18 Sports reflects on a historic weekend in the Twin Tiers

Nick Ketter
·4 min read
18 Sports reflects on a historic weekend in the Twin Tiers

ELMIRA, N.Y. (WETM) – It was an unforgettable weekend in the Twin Tiers.

(Media Courtesy: Brandy Vanderpool, Dundee Central School District, @nysphsaa @wellsborobasketball, @CornellSports on “X”)

This past weekend, the Twin Tiers experienced a historic three days in local sports. Whether it was on the basketball court, on the wrestling mats, or on the ice, the weekend was full of new records and inaugural events. 18 Sports has a full look at the milestone moments of the past three days.

The historic weekend began on Friday with a memorable moment on the court. Edison girls basketball’s Payton Littlefield knocked down a three point shot to break a 19-year-old record. The standout senior became Edison basketball’s all-time scoring leader, surpassing 2005 graduate Dr. Erica (Schiefen) Shatara’s 1,530 points.

<em>Photo: @wellsborobasketball on “X,” Wellsboro’s Paige Logsdon celebrates her 500th career rebound.</em>
Photo: @wellsborobasketball on “X,” Wellsboro’s Paige Logsdon celebrates her 500th career rebound.

In NTL, Wellsboro girls basketball standout Paige Logsdon grabbed her 500th career rebound. The standout junior’s milestone lifted the Hornets to a six point win over Athens, on senior night.

On the same night, Waverly grad Sidney Tomasso joined an exclusive list in women’s basketball history at St. John Fisher College. The 1,000 career point scorer for Waverly High School accomplished the same feat for the Cardinals, in a win over Sage College. Tomasso became the 24th player in program history to reach 1,000 points. The standout junior also surpassed 400 career rebounds in the game, which accounted for Fisher’s 13th straight win.

<em>Photo: Dundee Central School District Facebook, Dundee’s Peyton Mullin wins Dundee’s first ever NYSPHSAA crown. </em>
Photo: Dundee Central School District Facebook, Dundee’s Peyton Mullin wins Dundee’s first ever NYSPHSAA crown.

Also on Friday, Dundee freshman Peyton Mullin made school history. Mullin pinned her way through the NYSPHSAA Girls Wrestling Invitational, claiming Dundee’s first ever state title. The standout entered the 235 pound bracket from the 9th seed and rolled on to the final. In the final, Mullin pinned the defending champion, Mackenzie LaForest of Waverly.

On the ice, Elmira College women’s hockey picked up a 3-0 win over William Smith. The win added two of EC’s best to the program’s record books. Junior goaltender Leonie Kuehberger went 16 for 16 on saves in Friday night’s win, accounting for her 23rd career shutout. The mark makes Kuehberger the program’s all-time leader, surpassing 2009 graduate Allison Cubberley and 2013 grad Lauren Sullivan. On the same night, Kuehberger’s teammate and Soaring Eagles captain Claire Meeder recorded an assist to mark her 100th career game with the team.

<em>Photo: A’Don Allen, Elmira’s Ellie Clearwater and Edison’s Payton Littlefield host the Hooping for Hope game. </em>
Photo: A’Don Allen, Elmira’s Ellie Clearwater and Edison’s Payton Littlefield host the Hooping for Hope game.

On Saturday, the special moments continued. One day removed from achieving Edison’s all-time scoring mark, Payton Littlefield returned to the headlines for a special cause. Littlefield teamed up with Elmira’s Ellie Clearwater to create the “Hooping for Hope” game, to raise money for the Josh Palmer Fund. The pair of seniors turned their Elmira vs. Edison game into a fundraising event, garnering plenty of support from the local community. Hooping for Hope raised over $12,000 for local cancer patients, through the Josh Palmer Fund. In addition to hosting the event, Littlefield and Clearwater led the varsity game in scoring.

<em>Photo: @nysphsaa on “X,” Tioga boys wrestling claims 3rd consecutive NYSPHSAA Dual Meet title. </em>
Photo: @nysphsaa on “X,” Tioga boys wrestling claims 3rd consecutive NYSPHSAA Dual Meet title.

Saturday also marked another dominant showing for Tioga boys wrestling. The Tigers cruised through the competition to win their third straight NYSPHSAA Dual Meet crown.

Back in the Norther Tier, Towanda’s Riley Vanderpool made his mark on the Black Knight’s wrestling program. This year’s NTL Player of the Year in football, earned his 100th career victory in wrestling. Vanderpool added to the special day, taking bronze at the West Branch Ultimate Warrior Wrestling Tournament.

<em>Elmira College’s Tayana Labady celebrates a win via fall over D’Youville’s Riley Wentlent at the inaugural NYS Collegiate Women’s Duals. </em>
Elmira College’s Tayana Labady celebrates a win via fall over D’Youville’s Riley Wentlent at the inaugural NYS Collegiate Women’s Duals.

On Sunday, the Twin Tiers witnessed more history in wrestling. Elmira College women’s wrestling hosted the first ever New York State Women’s Collegiate Duals at Speidel Gym. The Soaring Eagles placed first in the event, defeating both D’Youville and Utica.

In Ithaca, 14th ranked Cornell men’s wrestling earned a historic win of their own. The Big Red shocked 2nd ranked Missouri, to cap off a 3-0 weekend at Newman Arena. Cornell wrestlers Vito Arujau and Jake Cardenas excited the home fans with impressive victories. Arujau erased a five point deficit to beat Kade Moore 10-9. The eighth ranked Cardenas sealed the victory for Cornell with a win over third ranked and unbeaten Rocky Elam.

18 Sports congratulates all of the local athletes, teams, and coaches on their success over the past weekend.

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