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from Cazenovia Republican Digital Edition Nov. 16, 2022

by Eagle Newspapers

Village l

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

CAZGIRLSFIFTHATSTATE CLASS C MEET

the Cazenovia girls cross country team was undefeated in the regular season, adding OhSl and Section iii Class C post-season titles before finishing fifth in last Saturday’s New York State Public High School Athletic Association meet at vernon-verona-Sherrill.

By kURt WheeleR

The Cazenovia girls cross country team capped an historic season of competition for the program with a fifth place finish at the New York State Public High School Athletic Association Class C championship Meet last Saturday at Vernon-Verona-Sherrill.

Scoring 147 points, the Lakers finished fifth in a competitive field that featured the Class C champions from every section in New York State plus the top five individual runners from each section. East Aurora, the defending Class B champion, earned another state title with a total of 53 points.

This top-five finish for the Lakers was the third in the program’s history, equaling their achievement in 2015 and just short of their third-place finish in 2010.

Sophomore Olivia Ruddy earned her 14th first place finish for the team in 14 races this season with a personal course record performance of 21 minutes, 1.8 seconds to capture 27th in the state.

Her time was 35 seconds faster than last week despite the wet conditions caused by steady rains the day before the meet.

Junior Dinah Gifford ran one of her best races of the season to place second for the team, capturing 52nd in a time of 22:00.3, also a personal record on the course.

Freshman Maeve McGreevy earned 60th place in 22:07.8, slightly off her best at sectionals but more than two and a half minutes faster than her time at the VVS Invitational in September, a testimony to her exceptional improvement this season.

Senior captain Faith Wheeler (81st in 22:47.4) earned fourth for the team while Junior Zoey Gagne was 90th in 23:09.3, another personal best time on the tough course.

Freshman Haylee Stearns (106th in 23:48.5) and senior captain Bonnie Pittman (114th in 24:15.3) each ran personal bests at VVS to round out the Laker field in their number six and seven spots for the team.

Following the race, the squad earned another honor as Wheeler was recognized with Section III’s Class C Sportsmanship Award.

The honor is given to a Senior competing at the State Meet who has represented the Section with sportsmanship along with athletic and academic excellence.

The top-five finish at the NYSPHSAA championship capped a memorable 2022 campaign for the Lady Lakers that included the Section III Class C title and Onondaga High School Liberty League Meet Championship.

The girls also earned an undefeated regular season and the OHSL Liberty-National league title.

Cazenovia girls cross country senior captain Faith Wheeler was honored with Section iii’s Sportsmanship award during last weekend’s state championship meet at vernon-verona-Sherrill, chosen for her athletic and academic excellence while representing the section well.

Chittenango trio runs in state Class B races

By Phil BlaCkWell

Not far from its campus, three Chittenango cross country runners completed their seasons taking part in the New York State Public High School Athletic Association Class B championship races at VernonVerona-Sherrill.

Caleb LeBlanc ran in the boys race, and in a time of 18 minutes, 47.5 seconds he took 70th place, far off the 18:02.9 he recorded while finishing third in the Section III Class B meet a week earlier on this same course.

Of course, for many runners who were part of both events, the transition from warm, dry conditions to a cool breeze and mud on large parts of the VVS course was a big one.

Later in the day, two Chittenango girls were part of the Class B field as junior Laura Powers was joined by sophomore Ani McCarthy.

Powers did the best, her time of 21:30.3 putting the Bears runner in 53rd place, better than more than half the field of 116 runners as Oneida seventh-grader Molly Myatt (19:52.2) was 10th to lead the Section III contingent.

Behind them, McCarthy would take 71st place in 22:23 flat, which was half a minute faster than the 22:53.6 she ran a week earlier to qualify for this event.

U.S.

l From page 1 before stepping forward individually to receive their certificates from the judge.

Othman, who served as an interpreter with the United States Army in Iraq, was forced to flee the country with his wife and three daughters. The Othmans arrived in the US in May 2017. Just over a year later, they became the first family that Cazenovia Welcomes Refugees (CWR) helped to resettle in Cazenovia.

Othman described becoming a citizen as an awesome experience.

“I completed all the forms myself,” he said. “I recalled appearing for my naturalization interview after having studied very diligently the list of 100 questions for the civics exam. The actual part of being approved, appearing for my naturalization ceremony in [the] Syracuse courthouse, taking the oath, and getting sworn in as a newly minted citizen was very exciting. My actual emotions varied throughout the process. I’m proud to be a United States citizen.”

CWR is a community-based initiative that began in 2016 with the goal of working with people who were refugees as they integrate into American life. The organization also engages with Cazenovia residents to help create a welcoming environment for New Americans.

CWR includes representatives from multiple sectors of the community, including Cazenovia College, the Cazenovia Central School District, local faith communities, nonprofit groups, refugee resettlement organizations, civic organizations, local government, businesses, and private citizens.

The organization supports New American families by helping them identify housing options and by facilitating relationships with employers, schools and health care providers among other services. CWR also organizes educational events in the community, which increase awareness of the global refugee crisis and the challenges refugees face as they integrate into American communities.

CWR is supported by and works in partnership with InterFaith Works of Central New York and its Center for New Americans. The agency has provided resettlement and post-resettlement services to refugee families in the Syracuse area for over 40 years. InterFaith Works is one of only two official refugee resettlement organizations in the CNY region.

With assistance from CWR and InterFaith Works, the Othman family resettled in Cazenovia in Aug. 2018.

“The Othmans indicated they were interested in moving out of Syracuse where they were first resettled,” said Cynthia Sutton, one of the founders of CWR and a current steering committee member. “They came to visit Cazenovia, CWR introduced them to the schools and community, and they were excited to move to a welcoming village.”

Working together, CWR and Interfaith Works supported the family with housing, employment, social and medical services, a liaison to schools, and an introduction to Cazenovia resources, such as the Cazenovia Public Library’s English as a Second Language tutoring, CazCares food pantry and clothing closer, The Key consignment shop, and local grocery stores.

“The family quickly became adjusted to Cazenovia and now after [several years, they] live as an independent family needing very little support from CWR,” said Sutton. “We are fortunate to have the Othmans as our friends and neighbors.”

Othman said he and his family have enjoyed their time in Cazenovia.

“Cazenovia is a great place to live,” he said. “The schools are fantastic. Cazenovia truly has something for everyone.”

CWR committee member Carla Zimmerman, who serves as Cazenovia Public Library’s literacy coordinator, is currently helping Othman’s wife, Evan Othman, to study for her General Educational Development Test to earn a high school equivalency credential.

“She just has one more subject to go,” said Zimmerman. “She [currently] works as a school monitor.”

Both Sutton and Zimmerman attended Othman’s naturalization ceremony.

Sutton described the occasion as an emotional and very special celebration.

“It’s a huge accomplishment to obtain your citizenship for any and all refugees; Rzgar is no exception,” said Zimmerman.

With support from Interfaith Works, CWR recently resettled a second family, New Americans from Afghanistan, in Cazenovia this past July. To learn more about CWR and that resettlement, visit cazwelcomesrefugees.org.

Winter Sports Schedule Good Luck Cazenovia 2022 Athletes!

Let the Winter Season Begin!

Cazenovia HS announces winter sports schedule

by Phil Blackwell

Cazenovia High School’s 2022-23 winter sports schedule, with all dates and times subject to change. Boys Basketball

Dec. 2-3: at Sherburne-Earlville Tip-Off Tournament Dec. 6: Phoenix, 7 p.m. Dec. 10: PSLA Fowler (at Corcoran HS), 11 a.m. Dec. 13: Skaneateles, 7 p.m. Dec. 15: at Homer, 6:45 p.m. Dec. 19: South Jefferson, 7 p.m. Dec. 22: at Camden, 6:30 p.m. Jan. 4: at CBA, 7 p.m. Jan. 6: at Mexico, 6:30 p.m. Jan. 12: Chittenango, 7 p.m. Jan. 17: Solvay, 7 p.m. Jan. 20: Hannibal, 7 p.m. Jan. 23: at South Jefferson, 7:15 p.m. Jan. 25: Camden, 7 p.m. Jan. 28: at Waverly, 4:45 p.m. Jan. 31: at Phoenix, 6:30 p.m. Feb. 3: Westhill, 7 p.m. Feb. 7: at Marcellus, 7 p.m. Feb. 10: at Syracuse ITC, 6:45 p.m.

Girls Basketball

Nov. 29: at Holland Patent, 7 p.m. Dec. 3: Clinton, 3:30 Dec. 6: at Central Square, 6:30 p.m. Dec. 9: at Solvay, 6:30 p.m. Dec. 13: at Skaneateles, 6:30 p.m. Dec. 16: Homer, 7 p.m. Dec. 17: at Dryden, 12:30 p.m. Dec. 22: Holland Patent, 7 p.m. Jan. 3: Mexico, 7 p.m. Jan. 5: LaFayette, 7 p.m. Jan. 9: Bishop Ludden, 7 p.m. Jan. 13: at Chittenango, 6:30 p.m. Jan. 18: at Hamilton, 7 p.m. Jan. 20: at Hannibal, 6:30 p.m. Jan. 23: at Fulton, 7:15 p.m. Jan. 26: Phoenix, 7 p.m. Feb. 2: at Westhill, 6:30 p.m. Feb. 6: Marcellus, 7 p.m. Feb. 10: Syracuse West, 7 p.m. Feb. 13: Central Square, 7 p.m.

Ice Hockey

Combined with Hamilton, Morrisville Eaton; home games at Morrisville IcePlex Dec. 2: Burnt Hills/Ballston Lake (at NYS Fairgrounds), 6 p.m. Dec. 3: Bethlehem (at NYS Fairgrounds), 1 p.m. Dec. 6: Watertown IHC, 6:30 p.m. Dec. 14: West Genesee, 6:30 p.m. Dec. 16: at Cicero-North Syracuse, 7 p.m. Dec. 17: Whitesboro, noon Dec. 20: at Liverpool, 8:15 p.m. Dec. 23: Mohawk Valley, 5 p.m. Dec. 28-29: at Cortland-Homer Christmas Tournament Jan. 3: at Syracuse, 7 p.m. Jan. 5: at Whitesboro, 7 p.m. Jan. 13: at Baldwinsville, 7:15 p.m. Jan. 18: Fayetteville-Manlius, 6:30 p.m. Jan. 19: at Liverpool, 7:15 p.m. Jan. 21: Ithaca, noon Jan. 24: at Fulton, 6 p.m. Jan. 27: CBA/Jamesville-DeWitt, 6:30 p.m. Feb. 1: Ontario Bay, 6:30 p.m. Feb. 10: Rome Free Academy, 6:30 p.m.

Wrestling

Dec. 1: Canastota, 6 p.m. Dec. 3: at Morrisville-Eaton Duals, 10 a.m. Dec. 6: Homer, 6 p.m. Dec. 10: Brett Dixon Duals at Central Square, 10 a.m. Dec. 14: Hannibal, 6 p.m. Dec. 21: at Jordan-Elbridge, 6 p.m. Jan. 4: at APW/Pulaski, 6 p.m. Jan. 7: at Port Byron Mid-Winter Classic, 10 a.m. Jan. 10: Southern Hills, 6 p.m. Jan. 14: Cazenovia Invitational, 10 a.m. Jan. 21: Fallen Heroes Tournament at Canastota, 9 a.m. Jan. 25: Liverpool, 6:30 p.m. Jan. 28: OHSL Tournament (site TBD), 10 a.m. Feb. 4: Section III Class C Championships, 10 a.m. Feb. 11: Section III Division II Championships at SRC Arena, 10 a.m. Feb. 24-25: NYSPHSAA Championships at MVP Arena, Albany

Indoor Track

- Times noted are facility/meet times (additional “invitational” meet dates may be added if they become available, eg: annual meet at Colgate*) Wed, Nov 30 @ OCC (4:3Opm-9:00) Sun, Dec 11 @ OCC (9:00am-2:00) Sat, Dec 17 @ OCC (3:00pm-7:00) *Wed, Dec 21 @ Colgate (4? - 8:30) * Addition to schedule Sat, Jan 7 @ OCC (9:00am-2:00) Sat, Jan 14 @ OCC (9:00am-2:00) Thurs, Jan 19 @ Utica (4:3Opm-IO:00) League Championship: Wed, Feb 1 @ OCC - OHSL Championship (4:30pm - 9:30pm) Sectional Finals: Wed, Feb 8 @ OCC - Class B1/B2 (4:30pm - 8:30pm) State Qualifier Meet: Wed, Feb 15 @ OCC (4:30pm-9:00) * Snow dates if needed: December 30, January 29, February 11 NYSPHSAA Finals: Sat, Mar 4th @ Ocean Breeze - Staten Island

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