- By Dan Veaner
- Sports
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Lansing Athletic Director John Taylor
"This is a community of people who really love their sports and want to have they best they possibly can out on the competition fields," Taylor says. "I'm happy with that. The girls soccer team wanted to have a bus to go to one of the State inter-sectional games last year. Within one hour we had enough funding for a bus. People are willing to help out. It's just phenomenal."
football2.jpgFootballWith a new football coach swapped in at the last minute last year, the season was a bit dicey as the players got used to their new coach, Bob Brantner. But Taylor says that last year's losses were close and a more cohesive team with a year of working with Brantner under their belts could make the difference in their game this year.
"The record last year was 4-5, but if you look at the games they lost, they lost three games by one field goal," Taylor says. "They were in every game and they were very close losses. This year we start off with Candor. It's going to be a tough game right off the bat. Then we're home against Waverly, a very strong team. Trumansburg is always competitive. One game after another, we've got to be ready for them."
The team has attracted over 30 players this year, a good turnout according to Taylor, who notes that the Newark valley team has about 20. He says if the players execute the way they are capable of they could be playoff bound.
"We have a number of kids who are stepping up," Taylor notes. "TJ Kretney played quarterback and some safety last year. Greg Esposito is a strong kid. He can play just about any position. Colden Knapp is a good strong kid who can play offence and defense, Jake Whiting -- Jake and Colden are both back for their third year."
soccer1.jpgGirls SoccerLansing's girls soccer team has been the defending Sectional champions for the last two years. Taylor says that a good bunch of players is coming back this year and with strong coaching by LaMarr Peters and the powerhouse team this year looks very promising. He notes that it is tough to lose the Palladinos, but the team has a lot of good players who will step up.
"MC Barrett got on the State record board for the most consecutive shutouts in the regular season," he notes. "That's an impressive feat and as far as athletic goalies she is top notch. You've got Ellen Grant-Keane. She's very fast. She's a tough one to defend against. Lydia Warkington is a big strong girl."
Taylor also notes that Peters is an inspiring coach who works with kids from a very young age.
"The man lives, loves soccer," Taylor says. "The girls have been in the program for a long time and they know his system. They've been out there working tough, tree days the first week -- they're ready to go."
soccer1.jpgBoys SoccerCoach Adam Heck also works with young Lansing soccer players, so when they get to the varsity team they know the coach and they know the system. In his 13th season as boys soccer coach, Heck has attracted a good number of players for this season.
"They've already had a couple of scrimmages and done very well, held their own," Taylor says. "They also have a handful of seniors back, but the kids have been playing for a long time. They're always in the hunt for the IAC championships. They go deep into Sectional play year after year. You start playing the bigger schools in the inter-sectional championships, schools with bigger and stronger teams than we have. But our kids hang in there. They're tough."
volleyball120.jpgVarsity VolleyballAmy O'Brien will be coaching the Lansing vollyball team for her fourth season. In her first season the team went all the way to the State championships, and Taylor is optimistic about their season this year.
"The competition is tough," he says. "They're going to be a good, competitive team in the IAC. They should be able to hold their own and do very well."
swim120.jpgGirls SwimmingCoach Diane Hicks-Hughes is the longest tenured coach in the district, and her team is a powerhouse, year after year. Taylor says that while she has had some impressive swimming stars, Hicks-Hughes' secret is knowing how to fill the gaps with girls who may excel in one event.
"I think she knows where to fill her gaps," Taylor says. "She has so many girls who are versatile enough to be able to swim not only the 50 but also the 100 and the wide range of the breast stroke or the butterfly. You have a lot of kids who can do those events, which helps. That team aspect is really nice."
While the team is down in numbers from about 30 last year to just over 20 this fall, Taylor says some strong swimmers and a tight team will mean more success this year. Kali Dean, who has made it to the state championships three years in a row, is among returning swimmers.
"We expect that again," Taylor says. "I think she has gills! She loves to swim and I would expect coaches will be after her for college swimming as well."
xc1_120.jpgCross CountryCoach Heather Miller's cross country team may have had a building year last year, but still managed to send runners to the state championships last year. This year she has managed to attract enough girls to separate the boys and girls teams, something that was not possible last year. This years girls team has 8 runners.
Taylor notes that numbers are important because your top five runners score as a team, and individual runners can also excel. The combination is important in a competitive field. The teams have already run in a practice 5K run, and many also participated in the Lighthouse 5K run at Lansing Harbor Festival, the proceeds of which were donated to the varsity team.
John Cleveland, Josh Barber, and Shanna Swanson ran very well last year with Barber and Cleveland going to State. Taylor says that Eddie Potter, who comes to the team from soccer, should also do well.
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