Life lessons for better golf… Caz lacrosse combines with Chittenango for 2023

By Phil BlACkwEll

Anew and potentially exciting era for Cazenovia High School boys lacrosse began with unqualified success.

It was decided, prior to the 2023 season, that Cazenovia would combine its program with the one next door in Chittenango, along with other neighboring schools such as Oneida and Vernon-Verona-Sherrill.

Once assembled, the Lakers would move from Class D, where it reached the Section III finals a year ago before falling to LaFayette, to Class C, joining a lineup that includes Westhill, Jamesville-DeWitt, Carthage, New Hartford and Homer.

For its season opener last Thursday night, Cazenovia faced Cortland and, patient in the early going, showed its best stuff in the latter stages of a 15-5 victory over the Purple Tigers.

Though not spectacular in the first three quarters, the Lakers still built an 8-2 margin anchored by its defense as goalie Tucker Ives would finish with six saves.

Then Cazenovia scored seven times in the final period led by one of those new players from Chittenango, Brendon Barnard, who finished with five goals and one assist.

Forrest Ives piled up five assists to go with his pair of goals and picked up 14 ground balls. D.B. Falge scored twice and got three assists, with Tom Navin also getting two goals.

Of the 22 face-offs he took, Bryson Weaver won 17 of them. Alex Kuper, Ben Bianco, Basil Sayre and Bobby Livingston each had one goal as Kuper and Navin got single assists.

History

l From page 4 the school district year-round. Sponsored by Cazenovia Young People’s Ice Education Assn., formerly Cazenovia Youth Hockey Assn., the structure to be built on four acres of land donated by Robert Riedl on Burton Street, will house not only an ice rink, but tennis courts, volleyball and basketball and other sports. The cost of the center is estimated at $200,000 to be raised through taxdeductible contributions from community residents.

20 years Ago – April 2, 2003

Through an enrichment program developed and presented by Pat Hill and Julia Smith, Burton Street second grade and multi-age classes participated in hands-on history lessons at the Cazenovia Public Library. The program consisted of four lessons bringing library museum artifacts directly in the classrooms. Children explored pre- and post-contact Iroquois culture, the founding of the library and museum and early Cazenovia history. The program culminated with a field trip to the library and museum where students reviewed previous lessons, observed a spinning demonstration by local spinner Joan Horton, participated in a craft project, played a “find the artifact” game and learned specifics about the mummy and other special museum treasures.

The season’s first big test came on Saturday at Christakos Field against Marcellus, who had opened with an impressive 12-1 win over Auburn.

And the Lakers would find out, quickly, that the Mustangs were still in top form, falling by an 18-6 margin. Marcellus steadily built a 9-3 lead by halftime, then added eight goals in the third quarter to settle it.

Falge got three goals and Forrest Ives two goals, with Kuper netting the other goal. Chris Doshna (six goals, one assists) and Nick Rayfield (four goals, three assists) paced Marcellus.

The girls lacrosse programs at Cazenovia and Chittenango remain separate, with the Lakers quite impressive in last Saturday’s season opener, a 19-5 romp over Homer.

Between her 12 draw controls and four goals, Charlie Prior led a Cazenovia attack that saw Riley Knapp score five times and Madison DeAngelis step up with three goals and three assists.

Katie Rajkowski put in a pair of goals, with Julia Reff and Maren Smith each earning one goal and two assists. Sally Hughes had one goal and one assist as Izzy Stromer-Galley and Hayden Bubble also converted.

Two days earlier, Chittenango opened its season an 11-7 defeat to Jordan-Elbridge.

Tomi Newkirk, Brooke Walters and Cailtyn Sgambellone each scored twice for the Bears, Newkirk gaining two assists as Cara Kielbasa had the other goal. Abby Penfield made eight saves, but J-E had Kelsey Brunelle lead the way, nearly matchin the Bears by herself by netting six goals.

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As I was browsing YouTube for a few words of wisdom for this column, I stumbled upon the following sayings from an unknown author that made me think about how I could take advantage of the knowledge and experience the author was sharing with us when he wrote…”Life Lessons For A Better Life”.

As you know, I o en write about life and golf and the special relationship avid golfers have with a game we can literally play for as long as we have the desire to do so. I decided to take the liberty of applying my personal thoughts to what the unknown author had to say that might make sense to those of us who have had to endure the process of learning how to establish our own unique relationship with golf. And, for those of you who don’t play golf, do not underestimate the wisdom in what the author has to say about your relationship with life. e word’s “Life” and “Golf” are synonymous throughout this article and therefore, the thoughts are interchangeable. Admittedly, this article is more about “Life” than “Golf” but as golfers, it is important that we learn as much about ourselves as possible in order to accept who we are and why it is critical for us to, as the author says, “Learn To Be Alone”.

e Unknown Author, with contributions from yours truly…

* It is always the ones who know the least about our golf game who judge us the most.

* Don’t compare yourself with any other golfer. If you do, you are insulting yourself.

* Play every round of golf as if it were going to be your last….one day you are sure to be right.

* A real golf friend is one who “walksin”, when the rest of them, “walk-out”.

* One of the greatest mental freedoms is truly not caring what anyone else thinks about your game. ank you “unknown author”. I am trying to pick my favorite. How about you? Which one strikes that mental cord we look for in every golf article we read that has the potential to save us a few strokes during our next round of golf?

* I would rather be alone with dignity than in a relationship that requires me to sacri ce my self-respect.

* Do things for other golfers not because of who they are or what they do in return, but because of who you are.

* Prayer without faith is not answered.

* Learn to be alone because not everyone will stay.

* No one knows how you treat yourself, but it is the most important relationship you have.

* Rejection is a common occurrence. Learning that early and o en in your golf career will help build up the tolerance and resistance to keep going and keep trying.

All “11” are wonderful thoughts and lessons about “life” and “golf”. I believe the longer we live, the more we will appreciate every one of them.

I have made my decision…my favorite is:

PLAY EVERY ROUND OF GOLF AS IF IT WERE GOING TO BE YOUR LAST…ONE DAY YOU ARE SURE TO BE RIGHT.

What’s your favorite?