A whole host of Syracuse’s top athletes will find themselves headed for Binghamton and the Southern Tier next week for the 31st edition of the Empire State Games.
From July 24 to 27, thousands of competitors from six geographic regions (Central, Western, Adirondack, Hudson Valley, New York City and Long Island) will vie for medals in more than two dozen sports.
Here is who, and where, the city’s best will be found next week.
Track and Field
In the open men’s ESG meet at SUNY-Binghamton, Henninger graduate Andre Britton is a medal favorite at both 100 and 200 meters, with Colisse Ray entered in the 110-meter high hurdles. Krystal Boyd runs in the open women’s 100-meter dash, with Christina Acquaviva entered in the 100-meter high hurdles.
Meanwhile, current Black Knights star Greg Spears is running in the scholastic men’s 100 and 200 sprints as Dwight Hicks goes in the shot put. Renee Koch, a Syracuse native who competes at Onondaga High School, is the scholastic women’s 200.
Basketball
On a Central open women’s team coached by OCC’s Mike Wheeler, Fantasia Goodwin (Syracuse University) and Corcoran graduate Katie Kelley are on hand at Binghamton High School.
Over at SUNY-Binghamton’s Events Center, Faith Heritage graduate Aaron Hall, Bishop Ludden graduate Terry Smith, and LeMoyne teammates Dan Cromwell and Laurence Ekperigin are on hand. OCC coach Dave Pasiak is on the bench. Jermaine Taylor plays with Central’s scholastic men.
Soccer
Many Syracuse-area players are going to SUNY-Binghamton, especially in the open division. Brandon Jackson, Mawuena Agbossoumonde, Shaman Mason, Dan McGowan and Glen Mihal are all with Central’s men, while Brooke Barbuto, Mell Cathcart and Nikki Dudley are on the women’s side. Emmanuel Chanelo joins the Central scholastic men’s squad.
Diving
At SUNY-Binghamton’s West Gym Pool, Justine Miller-Khanzadian dives in the open women’s three-meter event, with Zach Hisert doing both one-meter and synchronized events on the men’s side. Westhill/Corcoran star Imani Williams is in the scholastic women’s three-meter contest.
Wrestling
Like diving, ESG wrestling is in the West Gym. There, Fowler graduate Jose Cruz is wrestling at 187 pounds in both freestyle and Greco-Roman disciplines, while Rob Northup sticks to the Greco-Roman side at 213 pounds.
David Minney, a current standout at Fowler, wrestles at 154 pounds on the Greco-Roman side as Elijah Graham goes at 275 pounds on the freestyle side.
Gymnastics
Jamal Holmes, Peter Bovalino and Neil Damron give Syracuse heavy representation on the Central scholastic men’s team that will compete at Broome County Arena. Nick Burger is with Central’s open men as Kelsey Cook competes with the open women.
Swimming
Hailing from Syracuse, Summer Schmitt will swim in the scholastic women’s 200-meter backstroke and 200-meter individual medley at SUNY-Cortland’s Park Center. Liz Neddo swims in the open women’s 400, 800 and 1,500 freestyle events.
Volleyball
Sara Eckrich is entered with Central’s open women’s team going to SUNY-Cortland’s Park Center, with Cameron Brown entered to help the scholastic men’s side battle for a medal.
Ice Hockey
Two Syracuse natives — Aubrey Fischer and Shannon Flattery — are going to play key roles for the Central scholastic women’s team playing at Chenango Ice Rink in Binghamton.
Baseball
Corcoran pitcher Steve Bornoczyk will likely see time on the mound for Central’s scholastic squad at Conlon Field and Union-Endicott High School. Boronczyk threw a no-hitter this spring for the Cougars.
Judo
Kyle Bome is entered at 179 pounds for the ESG tournament at SUNY-Binghamton’s East Gym as fellow Syracuse native Seth Wilks fights in the open (220 pound-plus) division.
Lacrosse
On Central’s scholastic men’s team battling for a gold medal at SUNY-Binghamton, Joe Fletcher is playing defense.
Bowling
Two Syracuse residents, Jeremy Macri and Derek Magno, will see action for the Central open team in singles, doubles and team competition at Owego Bowl.
Boxing
Jimmy Garcia hails from the Salt City and is competing at 165 pounds in the ESG boxing tournament, held at Susquehanna Valley High School in Conklin.
Cycling
In ESG road races held throughout the Binghamton area, Brad Crosby is riding with a Central team that includes 10 cyclists.
Rowing
Though the Central open women’s roster is mostly composed of Ithaca rowers, Marilyn Hartman made it from Syracuse and will bring her oar to Dorchester Park in Whitney Point.
Softball
Lindsey Spaziani, who went to Horseheads High School before starring at LeMoyne College, joins many of her LeMoyne teammates on Central’s open team in games at the BAGSAI complex, which hosted the state championships in June
