SPOrTS

Cazenovia volleyball goes 2-1 in five-day span

By PHil BlACKWEll

Two straight wins to open the season, along with a tournament appearance at FayettevilleManlius Sept. 10, gave the Cazenovia girls volleyball team plenty of good seasoning.

However, the Lakers could not carry that over into last Monday’s match against LaFayette, taking a four-set defeat to the Lancers.

A close opening set went 25-23 in Cazenovia’s favor. LaFayette won the second set 25-19 and then, in a tense third set, pulled it out 25-23 before getting away 25-12 in the fourth.

Maren Smith, in defeat, had nine kills and 19 digs. Zoe McLean had five kills and 14 digs, with Olivia Prykl getting 11 digs as Mya Skeele put away four kills.

On the back line, Lucy Bliss got 10 assists and 10 digs as Anna Bjork added six assists.

Olivia Prykl (11 digs) and Becca Ziemba (eight digs) helped as the Lancers’ Layla Isaacs had eight aces, 16 kills and 15 digs, with Chylure Bucktooth adding 26 assists and IsabellahShenandoah-Kurtz eight kills.

Two nights later, against Cato-Meridian, the Lakers quickly resumed its winning form.

The team did very well, claiming all the close points in a 25-19, 25-21, 25-22 sweep of the Blue Devils.

Abby Falso, earning four aces, and Bliss, getting three aces to go with eight assists, set the tone.

Smith had five kills, Skeele four kills and McLean and Ashley London each managed to get three kills apiece.

Anna Bjork and Becca Ziemba helped Bliss on the back line, each getting five assists.

Bjork also added five digs.

Meeting Hamilton last Friday night, Cazenovia lost the first set 25-20, but then battled through each of the next three sets to defeat the Emerald Kngihts, taking them 2522, 25-20 and 25-21.

Three more matches take place for the Lakers this week.

The team meets Altmar-Parish-Wiliamstown and Solvay before traveling to Phoenix on Friday.

Cazenovia girls soccer goes 1-1 against league foes

By PHil BlACKWEll

Back from a victory in Mount Markham’s earlyseason tournament, the Cazenovia girls soccer team found itself in a better position to challenge the traditional Class B powers.

This included Westhill, who came to the Sean Goggin Sports Complex last Tuesday night and was able to fend off the Lakers’ late charge to prevail 2-1.

Though it was playing for the third time in four days, Westhill was still able to build a 2-0 advantage thanks to goals by Jules Bleskoski and Hannah Goodness.

Cazenovia didn’t let the game get away, though, its defense consistent and solid. So when Dinah Gifford scored off a feed from Julia Reff with more than five minutes to play, a comeback seemed possible.

Westhill was able to hang on, though, leaving the Lakers still hungry going into Thursday’s game against Phoenix, where it again was close – but Cazenovia was able to beat the Firebirds 3-2. Three different Cazenovia players – Katie Rajkowski, Caitlyn Smithers and Ella Baker – netted goals, with Jane Lee picking up her first assist of the season and Reff adding an assist. Courtney Carter and Brooklyn Olschewske picked up Phoenix’s goals.

Chittenango returned to action last Tuesday, against Holland Patent, and dropped a 3-2 decision to the Golden Knights.

At least the Bears got on the board in that game, unlike on Friday, when it lost 4-0 at home to Christian Brothers Academy.

Rebecca Baldwin made 10 saves as Chittenango’s goalie, but goals by Emma Hill, Katherine Williamson and Francesca Canzano helped the Brothers get away.

Cazenovia boys soccer team loses to Westhill, J-D

By PHil BlACKWEll

Older fans of the Cazenovia boys soccer team can vividly remember the Lakers going up against Westhill with Section III Class B championships at stake.

They met again last Tuesday night, with the Lakers taking an 8-1 defeat to the Warriors.

Westhill had a 7-0 lead by halftime, led by Luke Gilmartin, who amaassed four goals and one assist. To its credit, Cazenovia made sure a shutout didn’t happen thanks to J.D. Dolly’s late tally.

Those struggles continued on Saturday afternoon, Cazenovia running into Jamesville-DeWitt and having a 5-0 defeat to the Red Rams.

The Lakers had just two shots all afternoon, with J-D seeing five different players – Kyan Barbuto, Alessio Vega, Emile Antoine, T.J. Tanner and Kat Brutsaert – getting its five goals.

Chittenango had started the season 4-0-1, but took its first defeat of the season last Thursday against state Class A no. 6-ranked Christian Brothers Academy, who prevailed 4-0.

Scoring twice in each half, the Brothers saw Connor Morgia and Jack Griffith light it up. Morgia had three of CBA’s goals, each one assisted by Griffith, who netted the other tally.

Bears goalie Logan Bronner did all he could, picking up 14 saves, but none of Chittenango’s nine shots got past Brothers keepers Finn Wheeler and Billy Assaf.

Rebounding on Saturday afternoon, Chittenango defeated Fulton 3-1, led by Gavin Kirowski, who finished the game with one goal and one assist.

Cole Thomas and Edward MacAlpine also converted, with Trevor Hendrickson putting in Fulton’s lone goal as Logan Bronner stopped seven of the eight Red Raiders shots he faced.

Perry Noun is the former executive director of the Northeastern NY PGA as well as a competitive amateur golfer and winIf every amateur golfer in the United States was asked, ”Are you playing too much golf”, what percentage would answer YES? I believe ner of the New York State Super Senior Amateur Championship. Perry Noun can be heard on the number would probably be about 5%. “Tee Time With The ProWhat say you? at leaves 95% of us who noun” on... News Radio would answer NO…we don’t play enough 570 WSYR and 106.9FM. golf. A more important question we should ask ourselves is, “Is it possible we ‘might’ be playing too much golf”? It would be a lie if I told you I haven’t thought about this question many times during “every” golf season, over the last 40 plus years. I struggle with this because I want to be the best golfer I can be while balancing my other priorities of; family, friends, nances, health, and business relationships as well as my mental well being. I suspect many of you struggle with the same issues.

When Do You Know You Are Playing Too Much?

at’s easy…Your swing gets sloppy, you’re not sure what is wrong, you try new xes and you make more mistakes than you normally do. In addition, your mental focus diminishes and you become more frustrated with yourself. I should know, this describes me perfectly. is has happened to me many times over my career. Coming up with the right balance of playing golf with practice time at the range is critical.

Is It Healthy to play every day?

I suspect it could be if you are retired and want to play 9 or 18 holes as soon the sun rises so you can have the rest of the day for your other obligations. However, if you do play every day and have a full time job, a home with a wife and children, a lawn and a parent in a nursing home, you will certainly be a ected by “burn-out”…sooner or later.

How Many Times A Week Should We Play?

ere is no simple answer to this question that will apply to all amateur golfers. It is ultimately up to each of us to come up with our own schedule but you might want to use some of the following guidelines to reach that elusive balance between golf and your other priorities, if, you want to reach your potential as a golfer. 1. Play at least three times a week. If possible, every other day would be best.

Are you playing too much golf? Question… yes or no? * One round should be for score…to be used for handicap purposes. * One round should be casual…use two balls on each hole playing a scramble format. Record your scores every week to see how low you can shoot. Your scores will determine your “true potential”. * e nal round should be competitive… playing with friends…record for handicap. * Play in a golf league. * Play in as many golf tournaments as you can. 2. Schedule at least one session at the driving range every week for 1-1.5 hours hitting 3-4 balls with “every” club in your bag. Time permitting, spend at lest 20-30 minutes at the putting green… chipping and putting. 3. Schedule another 1-1.5 hours at the driving range on correcting a swing aw, slice, etc. or hitting a speci c club that has been giving you trouble. Time permitting, spend 20-30 minutes at the putting green…chipping and putting. 4. at leaves two days for rest, relaxation and giving your muscles two days to recover the oxygen they lost during the week. Is It Possible To Play Too Much Golf? * Is It possible To Play Too much Golf? ABSOLUTELY!!! * Will You Be Able To Signi cantly Improve your Golf Game On is Schedule? ABSOLUTELY!!! * Will It Be Di cult? ABSOLUTELY!!! * Can You Do It On Your Own? ABSOLUTELY NOT!!! * Should You Get Help? ABSOLUTELY!!! * From A CNY PGA Golf Professional? ABSOLUTELY!!!

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Eagle Newspapers is here to help readers share their milestone celebrations, including birth announcements, engagements, weddings, anniversaries and milestone birthdays. The deadline to submit an announcement is 10 a.m. the Friday before publication. Announcements of up to 250 words with a photo cost just $50, with an additional 15 cents per word over 250 words. Announcements will be posted to eaglenewsonline.com within 24 hours of receipt of payment. To submit a milestone announcement, email Alyssa Dearborn at adearborn@eaglenewsonline.com, or call 315.434.8889 ext. 305.

Cazenovia girls tennis beats MPH, Bishop Grimes

By PHil BlACKWEll

Wet conditions early last week again curtailed schedules for the Cazenovia and Chittenango girls tennis teams before it dried out later in the week.

And when the Lakers resumed action last Wednesday against Manlius-Pebble Hill, it had to sweep all of the doubles matches to get a 4-3 victory over the Trojans.

One doubles match was forfeited, but Rachel Molloy and Grace Probe played, beating Fariel Migeed and Rose Fallon 6-0, 6-2/

Ava Galton and Kate Williams also won by blanking Rachel Molloy and Schuyler King 6-0, 6-0.

With Leah Bell falling to Caroline Mezzalingua 7-5, 6-2 as Madden Cobb and Kiana Vazquez did not get any games in their singles matches, it got decided in second doubles.

Nora Berg and Erin Kuhn were pushed to a third set by MPH’s Sabrina Loop (who had already won in singles) and Ruby Butler, but prevailed 6-2, 3-6, 6-3.

Back in action on Friday afternoon, Cazenovia had little trouble defeating Bishop Grimes 6-0, with two of the matches forfeited to the Lakers.

Molloy did have to rally in first singles to beat Sofia Ziankoski 5-7, 6-3, 10-8. Cobb shut out Isabella Bonacci 6-0, 6-0, with Kuhn and Katie Williams handling Ashlee Brisson and Kristina Kovar 6-0, 6-2 as Berg and Bell paired up to win 6-1, 6-0 over Francesca Smith and Lania Young.

Chittenango did play last Monday, against Mexico, and were limited to single-set matches to eight games, where the Bears lost to the Tigers 4-3.

Maddy Douglas and Saige Burton lost in singles, but Sarah McKillip got the Bears on the board thanks to her 8-0 shutout over Paige Masrouri in first singles.

Savannah Drake and Anna Spencer blanked Anita Druce and Avery Mack 8-0 as Allison Bartoszek and Evelynn Keville edged Isabelle Ponzi and Zoe Grzesik 8-6.

The close fourth doubles match had Hailey Reed and Anna Chatwin take an 8-7 (8-6) defeat to Morgan Benton and Shealyn Burns.

Youth football, cheer season underway

Submitted pHoto

the youth football and cheerleading season has two home games coming up.

Fall means football. At least it does to the almost 150 student athletes, their parents, and fans, participating in this year’s Cazenovia Youth Football and Cheer program.

The community is invited to join the cheerleaders, family, and fans in rooting for the Cazenovia Lakers at the following home games: Sunday, Sept. 25 vs. HFL and Sunday, Oct. 23 vs. Geneva

Admission is free, and all are welcome.

Games start at 9 a.m. with an hour of flag football. C Team tackle plays at 10 a.m. , and B Team tackle starts around noon.

To view the full schedule, visit cazyouthfootball.com/schedule

Cazenovia Youth Football and Cheer is affiliated with the Finger Lakes Youth Football and Cheer League (FLYFCL). We give children in the Cazenovia Community and its surrounding areas the opportunity to play a team sport, to learn the fundamentals of football and cheerleading in a safe environment, and to have fun while doing it.

Phil Blackwell | Sports Editor | 434-8889 ext. 348 | pblackwell@eaglenewsonline.com

Girls cross country Lakers get rout of Phoenix

By KUrt WHEElEr

The Cazenovia girls cross country team earned a perfect score against league opponent Phoenix last Wednesday and posted a strong performance at the East Syracuse-Minoa Invitational three days later during its second week of action.

Against Phoenix, the Lakers placed the first seven runners across the line to achieve the lowest possible score of 15, the cross country equivalent of a shutout.

Eleven members of the Cazenovia squad achieved a season best performance on their tough Fenner course to earn the decisive victory.

First year running star Olivia Ruddy led the team once again, earning an impressive time of 20:02, the fastest achieved by a Cazenovia runner on their home course in five years. She improved on all three of her mile splits during the race, running 6:30, 6:53 and 6:39 consecutively over the 3.0-mile route.

Olivia Wong also had a personal best day, not only topping her best time on the course, but running her fastest race ever over 3.0 or 3.1 miles with a 21:01 effort. Captain Faith Wheeler took third for the team with a 21:24, her fastest race of the season.

Athletic “double-threat” Dinah Gifford was fourth for the team in 21:55 just 24 hours after scoring the Lakers’ lone goal in a tough soccer match with Westhill. Gifford is one of a few athletes participating in the OHSL trial to allow athletes to participate in two sports for their school.

Freshman Maeve McGreevy, in only her third cross country race, earned a top-five finish for the Lakers with a time of 23:20, her fastest yet.

Senior Captains Grace Dolan (23:35) and Bonnie Pittman (season best 23:40) claimed the critical six-seven spots for the team to complete the shut-out and displace all Phoenix scorers.

Phoenix’s top runner, Zoe Gordon, finished in 24:07, followed by five Lakers led by Freshman Haylee Stearns (season best of 24:24) along with Mesi Stevens, Ilsa Denton, Captain Sedona Millard and Michaela Tobin. Emma O’Shea and Iris Casey also ran well for the Lakers.

Cazenovia was back in action Saturday at ESM, earning a fourth -place finish in the 23 team field despite having nearly half the lineup out of action for the day. Only Class A powers CiceroNorth Syracuse and West Genesee and Montrose, from Westchester County, finished ahead of Cazenovia in the competitive race

Ruddy ran her fastest race yet, covering the full 5,000 meter course in 20:01 to finish fifth individually in the 132 runner field. Her speedy race included a 6:00 minute flat pace over mile three of the competition.

Gifford was second for the Lakers in 21:48 (25th) with Wong taking third for the team in 22:36 (36th overall).

McGreevy and Stearns stepped up to fill the gaps in the Lakers’ lineup. McGreevy ran a personal best of 22:59 to earn fourth for the team (43rd) while Stearns clocked a best time of her own in 24:25 to round out the squad’s score with a 59th place finish. Denton, Tobin, Millard and O’Shea also ran well for the Lakers, each earning their best 5K time of the fall.

Cazenovia will travel to Hannibal this Wednesday in a threeway race with Skaneateles and then compete in the massive Baldwinsville Invitational on Saturday as it seeks to defend its small schools title in the race from 2021.

Cazenovia girls cross country runner olivia Wong had her quickest time of the season so far, going 21:02 during last Wednesday’s win over Phoenix.

madeline CaraHer

Cazenovia boys cross country team routs Phoenix

By PHil BlACKWEll

League competition continued for the Cazenovia boys cross country team with another winning effort last Wednesday against the Phoenix Firebirds.

The Lakers’ 18-40 decision included a sweep of the top three spots, led by Branden McColm, who in 18 minutes, 20 seconds was ahead of the field by more than a minute.

Eddie Comeau, in 19:29, beat out Jake Woolbert (19:38) for second place, and Will Austin earned his own top-five finish in a clocking of 20:03.

Also finishing within the top 10, Garrett Lounsbury took seventh place in 20:49, beating out the eighth-place 20:55 posted by Kooper Wilmot.

Chittenango faced Mexico last Wednesday, with the boys Bears seeing Caleb LeBlanc finish first among individuals in a time of 18:35.

However, the Bears lost, 25-30, to the Tigers, who grabbed five of the top eight spots. Kaleb Toscano finished third in 19:14, with Manu Tipa seventh in 21:16. Logan Rogers (21:42) beat out Jacob Neupert (21:53) for ninth place.

Chittenango’s girls team competed Saturday in the East Syracuse Minoa Invitational, finishing sixth out of 16 teams in the field with 175 points as Cicero-North Syracuse (16 points) got the top spot.

Laura Powers, in a time of 22:23.2, finished 30th among team runners, one spot ahead of Bears teammate Bailee Burton (22:24.5) as Sophia DeGennaro was 32nd in 22:36.1. Evelyn Wynkoop, in 23:28.1, was two spots ahead of Ani McCarthy’s time of 23:41.8.

Lakers football shuts out Bishop Ludden, 21-0

Cazenovia boys golf faces mid-season struggles

By PHil BlACKWEll

Quick strikes on one end and a punishing defense on the other end makes the Cazenovia football team a threat to go deep into the autumn once more.

On a warm Saturday afternoon at Buckley-Volo Field, the Lakers gave another demonstration of its overall quality when it put away the Bishop Ludden Gaelic Knights with a 21-0 shutout.

Both sides had won impressive season openers, Cazenovia rolling at Skaneateles (and beating former head coach Jay Steinhorst) while Ludden was at home toppling Clinton in new head coach Jim Ryan’s debut.

Determined to make its mark, Ludden, on its opening possession, moved to midfield, only to get suffed on fourth down as Jed Olkowski sacked X’zavion Streiff.

Moments later, J.P. Hoak threw deep and found Tavin Reilley, setting up the Lakers deep in Gaelic Knights territory and leading to Hoak’s go-ahead touchdown on a twoyard scramble.

Less than four minutes later, it was 14-0. Cazenovia regained possession and moved to Ludden’s 14, from where Hoak threw again and found Jack Byrnes in the end zone. Byrnes added his third consecutive extra point.

Things continued to roll in the second period when, from his own 37, Hoak again showcased his arm, targeting Byrnes and finding him for a 63-yard scoring strike.

To its credit, the Gaelic Knights’ defense didn’t let Cazenovia score from there, and only gave up 277 total yards, though the Lakers balanced it out with 137 yards through the air and 139 on the ground as Hoak gained 84 yards on 22 carries.

All game long, the Lakers’ defense made sure Ludden did not capitalize despite picking up 212 yards, just as balanced with 110 rushing yards and 102 passing yards.

Of Olkowski’s five tackles, three were for losses.

Brad Gagnon had a teambest six tackles as Byrnes and Alex Kuper both got four-anda-half tackles. Gagnon and Reilley both picked up interceptions.

Cazenovia aims for three in a row this Friday at Solvay. The Bearcats are off to a 2-1 start after wins over Mexico and Clinton and a narrow 9-7 defeat to Marcellus.

Caz field hockey breaks skid, beats Cato-Meridian

By PHil BlACKWEll

Following a rough opening week that included three consecutive losses, the Cazenovia field hockey team found out that all it really needed to do was come back home to be comfortable again.

And when the Lakers welcomed Cato-Meridian to Burton Street Elementary last Monday afternoon, it took advantage of familiarity with home to lock down on defense and get one scoring spurt to beat the Blue Devils 2-0.

Having lost to Camden and Vernon-Verona-Sherrill by equal 2-0 margins in Baldwinsville’s Huntington Tournament, Cazenovia, playing for the third time in four days, stayed patient throughout a scoreless first half.

Then the Lakers took charge in the third quarter. Reid McMurtrie and Isabella Fazio both hit shots past Cato goalie Madison Morsdorf, and the defense made it stick, anchored by Madison Rothfeld, who had six saves.

Two days later, at Weedsport, Cazenovia made it backto-back wins, again leaning on its defense and keeping the Warriors off the board while waiting until overtime to pull off a 1-0 victory.

All through the 60 minutes of regulation, the Lakers’ defense – with Grace Kingsley and Zosia Synborski working the middle, flanked on the left by Lucy Hagan and the right by Olivia Franks - silenced Weedsport.

The team held Weedsport to just one direct shot, yet found it difficult on the other end to get in front.

Weedsport goalie Arieanna Giacalone made seven saves, but in the seven-on-seven OT period the Lakers maintained the pressure and Meghan Mehlbaum, taking a pass from Isabella Fazio, put one past Giacalone for the game-winner.

After a Friday off day that included kayaking on Cazenovia Lake, the team was back on the field Monday to face Homer and start a homestand that included Port Byron/ Union Springs on Wednesday and Fayetteville-Manlius on Friday.

By PHil BlACKWEll

All along, the Cazenovia boys golf team knew it would be more difficult once football season began and Jack Byrnes went over to the gridiron.

Again, those struggles surfaced in last Wednesday’s match against Homer at Cazenovia Country Club, with the Lakers taking a 216-273 defeat to the Trojans.

Chris Kelly shot a 41 for nine holes, second only to the 36 from Homer’s Mitch Riter. As for the rest of the Lakers, only Will Guider, with a 51, got close to Kelly’s total, with Nate Porter shooting 60.

Chittenango, who beat Cazenovia the week before, took its own shot against Homer at Cortland Country Club on Thursday and lost 214-227.

Ty Kelly’s 39 did equal Riter and Trojans teammate Lukas Quinn for low round, while Tanner Smith had a 42. But three other Homer golfers – Mike Stiles, Dan Stiles (45 each) and Cooper Swartz (46) – beat out the 47 from Alex Moesch as Henry Miller (48) and Anthony Thousand (51) followed.

Kelly then shot 36 in Chittenango’s 210-267 win over Jordan-Elbridge on Friday afternoon at Millstone, part of a topfive sweep. Smith posted a 40, with Thousand and Ryan Moesch both shooting 44 and Miller getting a 45 ahead of the 47 from the Eagles’ Caden Hearn.