, 240, 209 and 205.

SECOND RUNNER-UP:
DONAVAN SMITH, ELMIRA, WRESTLING
Smith was a state runner-up, went 34-2 on the year and won titles at the Larry Goodrich Tournament, the Dave Buck Memorial Tournament, the Oneonta Rotary Tournament, the STAC Championships and the Section IV, Division I Championships.

On Saturday the Express senior clinched All-American honors when he reached the semifinals at High School Wrestling nationals.

RUNNER-UP:
GYASI RUFFIN, CORNING, T&F:
Won a state title in the 600 meters with a personal best time of 1:20.60.

It was the first state title for the Hawks senior. He finished second overall in the Federation race.

MALE ATHLETE OF THE WINTER:
CULLIN COLE, HORSEHEADS, SWIMMING
Cole won the 50 free state title in 20.51 Then in the 200 free relay he swam even faster as the leadoff leg, going 20.44 to earn All-American honors in the 50 as well.

It was the first state title and All-American honor for a Horseheads swimmer since 1986.

Cole also took fourth in the 100 free in the public school and he was also part of a state-medal winning 400 free relay team.

Both the 200 and 400 free relay teams that Cole was a part of broke school records.
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IN TOP PHOTO: Horseheads’ Cullin Cole. . . . PHOTO BY BRIAN FEES