Note: Every Thursday, Dean Zulkofske will be catching up with CNY athletes who are playing in college. Want to put someone on our radar? Email Dean at d.zulkofske@gmail.com.
At first, Camillus native Connor Christie didn’t make the cut.
Christie, a 2022 West Genesee graduate who plays for the Shenandoah University men’s golf team, didn’t initially qualify for the Kinder-Williams Invitational at Lakeview Golf Club in Harrisonburg, Virginia, last week.
Days before the competition, tournament officials allowed Shenandoah to bring three more players and compete as ‘A’ and a ‘B’ teams, where Christie filled in as the third golfer on the ‘B’ squad.
The former All-CNY golfer shot even par on the first day of the invitational and a three-under-par 69 on the second to win the individual title by a stroke.
Playing in his first college tournament with nothing to lose, Christie won.
“I’ve always known I’m capable of doing this. I’ve never been able to string it together in a tournament round, so it felt good to do it,” Christie told syracuse.com. “I never would have thought the time that I actually played as good as I know I could would be in my first college tournament, and a tournament that I almost didn’t even make it into.”
Christie fought to compete in the first tournament of the year after not playing his best in the team’s qualifying round. He texted his coach looking for any chance to get into the tournament and spent hours at the driving range before the opportunity opened for Shenandoah to bring additional players.
That’s when Christie, who placed second at the CNY Junior Tour Championship in August, opened his college career with an even-par 72. Christie carded the best opening round of anyone on his team, placing him tied for fourth place, only four strokes off the leader.
“Waking up that morning before the second round, I was really nervous,” Christie said. “It felt like there were a lot more expectations now that I had shot the best round on the team, and I was up there in contention.”
But Christie responded with the best tournament round of his life, which included two eagles -- scoring two strokes under par on one hole -- on the same side.
“I’ve never even had two eagles in the same round, much less on the same nine,” Christie said.
Christie, who likes playing at Tuscarora Golf Club and Bellevue Country Club when he’s home, earned Old Dominion Athletic Conference Golfer of the Week for his performance. After missing the initial qualification for the Kinder-Williams Invitational, Christie’s win earned him prequalification for the team’s next tournament.
“All I wanted to do was just have a chance to play and see how I could compete in a college tournament,” Christie said. “I didn’t really care that I was on the ‘B’ team rather than the ‘A’ team. I was just happy to have a chance to go out and play.”
Other Section III athletes in college
Aniya Adams, Cazenovia College women’s volleyball, Corcoran: One kill, one assist and one dig against SUNY Canton. Season stats: One kill, one assist and one dig.
Windsor Ardner, SUNY Geneseo women’s cross country, Liverpool: Finished second at the Harry F. Anderson Invitational with a 17:46.6 5K time.
Seth Bailey, St. Lawrence men’s golf, Fayetteville-Manlius: Shot 85 and finished 29th at the SUNY Canton Invitational.
Allie Ball, SUNY Geneseo field hockey, Cicero-North Syracuse: One goal against Nazareth and one assist against SUNY Morrisville. Season stats: One goal and one assist.
Alyssa Beck, Cazenovia College women’s cross country, Fulton: Placed 11th at the SUNY Poly Wildcat Weekend Classic with a 29:52 6K time.
Lejla Borcilo, SUNY Geneseo women’s cross country, Fayetteville-Manlius: Finished 28th at the Harry F. Anderson Invitational with a 19:35.2 5K time.
Jenicah Brown, Cazenovia College women’s soccer, Cortland: One goal against Maine Maritime. Season stats: Two goals.
Ella Buchanan, SUNY Brockport field hockey, Holland Patent: 31 saves against Ithaca College and 17 saves against SUNY Cortland. Season stats: 67 saves and five wins.
Sarah Carroll, St. Bonaventure women’s cross country, Weedsport: Finished 91st at the Harry F. Anderson Invitational with a 21:22.5 personal record 5K time.
Alexia Clemons, Cazenovia College women’s volleyball, Beaver River: Four digs against SUNY Oswego. Season stats: 24 kills, four assists and 21 digs.
Isaac Colella, SUNY Morrisville football, Auburn: One tackle against Buffalo State. Season stats: Three tackles.
Haylei Coolican, St. Lawrence women’s cross country, Westhill: Placed 19th at the Ronald C. Hoffman Invitational with a 24:59.4 6K time.
Hanna Corrigan, SUNY Cortland field hockey, Holland Patent: Two goals against SUNY Brockport. Season stats: Four goals and two assists.
Karlie Cubino, SUNY Cortland women’s tennis, Whitesboro: Won her singles and doubles matches against Marywood University. Season record: Singles (4-0), doubles (3-1).
Clara Culeton, SUNY Oneonta women’s volleyball, Oswego: Five kills against SUNY Geneseo and eight kills against SUNY Brockport. Season stats: 89 kills, two assists and 34 digs.
Dan Damico, Villanova football, Christian Brothers Academy: Two tackles against Monmouth. Season stats: 11 tackles and two tackles for loss.
RJ Davis, SUNY Cortland men’s cross country, Cicero-North Syracuse: Finished 33rd with a 26:49.6 8K time at the Harry F. Anderson Invitational.
Travis Decker, Utica football, Vernon-Verona-Sherrill: Two receptions, 74 yards and one touchdown against Union. Season stats: Nine catches, 152 yards and one touchdown.
Tim Denham Jr., Hobart football, Christian Brothers Academy: Rushed for 42 yards and three touchdowns against Keystone. Season stats: 243 rushing yards and five touchdowns, and eight catches for 43 yards.
SirVocea Dennis, Pittsburgh football, Christian Brothers Academy: Seven tackles and half a sack against Rhode Island. Season stats: 27 tackles and three sacks.
Ayla Erwin, Cazenovia College women’s cross country, Jamesville-DeWitt: Finished seventh with a 28:26.7 6K time at the SUNY Poly Wildcat Weekend Classic.
Ryan Fecco, SUNY Oswego men’s golf, Baldwinsville: Tied for first place at the Oswego State Fall Invitational after shooting three-over-par on the first day of the tournament and two-under-par on the second.
Sophia Ferris, Cazenovia College women’s volleyball and golf, Jamesville-DeWitt: Shot 95 and placed third in the SUNY Canton Invitational. Earned a career-high 12 kills on the volleyball court against SUNY Poly. Volleyball season stats: 87 kills, seven assists and 103 digs.
Lilly Fowler-Conner, SUNY Geneseo women’s cross country, Tully: Finished sixth at the Harry F. Anderson Invitational with an 18:22.2 5K time.
Sydney French, St. John Fisher women’s volleyball, Marcellus: Six kills and two digs against Utica. Season stats: 76 kills, one assist and 20 digs.
Jenna Garvey, SUNY Geneseo women’s volleyball, Baldwinsville: Two digs and three assists against SUNY Oneonta, and two digs and three assists against SUNY New Paltz. Season stats: Four digs and six assists.
Evan Gohringer, Utica football, Utica Proctor: Two tackles against Union College. Season stats: Four tackles.
Nate Hanna, SUNY Oneonta men’s soccer, Baldwinsville: Two saves against Hartwick, seven saves, a shutout and an assist against Buffalo State. Season stats: 22 saves, six wins and two shutouts.
Olivia Hayden, SUNY Brockport field hockey, Liverpool: One assist against Ithaca College. Season stats: Four assists.
Colin Hebbard, Alfred State football, Clinton: 11 tackles against Defiance. Season stats: 28 tackles and one forced fumble.
Kate Heinrich, Siena women’s volleyball, Westhill: Three kills against Fairfield. Season stats: 13 kills.
Cameron Hovater, Cazenovia College men’s golf, West Genesee: Shot 85 and placed 29th at the SUNY Canton Invitational.
Ethan Kahl, SUNY Plattsburgh men’s cross country, Whitesboro: Placed 21st in the Ronald C. Hoffman Invitational with a 27:34.8 8K time.
Cora Keohane, Siena women’s soccer, Central Square: One assist against SUNY Albany. Season stats: One goal and two assists.
Hannah Knych, Binghamton women’s soccer, Fayetteville-Manlius: One goal against Delaware State. Season stats: Two goals.
Jeorgio Kocevski, Syracuse University men’s soccer, Liverpool: One goal against Colgate. Season stats: Two goals and one assist.
Bailey Lazore, SUNY Brockport field hockey, Cicero-North Syracuse: One goal against Ithaca College and one goal against SUNY Cortland. Season stats: Seven goals and one assist.
Bethany Lorenzo, SUNY Geneseo women’s cross country, Auburn: Finished 38th at the Harry F. Anderson Invitational with a 20:00.3 5K time.
Virginia Lucchetti, SUNY Plattsburgh women’s cross country, Marcellus: Placed 39th at the Ronald C. Hoffman Invitational with a 28:25.7 6K time.
Max MacCaull, Scranton men’s soccer, Jamesville-DeWitt: One goal against Marywood. Season stats: One goal.
Josh Mahr, Le Moyne men’s soccer, Fayetteville-Manlius: Five-save shutout against Franklin Pierce and one assist against Bentley. Season stats: 19 saves, three wins and three shutouts.
Abigail Mainville, St. Bonaventure women’s cross country, Fulton: Placed 73rd at the Harry F. Anderson Invitational with 20:45.5 5K time.
Jean Pierre Makengera, Cazenovia College men’s soccer, Nottingham: Five saves against Thomas College. Season stats: 19 saves and one win.
Jada Masiclat, St. Lawrence women’s volleyball, Chittenango: Four kills against Union College and four kills against Bard College. Season stats: 41 kills, eight assists and 23 digs.
Kaitlyn Mastracco, SUNY Oswego field hockey, Rome Free Academy: One goal against SUNY New Paltz. Season stats: Eight goals and one assist.
Noelle Mastraccio, Cazenovia College women’s cross country, Rome Free Academy: Finished 15th at the SUNY Poly Wildcat Weekend Classic with a 36:09 6K time.
Jenna Mattison, Nazareth women’s volleyball: Marcellus: Six digs against William Smith and one assist against Utica. Season stats: Two kills, 16 assists and 94 digs.
Gianna May, SUNY Oneonta women’s volleyball, Baldwinsville: Two kills against SUNY Geneseo and three kills against SUNY Brockport. Season stats: 16 kills and 15 digs.
Gabby McCarthy, SUNY Geneseo women’s cross country, Liverpool: Placed seventh at the Harry F. Anderson Invitational with an 18:26.4 5K time.
Meghan McCarthy, Cazenovia College women’s soccer, Cato-Meridian: Six saves against Houghton. Season stats: 16 saves and one win.
Kerri McHale, SUNY Brockport women’s volleyball, Carthage: 29 assists against Houghton, nine assists against SUNY New Paltz and 15 assists against SUNY Oneonta. Season stats: 288 assists, 17 kills and 83 digs.
Brielle McShane, St. Bonaventure women’s cross country, Marcellus: Finished 145th at the Harry F. Anderson Invitational with a 24:09.6 5K time.
Anna Melfi, St. John Fisher field hockey, Cicero-North Syracuse: Two goals against Keuka. Season stats: Two goals and one assist.
Morgan Misiaszek, St. Lawrence field hockey, Whitesboro: One assist against Utica. Season stats: One goal and one assist.
Haley Muehl, SUNY Oswego women’s soccer, Solvay: Three saves against SUNY Cortland. Season stats: Three saves.
Byamungu Mugushu, Utica men’s soccer, Bishop Grimes: One goal against Medaille. Season stats: Six goals and two assists.
Morgan Napier, Union College women’s volleyball, Fayetteville-Manlius: Four digs and an assist against St. Lawrence, and two digs and an assist against Skidmore. Season stats: One kill, five assists and 32 digs.
Ally Natale, SUNY Oswego women’s volleyball, Homer: Six digs against Cazenovia College, 16 digs against SUNY Plattsburgh and 21 digs against SUNY Potsdam. Season stats: Six kills, 22 assists and 171 digs.
Simone Neivel, SUNY Cortland women’s soccer, Baldwinsville: A goal and an assist against SUNY Potsdam, and one goal against SUNY Oswego. Season stats: Five goals and four assists.
Emelancia Ntaconayigize, Cazenovia College women’s soccer, Nottingham: One goal against Thomas College. Season stats: One goal.
Joseph Pacheco III, SUNY Oswego men’s golf, East Syracuse-Minoa: Finished 44th at the Oswego State Fall Invitational after shooting 84 on the first day of the tournament and 87 on the second.
Nate Palmer, Utica football, Vernon-Verona-Sherrill: Six receptions, 92 yards, one receiving touchdown and one punt return touchdown against Union. Season stats: 26 catches, 576 receiving yards and seven touchdowns.
Daniel Patrick, SUNY Cortland men’s cross country, Fayetteville-Manlius: Finished 77th with a 28:23.1 8K time at the Harry F. Anderson Invitational.
Trevor Porzucek, Alfred State football, Fayetteville-Manlius: One reception for three yards against Defiance. Season stats: Eight receptions for 61 yards.
Joshua Price, RIT men’s soccer, Baldwinsville: One assist against Hobart. Season stats: Two assists.
Caleb Pulver, Hobart football, Fayetteville-Manlius: One tackle against Keystone. Season stats: Six tackles.
Richard Reilly, Cazenovia College men’s golf, West Genesee: Shot 92 and finished 44th at the SUNY Canton Invitational.
Lilly Renzi, St. John Fisher women’s tennis, Watertown: Won her singles match against Alfred University. Season record: 4-0.
Reilly Rich, Stony Brook women’s soccer, Central Valley Academy: One goal against William & Mary and two goals against Hampton. Season stats: Seven goals and three assists.
Delaney Rutan, Ithaca College women’s soccer, Cincinnatus: Two goals against St. John Fisher. Season stats: Three goals and three assists.
Brooke Segars, St. John Fisher women’s volleyball, Cicero-North Syracuse: One kill, one assist and three digs against Utica. Season stats: One kill, four assists and 19 digs.
Zach Shufelt, Clarkson men’s soccer, East Syracuse-Minoa: One goal against St. John Fisher. Season stats: One goal.
Noah Silfer, Alfred State football, Liverpool: One tackle against Defiance. Season stats: One tackle.
Alex Smith, Hobart football, Christian Brothers Academy: Two tackles against Keystone. Season stats: Four tackles.
Cason Stafford, Colgate men’s soccer, Cincinnatus: One assist against Navy. Season stats: Three assists.
Cameron Stuart, Le Moyne men’s soccer, Fulton: One assist against Bentley. Season stats: Three goals and one assist.
Brooklyn Sullivan, SUNY Brockport women’s volleyball, South Lewis: One dig against Houghton, five digs against SUNY New Paltz and five digs against SUNY Oneonta. Season stats: 106 digs, one kill and 10 assists.
Laura Suppa, Cazenovia College women’s cross country, Canastota: Placed 12th at the SUNY Poly Wildcat Weekend Classic with a 32:25 6K time.
Andrew Taylor, SUNY Brockport men’s soccer, Baldwinsville: Four saves and a shutout against Oswego, and one save against Potsdam. Season stats: 24 saves, three wins and four shutouts.
Ben Timmons, SUNY Geneseo men’s cross country, Baldwinsville: Place 6th at the Harry F. Anderson Invitational with a 25:37.3 8K time.
Gianna Trunfio, Vassar field hockey, Clinton: Two goals against RPI. Season stats: Four goals.
Jazmin Tyo, Cazenovia College women’s volleyball, East Syracuse-Minoa: Six digs against SUNY Oswego. Season stats: Three kills, five assists and 42 digs.
Cara Vredenburg, St. Lawrence field hockey, Baldwinsville: 11 saves against Skidmore. Season stats: 27 saves, one win and one shutout.
Valona Whitehead, Cazenovia College women’s cross country, Canastota: Placed 16th at the SUNY Poly Wildcat Weekend Classic with a 36:10 6K time.
Andrew Wieder, Utica men’s cross country, Clinton: Finished 17th in the SUNY Poly Wildcat Classic with a 31:57 8K time.
Kaitlyn Williams, Binghamton women’s soccer, Clinton: One save against Delaware State. Season stats: 41 saves, four wins and one shutout.
Riley Williams, SUNY Cortland men’s soccer, South Jefferson: One goal against St. Lawrence. Season stats: Four goals and one assist.
Ian Zingaro, SUNY Oneonta men’s soccer, Liverpool: Two assists against Hartwick. Season stats: One goal and four assists.
Ben Zinger, SUNY Cortland men’s cross country, Liverpool: Finished 56th with a 27:33.9 8K time at the Harry F. Anderson Invitational.
Ad Choices