Archive: Sports

Due to the recent COVID-19 pandemic outbreak, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) is now offering an online hunter safety certification course.

"Hunting is a time-honored tradition across the Wayne-Finger Lakes region. I am proud to represent local sportsmen and women and support their efforts to pass on their knowledge to the next generation. Many parents are home with their children right now and this is a great opportunity to teach them about hunting. This new online opportunity will help parents and grandparents pass on safe hunting practices and maintain the tradition of outdoor recreation within their family and around our region and our state," NYS Senator Pam Helming said.

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo announced Sunday that March 14-15 will be a free snowmobiling weekend for all out-of-state and Canadian snowmobilers -- a move that will further strengthen the winter tourism industry in the North Country and across New York. The Governor made the announcement before snowmobiling with his three daughters Cara, Mariah and Michaela at Saranac Lake.

"New York is home to more than 10,000 miles of some of the best snowmobiling trails in the nation, all with the backdrop of stunning natural beauty that has to be seen to believe," Cuomo said. "With this free snowmobiling weekend, we are encouraging visitors from far and wide to come to the North Country and points between, experience our great outdoor recreational activities for themselves and further strengthen New York's booming tourism industry."

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo announced Tuesday that the first statewide free fishing weekend in New York for 2020 will take place on February 15 and 16. During these designated days, residents and visitors are permitted to fish for free without a fishing license.

"New York is home to hundreds of lakes, streams and rivers, allowing amateur and expert anglers alike to get outdoors and experience the world-class fishing we have to offer, as well as the communities that host them, Cuomo said. "With free fishing this weekend, I encourage residents and our out-of-state neighbors to pack a tackle box and a cooler, grab a fishing pole, and head out to have some fun with a pastime that I and so many of our fellow New Yorkers enjoy."

State Police issued more than 8,300 tickets and arrested 122 people during a special STOP DWI traffic enforcement period over Super Bowl Weekend. During the annual campaign, which started on Friday, February 1 and ran through 4 a.m. on Monday, February 3, 2020, State Police increased patrols and conducted sobriety checkpoints to deter, identify and arrest impaired drivers. The initiative was funded by the Governor's Traffic Safety Committee and was also carried out by local law enforcement agencies across the state.

"Even if your team didn't make it to the game, Super Bowl festivities remain a great tradition centered around spending time with friends and loved ones, but it's not a license to overindulge and take to the roads," Governor Andrew M. Cuomo said. "New York has zero tolerance for drinking and driving and these results show that our aggressive enforcement of the law is working and it's helping to keep New Yorkers safe on our roadways and highways."

After earning the Section IV championship last weekend, the Lansing varsity football team was escorted by Gary Christopher downstate on a 3½ hour bus ride to Kingston, NY. The opponent for the Regional Championship game was the Ellenville Blue Devils who had just a ½ hour trip. That's just the way it's drawn up by the NYS high school athletic association for the 8-man competition. Section IV is to play Section IX at Section IX. Lansing athletics and its director Matt Loveless made sure the team was provided champion accommodations with a hotel on Friday night before the game in Kingston and some good eats as well.

Deb Brotherton and Lori Crandall spearheaded a little pre-game 'Best Western' tailgating with Bobcat football alums Mark Brotherton and John Munson cooking up burgers and dogs. Thanks everybody for the fantastic variety of foods and snacks. This was definitely a hot chocolate football day when it was time to settle into the wind chilled game that saw the sun fade quickly after the 4 o'clock kickoff.

Blue pursuit with Mogyorosi, Sill, Santiago and Crandall
Two minutes and ten seconds into the Section IV championship game against the Newfield Trojans Lansing Junior quarterback Ben Vincent took the ball 34 yards with blocking help from Thor Wierson and Jake Babcock for the first Bobcat score. Senior kicker Tristan Lyndaker made the successful point after kick and a 7-0 lead. Who needs the NFL Steelers when Lansing has its own version of Big Ben. The team came through to help make it a Big Ben start. Vincent scored additional first quarter runs of 69 and 52 yards.

Down 20-0 early in second quarter and having defensive end Brendan Mogyorosi sack the Newfield quarterback the Trojans called a timeout to regroup. The timeout set up an 87 yard pass play for a much needed Newfield score. Vincent tested his own throwing accuracy with a strike to Lansing wideout Jake Brotherton which set up a 6 yard TD by tailback Jake Babcock. One play after a Lansing fumble Newfield quarterback Arthur Hardison connected on a 52 yard touchdown pass to Joshua Wood to cut the Trojan deficit to 27-14 with over five minutes remaining until half. After exchanging back to back to back fumbles between the two teams in a two minute span the Bobcats Vincent eventually hooked up again on a rollout left with Brotherton and this result was a 23 yard TD and a 34-14 lead at the half.

The Lansing Central School 2019 Athletic Hall of Fame Class includes Angela Ellis McLennan, Kim Van Pelt, Caitlin Wright, the 1998 Girls Softball Team and the 2007 Boys Bowling Team.



Angela Ellis McLennan was a three-sport star in swimming, basketball and softball. She lettered five times as a swimmer. McLennan helped the LadyCat swimmers to five consecutive Section IV Class D championships. She played for Stuart Dean’s LadyCats basketball team, lettering twice while helping them to a two-year record of 35-9, winning an IAC Small School Championship. She was a three-time letter winner in softball as well as a three-time IAC all-star. McLennan was a NYS All-State selection twice, as a catcher and again as a shortstop. As a senior, she helped Lansing to the Section IV Class D title before losing in the State Regional finals to Brocton.

For consecutive years of participation in the single division of Section IV 8-man football the Lansing Bobcats find themselves advancing to the divisional championship which crowns the winner as the Section IV champion as well. The Newfield Trojans (5-2) went to Elmira and defeated the Elmira Notre Dame Crusaders (5-2) at their home stadium the same Friday game day Lansing shutout the Unadilla Valley Storm 34-0.

The chilly but dry evening drew a respectable crowd to cheer on the Cats for their last home game. Lansing’s Kevin Patt recovered a hard low onside like kick to start the game near mid field. This set up a 10 play drive and Brad Lehr took it in from 7 yards out off right tackle and Tristan Lyndaker notched the point after kick for a 7-0 lead.

Getting to Trumansburg from Lansing takes a circuitous yet necessary route through the City of Ithaca and an additional 12 miles north up Cayuga Lake. As a rower rows in combination with a crow flying due west over the lake it would only be five miles. And as the rower needs a paddle so this Class C division rivalry continues a tradition of recent history known as the 'Battle for the Paddle'. Trumansburg joined the 8 man league this year as a start up of their program again and was looking for win #2 at the expense of the Bobcats.

Lansing Bobcat season starting tailback and linebacker Jake Babcock was on the field for the first time since week two. Babcock is the grandson of Hall of Famer Terry Teeter. Babcock hauled in a second half scoring pass. Lansing took a 14-0 lead in to the second quarter with two Brad Lehr touchdown runs of short yardage. Trumansbug came to compete and safety Ben Vincent made a saving touchdown tackle after a 42 yard pass play to the Lansing 5. On fourth and goal Blue Raider quarterback Ethan Fulton connected on a 9 yard pass to Dean Sheerer. Soon after the Bobcats' Vincent participated in another 40 plus yard play by scampering 46 yards for a score and a 20-6 lead.

Photo Courtesy of D Weirson
With two regular season games remaining the Lansing (4-0) football team was looking to keep hold of their first place division standing against the Unadilla Valley Storm. UV was hosting the game with a 3-1 record and ready to avenge a loss to the Cats on this same field a year ago. Sophomore speedster Eric Kahn looked to set the tone taking the opening kickoff to the UV 35. A 10-yard scoring connection from quarterback Ben Vincent to Brad Lehr was followed up with a Tristan Lyndaker PA kick giving the visitors a quick 8-0 lead.

UV copied Lansing taking the ensuing kickoff to their opponents 35 as well. Two plays later we were knotted at 8. Lansing's Vincent was forced to punt and the special teams pinned the ball inside the UV 5. This 55-yard punt was the beginning of a pretty solid kicking night in all phases for Lansing. The home team was prepared to showcase their big play capability for this homecoming affair, and they did so in a 1-play 95-yard dash to pay dirt and a quick 16-8 lead with 4:54 remaining in the first.

Anticipation was in the air when the undefeated Crusaders of Elmira Notre (END) came to take on the undefeated Bobcats of Lansing football team. Anticipation is to forecast, to predict or expect. An intangible for playmaking ability and outcomes is good anticipation. Each team had moments of good anticipation but the playmaking tallied positive to the home team ledger.

END intercepted a ball in their end zone preventing an early Lansing touchdown and eventually took a 6-0 lead into the second quarter. A sack for Lansing Jr defensive end Gabe Santiago was his first in a big night. Santiago and his offensive and defensive line mates rose up to the biggest challenge of the season to help the running attack. Tailback Brad Lehr did some mid field gains while QB Ben Vincent used his 6th gear speed to cap a 44 yard drive with a 10 yard run.

"It's not how many times you fall, but how many times you get back up". In its various forms, this inspirational message has been spoken by Abraham Lincoln, Vince Lombardi, and even Rocky Balboa. Although the words have changed, the meaning remains the same. Persistence has its rewards.

It is a fact of life imprinted into us when we learn how to ride a bike. You fall. You get up. You brush off the dirt. You pick up your bike. You fall again. Then one day you learn how and you never forget.