THE SPORTS REPORTS: ELMIRA'S DEVLIN HEADLINES GIRLS 'NEWCOMERS OF THE FALL;' ONE FROM WEST MAKES LIST (2022-12-26)

The Sports Reports
The Twin Tiers was chock full of varsity newcomers this fall, and many of them made instant impacts.

Elmira 8th-grader Ella Devlin was a contributor all season for the Lady Express cross country team, and finished off the season at the New York State Cross Country Championships. She is The Sports Reports’ 2022 All-Region Girls "Newcomer of the Fall.”

Devlin finished fifth at the Section IV Championships, after a sixth-place finish at the STAC Championships. She went of to finish 51st at States.

The 2022 All-Region Baker’s Dozen Girls “Newcomers of the Fall”
Ella Devlin, 8th-grader, Elmira cross country: See above.

Saydi Renzo, freshman, Troy soccer: A goal-scoring machine for the Trojans, Renzo solidified that left forward position opposite of Addison Parker. Her speed, skills, and tenacity made her tough to deal with in the open field, and she could also be called upon to defend if needed. She scored 15 goals.

Anaiah Kolesar, freshman, Northeast Bradford cross country: One of the most consistent runners in District 4, Kolesar was consistently the number two runner on an undefeated and district championship Panther squad. She was third at the NTL Championships, third at districts, and was 23rd at states to earn a medal.

Chloe Gillette, junior, TIoga field hockey: Gillette had never played field hockey before this fall, then ended up in between the pipes as goalkeeper for the Lady Tigers. Gillette recorded 287 saves in 14 games, for an average of 20.5 saves per game. She had two games with more than 30 saves, and six with 24 or more.

Gillette’s shining moment of the season was a 33-save effort in Tioga’s 1-0 overtime win over Newark Valley. The win snapped a 33-game losing streak for the Lady Tigers, dating back to Oct. 1, 2019.

Megan Vance, junior, Tioga volleyball: A typical Tioga player, Vance is an asset all over the floor. She is a force at the service line, and improved at the net as the season progressed. Vance had 130 points, 75 kills, and 30 digs.

Isabelle Moon, junior, Corning volleyball:  Moon had 84 kills and 38 digs, along with 21 blocks. While the numbers might not lead the team, she was a force down the stretch and dominant at times in the playoffs as the Hawks made their run to the state Class AA final four.

Lexi Herczeg, sophomore, Owego volleyball: Herczeg, a setter, had a key role to fill as a starter this season after last year’s setter switched to cross country. Herczeg recorded 273 assists, 55 digs, 19 aces and 10 kills.

Kendall Kitchen, sophomore, Canton volleyball: A good all-around player, Kitchen had 136 points, 19 ace, 177 dig, and 179 serve-receives.

Mackenzie Baker, sophomore, Horseheads cross country: Baker finished seventh at the Section IV Championships to punch her ticket to States, after a nine-place finish at the STAC Championships.  She placed 60th in the state.

Kaitlyn Sutton, freshman, Athens soccer: A speedy finisher, Sutton had a strong freshman year for the Lady Wildcats with nine goals and two assists.

Alexis McRoberts, freshman, Troy soccer: McRoberts teamed with her older sister, Camille, in the midfield to form a dominant Trojan force in the middle. Her strong leg resulted in several long distance goals and crosses that led to scores.

Joelie Stephens, sophomore, Williamson volleyball: An outstanding defensive player, Stephens had 210 digs, 92 points, 17 aces, 19 assists, 9 kills;

Lauryn Welles, 7th-grader, Waverly swimming: Welles swam on a pair of school-record breaking relays — the 200-yard free and 200-yard medley relays that also won a pair of Section IV, Class B gold medals. She also finished ninth in the 100-yard breaststroke at the Class B Meet.