After a one-year hiatus and serious questions about the event’s future, the Empire State Games come back with the opening ceremonies July 21 at University at Buffalo Stadium.
Once that is done, from July 22 to 25 thousands of athletes from six regions (Central, Western, Adirondack, Hudson Valley, New York City and Long Island) will vie for medals in more than 20 sports at venues throughout Western New York.
Many local athletes are part of this mix, and here is where they can be found:
Baseball – Three members of Liverpool’s Section III Class AA final team — Alex Caruso, Mike Parsons and Shawn Peake — join Cicero-North Syracuse pitcher Joe Pokrentowski on Central’s scholastic team, which will split games between the Amherst Audubon Complex and Erie Community College’s North campus.
Basketball – Fresh off twin Section III Class AA titles, both of CNS’s basketball teams figure in the ESG. Kelsey Mattice and Brittany Paul are on the scholastic women’s team at Niagara University, while Zach Coleman and Elliott Boyce join Liverpoll’s Connor Rogers and Josh Williams on the scholastic men’s side at Canisius College. Meanwhile, CNS alum Marybeth Egan and Liverpool great Tyler Ash play on the open women’s team at Niagara with Cicero native Jennifer Feher.
Soccer – All kinds of Liverpool and CNS greats will cover the fields at Amherst North French Soccer Complex. Ashleigh Bowers, Nicole Close, Chelsea Dunay, Kristin Hinrich and Gabby Racines all join forces for Central’s open women, while Marcus DeBottis, Bogdan Yatsishin, Jake Taber and Mike Vaughn play for the open men. Scholastic players include CNS’s Dan DeBottis and Liverpool’s Amanda Heberger.
Track and Field – Jasmine Thompson will be a medal favorite in the scholastic women’s heptathlon, with Samantha Schaefer (who attends Bishop Grimes) also in the heptathlon and Tatiana Gladney a contender in the shot put. Joe Spernyak competes in the scholastic men’s 110 high hurdles, with Dan Fritz and Daniel Ver up in the open division for the 3,000-meter steeplechase and Fred Shattell in the 10,000.
Swimming – There will only be scholastic events at Erie Community College’s Burt Flickinger Center (site of several past state meets), where Becky Evangelista, Zoe McCauley and Madison Sestak all represent Liverpool on the women’s side. Shane Donovan and Nick Burdo are on Central’s open men’s squad.
Volleyball – Brian Bunch, Mike Freytag, Jason Hays and Adam Krahmer all return to the ESG as part of the Central open men’s team playing at UB’s Alumni Arena. Tyler Smith works on the scholastic side, as does Jennifer Street for the Central women.
Wrestling – At Buffalo State’s Ice Arena, CNS graduate Kyle Brisson will expect a medal in the open division, while Dan Ciciarelli works on the scholastic side.
Diving – Billy Werksman, a veteran of past ESG meets, is back at UB’s Alumni Arena in the one-meter, three-meter and synchronized events, with Cicero’s Stacie DeCarr in the open women’s three-meter.
Field Hockey – On a Central team that will play at UB’s Walter Kunz field, Liverpool’s Emma Lamison is a key contributor, as are CNS teammates Katie Kennedy and Chenlan Xue.
Gymnastics – All the ESG meets are at Buffalo State College Sports Arena, where Liverpool natives Eric Vogt and Josh Smith, plus North Syracuse’s Kaelei Spoor, pursue medals in the open competition and Connor Catalano (Clay) joins the scholastic side.
Ice Hockey – Steve Cibelli, from Liverpool, helps coach a Central scholastic men’s team that takes to the ice at Amherst Audubon Complex with two others from Liverpool, Marc Cibelli and Anthony Eno.
Lacrosse – In the scholastic men’s tournament at Canisius, Joe Corapi plays for Central, while fellow Warrior Alison Flood fills the same role on the women’s squad playing at Niagara.
Shooting – Brian Dallos, from Liverpool, and Albert Desiderio, from Clay, both are headed to Lockport Conservation Club — Dallos in the air rifle and free position, Desiderio in the rapid fire pistol.
Tennis – Sarah O’Hara joins a talented Central scholastic women’s squad, playing in doubles during the ESG tournament at UB’s Ellicott Courts.