09/06/2026
COLLEGE SPORTS WRAP
By John Addyman
Welcome to the first edition of College Sports Wrap for 2026-27. We’ll be providing you with news about Wayne County athletes until May of next year, every weekend.
The athletes mentioned in this column are found on our list of colleges and the rosters from each one. Developing that list is very time-consuming, and this early in the season, we’re bound to miss someone.
And this is where I ask, every year, for those who know about this column, to check and make sure their athlete is on our list. To do that, just email me a note at [email protected]. I answer all emails, and I’ll get back to you. Please share that email with parents and fans who MAY NOT KNOW how thorough and careful our coverage is.
For instance, I don’t check the sports rosters at the University of Alaska because I don’t expect to find local Wayne County athletes there. But there are many colleges and universities a lot closer than Alaska which may have Wayne County athletes playing a sport. Just let me know who they are – to do that, send me the athlete’s name, high school, hometown and sport. I’ll do the rest.
Thanks!
We had some unusual achievements this first week, with a number of freshman making huge contributions right off the bat. Check them out…
VOLLEYBALL
Corning Community College volleyball is off to a solid start, winning two of its first three games, and over the weekend.
On Aug. 25, the Red Barons shut out Broome Community College, 3-0. Sophomore middle blocker Kayla Bellefontaine (Marion) fired off six kills and had an assist in the win. In a tri-meet on Sunday, Aug. 30, Corning lost to Erie CC, 1-3, but then worked past Jamestown CC, 3-2. Kayla had three kills and block a shot against Erie, then in the Jamestown win, she had three kills, two block assists and a block.
This weekend, the Red Barons got stopped twice, first by Niagara Community College, 0-3, and then by Genesee Community College, 0-3. No box score was available.
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Finger Lakes Community College volleyball has enjoyed a turbocharged start to the season, posting an 8-1 record. The Lakers started their 2026 campaign with three wins out of four tries at a tournament in Rockford, IL on Aug. 21 and 22.
The first FLCC victim on that Friday was Dakota College and a shutout triumph, 3-0. Laker sophomore middle hitter Ava Van Antwerp (Gananda) made three kills and added three block assists. The later game was a 3-1 win over Ridgewater College, with Ava smacking four kills and making five block assists. Freshman Jade Stoner (Newark) made her collegiate debut in the win but did not record any stats.
On that Saturday, the Lakers started with a shutout of South Suburban College, Ava chipping in two kills. The trip to Illinois ended with a speed-bump 1-3 loss to Wisconsin/Whitewater. Ava had three kills, a block and a block assist in the loss. Jade got into that game, too.
FLCC shut out Onondaga CC on Aug. 25 with Ava contributing two kills, two blocked shots and a block assist. Jade saw some time on the floor, too. Last Saturday, the Lakers shut out Cayuga CC with Ava mashing five kills and adding a block assist, and Jade registering her first two collegiate kills.
This Saturday the Lakers shut out Jefferson CC and Fulton-Montgomery CC, both 3-0. Ava bombarded Jefferson with eight kills. Twp blocked shots and a block assist while Jade contributed a dig. Against Fulton-Montgomery, Ava made one kill and picked up a block assist; Jade registered an assist.
One really gratifying change in FLCC’s volleyball reporting is a brand-new box score format – very helpful for bringing you more-detailed results. Thanks, FLCC!
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SUNY Polytechnic volleyball played four games and lost them all over the weekend in the Morrisville State Mustang Tournament. The Wildcats fell to Morrisville, 1-3, and Alfred State, 0-3, o Friday, and succumbed to Alfred University, 0-3 and Saint Francis University, 0-3, on Saturday.
Junior outside hitter Kara Stephens (Lyons) had some moments for the Wildcats – she made seven kills and an assist versus Morrisville, came up with no kills against Alfred State, made one kill, and had a block assist and two digs against Alfred University.
SOCCER
Keuka College freshman midfielder Bailey Cook (Wayne Central) got her collegiate soccer career off to a great start, scoring a goal in the Wolves’ opening game, a 4-0 triumph over Morrisville State on Tuesday night. She connected in the 64th minute on a through ball from Nadia Wehbe, smacking a line-drive one-timer into the net for the third Keuka score of the game.
Bailey became a starter for the second game, scoring again, this time against SUNY ESF at home. She connected on another through ball, this time from Sam Bates, for the first goal in what turned out to be a 7-0 whitewash of ESF.
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Alfred State sophomore striker Isabella Hoffman (Gananda) needed just two minutes on the pitch to score her first goal of the season in the opener for the Pioneers against their cross-valley rival, Alfred University on Tuesday. Baylee Hayes got the assist. The Saxons would even the score and edge ahead, 1-2, in the 48th minute, but Isabella struck net again in the 74th minute (Regan Curabba assisting) to tie everything up and game ended, 2-2.
It was Saxon junior midfielder Anna Henner (Williamson) who scored Alfred’s second goal in the 48th minute to pull ahead. She put two shots on goal. On Saturday, Alfred played Chatham College to a 0-0 draw; Anna did not attempt a shot.
Also on Saturday, the Alfred State met Thiel College and made a lone first-period goal stand up for a 1-0 Pioneer win. Isabella took four shots, putting one on goal.
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John Carroll University women’s soccer got upended by Case Western Reserve on Tuesday, 2-1 in the season lid-lifter for both schools. Sophomore Emerson Paull (Gananda) started on defense for the Blue Streaks.
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The Greensboro College women emerged from their soccer season opener on Tuesday with a 0-0 draw against Eastern Mennonite College. Junior defender Abby Sanzotta (Red Creek) got into the game for the Pride but did not offer a shot.
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Le Moyne College’s women have struggled out of the gate, dropping their first five games in August, but turning things around finally last Sunday for a 2-1 win over Saint Peter’s. In those first five games, sophomore midfielder Ella Lathrop (Gananda) got off a shot against Canisius in a 0-2 loss on Aug. 13; got one more shot off against Iona in a 1-2 loss on Aug. 16; put a shot on goal against Niagara on Aug. 20 in an 0-2 loss and did the same against Binghamton in an 0-4 whiteout on Aug. 23. She didn’t get off a shot against St. Bonaventure on Aug. 27’s 0-2 loss, nor did she shoot in the Saint Peter’s win or the Siena 0-4 loss on Wednesday. The Dolphins are 1-6.
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The women’s soccer Tribunes of Monroe Community College are unbeaten in their first four games, downing Mohawk Valley CC 5-0 in the season lid-lifter on Aug. 21, bashing Jackson College 4-0 on Aug. 28, then working a 1-1 tie with 12th-ranked Lewis & Clark CC last Saturday and beating 19th-ranked Motlow State University on Friday, 3-1.
Sophomore midfielder Lillian Boesel (Pal-Mac) scored the goal that started the season in the ninth minute against Mohawk Valley, Julia Engstler getting the assist. Lillian returned the favor by assisting on Julia’s second-half score.
Freshman goalie Summer Bathrick (Wayne Central) made her collegiate debut in the net for 15 minutes of the Jackson win, making one save. Lillian got off two shots but did not score in that game.
In the tie with Lewis & Clark, Lillian started again and put a shot on goal. She then picked up two assists in the Motlow State win, one on Emily Peacock’s score that started the game, and the second on Claudia Cuadras’ tally in the 59th minute.
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Roberts Wesleyan freshman striker Lauren Schmeelk (Williamson) came in off the bench in her first collegiate soccer game and put a shot on goal against Thomas More University in a game that ended in a 2-2 draw on Aug. 27, the season opener for both teams. She was back on the field last Saturday in a 2-0 win against Malone University but did not get off a shot.
On Wednesday, she recorded her first collegiate assist in a 2-1 win over Felician University. Lauren got the ball to Gracie Groome in the 78th minute, and Gracie provided the insurance goal to ensure the win.
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Stetson University women’s soccer is looking for some offense after losing the first four games without scoring a goal.
On Aug. 13, the Hatters were shut out by Florida State, 0-4. Senior goalie Clare Boesel (Pal-Mac) had a busy day in her office, making eight saves as the defense collapsed, yielding four goals. Stetson fell to Kennesaw State on Aug. 18, 0-2, with Clare making three saves but allowing both goals.
Troy beat Stetson on Aug. 23, 0-2, and Clare made no saves. Last Sunday the Hatters fell to South Florida, 0-3, and Clare made four saves but three balls got past her. On Thursday this week, the Hatters lost to West Florida, 0-2. Clare played 70 minutes, gave up two goals and made one save. Stetson is 0-5.
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Elmira College freshman striker Gauge Johnson (Sodus) made his collegiate debut in the season-opening 0-3 loss to Ithaca College on Wednesday. He got on the field but didn’t get an opportunity to take a shot.
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Finger Lakes Community College women’s soccer has dropped its first two games, 0-4 to Jamestown CC on Wednesday, and 1-2 to Jefferson CC on Saturday. Sophomore defensive back Kadience Powell (North Rose-Wolcott) started the Jamestown game for the Lakers but did not offer a shot; no box score was available for the Jefferson game.
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Oswego State freshman midfielder Lily Aylet (Gananda) made her bow in collegiate soccer on Saturday in a 0-7 loss to Hamilton College. She didn’t have time to get off a shot.
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The University at Buffalo women’s soccer team has a 3-2-1 record to start the season. The Bulls opened the season with a 2-0 win over Niagara and the same advantage over Mercyhurst. Then came an 0-2 defeat by Grand Canyon and 0-5 by Arizona State. After a 0-0 draw with Binghamton, the Bulls got things right again with a 2-1 win over Canisius.
Junior midfielder Maya Ikewood (Pal-Mac) was subbed into the Niagara and Mercyhurst win – she took no shots. The same with the Grand Canyon and Arizona State losses. She was subbed into the Binghamton game, but started in the Canisius win – but took no shots.
CROSS-COUNTRY
John Carroll University sophomore Meah Prutzman (Gananda) finished fifth overall in 16:01.6 minutes at the Bill Sudeck Classic Cross-Country meet against Case Western Reserve on Tuesday in Hunting Valley, OH. She and her Blue Streak teammates finished second.
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Finger Lakes Community College freshman Elizabeth Mullen (Newark) came in 31st (25:50.17) and sophomore Megan McGregor (Marion), finished 33rd (30:15.7) at the Oswego State Cross-Country Invitational 4K on Saturday morning; the Lakers were third as a team.
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Hartwick College junior Julia Weinschreider (Red Creek) came in fifth (19:26.5) as the first Hawk finisher on Saturday at the SUNY Polytechnic Wildcat Short-Course Invitational 4K. Utica University won the event on the SUNY Poly course in Marcy, NY.
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Houghton University junior Gwenna Haas (Red Creek) finished 50th (18:04.5) in the 8th Annual St. John Fisher Rodenbeck Invitational 4K on Saturday. Junior teammate Gracie Gasparri (Williamson) came in 10-8th (28:16.0). The University at Buffalo won the men’s and women’s events.
For St. John Fisher’s men, junior Landon Wertz (Marion) demonstrated that he was putting in the miles over the summer – he was the first Fisher finisher, in 16th place (20:27.9).
Keuka College sophomore Alston Hernandez (North Rose-Wolcott) finished 78th (24:43.0) in the men’s 6K. Junior teammate Rylie Pratt (Wayne Central) was 104th (25.50.9) in the women’s run.
TENNIS
Geneseo State women’s tennis led by senior JoAnn Catalano (Williamson) is off to a strong start with wins in its first three matches all of them shutout victories. On Tuesday, the Knights took down Oswego State. JoAnn teamed with Natalie Pipes in first doubles for a 6-2 win over Leah Bell and Emily DeLuca. JoAnn also picked up a win in sixth singles, besting Aubrey Salati, 6-0, 6-1.
The Knights next chased Cortland State on Thursday, with JoAnn and Natalie again winning first doubles, 6-1, and JoAnn beating Olivia Kirch in sixth singles, 6-1. 6-0. Finally, Geneseo stormed past Russell Sage on Saturday with JoAnn and Natalie winning 6-0 in first doubles and JoAnn scored a 6-0, 6-0 sweep in sixth singles.
FOOTBALL
The University of Rochester senior linebacker Nathan Lehigh (Macedon/Penfield) had a decent day for the Yellowjackets, but Case Western Reserve put more points on the scoreboard Saturday, 38-20. He made nine tackles, six of them solos, made one tackle for loss, forced a fumble and made an interception.
