Fueling Excellence

Wednesday, September 9, 2026: Trumansburg soccer's Ellie Ouckama is ESPN Ithaca's Fueling Excellence High School Athlete of the Week, presented by Centralus Health. Ellie recorded four goals and two assists across a pair of season-opening wins. She scored two goals in a 3-0 win over Thomas A. Edison, then had two goals and two assists in a 6-1 win over Lansing.

Wednesday, September 9, 2026: Groton football's Lane Darling is ESPN Ithaca's Fueling Excellence High School Athlete of the Week, presented by Centralus Health. Lane recorded 224 total yards and five touchdowns in a season-opening 66-6 win over Sidney. He tallied five receptions for 184 yards and two touchdowns to go along with 84 rushing yards and a touchdowns. He also returned a fumble for a 33-yard touchdown.

Tuesday, June 16, 2026: Candor track and field's Logan Aman is ESPN Ithaca's Fueling Excellence Athlete of the Week, presented by Centralus Health. Logan won the Class C state title in the 100-meter dash with a time of 10.55 seconds and the 200-meter dash with a time of 21.37 seconds. He also won the federation title in the 100-meter dash with a time of 10.56 seconds and was runner-up in the 200-meter dash by just .01 seconds.

Tuesday, June 16, 2026: Lansing track and field's Ava Kobylarz is ESPN Ithaca's Fueling Excellence High School Athlete of the Week, presented by Centralus Health. Ava won the Class C state championship in the pole vault, clearing 12 feet and 3 inches.

Tuesday, June 9, 2026: Odessa-Montour track and field's Janne Anderson is ESPN Ithaca's Fueling Excellence High School Athlete of the Week, presented by Centralus Health. Janne finished in first place in the 400-meter hurdles with a time of 1:04.76, breaking her own school record. She was also part of the 4x400-meter relay team that placed 7th and also broke the school record.

Tuesday, June 9, 2026: Union Springs golf's Michael Culver is ESPN Ithaca's Fueling Excellence High School Athlete of the Week, presented by Centralus Health. Michael finished tied for 76th at the state championships at Mill Creek Golf Club in Churchville with a score of 168.

Tuesday, June 2, 2026: Ithaca girls lacrosse's Emma Bakos is ESPN Ithaca's Fueling Excellence High School Athlete of the Week, presented by Centralus Health. Emma scored a game-high 6 goals and added 1 assist in a 18-9 win over Corning in the Section IV Class A championship, helping the Little Red win its fourth straight sectional title.

Tuesday, June 2, 2026: Ithaca boys lacrosse's Isaac Lee-Byrnes is ESPN Ithaca's Fueling Excellence High School Athlete of the Week, presented by Centralus Health. Isaac scored 3 goals, including the game-winner with 12 seconds remaining, in a 8-7 win over Corning in the Section IV Class A championship, helping the Little Red win its first sectional title since 2018.

Tuesday,  May 26, 2026: Marathon golf's Savanna Warfield is ESPN Ithaca's Fueling Excellence High School Athlete of the Week, presented by Centralus Health. Savanna finished in second place individually with a score of 88 at the IAC Championship at Hillendale Golf Course and helped the Olympians win the team title with an overall score of 392.

Tuesday, May 26, 2026: Groton track and field's Ross Bush is ESPN Ithaca's Fueling Excellence High School Athlete of the Week, presented by Centralus Health. Ross was named Track MVP of the IAC Championships after winning 4 events: The 400-meter dash, the 800-meter run, the 1,600-meter run, and the pentathlon.

Tuesday, May 19, 2026: Watkins Glen/Odessa-Montour softball's Amy Field is ESPN Ithaca's Fueling Excellence High School Athlete of the Week, presented by Centralus Health. Amy helped the Schuyler Storm win two key playoff games. She first went 4-4 with 2 doubles, an RBI and 3 runs in a 8-5 win over Thomas A. Edison in the division tiebreaker game, then drove in the go-ahead runs in a 7-6 win over Lansing in the IAC Large School Championship. She also made key defensive plays and strong baserunning in both games.

Wednesday, May 13, 2026: Lansing golf's Hailey Baughan is ESPN Ithaca's Fueling Excellence High School Athlete of the Week. Hailey led the Bobcats to two wins. She first shot a team-best 39 in a win over Corning and Elmira Notre Dame at RaNic Golf Club, then shot a 42 to earn match medalist honors in a win over Elmira Notre Dame and Spencer Van Etten at Mark Twain Golf Course.

Tuesday, May 12, 2026: Spencer-Van Etten golf's AJ Shoemaker is ESPN Ithaca's Fueling Excellence High School Athlete of the Week, presented by Centralus Health. AJ led the Panthers to a pair of close wins. He first shot a 41 (2 over par) to earn match medalist honors in a 188-189 win over Candor at Catatonk Creek Golf Club, then shot a joint-team-high 49 in a 200-204 win over Odessa-Montour at The Club at Shepard Hills.

Tuesday, May 5, 2026: Union Springs softball's Gracie Chalupnicki is ESPN Ithaca's Fueling Excellence High School Athlete of the Week, presented by Centralus Health. Gracie helped the Wolves win four games last week. She threw a no-hitter with 9 strikeouts and scored 3 runs in a 12-0 win over Moravia, went 5-5 and drove in 8 runs in a 17-2 win over Skaneateles, allowed 1 earned run and struck out 9 while scoring 3 runs in a key 7-4 win over Southern Cayuga, and went 1-2 with an RBI and 2 runs in a 12-0 win over Marathon.

Tuesday, May 5, 2026: Trumansburg track and field's Dafydd Williams is ESPN Ithaca's Fueling Excellence High School Athlete of the Week, presented by Centralus Health. Dafydd won four events to help the Blue Raiders capture the team title at the annual Legends of the Night meet at Odessa-Montour. He won the 100-meter and 200-meter dashes, the long jump, and was the anchor of the 4x100-meter relay.

Tuesday, April 28, 2026: Spencer-Van Etten golf's Lauren Gillette is ESPN Ithaca's Fueling Excellence High School Athlete of the Week, presented by Centralus Health. Lauren earned match medalist honors against Candor after shooting a 52 at Shepard Hills Golf Course. She also placed second with a score of 44 against Corning and Odessa-Montour at Hillendale Golf Course.

Tuesday, April 28, 2026: Moravia baseball's Dillon Palmer is ESPN Ithaca's Fueling Excellence High School Athlete of the Week, presented by Centralus Health. Dillon excelled at the plate and on the mound across a pair of wins over Groton. In the first game, he threw a complete game 1-hitter with 13 strikeouts and went 2-3 with 2 RBIs and 2 runs in a 10-0 win, then drove in 2 runs in a 11-0 win.

Tuesday, April 21, 2026: Dryden track and field's Reagan Burnham is ESPN Ithaca's Fueling Excellence High School Athlete of the Week, presented by Centralus Health. Reagan won the 3,000-meter run and placed second in the 1,500-meter run at the Square Deal Invite in Johnson City. She also won both events in a tri-meet win over Marathon and Moravia.

Tuesday, April 21, 2026: Lansing tennis' Tolunay Ayar is ESPN Ithaca's Fueling Excellence High School Athlete of the Week, presented by Centralus Health. Tolunay won two singles matches across a pair of season-opening victories. He first defeated Jocelyn Marcell 6-0, 6-0 in a 5-0 win over Moravia, then beat Andre Wixson 5-7, 6-0, 6-2 in a 3-2 win over Watkins Glen.

Tuesday, April 14, 2026: Dryden boys lacrosse's Gray Haines is ESPN Ithaca's Fueling Excellence High School Athlete of the Week, presented by Centralus Health. Gray went 12-14 at the faceoff X and had 9 ground balls in a 11-6 win over Windsor, then went 16-21 at the X with 12 ground balls and 3 assists in a 14-8 win over Waterloo.

Tuesday, April 14, 2026: Schuyler Storm softball's Paige Ells is ESPN Ithaca's Fueling Excellence High School Athlete of the Week, presented by Centralus Health. Paige threw a perfect game with 9 strikeouts and went 4-4 at the plate and drove in 6 runs in a 14-0 win over Whitney Point, then had 1 hit and 3 walks in 15-0 win over Trumansburg, then threw a complete game shutout with 2 hits allowed and 12 strikeouts in a 5-0 win over Palmyra-Macedon.

Tuesday, April 7, 2026: Odessa-Montour track and field's Max Sgrecci is ESPN Ithaca's Fueling Excellence High School Athlete of the Week, presented by Centralus Health. Max won three events at a home IAC meet against 4 other schools. He won the 400-meter hurdles, the high jump, and was part of the winning 4x400-meter relay team.

Tuesday, April 7, 2026: Southern Cayuga softball's Ava Harvatine is ESPN Ithaca's Fueling Excellence High School Athlete of the Week, presented by Centralus Health. Ava surpassed 500 career strikeouts in a season-opening 27-1 win over Groton. She threw a one-hitter with 12 strikeouts, three walks and one unearned run.

Tuesday, March 31, 2026: Ithaca girls lacrosse's Natalie Wagenet is ESPN Ithaca's Fueling Excellence High School Athlete of the Week, presented by Centralus Health. Natalie recorded seven points across two season-opening wins. She tallied one goal and three assists in a 15-1 win over Windsor, then had a hat trick of assists in a 7-5 win over Horseheads.

Tuesday, March 31, 2026: Newfield track and field's LeMari Spears is ESPN Ithaca's Fueling Excellence High School Athlete of the Week, presented by Centralus Health. LeMari won two events at a season-opening meet at Moravia. He won the long jump with a leap of 18 feet 4 inches and won the high jump with a leap of 5 feet 8 inches.

Tuesday, March 17, 2026: Candor bowling's Calli Marsh is ESPN Ithaca's Fueling Excellence High School Athlete of the Week, presented by Centralus Health. Calli finished in 11th place in the girls Division 2 individual tournament at the state championships, bowling an 1122 series.

Tuesday, March 10, 2026: Ithaca swimming and diving's Koen Anderson is ESPN Ithaca's Fueling Excellence High School Athlete of the Week, presented by Centralus Health. Koen competed at two events at the state championships, finishing in 6th place in the 500 free and 11th place in the 200 free, PR'ing in both events.

Tuesday, March 10, 2026: Newfield track and field's Maddie White is ESPN Ithaca's Fueling Excellence High School Athlete of the Week, presented by Centralus Health. Maddie won the state and federation titles in the 1,500-meter race walk with a time of 6:53.11, the second-fastest time in the nation. The junior bested her PR by 20 seconds and beat the runner-up by 22 seconds.

Tuesday, March 3, 2026: Groton wrestling's Carmen Bishop is ESPN Ithaca's Fueling Excellence High School Athlete of the Week, presented by Centralus Health. Carmen finished as the state-runner up in the 132 weight class, recording two tech falls (10-0 and 11-1) and an 11-9 decision in the semifinal before falling to the top seed in the final.

Tuesday, March 3, 2026: Schuyler Storm wrestling's Lucas Hoffman is ESPN Ithaca's Fueling Excellence High School Athlete of the Week, presented by Centralus Health. Lucas finished as the state runner-up in the 118 weight class, recording two pins and a tech fall before falling to the top seed 9-8 the final.

Tuesday, February 24, 2026: Union Springs basketball's Rocco Testa is ESPN Ithaca's Fueling Excellence High School Athlete of the Week, presented by Centralus Health. Rocco scored a game-high 23 points in a 61-53 win over Moravia in the IAC North Small Division tiebreaker, then scored 22 points - including his 1,000th career point - in a 71-60 win over Candor in the IAC Small School Championship. It's the first division title for US since 2018 and the first IAC title since 2008.

Tuesday, February 24, 2026: Watkins Glen basketball's Olivia King is ESPN Ithaca's Fueling Excellence High School Athlete of the Week, presented by Centralus Health. Olivia recorded a game-high 16 points and 16 rebounds in a 54-25 win over Lansing in the IAC Large School Championship to help the Lake Hawks repeat as IAC champions. She also recorded six points and a team-high 10 rebounds in a 31-28 win over Newark Valley in the IAC South Large Division tiebreaker:

Tuesday, February 17, 2026: Newark Valley wrestling's Hadley Merrill is ESPN Ithaca's Fueling Excellence High School Athlete of the Week, presented by Centralus Health. Hadley won the 94 weight class title at the Section IV Wrestling Championships. The eighth grader took down her first two opponents via tech fall before upsetting the top seed in the final with a pin in 3:55.

Tuesday, February 17, 2026: Schuyler Storm swimming's Vincent Ocasio is ESPN Ithaca's Fueling Excellence High School Athlete of the Week, presented by Centralus Health. Vincent won four events at the Section IV Class C Swimming Championships (50 free, 100 free, 200 medley relay, 200 free relay) and helped the Schuyler Storm win its second straight sectional title.

Tuesday, February 10, 2026: Newfield track and field's Maddie White is ESPN Ithaca's Fueling Excellence High School Athlete of the Week, presented by Centralus Health. Maddie won the Section IV C/D title in the 1,500-meter racewalk with a time of 7:16.33 seconds, beating the runner-up by 16 seconds.

Tuesday, February 10, 2026: Groton track and field's Ross Bush is ESPN Ithaca's Fueling Excellence High School Athlete of the Week, presented by Centralus Health. Ross won the Section IV Class C/D title in the 600-meter run with a time of 1:23.86 seconds. He also finished runner-up in the 1,000-meter run with a time of 2:42.32.

Tuesday, February 3, 2026: Candor basketball's Megan Williamson is ESPN Ithaca's Fueling Excellence High School Athlete of the Week, presented by Centralus Health. Megan recorded a double-double of 27 points and 10 steals in a 60-44 win over Tioga, then scored a career-high 28 points in a 52-48 win over Newfield.

Tuesday, February 8, 2026: Newark Valley basketball's Cooper Davis is ESPN Ithaca's Fueling Excellence High School Athlete of the Week, presented by Centralus Health. Cooper led the Cardinals as their top scorer to a trio of wins. He first scored 11 points in a 61-43 win over Dryden, recorded a double-double of 16 points and 10 rebounds in a 57-53 win over Sidney, and scored 17 points in a 46-41 win over Whitney Point.

Tuesday, January 27, 2026: Watkins Glen/Odessa-Montour wrestling's Patrick Croft is ESPN Ithaca's Fueling Excellence High School Athlete of the Week, presented by Centralus Health. Patrick won the 215 weight class title at the IAC Championships, pinning all 3 of his opponents. He helped the team finish in third place overall.

Tuesday, January 27, 2026: Spencer-Van Etten/Candor wrestling's Taylor Zufall is ESPN Ithaca's Fueling Excellence High School Athlete of the Week, presented by Centralus Health. Taylor won the 114 weight class title at the IAC Championships with 2 pins and a tech fall.

Tuesday, January 20, 2026: Union Springs basketball's Maddy Kalet is ESPN Ithaca's Fueling Excellence High School Athlete of the Week, presented by Centralus Health. Maddy surpassed 1,000 career points in a 66-28 win over Newfield by scoring 14 points. Earlier in the week, she scored 17 points in a 52-19 win over Groton.

Tuesday, January 20, 2026: Moravia basketball's Zach Szachta is ESPN Ithaca's Fueling Excellence High School Athlete of the Week, presented by Centralus Health. Zach scored a game-high 22 points (including 11 4th-quarter points) in a 56-53 win at Candor. Earlier in the week, he scored 13 points in a 78-44 win vs. Harpursville and nine points in a 94-36 win vs. Southern Cayuga.

Tuesday, January 13, 2026: Marathon wrestling's Brendan Gumauer is ESPN Ithaca's Fueling Excellence High School Athlete of the Week, presented by Centralus Health. Brendan won the 150 weight class title at the Dan Wickham Classic with 3 pins and 1 tech fall. He also had a pin in a dual meet against Moravia.

Tuesday, January 13, 2026: Candor bowling's Calli Marsh is ESPN Ithaca's Fueling Excellence High School Athlete of the Week, presented by Centralus Health. Calli bowled a match-high 521 series and a team-high 198 game in a 3-1 win over Newark Valley, then bowled a match-high 509 series and a match-high 193 game in a 4-0 sweep of Watkins Glen.

Tuesday, January 6, 2026: Ithaca swimming's Koen Anderson is ESPN Ithaca's Fueling Excellence High School Athlete of the Week, presented by Centralus Health. Koen won two events at the Invitational in the Glen and helped the Little finish in fifth place. He won the 200 free with a time of 1:47.22 and the 500 free with a state-qualifying time of 4:51.62.

Tuesday, January 6, 2026: Newark Valley basketball's Kam Short is ESPN Ithaca's Fueling Excellence High School Athlete of the Week, presented by Centralus Health. Kam recorded a triple-double of 13 points, 11 rebounds and 11 blocks in a 40-33 win over Whitney Point. Earlier in the week, she helped the Cardinals win the Marathon Miss Hustle Holiday Tournament, first recording 10 points, six rebounds and four blocks in a 51-23 win over Deposit-Hancock, then recorded 23 points, eight rebounds, five steals and three blocks in a 57-22 win over Dryden.

Tuesday, December 30, 2025: Watkins Glen basketball's Rachel Vickio is ESPN Ithaca's Fueling Excellence High School Athlete of the Week, presented by Centralus Health. Rachel was named Tournament MVP at the annual Melissa B. Wilson Basketball Tournament. She scored 12 points in a 49-34 win over Marcus Whitman, then followed it up with eight points in a thrilling 37-34 championship victory against Palmyra-Macedon, hitting the go-ahead three-pointer with :38 to play.

Tuesday, December 30, 2025: Lansing bowling's Tyler Paige is ESPN Ithaca's Fueling Excellence High School Athlete of the Week, presented by Centralus Health. Tyler rolled a match-high 601 series, highlighted by a match-best 227, as Lansing swept Watkins Glen 4-0. The performance helped the Bobcats improve their overall record to 19-1.

Tuesday, December 23, 2025: Watkins Glen basketball's Jude Santos is ESPN Ithaca's Fueling Excellence High School Athlete of the Week, presented by Centralus Health. Jude was named Tournament MVP of the Watkins Glen Holiday Tournament. He first scored a game-high 21 points in a 68-37 win over South Seneca, then scored a team-high 16 points in a 62-38 win over Marcus Whitman to help the Lake Hawks win the tournament. He also won the 3-point contest.

Wednesday, December 17, 2025: Newark Valley wrestling's Titus Callahan is ESPN Ithaca's Fueling Excellence High School Athlete of the Week, presented by Centralus Health. Titus won the 190 weight class title at the Dave Buck Memorial Tournament, recording four pins and a tech fall en route to victory and helped the team finish in fourth place. He also had a pin in the Cardinals' 78-6 dual meet win over Trumansburg.