Ë®¹ûÅÉAV

Here's 5 stories I look back on fondly:

Finger Lakes run:ÌýA few years ago, I wrote a story on a massage therapy business that was opening in Auburn, and therefore already had familiarity with Martin Nat.Ìý

Nat reached out this past January, hoping to gain some publicity for his new initiative called "Project 11," which involved him running around the perimeter of the 11 Finger Lakes to raise money for mental health awareness. Nat's monetary goal of $1,111 was reached before his first run.Ìý

As a competitive runner, Nat is familiar with pushing the boundaries. "Sometimes you have to bite off more than you can chew," he said.Ìý

: Owasco (Feb. 2; 32.5 miles), Otisco (Feb. 27; 17 miles), Honeoye (March 20; 18.1 miles), Skaneateles (May 15; 36 miles), Canandaigua (June 26; 40.8 miles), and Conesus (Nov. 5; 18.5 miles).Ìý

Wrestling selection process:ÌýMaybe it's the fact that I'm the son of a referee (and a former official myself), but I've always taken great interest in rule changes — which are abundant at the high school level.Ìý

When the NYSPHSAA committees meet and vote on potential rule changes that affect high school sports, it's usually appointment reading.

Few sports have been forced to evolve to quite the same degree as wrestling. In the past year-plus, New York has completely altered its weight class standards and criteria for qualifying for states.Ìý

The latter was the focus of February column, after I had seen the effects in real time at the 2022 Section III individual wrestling championships.Ìý

Auburn baseball:ÌýWhen I say the Maroons' section semifinal win over Whitesboro had everything, I mean it.Ìý

In some respects, the game was a sportswriter's dream. Underdog Auburn overcame top seed Whitesboro, which entered the game undefeated, with rarely-used pitcher Jason Irwin able to deliver the final three outs in a bases-loaded situation to preserve a 3-0 win.Ìý

As Auburn battled adversity, so did I. The game's 8 p.m. start was already far from deadline-friendly. But with the Maroons at bat in the top of the seventh inning, OCC's stadium lights went completely dark and the game was forced into a 20-minute delay.Ìý

Will the game finish? Will I have a story? What will make the Sunday sports section? These are all questions racing through my mind as we crept closer toward deadline. Fortunately, the game resumed and with managing editor Mike Dowd's help, we were able to get the story in Ë®¹ûÅÉAV for our readers.Ìý

I'm no Mariano Rivera, but I guess that was my closer moment.

Great Race returns:ÌýWhile participation has declined, the Great Race remains one of the staple events in Cayuga County.Ìý

The run, cycle and paddle team marathon took a two-year hiatus in 2020 and 2021 due to COVID-19, but returned in 2022 with a revised course and format. Instead of offering a short and long course, organizers settled on a single race that split the difference.Ìý

Little did I know at the start, my fiancee's uncle was competing individually. I ran into Chet in the turnover zone between the runners and cyclists and, surprised at the encounter, offered a quick "hello."

Apparently now I'll be taking my own hiatus from covering the Great Race, at least from an observer's perspective. Competitors beware, we plan on entering a team for the 2023 race.Ìý

Devastating end:ÌýWhile some sectional games come to a celebratory end, like the aforementioned Auburn baseball game, sometimes seasons have a heartbreaking finish.Ìý

As one of the top seeds, Union Springs girls basketball had hopes of returning to the section final in 2021-22. Those hopes came to a crashing halt in the semifinals, when Delhi hit a last-second 3-pointer to beat the Wolves.Ìý

Sometimes tough losses can provide more insight than thrilling wins. Whether it be through our photographer Kevin Rivoli's great pictures or coach Andy Kalet's postgame interview, each providing an engaging look at what it's like to be on the wrong end of a win-or-go-home game.Ìý

Even in defeat, it's incredible to see the amount of dedication and care from coaches and players in that program.Ìý

Ìý