69´«Ã½

Here are 10 Cayuga 69´«Ã½-area athletes who stood out:

Boys cross-country: Ryan Maher, 69´«Ã½

After finishing one spot shy of first place in the Section III, Class A championships in 2023, the junior made sure history would not repeat itself. Maher was crowned sectional champion this season after taking the top spot with a time of 15:34.3 — nearly 47 seconds better than the time he recorded at the same meet last season. Propelled by Maher's performance, the Maroon boys also captured their third consecutive sectional title.

Girls cross-country: Lucy Fleckenstein, Skaneateles

Fleckenstein was on the verge of taking the top spot in last season's Section III, Class championships, placing fourth with a time of 20:22.6. However, this would be the year she'd reach the top of the mountain. The junior posted a personal-best time of 18:45.1, earning first place by 2.7 seconds. As a team, the Laker girls came away with seventh place at the sectional championships.  

Girls cross-country: Kyleen Brady, 69´«Ã½

Unable to compete at sectionals last season due to pneumonia, Brady made an impact at this year's Section III, Class A championships. The junior was the first runner to cross the finish line with a personal record time of 17:38.2, and was named sectional champion. Though the Maroon girls were 2 points shy of taking home the team championship, they had three runners place in the top 10 of the meet.

Football: Camren Hoag, Cato-Meridian

The running back had one of the most memorable games of his career in his final time on the Blue Devils’ field, rushing for 213 yards — 7 less than his record — and three touchdowns. Behind Hoag's performance, Cato-Meridian took down Westmoreland/Oriskany 54-21 in the Section III, Class D quarterfinals. He then capped off his career as a Blue Devil with 10 carries for 99 yards and a touchdown against Mount Markham in a losing effort in the semifinals. 

Football: Joe Baylor, Moravia

Leading the Blue Devils in receiving during the regular season, Baylor carried that production over to the postseason. The senior opened sectional play with three touchdowns and 100 yards on just three catches in the Section IV 8-man semifinals against Groton. In the Blue Devils’ loss to Trumansburg in the sectional final, he caught five passes for 128 yards and one touchdown. Out of those five receptions, four went for at least 24 yards.

Football: Reid Danforth, Skaneateles

Over the Lakers’ pair of sectional contests, the junior receiver racked up nearly 300 yards on 11 catches. He hauled in four passes for 116 yards and one touchdown while also picking off Canastota’s quarterback in Skaneateles’ 35-32 victory in the Section III, Class C quarterfinals. Danforth followed that up with a career-high 179 yards to pair with one touchdown on seven catches in the Lakers’ semifinal loss to General Brown.

Boys soccer: Braxton Young, Southern Cayuga

En route to Southern Cayuga winning its second sectional title in three years, the freshman scored a pair of goals across his team's three tournament matchups. Young kicked off the postseason by netting his first goal against Odessa-Montour in the Section IV, Class C quarterfinals. He then helped Southern Cayuga secure the sectional title over Seton Catholic by scoring one of his team's pair of goals in a one-score win. 

Boys soccer: Ian Thompson, Skaneateles

The Lakers netted a total of 19 goals during their four-game sectional run, with Thompson playing a big role in that number. The forward scored a career-high four goals in Skaneateles’ 10-0 win against General Brown in the first round of the Section III, Class B tournament. In the Lakers’ ensuing victories over Marcellus and Lowville, Thompson hit the back of the net once and three times, respectively. Facing off against Westhill in the sectional championship, he scored Skaneateles' lone goal in a one-score loss.

Volleyball: Zoie Karcz, Jordan-Elbridge

Karcz racked up a total of 28 points, 27 assists and 10 digs across the Eagles' two sectional appearances, as Jordan-Elbridge won its first sectional title in program history. The junior setter tallied 12 total points — 9 of them service points — and 11 assists in a three-set win over the Syracuse Academy of Science in the Section III, Class B semifinals. She then helped the Eagles capture the sectional title after recording 16 total points, 16 assists and nine digs in a five-set victory against Weedsport.

Volleyball: Zoyee Newton, Weedsport

On the way to the Wolverines’ sectional title appearance against Jordan-Elbridge, the junior totaled 14 points in each of her team’s wins. She also posted a team-high 17 digs in Weedsport’s 3-1 win over Cato-Meridian in the Section III, Class B semifinals. To close the season, she had a team-high 17 total points in the Wolverines’ loss to the Eagles. As a result of her performances in the postseason, Newton finished the season with a team-high 171 total points — 143 coming from kills.