02/16/2025
COLLEGE SPORTS WRAP
By John Addyman
For Feb 16 25
It doesn’t look it outside, but spring is here – at least the spring sports programs have started to wake up after their winter’s nap. We’ve got some baseball, softball and lacrosse results, and we’ll offer more when Division III programs fire up in the next couple of weeks. Next week we’ll also see winter conferences decided as swimmers get back in the pools.
Highlights this week include racewalker Alexa Governor’s continuing thrashing of the year’s best times in high level competition. There’s baseball news about Paulie Goodness and Gage Ziehl. Molly Joyce is off to a big start in lacrosse as is freshman Alex Garrow.
In basketball, Madison Dohse is living the old saying, “make every minute count.” Track athletes Ben VanVranken and Ryan DeWispeleare have popped up on our screens in track and field. In volleyball, Lawson Drabik’s team is ranked and 15-2. And in softball, Tia Brown struck out 10 batters and still lost a game.
Enjoy all the good stuff about our Wayne County athletes…
BASEBALL
The baseball season opened over the weekend, but before we get into those limited results, we want to note that an athlete we’ve followed for three years, Gage Ziehl (Macedon/Penfield) will spend the summer playing for the Yankees affiliate in the rookie Florida Complex League. He was signed by the Yankees after his junior year at the University of Miami, where he was one of the top throwers right out of the gate. The sign-on date was July 29, and he was assigned to the FCL Yankees on Aug. 5.
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Paulie Goodness (Pal-Mac), has taken a step up in competition. The very successful center fielder for Finger Lakes Community College last year is now a starting center fielder for Le Moyne College, which is going through the certification to be a Division I program and membership in the Northeast Conference.
The Dolphins started their season with a four-game set at Tennessee Tech University in Cookeville, TN over the weekend, playing games Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Le Moyne lost the first three games, 2-6, 2-4 and 3-6; the last game of the set is set for noon today. Paulie played in every game, starting the first two games as the lead-off hitter, and batting 0-for-3 and 0-for 2. In the third game, on Saturday, he batted 1-for-4. He also stole his first base of the season in that third game – something he was noted for at FLCC. He could well be a force at Le Moyne.
LACROSSE
Vanderbilt University junior lacrosse goalkeeper Molly Joyce (Macedon/Penfield) made seven saves in the season opener for the Commodores, a 13-8 win at Cincinnati last Saturday. On Wednesday at home, the Dores were stopped by 18th-ranked Clemson, 20-12. Molly took the loss with 13 goals against her in one half of play, with five saves.
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Roberts Wesleyan men’s lacrosse took on nationally ranked Seton Hall in the season opener in Pennsylvania on Saturday afternoon, losing 5-23. Sophomore defender Carlos Bueso (Newark) got into the game but did not record any stats.
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Freshman midfielder Alex Garrow (Wayne Central) scored his first collegiate goal and added his first collegiate assist and senior midfielder Andy Hamel (Wayne Central) scored another goal as Nazareth University men’s lacrosse got ahead early then hung on for a 9-8 win over Springfield College on Saturday just as the snow arrived on the season lid-lifter.
Andy connected at 4:27 in the second period with Alex providing the assist.
Alex tied the game at 9:58 of the final period, assisted by Owen Riley. Joey Hathorn followed with the game-winner a minute later.
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Mercyhurst University’s men got smothered by UMass/Lowell on Friday, 15-7. Laker senior attacker Jackson Saulpaugh (Macedon/Penfield) was in the game but did not record any stats. Maercyhurst is off to an 0-2 start.
BASKETBALL
Utica University women’s basketball completed a game against Elmira on Friday but cancelled a Saturday afternoon contest with Keuka College because of the snowy, icy weather. Sophomore forward Jaida Larsen (Clyde-Savannah) got into the Elmira game, a 50-61 loss, long enough to grab one rebound. The Pioneers are 3-20 (1-13 Empire 8).
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The University of Louisville men have a three-game win streak going and a 19-6 record overall (12-2 ACC). On Wednesday the Cardinals flattened North Carolina State, 91-66. Grad student forward Noah Waterman (Savannah/Pathlight Academy) contributed three rebounds to the win.
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Penn State/Behrend men’s basketball picked up two wins during the week, escaping Hilbert on Wednesday, 84-77, and slipping past Pitt/Bradford on Saturday, 69-62. Starting junior guard Mason Blankenberg (Wayne Central) scored four points, had six rebounds and three assists in the Hilbert win; he had a bigger night against Bradford with 15 points and two rebounds plus four assists. The Lions improve to 13-11 (8-7 AMCC).
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Niagara University men’s basketball handles Canisius, 71-60, on Wednesday night, then edged by Mount St. Mary’s on Friday at home, 83-84. Grad student Justice Smith (Lyons) came off the bench to score three points and pick up a rebound and an assist in the win. The Purple Eagles are 10-15 (5-9 MAAC).
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Keuka College’s women fell victim to a big second half from SUNY Polytechnic of Friday, losing 51-61. Senior starting guard Caiden Crego (Lyons) scored six points and had two rebounds and four assists for the 5-18 Wolves (4-10 E-8).
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Gordon College’s men split their games during the week, holding off Curry College on Tuesday for an 85-77 win, then losing to Roger Williams University on Saturday, 72-90. Sophomore forward Brayden Steve (Newark) got into the RWU game, scoring two points and blocking one shot. The Scots are 10-13 (6-10 CNE).
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Finger Lakes Community College men’s basketball beat the Nazareth University jayvees last Sunday, 70-56, then absorbed a tough loss to Jefferson CC on Wednesday, 81-82, ending the week by getting pancaked by Tompkins Cortland CC, 52-86.
Sophomore starting forward Jace Brown (Red Creek) led the scoring versus Nazareth wit 20 points and nine rebounds. Freshman Kellen Foster (Newark) added five points , five rebounds and three assists. Freshman Dezmen Bell (Newark) contributed two points and an assist.
In the Jefferson loss, Kellen poured in 19 points and three rebounds, Jace had 14 points and eight rebounds. Jace finished his week with eight points against Tompkins Cortland; Kellen had five points and eight rebounds. The Lakers are 9-16 (4-9 conference).
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When you’re a freshman, you learn to make the most of your opportunities when you get them. According to the box score, Alfred University freshman forward Madison Dohse (Gananda) got into the Brockport State game on Friday night for one minute, but in that time span she scored two points and grabbed a rebound. The Saxons still lost, 65-83. In the Alfred 52-73 loss to Geneseo State on Saturday, she spent two minutes on the floor and grabbed one rebound and attempted one shot. The Saxon women are 13-11 (7-8 E-8).
SOFTBALL
Playing in the Bevo Classic at the University of Texas in Austin, the University of Massachusetts softball took on some heavy-hitting teams including top-ranked Texas and eighth-ranked Texas Tech.
And things did not go well.
On Thursday the Minutewomen lost to Maryland, 0-4, and Texas Tech, 4-17. Junior outfielder Taylor Richardson (Lyons) got into the tech game playing left field and batted 1-for 2, getting a single on a fielder’s choice in the second inning.
Saturday brought two more losses, against to Texas Tech, 0-3, and then to Texas, 0-6.
Taylor was involved in last Sunday’s 9-10 loss to Kent State, entering the game as a pinch runner and finishing as the designated hitter, batting 0-for-2 but scoring a run. UMass is 3-6 with a six-game losing streak.
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Lincoln University opened its season at the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association/Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association Softball Challenge in Spartanburg, SC on Friday, losing the season opener to Benedict College, 7-9, but beating Johnson C. Smith University, 7-2.
Senior pitcher Tia Brown (Newark) started in the circle for the Lions, throwing for six innings and allowing 18 hits and nine runs and getting tagged with the loss. She also walked two and struck out 10. She was 1-for-3 at the plate with a run scored. She did not play in the Smith game.
TRACK & FIELD
She’s at it again.
For the third time this season, sophomore racewalker Alexa Governor (Williamson) has not only won the 3000-meter event (on Friday), this time at the Mid-South Conference Indoor Track & Field Championships, but her time of 14:14.40 set a new 2025 record for competition in the NAIA for the University of the Cumberlands athlete.
Respect!
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St. John Fisher freshman pole vaulter Oren Welch (Marion) finished 14th in the 60-meter hurdles (8.96) at the Nazareth University D3 Elite Meet on Friday.
At that same meet, Rochester Institute of Technology sophomore Jack DeFeo (North Rose-Wolcott) placed second in the 400-meter dash (49.38).
Houghton University freshman Gwenna Haas (Red Creek) finished 16th in the 800 meters (2:29.58) and ran the second lap of the sixth-place 4-by-400 relay (4:18.84).
Brockport State junior Lexi Rodriguez (Williamson) had a great meet – she claimed a third-place finish in the 400-meter dash (58.92) and took fifth place in the 200-meter dash (26.47).
Alfred State freshman Ben VanVranken (Red Creek/APW) finished 10th in the pole vault (4.18 meters).
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Ithaca College freshman Ryan DeWispeleare (North Rose-Wolcott) finished 18th in the 400-meter dash (55.39) at the Cornell University Robert Kane Invitational on Saturday. He also placed 33rd in the 200-meter run (25.30).
Fredonia State sophomore Aiden VanAmburg (Clyde-Savannah) came in 13th in the 400 meters (52.93) and ran the second lap of the winning 4-by-400 relay (3:26.45) with sophomore Quillan Shimp (Clyde-Savannah) running the third leg. Evan Thayer (Clyde-Savannah), another soph, took eighth place in the long jump (6.51 meters).
Cortland State grad student Adam Schreiber (Williamson) ran to a sixth-place finish in the 3000 meters (9:19.22).
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Talk about a huge event – the Boston University David Hemery Valentine Invitational was held Friday and Saturday. Brockport State senior Vanessa Ramos (Wayne Central) finished 192nd in the 800 meters (2:25.09) in a field of 211 on Friday.
SWIMMING
Roberts Wesleyan swimmers contested the Metropolitan Collegiate Championships at Rutgers University this weekend. On Friday, sophomore Avery Fedor (Pal-Mac) swam the second leg of the third-place 200 free relay (1:27.61) with brother Andon Fedor taking the first leg. Andon then finished fifth in the 50 free (22.59), with Avery coming in ninth (22.91). Andon then went on to anchor the second-place 400 medley relay (3:32.71).
ICE HOCKEY
For just five minutes, the Neumann University women’s ice hockey team were in a rare spot this season – they scored the first goal. It was a Monday night game against Stevenson University, and senior forward Lian Sydorowicz (Wayne Central) got the assist on the goal, scored by Gia Santorello. The Knights would go on to lose the game, 2-3, in overtime. Lian had an involved outing – she fired two shots, blocked two shots, was 8-for-18 in face-offs, and sat in the penalty box for two minutes.
On Friday night, Neumann got squashed by Lebanon Valley College, 1-6. Lian took one shot, blocked one shot, and was 2-for-7 in face-offs. The Knights are 5-15-3 (3-13-3 MAC).
VOLLEYBALL
The 11th-ranked Hobart College men’s volleyball team won two out of its three games over the weekend. On Friday, the Statesmen were swept by fourth-ranked Stevens Institute, 0-3. Hobart came back with two shutout wins on Saturday against Regis College and Manhattanville University. The Statesmen are 15-2. Freshman outside hitter Lawson Drabik (Macedon/Penfield) has been pretty effective – he has played in five sets and produced seven kills and seven service aces; on defense, he has one block and one block assist plus six digs.
GYMNASTICS
Brockport State’s women’s gymnastics team finished third in the Empire State Collegiate Championship, behind overall winner Cornell and second-place Long Island University and ahead of Cortland State, Ithaca and Utica. Golden Eagle sophomore Julia Klucinec (Pal-Mac) posted a 9.125 on the uneven bars, good for 25th place.
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