Vote: Who is the Mohawk Valley's Athlete of the Week for June 1-5?
It's time to take a look at the standout performers from the Mohawk Valley.
Your vote will determine who will be the Mohawk Valley’s Athlete of the Week for June 1-5. The players' credentials are listed above the poll — which will be live until 12 a.m. Thursday. The winner will be announced on uticaod.com/sports and on our Twitter page Thursday morning.
Note, this week's poll was delayed to account for the NYSPHSAA Boys and Girls Golf Championships, which concluded Monday. Next week's poll, the final one this season, will be released Monday after states have concluded for baseball, softball and track and field.
Now, let's meet the candidates. And if the poll at the bottom of the page doesn't load, please click here.
Brayton Langdon, Little Falls Baseball
With the season on the line, Langdon got the nod for the Mounties instead of Chase Regan, who had pitched LF to a section title last Tuesday.
Langdon proved coach Bob Gollegly right and then some. He threw a complete game and allowed just one run in the seventh inning as Little Falls defeated Watkins Glen/Odessa-Montour 4-1 in the NYSPHSAA Class C Regional to advance to states for the first time in four decades.
The Mounties will play Section I’s Tuckahoe Friday at 5 p.m. at Maine-Endwell High School in the state semifinals.
Sarah Zuchowski, Poland Softball
Section III’s other baseball/softball heading to states is the seventh-seeded Tornadoes, whose magical run continued with a 7-0 shutout win over Section X’s Edwards Knox.
Like in its section final win over West Canada Valley, Shelbi Hagues shined in the circle for the Tornadoes, but Zuchowski provided the boost at the plate.
She went 2-for-3 with four RBIs.
The Tornadoes will battle Section V’s Scio-Friendship Friday at 12:30 p.m. at Moriches Athletic Complex on Long Island in the state semifinals.
Imani Pugh, Rome Free Academy Girls Track and Field
With appearances in indoor track and swimming, RFA’s Imani Pugh is no stranger to states.
She will head back this weekend for outdoor track in Middletown. She won the pentathlon at Section III State Qualifiers Thursday at C-NS with a score of 3,269.
The score set a new school record and ranks second in the state.
Pugh will be joined by Will D’Agata (pole vault), Collin Gannon (100 meters) and Jacob Swavely (discus) on the RFA boys’ side in Middletown.
NyAshia Linen, Proctor Girls Track and Field
Anytime an athlete earns a bid to states in two events, it is impressive, but as a wheelchair athlete, it is extraordinary.
The Raider freshman will head to states in the shot put (10-11 ¾) and discus (18-5).
Proctor will send Raiyah Patterson (long jump) and Chennia Locke (100 hurdles) on the girls side and Chris Mateo (pole vault).
More: Section 3 track and field results, top performers for the 2023 season (qualifiers and states)
Gavin Poyer, Waterville Boys Golf
With tough conditions at Mark Twain Golf Club this past weekend, Poyer topped the local leaderboard at boys golf states.
The Waterville junior finished with a final score of 156 (+12).
According to coach David Poyer, Gavin’s top 20 finish earned him a spot in the NYS All-Star team. He was also a CSC All-Star and Section III Small School Medalist this season.
Elsewhere, New Hartford’s Tommy Goodelle ended in 30th (160), Jake Oleraczyk-47th (163), Will Chouinard-80th (183) and Brian Secor-83th (175).
Evie Denton, Rome Free Academy Girls Golf
On the girls side, Denton led all Section III golfers at the Edison Club in Rexford. Her 164 total nabbed a top 20 place.
Beyond Denton, local golfers include Kamryn Yerman-33rd (173), Alana Weaver-49th (183), Ellie Secor-70th (194), Lainie Liberatore-89th (213).
Noah Ram is the sports reporter for the Observer-Dispatch. Email Noah Ram at nram@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Observer-Dispatch: Who is the Mohawk Valley's Athlete of the Week for June 1-5? Vote now
