Corning-Painted Post Sports Hall of Fame

2017 Banquet held at CMOG on March 11

The following 22 new inductees were honored:

Hall of Fame welcomes 22

By Shawn Vargo (svargo@the-leader.com)

CORNING - The 43rd annual Corning-Painted Post Sports Hall of Fame induction banquet at the Corning Museum of Glass was a wonderful mix of the old and the new. Inductees that graduated in the 1950s (Ron Peck), the 1960s (Neal Pipe, Robert Brucie) and the 1970s (John Vine, Jim Pitts, Kathy Patrick Kurkjian) were honored, while the George Bacalles Memorial Award winners represented present-day student athletes, who most-likely will find a future home in the Hall.

This year's inductees included Ron Peck and Heather Reynolds (basketball), Jim Pitts (bowling), Kathy Patrick Kurkjian (golf), Neal Pipe (wrestling), Samijo Scheer, Emily Scudder Andress and Any Vogt (softball), Meghan Allen and Nicholas Jackobson (soccer), Robert Brucie, Derek Pope and Brian Carroll (football), Ashlee Warner, Christopher Driscoll, Josh Lewis, Jarrett Moffitt and Heidi Lott (lacrosse) Jared Cornfield, Cedric Forbes and John Vine (cross country/track) and John Freitas (contributor).

Representing the old guard, Peck's speech gave attendees a glimpse of simpler times from his youth.

"I was fortunate enough to grow up in the 50s - some of the finest years ever," Peck said. "It was a time when we had no computers, TV was just coming out, no cell phones, no things to bother kids from playing their favorite sport. Everybody was out, playing at the playground and they were great times. "And that's where you learned to play."

In contrast, many of the youngest incoming members of the Hall referenced traveling all over the country while playing for club and travel sports teams while thanking their parents.

Representing the new guard, Bacalles Memorial Award winners included Lauren Ford (lacrosse, basketball, gymnastics), Jessica Lawson (cross country, track), Aidan Olmstead (lacrosse) and Kevin Moshier (cross country, track). It was noted that five past Bacalles Award winners were being inducted at this year's ceremony.

Every inductee was moved by the honor, but Moffitt may have summed it up best when he said, "This is a tremendous honor that for 14 years I've been waiting on. I'm glad to finally be here."

The evening also marked a coming changing of the guard as it was announced that long-time Hall of Fame President Sandy Ostebo and treasurer David Miller will be stepping down.

WETM Sports Director Andy Malnoske was this year's guest speaker.

A special achievement award was presented to the state-championship winning Corning Hawks boys cross country team of Kevin Moshier, Quinn Nicholson, Bryce Derick, Nathan Prisella, Dan Gahagan, Nathan Lawson and Grayson Campbell. Moshier and Lawson were also lauded for their recent state and federation championships, while cross country coach Ray Lawson was honored for being named New York State Coach of the Year. While the runners were not able to attend because they were competing at nationals, they were shown receiving their honors via video - a nice touch.

Pictures by Eric Wenzel, The Leader

BASKETBALL

RON PECK

Graduated from Corning Free Academy in 1958
Three year member of the varsity basketball team
Also played varsity football and varsity baseball for two years
Leading scorer for CFA as a senior with 292 points
His 29 point game was the highest for anyone that season
Played on the first basketball team at Corning Community College
Was the leading scorer for CCC until leaving school halfway through season. Ended the season as the 3^rd leading scorer on the team
Served on the Hall of Fame Board of Directors for a few years in the 1980s

HEATHER REYNOLDS

Graduated from Corning West High School in 2008
Attended Monmouth, CCC, and graduated from SUNY Fredonia in 2014
Corning Leader Player of the Year in 2008
Scored 1,366 points in high school career
Made school record 214 three-pointers in career & 9 in one game
Three-time STAC All-Conference & two-time STAC All-Division
Named to 4^th-team, All-State as a senior
Region III Player of Year as a sophomore at CCC
Second-Team NJCAA All-American at CCC
MSAC All-Conference Team

BOWLING

JIM PITTS

Graduated from Elmira Free Academy in 1975 and attended CCC
Has bowled in Corning for the past 18 years and still bowls in Elmira
Has 112 career 300 games, with 23 of those rolled in Corning
Has 54 career series’ over 800, with 19 of those in Corning
Won a total 21 City Tournament titles in team event, doubles, singles and all-events
Averaged over 220 for 18 years with a high mark of 232
Has been a member of nine league champions
Named to the All-City, First-Team 12 times and the Second-Team 5 times
Recorded a high of 7^th place in doubles (out of 31,000 teams) and 48^th in all-events (out of over 80,000 bowlers) in USBC National Tournament
Won a PBA 50 championship in 2010

CONTRIBUTOR

JOHN FREITAS

Has supported community sports for close to 40 years
Has been a contributor to the game of lacrosse in Corning for over 25 years
Sponsored team in the Corning box Lacrosse Leagues for a number of years
His donations to youth lacrosse leagues helped to pay for jerseys in the local box lacrosse leagues and for participation in a various high school tournaments
For many years, he hosted the ‘Senior Lacrosse Dinner’ at his restaurant for graduating seniors at East High School, his alma mater
Sponsored a flag football team for a number of years in the 1970s
Has hundreds of lacrosse posters, newspaper articles, pictures and other memorabilia of local team and athletes covering the walls of his restaurant. A living memorial of his support of local community sports
Has helped many lacrosse players at both East and West get ‘connected’ to a number of schools with his network of friends in the coaching industry

FOOTBALL

ROBERT BRUCIE

Graduated from Corning East High in 1969
Graduated from SUNY Brockport in 1973
Was a three-year member and two-year starter for the Corning East Football Team
Was named to the All-Sullivan Trail Conference Team as a junior and senior
He was the only East High player named to the STC All-Star Team in his junior season
Played the linebacker position at 5 foot, 5 inches tall and 120-125 pounds. Was considered one of the hardest hitting linebackers in the area
Played intramural football at Brockport
Has coached youth soccer, baseball and basketball

DEREK ‘DJ’ LOUGHLIN-POPE

Graduated from Corning East in 2007
Graduated from Alfred University in 2012
Two-time selection for All-Leader, Star-Gazette, Twin Tiers, and All-League
Also a two-time selection to the Section IV All-Star Team
Member of the 2006 Corning East NYS Championship team
Selected to All-State, Second-Team as a senior
Was also a two-time letter winner for the East Baseball Team
Played four years for the Alfred University Football Team
Started as a fullback, then switched to tight end where he was honored with three selections to the Empire All-League Team

BRIAN CARROLL

Graduated from Corning West in 2008
Graduated from Cornell University in 2012
Three year starter for Corning West Vikings football team
Served as team captain as a junior and senior
Joel Stephens Award winner in 2007
Named to Section IV All-League team as junior and senior
Two-year captain of West High wrestling team and member of track team
Earned a berth on Cornell Football Team as a walk-on freshman
Became a starter for the Big Red as a sophomore defensive end
Injuries ended his collegiate football career as a junior
He is an Eagle Boy Scout

GOLF

KATHY PATRICK KURKJIAN

Graduated from Corning East in 1976
Graduated from Penn State in 1980
First female letter winner for East High Golf Team
At 16 years old, was youngest winner of Corning Country Club’s Women’s Club Championship. She won it again in 1976
Tied for second place playing with Donna Caponi Young in the first ever Pro-Am of the LPGA Corning Classic
Won the Women’s Finger Lakes Championship in 1979
Played four years of varsity golf for the Penn State Women’s Team
Played for Nittany Lions in 1^st appearance of AIAW (NCAA) national tournament
Nominated by Penn State to apply for Rhodes Scholarship

LACROSSE

ASHLEE WARNER

Graduated from Corning East High in 2010
Graduated from University of Virginia in 2014
Two-time High School All-American while at Corning East
Two-Time Corning Leader, Player of the Year
George Bacalles Memorial Award winner
Member U.S. Lacrosse National Tournament Team
Three-time, First-Team, All-League selection at East High
Second leading scorer for Virginia as a junior, with 34 goals and 21 assists
Team co-captain for Virginia as a senior

CHIRSTOPHER DRISCOLL

Graduated from Corning East in 1999
Graduated from Herkimer Community College in 2001
Graduated from University of Albany in 2003
Two-time, All-League & All-Leader selection while at Corning East
Led East High Trojans in scoring as a senior and 23^rd all-time with 176 career points
Played in two National Championship games at Herkimer
Owned a 74% face-off advantage at Herkimer
Two-year starter at Albany, led team in goals both years
Led American East Conference in goals as a senior
Finished second in voting as American East Conference Player of the Year
Served as post grad assistant coach at McDaniel College

JOSH LEWIS

Graduated from Corning East in 1998
Graduated from Nazareth College in 2002
Two-year starter for Trojans when team won 43 and lost 2
Named First-Team, All-League as a senior
Finished career at East High with 101 goals and 34 assists. His 72 goals as a senior was the fourth best season ever for a Trojan
His 135 points put him at #37 in career scoring at East High
Played four years of lacrosse at Nazareth College
As a senior, he earned NCAA Division III and Empire 8 Conference Player of the Week
Honorable Mention, Empire 8 Conference selection as a senior

JARRETT MOFFITT

Graduated from Corning West in 2003
Attended Hobart College 2004-06 and graduated from Alfred University in 2007
Four-year varsity starter for Vikings
Finished as all-time leading scorer in West High history with 172 goals and 70 for a total of 242 points
Two-time All-Leader Team and All-League Team
Section IV Midfielder of the Year as a senior
Selected to play in the North-South All-American Game as a senior
Led Alfred University with 26 goals as a senior
Was named to Empire 8, All-League, Second-Team
Coached at Alfred University for 2 years and Alfred State for 6 years

HEIDI LOTT

Graduated from Corning West in 2005
Graduated from Gannon University in 2009
Averaged 2 goals per game and led team in assists as a senior
Served as team captain in senior season.
Also played varsity volleyball and basketball for Corning West
At Gannon, she was switched to midfield and then defense
Served as team captain as a senior
Scored 12 goals, with 6 assists and 119 ground balls at Gannon
Named All-PSAC, Second-Team as a senior
Has coached 5 years at Vestal High School and is currently the JV head coach

SOCCER

MEGHAN ALLEN

Graduated form Corning East High in 2011
Attended University of Buffalo and graduated from Buffalo State in 2016
All-Conference 2007 and 2010 as forward; 2008 and 2009 as a defender
Scored 30 goals with 37 assists in high school career
Team captain as a senior
Also captained basketball team and played lacrosse
George Bacalles Memorial Award winner
In college, won the golden boot in 2011 and silver boot in 2012
Team Captain in 2015 when she scored 16 goals, 7 assists
Also played lacrosse and was on the crew team in college

NICHOLAS JAKOBSON

Graduated from Corning East in 2010
Graduated from Penn State in 2014
Three-year varsity starter
All-Conference as a junior and senior
All-Leader as a junior and senior
Scored 10 goals with 14 assists as senior
Played goalie for the NYS Olympic Development Team
Helped lead Corning Hawks to first-ever STAC West title
Played club soccer at Penn State

SOFTBALL

SAMIJO SCHEER

Graduated from Corning East in 2010
Graduated from Tompkins Community College (TCC) in 2012
Graduated from Alfred University in 2015
STAC West All-Division as a junior and senior, hitting .340 while at East High
Named to Mid-State Conference Team while at TCC
Named to ECAC All-Star Team
Named to Empire 8 All-Conference Team
Named to NFCA All-American Team

EMILY SCUDDER ANDRESS

Graduated from Corning West in 2006
Graduated from Corning Community College in 2008
Graduated from SUNY Cortland in 2010
Four-year starter at West
All-Leader & All-Division as a senior
Broke HR record and was 5^th in the nation
Broke CCC record for doubles in a season and career with 19 and 25
Mid-State and Region III All-Star
NJCAA Division III Louisville Slugger & NFCA All-American at CCC
Has been Head Volleyball Coach at CCC since 2013
Named Mid-State Conference Coach of Year in 2013 & 2015

AMY VOGT

Graduated from Corning West High in 1997
Graduated from Sienna College in 2001
Graduated from SUNY Stonybrook College Dental School in 2005
Three-year start for West High Vikings Softball Team
All-STC Second-Team as a sophomore
All-STC First-Team as a junior and senior, when she hit .395
Also played basketball and volleyball at Corning West
Played four years for Sienna College softball team
Earned coaches award for hard work and perseverance at Sienna

TRACK/CROSS COUNTRY

JARRED CORNFIELD

Graduated from Corning West High in 2010
Graduated from Liberty University in 2014
Placed 5^th in the mile at the 2010 National Scholastic Indoor Championships
Finished 4^th in the 1K in NYS Indoor Track & Field Championship as a senior
Set Section IV record in 1000m in 2008 with a time of 2:33.38
Was a four-year participant/contributor to Liberty University track & field team
Had two fourth-place finishes in the Big South 1,500 final
Was the anchor runner for the Liberty distance medley relay team
Earned a place on the Big South Presidential Honor Roll
Currently serving as graduate assistant coach at NAU

CEDRIC FORBES

Graduated from Corning East High in 2010
Graduated from St. Francis University in 2014
Won Section 4 championship in 110m hurdles in 2010
Qualified for state meet in high jump & 55m hurdles in 2010
Three-time individual qualifier for state cross country meet
Member of Trojans team that won five sectional titles and one state title
Named All-Conference , First Team ,as a junior
Was a member of the St. Francis Track & Field Team for four years, setting a number of personal bests throughout his career

JOHN VINE

Graduated from corning West High in 1976
Graduated from Wake Forest University in 1980
Competed in the 440 and 880 for track & field teams
Steuben County Champion in 880 as a junior and senior
Set the Corning West record for the 880 many times over
As a junior, became only runner in Section V to qualify for state meet
Lost only two 880 races in career. One to Hall of Famer Steve Currie and one to John Tuttle, a future Olympian runner from Mansfield, Pa.
Won 880 in Parkhurst Invitational in Binghamton as a junior
Named Corning West Track Athlete of the Year as a junior and senior
Signed to run track at Wake Forest University
Also a four-year letter winner and All-STC in golf as a senior

WRESTLING

NEAL PIPE

Graduated from Corning East High School in 1964
Competed for four years in wrestling, football and track for CFA and East High
As a freshman at CFA, was Section V, Class A, semifinalist at 165 pounds
As a sophomore, was 16-1, with 15 pins and Section V, Class A Champ at 180 pounds
As a junior at CFA, went 12-0 to become Section V, Class A Champ at 180
Was named Athlete of the Year as a junior
As a senior at East was 13-0 with 10 pins at 180, while 4-0 at unlimited. He was Section V, Class A Champ at 180 to finish with 40-match win streak
AAU Tournament champion Buffalo at 191 pounds
YMCA Tournament champion in Binghamton at 191 pounds
Selected for USA Olympic tryouts in Pittsburgh, Pa.
Finished high school career with 69 wins, 63 by pin
As a senior was ranked 7^th in nation of all weight classes by National Scholastic Magazine
Also played football and was a high school shot put champion