Many of the top athletes from Skaneateles and Marcellus are on their way to Binghamton and the Southern Tier for the 31st edition of the Empire State Games.
Each summer, competitors from six geographic regions (Central, Western, Adirondack, Hudson Valley, New York City and Long Island) gather in more than two dozen sports for the ESG, the oldest event of its kind in the country.
Here is where local athletes can be found in their pursuit of medals.
Track and Field
Fresh off strong efforts in the spring for the Marcellus track and field team, Mike Quercia and Chris Stogsdill are entered in the scholastic men’s meet at SUNY-Binghamton. Quercia is in the 100 and 200-meter sprints, while Stogsdill is a medal contender in the 1,500 and 5,000-meter runs.
Canoe/Kayak
Long a presence at the Empire Games, Skaneateles falls native Timothy Davis returns again for races at Dorchester Park in Whitney Point.
Fencing
In a fast-growing sport among younger competitors, three local fencers are part of the Central squad at Davis College in Vestal.
Keith Vandingstee (Skanetaeles) competes in the open men’s epee, with Sarah DeRusha (Marcellus) in the scholastic women’s sabre and Brendan Dickerson (Skaneateles) entered in the scholastic men’s sabre. This year, individual events (Foil, epee, sabre) replace team events, where Central had struggled.
Ice Hockey
Fresh off helping Skaneateles win Section III titles in both hockey and lacrosse, Keith Buehler takes to the ice for Central’s scholastic men’s team at Broome County Community College. From Marcellus, Stephanie O’Rourke is part of the Central women’s team playing at Chenango Ice Rink.
Lacrosse
As part of the Central scholastic women’s team playing at Alumni Stadium (located behind Binghamton Middle School, hard by I-81), Maddy Morrissey (Skaneateles) and Meghan Connors (Marcellus) both are expected to be key parts of the attack.
Wrestling
Anna Cummings, who lives in Marcellus (but graduated from Onondaga High School), will compete against the guys in the open Greco-Roman 119-pound division. Marcellus High School graduate Vito Argese is entered in the open freestyle division, also at 119 pounds.
Swimming
Hailing from Skanetaeles, Reid Swartz will get a chance to show his versatility in the pool at SUNY-Cortland’s Park Center when he competes in the scholastic men’s 200-meter freestyle, then the much longer 1,500-meter freestyle.
Tennis
After a productive and win-filled spring with the Skaneateles High School boys tennis team, Joey Robinson will play doubles with Horseheads native Sam Deluccia for the Central scholastic men’s squad at SUNY-Binghamton.
Gymnastics
Evan Parker resides in Marcellus and qualified for a place on the Central open men’s team that will be on the mat at Broome County Arena in downtown Binghamton.
Weightlifting
Among the lifters at SUNY-Binghamton’s Chamber Hall, Marcellus native Steve Stechyshyn will join Central teammate Josh Lewis entered in the 169.75-pound event.
