Our top 5 Cayuga County-area high school athletes of the week for Oct. 27-Nov. 2
Who is your Cayuga County-area athlete of the week for Oct. 27-Nov. 2?
You voted: Girls cross-country: Olivia Genson, Moravia Football: Camren Hoag, Cato-Meridian Boys soccer: Manne Vasquez, Southern Cayuga Boys soccer: Ian Thompson, Skaneateles Volleyball: Megan House, WeedsportLast week's poll winner: Cameryn Brundage, Port Byron/Union Springs field hockey.
Girls cross-country: Olivia Genson, Moravia The senior added to her accolades on Oct. 30 when she took part in the Interscholastic Athletic Conference championships in Marathon. Genson came away with a seventh-place finish, earning the honor of IAC first-team all-star. It was the second time this season she was named a first-team all-star within the IAC. The first was Oct. 8, when she recorded a season-best 20:08.2 in a first-place finish at the IAC small school championships. As a result, she was also named IAC small school champion. Genson and the Blue Devils will take the course again Thursday at the Section IV, Class D meet. Football: Camren Hoag, Cato-Meridian The senior handled 13 carries for 213 yards and three trips to the end zone Friday as the No. 2 Blue Devils took down No. 7 Westmoreland/Oriskany in the Section III, Class D quarterfinals, 51-24. With his second 200-plus-yard rushing game this year, the senior running back has now tallied 1,002 rushing yards and 14 scores on 75 attempts in 2024. He will look to add to those numbers when he and the Blue Devils play No. 3 Mount Markham at Jordan-Elbridge High School in the semifinals on Friday. Boys soccer: Manne Vasquez, Southern CayugaNo. 2 Southern Cayuga boys soccer captured its second Section IV, Class C title in three years on Saturday with the help of its standout goalie. Prior to the title game, Vasquez recorded seven saves and shut out No. 3 Marathon in a 1-0 victory in the semifinals on Oct. 30. After the win, head coach Colton Gregg talked about the experience and guidance Vasquez brings to the team.
"Manne's been kind of the heart and soul and the energy piece of the team," Gregg told The Citizen.
"He has that leadership as a senior. He has the experience of being not only in Middletown, but in Oneonta twice. He brings all of that, so he knows how to get these guys ready."
The senior then tallied another seven saves in the sectional final, a 2-1 win against No. 4 Seton Catholic. Over Southern Cayuga's 13-1-2 season so far, Vasquez has held 12 of its opponents scoreless. He and Southern Cayuga will be back on the field for regionals on Saturday when they take on the Section III, Class C champion in Oneonta.
Boys soccer: Ian Thompson, SkaneatelesThe junior continued to find the back of the net as the No. 3-seeded Lakers' season came to an end in the Section III, Class B tournament last week. Thompson opened the week with a hat trick against No. 2 Lowville in the semifinals Oct. 29. The forward's three goals marked the sixth time this season that he scored at least three goals in a game. He then capped off the season with Skaneateles' lone goal in its 2-1 loss to No. 1 Westhill in the sectional final on Saturday. Thompson led the team in goals (27) on the season, as the Lakers finished the year with a 12-4-3 record.
Volleyball: Megan House, Weedsport Behind a 17-assist and season-high 12-point performance from the junior, the No. 3 Wolverines came out on top in their Section III, Class C quarterfinal matchup Oct. 30. Weedsport took down No. 6 OnTech Charter in three sets in the home matchup. Over House's 18 games as setter, she has amassed at least 17 assists in 17 of them, and has totaled 402 assists on the season. With Weedsport's quarterfinal win, it will now face No. 2 Cato-Meridian on Thursday in the semifinals on the Blue Devils' court. During the Wolverines' one matchup with Cato-Meridian in the regular season, House finished with a season-high 41 assists, 16 digs and 4 total points in a five-set victory.Sports reporter Jacob Urish can be reached at or (315) 282-2288.
Sports reporter
