By Brian FeesSouthern Tier Sports Report
This spring included state titles, All-American honors and the type of stats you hardly ever see at any level of sports.
Picking the Super Seven Male Athletes of the Spring was a difficult task, and the athlete of the spring is a familiar name as he was the athlete of the fall, and runner-up for athlete of the winter season.
We will name the first four athletes, in no particular order, and then list the second runner-up, runner-up and male athlete of the spring.
GRANT CROSSLEY, ND, LACROSSE
Grant Crossley led the section in save percentage at 72% and he had 243 saves this year. For his career he had 1,081 saves, ranking 10th in the country all time and seventh in New York State. He was a U.S. Lacrosse All-American, a three-time captain and a four-time first-team all-star.
Crossley was not only the All-STSR boys’ lacrosse goalie of the year, but also the defensive player of the year.
MATT PRINTUP, HORSEHEADS, GOLF
An injury cut short Matt Printup’s Fall, but the Blue Raiders senior came back in the Spring and finished his year in style, tying for 29th at the state championships.
A torn labrum caused Printup to miss the end of the regular season, as well as the STAC meet and class sectional in the Fall. At the time of his injury Printup was leading all area golfers in scoring average.
With the state qualifier and states in the Spring, Printup returned just in time to place in the top nine at the state qualifier and get to states, and then he shot a pair of rounds in the 80s to bring home a top 30 finish in the state.
Printup was STAC all-conference this year with a stroke average of 39 on the season. He was the all-STSR boys’ golfer of the year.
ASHTON BANGE, CORNING, T&F
State medalist in the 1600 meters, taking sixth in D1 and 7th in Federation in 4:14.78. Federation champion in the 4x800 relay in 7:49.70. Ran a 1:56.89 leg of the 800 in the 4x800 relay.
Was the all-STSR outdoor track athlete of the year.
LANDEN BURCH, CORNING, BASEBALL
Corning’s Landen Burch was the All-STSR baseball offensive player of the year. Burch hit .417 with 28 RBI on the year, with nine doubles and four home runs, striking out just five times all season, while walking 11 times.
Along with his hitting Burch, an Old Dominion recruit, had a .86 ERA on the mound with a 4-0 mark and 48 strikeouts in 24 innings.
SECOND RUNNER-UP
Ethan Hart, Corning
Corning’s Ethan Hart scored 54 goals and added 15 assists. He was a first-team all-league pick and he was a U.S. Lacrosse All-American and he was this year’s All-STSR Boys’ Lacrosse Player of the Year.
Hart also was the all-STSR offensive player of the year after the 54 goal season for the Hawks this year.
RUNNER-UP
OWEN STEWART, ND, BASEBALL
The George Mason committee threw four no-hitters this year and had a year no one in the area has ever seen before and he was this year’s All-Southern Tier Sports Report Player and Pitcher of the Year.
Stewart was 7-0 on the year, with a .12 ERA, with four no-hitters and 134 strikeouts in just 59 1/3 innings.
At the plate Stewart hit .426 with 26 hits, four doubles, two triples a home run and 12 RBI on the season.
MALE ATHLETE OF THE SPRING
JACK GREGORSKI, CORNING, T&F
Gregorski was the overall track and field all-STSR athlete of the year. He was the NYSPHSAA champion in the 3200 with a new Section 4 record of 8:53.92.
Gregorski anchored the Hawks’ 4x800 relay that won the Federation title in 7:49.70. Gregorski ran a 1:55.48 leg as the anchor in the relay.
Gregorski also set a school record in winning the state qualifiers in the 1600 with a time of 4:12.80.
In the 5000 meters Gregorski finished third in the nation with a school and Section 4 record.
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IN PHOTO: Corning’s Jack Gregorski. . . STSR FILE PHOTO.
