Athletes of the Week: Feb. 20-26, 2017
The Empire 8 crowned champions in men's and women's basketball and we got a sneak peak at some spring like weather last week which was ideal for teams starting the spring campaign. Those earning weekly honors for the week of Feb. 20-26, 2017 include...
Men’s Basketball Player – St. John Fisher
Tyler English, Junior, Guard – Lockport, NY/St. Mary’s
Tyler English of the St. John Fisher College men's basketball team was named the Most Valuable Player as the junior guard led the Cardinals to the Empire 8 Championship and an NCAA berth over the weekend after defeating Nazareth and Stevens Institute of Technology, respectively. English averaged 17.5 points, 4.5 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 1.5 steals over the two-game stretch and shot 11-for-23 from the field and 12-for-14 from the free throw line. Against Nazareth in the semifinals, English finished with 14 points and four rebounds before adding 21 points, five boards and three assists in the title game.
Men’s Basketball Rookie – St. John Fisher
Sammy Robinson, Freshman, Guard – Cedarhurst, NY/Lawrence
Sammy Robinson helped lead the St. John Fisher College men's basketball to a pair of wins last week en route to the Empire 8 Championship and an NCAA berth. Robinson averaged 8.0 points 3.0 rebounds and 1.0 assists in Fisher's two wins including 11 points in the title game against Stevens. For the week, the Cedarhurst native knocked down three 3-pointers in just 26 minutes of play.
Women’s Basketball Player – Ithaca
Ali Ricchiuti, Senior, Guard – New Hyde Park, NY/Herricks
Ali Ricchiuti led the Ithaca women's basketball team to the Empire 8 championship and was named the tournament's MVP after posting 23 points on 9-of-16 shooting with six rebounds in the 77-74 title game victory over Stevens. In the semifinal win over Hartwick, 63-55, Ricchitui netted 15 points on 7-of-15 from the floor to go along with five rebounds and four assists.
Women’s Basketball Rookie – No Nominations
Men’s Indoor Track Athlete – Utica
Nicodemus Gambill, Senior – Rochester, NY/East High
Senior sprinter Nicodemus Gambill won a pair of events at the NYSCTC Championships this past weekend. Gambill won the men's 60 meter dash final with a time of 6.97 and he also added a victory in the 200 meter dash with a time of 22.14 to compile 20 team points for the Pioneers. Utica finished the meet in fourth place as a team.
Men’s Indoor Field Athlete – Ithaca
David Dorsey, Junior – Marlborough, MA/Marlborough
Junior David Dorsey won the pole vault with a mark of 4.70 meters (15 feet, 5 inches) and tied Ithaca's school record set in 2010 by Andrew Brown at the NYSCTC Championships on Friday. Dorsey topped Ethan Maguire of RIT for the top spot on total attempts at that height – Dorsey cleared 4.70 on his first run, while it took Maguire until his third try.
Women’s Indoor Track Athlete – Ithaca
Taryn Cordani, Junior – Douglas, MA/Douglas
Junior Taryn Cordani was named the Most Outstanding Performer at the NYSCTC Championships after winning the 5,000-meter run and the mile to lead Ithaca to its 16th overall state title. Cordani won the 5K in a school record performance with a time of 16:58.37 to place first and surpassed her own personal-best by more than four seconds. In the mile, she posted a time of 5:06.91, which was nearly four seconds faster than the runner-up.
Women’s Indoor Field Athlete – Nazareth
Alycia Atwell-Chwazik, Sophomore – Remsen, NY/Remsen
Alycia Atwell-Chwazik came on strong at the NYSCTC meet over the weekend, winning the long jump with a leap of 5.22 meters (17 feet, 1 1/2 inches), more than five inches over the runner-up. She was also fourth in the triple jump on Saturday with a jump of 10.69 meters (35 feet, 1 inch), also an ECAC qualifying mark.
Baseball Player – Ithaca
Sam Little, Sophomore, OF – Fayetteville, NY/ CBA
Sophomore Sam Little picked up where he left off from his freshman season, as he went 3-for-6 in two games for Ithaca down in Virginia. Little went 2-for-4 with a homerun and three runs scored in a 9-0 win over Brockport and then drove in two runs on a double, to go along with two walks and a run vs. Virginia Wesleyan.
Baseball Pitcher – Elmira
Conor Bawiec, Junior – Lebanon, PA/Cedar Crest
Conor Bawiec tossed a gem against Rutgers-Camden in his lone start of the week. The 6-foot 4-inch righty hurled a nine-inning complete game against the Scarlet Raptors, leading the Purple and Gold to a 2-1 win. Bawiec struck out a career-high 10 batters, which also set a new program record. He struck out the side in the bottom of the ninth inning to close out the win. Bawiec also became the third player in program history to toss a nine-inning complete game.
Men’s Lacrosse Player – Alfred
Jake Lynch, Junior, Attack – Whitney Point, NY/Whitney Point
Junior Jake Lynch scored three hat-tricks in the Saxons’ season-opener against SUNY Canton on Saturday. Lynch added two assists to his nine goals for 11 points. He took 15 shots (.600) with 13 on goal (.867). His nine goals tied a 22-year old school record for most in a game. Lynch added two ground balls and one caused turnover in the Saxons’ first win of the season.
Men’s Lacrosse Goalie – Elmira
Cameron Prior, Senior – Malden, MA/Malden Catholic
Cameron Prior made 19 saves in Elmira's season-opening loss on the road against Neumann University. He turned away six shots in both the first and third quarters, as well as five more in the second stanza.