FROM PRESS ROW: MCNUTT, MALONEY AND FEDOR NAMED ATHLETES OF THE WEEK; BREAKOUT STARS, UNSUNG HEROES OF THE WEEK NAMED (2021-12-13)

As the winter sports seasons just get going, there have already been some huge performances.

There have been state qualifying times in swimming, 20-plus point basketball games, and big wins on the wrestling mats.

It’s time to name the first athletes of the week, unsung heroes of the week and breakout stars of the week for the winter season.

Look back each week for this column to recognize the winter’s best.

ATHLETES OF THE WEEK
RYAN MCNUTT, CORNING:
So far this season the Corning senior has swam in two meets, with four individual events. And, so far this season he has qualified for states in every individual event he has swam.

He broke a pool record the first meet of the year at Hilton and has been dominant to start the year. So far he has the third fastest 200 free time in the state (1:44.36), the ninth fastest 200 IM time (2:01.35).

McNutt has the fifth fastest 50 free time in the state in 22.12 and the third fastest 100 fly time in the state in 52.94.

All of that and McNutt also had his signing day last week to swim collegiately at Penn State.

MEGAN FEDOR, ELMIRA
Fedor had a huge night to help Elmira win a big game over Maine-Endwell. She had a career-high 26 points and she also added 13 rebounds, six steals, six assists and she blocked four shots.

The inside force for the Express is a big part of the reason Elmira is unbeaten to start the year.

In the previous game, a win over Johnson City, Fedor finished with 20 points for the Express.

She has 52 points in three games this year, averaging more than 17 points a contest.

Maloney has played in three games this year, and she’s scored at least 20 each time.

In the opener against Watkins Glen she put up 25 points. She had 21 against Whitney Point and in her most recent game on Friday the junior scored 27 points in a win over Trumansburg.

In three games this year she has 73 points, averaging over 24 points a contest.

The Crusaders have won all three of their games to start the season.

UNSUNG HEROES OF THE WEEK
JUSTIN MATTISON, HORSEHEADS:
The Blue Raiders bowler has had a strong start to the season for the Blue Raiders, but he came up biggest in a close match against Vestal.

The Blue Raiders edged Vestal 3-2, winning the overall two points by 61 pins, 2,871 to 2,810. Vestal won the second and third games, but Horseheads won the first game with a total of 1,027 and Mattison was a big part of the reason why, shooting a 279 in the game.

Mattison finished with a 279-226-224-729 series to help lead the Blue Raiders to the victory.

Mattison also had a 602 fries with a high game of 227 against Binghamton.

PAYTON LITTLEFIELD, EDISON:
The Spartans have started the year 1-2 after facing two of the best teams in the IAC in Waverly and Newark Valley. In losses it can be hard to grab headlines, but Littlefield has been a constant for the Spartans this year.

She had 19 points in a season-opening victory over Newfield and she added 14 points in the loss to Newark Valley.

In the game at Waverly she had 17 points to lead the Spartans.

Three games, three games in double figures, leading the team in scoring each time. She has scored 50 points this season in those three games, averaging over 16 points a contest.
 
BREAKOUT STARS OF THE WEEK
ISAIAH HENDERSON, CORNING:
Henderson’s first varsity game for the Hawks couldn’t have been any more impressive.

The sophomore had a game-high 26 points and he added five rebounds as the Hawks beat Binghamton 83-75 to kick off the season.

Henderson looked good in the preseason to earn a starting spot, and now he has the biggest individual scoring performance of any boys’ player in the area so far this season.

MCKENNA KEOUGH, NOTRE DAME:
The Crusaders freshman had a pair of wins and a second-place finish during an indoor track and field meet at Houghton College.

She won the 55 meters in 7.78 meters. In the 55 hurdles Keough won in 9.60 and she was second in the long jump at 16-feet, 4-inches.