Many of Baldwinsville’s top athletes are preparing to go to Binghamton and other parts of the Southern Tier next weekend for the 31st renewal of the Empire State Games.
The oldest event of its kind in the country, the ESG draws thousands of competitors from six geographic regions (Central, Western, Adirondack, Hudson Valley, New York City and Long Island), who vie for medals in more than two dozen sports.
Here is where, and in what sport, Baldwinsville’s finest can be found.
Track and Field
In all, six current or former B’ville track stars are due to take part in the ESG meet at SUNY-Binghamton Stadium.
In the open men’s division, Anthony Carapella sprints in the 400-meter dash, Cory Greczyn runs at 800 meters and Tom Cuppernull is entered in the long jump. On the scholastic side, Adam Pacheck represents the Bees in the 10,000-meter run and Brian Kane does the same in the high jump, while Danae Polsin goes in the scholastic women’s 5,000-meter run.
Soccer
Building on the Section III Class AA title it won in 2007, B’ville sends midfielders Austin Buckley and Ryan Evans, plus goalie P.J. Goodwin and defender Kyle Rogers, to SUNY-Binghamton with the Central scholastic men’s team.
Elsewhere, B’ville has Courtney Paddock, going into her junior year at LeMoyne, on the Central open women’s side and Ali Coughlin with the scholastic women’s squad.
Volleyball
As Lauren Hartman moves up to the open ranks for the Central region at SUNY-Cortland’s Park Center, current B’ville libero Erin Carrino joins teammates Lauren McVey and Laura Galvin on a strong scholastic team. Pete Cuppernull and Rob Hennessey both make their ESG debuts with the Central scholastic men’s side.
Gymnastics
Kevin Corp and Adam Struppler, both from B’ville, and Memphis native Sean Hohm all are on a strong Central open men’s team bound for Broome County Arena in Binghamton. Gary Gregory and Lauren Gresens both are Central coaches.
Wrestling
Anthony Finocchiaro, fresh off his first-ever appearance at the New York State Public High School Athletic Association tournament last winter, is a medal favorite at 115 pounds in the Greco-Roman discipline at SUNY-Binghamton’s West Gym. Also in the Greco-Roman division, Andrew Giormini wrestles at 178 pounds and Sean Hennigan competes at 192 pounds.
Swimming
In men’s ESG competition at SUNY-Cortland’s Park Center pool, Dan Burke represents B’ville as he swims in both the 100 and 200-meter breaststroke events on the scholastic side. Chris Cadwell competes in the open men’s 200-meter freestyle.
Tennis
Just a month before starting up another B’ville girls tennis season, sisters Amari and Bri Pollard join together to play doubles for the Central scholastic women’s team at the SUNY-Binghamton courts.
Basketball
Currently residing in Baldwinsville, former LeMoyne College star Jennifer Feher joins the Central open women’s team playing at Binghamton High School, led by Onondaga Community College coach Mike Wheeler.
Canoe/Kayak
Mike Wolfson emerges from Baldwinsville, joining a veteran-laden ESG open men’s roster in races ranging from singles to quads, 200 to 500 meters, at Dorchester Park in Whitney Point.
Diving
Jennifer Gregory is part of the ESG open women’s diving team, all set to compete at SUNY-Binghamton’s West Gym in the 1-meter springboard.
Fencing
Amanda Kearney qualified for Central’s scholastic women’s team and will compete in the epee at Davis College in Vestal. Unlike years past, when only team matches took place, now individual titles in epee, plus foil and sabre, will be decided.
Rowing
Continuing the B’ville tradition at the ESG, Greg Bell rows with a Central open men’s crew largely composed of Ithaca-area rowers. They’ll compete at Dorchester Park, too.
