Friday’s snow storm created sports cancellations across New York and Vermont, but there’s still plenty to celebrate. The NBC5 Sports Desk honored some of the best athletes and coaches from across the region with awards from the 2022-23 school year.Best Female Athlete – Sydney Myers (Saranac Central)A stalwart multi-sport athlete, Sydney Myers has blown fans away on the field and court during her senior year at Saranac Central High School.In October, Myers scored her 100th career goal in soccer and eventually signed her letter of intent to play on the women’s team at Saint Rose College.Her winning ways didn’t end there, though, as Myers scored her 1,000th career point in basketball in early December to cement her legacy in the Chiefs’ record books.Best Male Athlete – Jack Sumner (Champlain Valley Union)After losing in the state title game his sophomore year, CVU wide receiver used the offseason to improve to becoming arguably the most dangerous offensive weapon in Vermont. In 2022, he racked up over 1,200 all-purpose yards and scored 23 touchdowns on the way to a state championship win for the Redhawks against Middlebury.Lifetime Achievement – Rob McAuliffe (Chazy)After leading the Chazy boy’s soccer team to a sixth consecutive regional class D title, McAuliffe earns honors as one of the best head coaches in state history.McAuliffe earned his 500th career win during the 2022 season, becoming only the 12th coach in New York state history to do so.Best Game – Vermont Division II Football Championship (BFA vs. MAU)After a dominant 10-0 start to the season that saw Bellows Falls Union put home six 40 point performances, the Terriers looked destined to raise another football banner.Heading into late fourth quarter action, Mt. Anthony trailed by a touchdown. That’s when quarterback Tanner Bushee hit another gear, propelling the Patriots down the field to help force overtime. After both teams scored in the first overtime. Mt. Anthony was able to come up with a big stop on fourth and goal to take down the previously undefeated Terriers on the way to the Patriots first football championship since 1994.Best Performance – Amaya Abellard (Plattsburgh) Five Goals Against PeruOne of the bench freshman performers across New York and Vermont had her biggest game of the year in a clutch spot.Plattsburgh’s girls soccer standout Amaya Abellard scored all five of the Hornets’ goals in a 5-4 regular season win against rival Peru. She had many big games throughout the year and certainly has a bright future taking the pitch for the Hornets.Best Moment – CVU Wins Field Hockey Title For CoachFor any particular moment to be crowned for this award, it needs to transcend sports. That was exactly the case in the Vermont division I field hockey state championship game between CVU and South Burlington. After trailing 1-0, the Redhawks struck back, forcing sudden victory overtime. Senior Miranda Oppenheimer came through with a goal in OT, dedicating the game to CVU head coach Tucker Pierson afterward.”She just got diagnosed with breast cancer, and it just feels so good to have finally gotten her a title,” Oppenheimer said.Pierson earned her first state title against the very same program she used to be an assistant coach for.”I really felt like this was the team that was going to win,” Pierson said. “They’re pretty amazing.”
Friday’s snow storm created sports cancellations across New York and Vermont, but there’s still plenty to celebrate. The NBC5 Sports Desk honored some of the best athletes and coaches from across the region with awards from the 2022-23 school year.
Best Female Athlete – Sydney Myers (Saranac Central)
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A stalwart multi-sport athlete, Sydney Myers has blown fans away on the field and court during her senior year at Saranac Central High School.
In October, Myers scored her 100th career goal in soccer and eventually signed her letter of intent to play on the women’s team at Saint Rose College.
Her winning ways didn’t end there, though, as Myers scored her 1,000th career point in basketball in early December to cement her legacy in the Chiefs’ record books.
Best Male Athlete – Jack Sumner (Champlain Valley Union)
After losing in the state title game his sophomore year, CVU wide receiver used the offseason to improve to becoming arguably the most dangerous offensive weapon in Vermont.
In 2022, he racked up over 1,200 all-purpose yards and scored 23 touchdowns on the way to a state championship win for the Redhawks against Middlebury.
Lifetime Achievement – Rob McAuliffe (Chazy)
After leading the Chazy boy’s soccer team to a sixth consecutive regional class D title, McAuliffe earns honors as one of the best head coaches in state history.
McAuliffe earned his 500th career win during the 2022 season, becoming only the 12th coach in New York state history to do so.
Best Game – Vermont Division II Football Championship (BFA vs. MAU)
After a dominant 10-0 start to the season that saw Bellows Falls Union put home six 40 point performances, the Terriers looked destined to raise another football banner.
Heading into late fourth quarter action, Mt. Anthony trailed by a touchdown. That’s when quarterback Tanner Bushee hit another gear, propelling the Patriots down the field to help force overtime.
After both teams scored in the first overtime. Mt. Anthony was able to come up with a big stop on fourth and goal to take down the previously undefeated Terriers on the way to the Patriots first football championship since 1994.
Best Performance – Amaya Abellard (Plattsburgh) Five Goals Against Peru
One of the bench freshman performers across New York and Vermont had her biggest game of the year in a clutch spot.
Plattsburgh’s girls soccer standout Amaya Abellard scored all five of the Hornets’ goals in a 5-4 regular season win against rival Peru. She had many big games throughout the year and certainly has a bright future taking the pitch for the Hornets.
Best Moment – CVU Wins Field Hockey Title For Coach
For any particular moment to be crowned for this award, it needs to transcend sports. That was exactly the case in the Vermont division I field hockey state championship game between CVU and South Burlington.
After trailing 1-0, the Redhawks struck back, forcing sudden victory overtime. Senior Miranda Oppenheimer came through with a goal in OT, dedicating the game to CVU head coach Tucker Pierson afterward.
“She just got diagnosed with breast cancer, and it just feels so good to have finally gotten her a title,” Oppenheimer said.
Pierson earned her first state title against the very same program she used to be an assistant coach for.
“I really felt like this was the team that was going to win,” Pierson said. “They’re pretty amazing.”
