BUFFALO — The finish line of any marathon is one of the most emotional places in sports. The physical toll 26.2 miles has on even a seasoned runner brings out the rawest of emotions.

The Geneva Sports Hall of Fame will welcome its next class of inductees on May 20 at Club 86. This year’s class includes Kelvin Cruz, Christine Driscoll Rosato, Kelley Driscoll, Barron Frank, Bill Hadsell, Craig McDonald, Melissa Smith Sladden, Beth Teague Mabry and the Geneva High 1923 Lacr…

GENEVA — All sports were a go at Geneva High School this past fall season for the first time since 2019. Many athletes earned high marks to be recognized as scholar athletes and five out of seven teams earned “Scholar Team” honors.

In an effort to recognize academic excellence coupled with athletic participation, the New York State Public High School Athletic Association sponsors the Scholar Athlete award based on a team concept of academic achievement.

PITTSFORD — Waterloo native Riley Corey is not only making a name for herself in cross country at the collegiate level, she’s making history.

CANANDAIGUA — Palmyra-Macedon graduate and FLCC Lakers freshman Leah Lloyd continued her country-wide dominance in women’s cross country.

POUGHKEEPSIE — William Smith soccer allowed its first goal since Sept. 12 against Arcadia. Although it ends an impressive streak, it did not matter in the end as the Herons scored three goals in the second half to beat Vassar 4-1 on Saturday.

GENEVA — The Hobart and William Smith Colleges sailing team won the David Lee Arnoff Trophy on Seneca Lake this past weekend, Oct. 16-17. It’s the fifth-straight time the Colleges have won the trophy. In addition, William Smith sailors were in Cambridge, Massachusetts for the Women’s Atlanti…

GENEVA — Hobart and William Smith Colleges Associate Vice President and Director of Athletics and Recreation Deb Steward recently announced that William Smith Head Cross Country Coach Tyler Wilkie will also serve as interim head coach of Hobart cross country while long-time Statesmen Head Co…

WATERLOO — The Waterloo Hall of Fame has been waiting, patiently, to induct distinguished former athletes since 2020. The Class of 2020 — now the Class of 2021 — will finally be enshrined Labor Day Weekend.

KEUKA PARK — Keuka College and its Department of Athletics announced on Tuesday the reinstatement of the men’s and women’s golf and cross country programs.

BUFFALO — In 2020, the word “memorable” often was accompanied by a heavy helping of sarcasm.

The Wayne-Finger Lakes cross country season had a solid run this year; Pun intended.

ONTARIO — After girls swimming had wrapped up earlier in the day, Saturday’s cross country sectional championships at Wayne Central marked the finish line of the fall 2020 season for all sports across Section V and New York State.

SHORTSVILLE — Two weeks between cross country meets might throw off the groove of certain runners. That was not the case at Red Jacket high school on Saturday at the Wayne-Finger Lakes Championships as top of the leaderboard was all Newark Reds in the East division.

This has been a wild fall sports season, and I’m not talking about national sports. The high school campaign has given my colleagues and I emotional whiplash from the constant cycle of postponements, cancellations and changing start times.

Low-risk sports have been given the go to participate in contests for Fall sports. Cross country is one of those low-risk now preparing for the start of their 2020 season.

Every cross country meet plays host to several schools, each of which have their team tents lined up next to one another throughout the host school’s track. When each of the races begin, sometimes 50 or more runners start in a crowd and all take off at the sound of the starting gun.

JOHNSTOWN — Finger Lakes Community College fall sports will be meager this fall, but given the past six months, a handful of Laker athletes get to compete in the fall, and cross country is well underway.

What the above title and sub-headline mean is that our weekly edition of Sports Looking Back that spotlights unforgettable teams and individuals from the Finger Lakes region has sadly come to an end...as you know it.

On Aug. 24, Gov. Andrew Cuomo opened the gates for low-risk high school sports to resume activities on Sept. 21.

The last high school sports event that took place in the Finger Lakes was March 11, when the Geneva boys basketball team routed Avon 84-56 to advance to the New York state tournament for the first time.

GENEVA — It may not be perfect, but fall in the Finger Lakes will have sports.

Waterloo High School cross country has experienced decades of success under the likes of Ed Courtney and Mickey Donnelly.

KEUKA PARK — The fall of 2020 was supposed to usher in a new era of Keuka Wolves athletics; a fresh start in a new conference with a blank canvas ready to be filled with new records and history.

WATERLOO — Waterloo High School’s 54th annual sports award ceremony wasn’t the usual night of celebration it has been in years past. Nonetheless, the Athletic Department ensured the district’s student-athletes were honored for their hard work and dedication.

SENECA FALLS — Mynderse Academy still found a way to honor its athletes for the hard work put in during the fall and winter sports seasons.

PENN YAN — Area high schools continue to come up with clever ways to make sure their student-athletes receive recognition for their hard-fought fall and winter seasons.

ROMULUS — Despite the cancellation of the spring sports season, Romulus high school athletes rightfully received recognition for their efforts in the 2019-20 fall and winter seasons.

CANTON — William Smith’s soccer team closed out another successful regular season against a strong St. Lawrence team in the final game before the Liberty League Tournament.

ONTARIO CENTER — Wayne Central School hosted the Wayne-Finger Lakes Championships on Friday afternoon.

GENEVA — The Statesmen have reached a three-game win streak for the second time this season after shutting out Bard by a score of 4-0.