This fall sports season, the Mighty Oaks competed in USCAA National Championships, brought home more hardware, and spent countless hours dedicated to their teams’ successes.
“This fall, ESF Athletics participated in over 40 events, giving great opportunities for our student athletes to compete, have fun, and learn outside the classroom. We are thankful for the support of the administration and the alumni association. And on behalf of the student athletes and coaches we wish you all a happy new year.”
Dan Ramin, Director of Intercollegiate Athletics
CROSS COUNTRY
The Mighty Oaks men’s and women’s cross country teams ended the season with matching USCAA National Championship titles. ESF is the first school in USCAA history to win both titles two years in a row.
On the women’s team, Katie Richardson, Savannah Kuhr, and Bryce Hopper finished in the top three spots. And on the men’s team, Matthew Tripp and Sean Dristle finished in the top two spots.
“We started this season hoping to repeat as USCAA national champions for both the men and women,” Coach Mike Melfi said. “We worked hard, overcame illness, and went onto nationals healthy while racing great in tough conditions. I am proud of our teams and would like to give a special shout-out to our seniors who helped lead us to victory!”
SOCCER
The Mighty Oaks women’s soccer team had another successful season as they welcomed several new team members, earned another HVIAC Regional Championship title, and competed in the USCAA National Championship in Virginia. The team finished the season with an 8-4-3 record.
Sophomore Jessica Bolton finished as the season’s top scorer with 10 goals and three assists. Abby Thomas and Ryan Hesch each scored five goals, and Mackenzie Koniszewski finished the season with four goals and four assists.
The ESF men’s soccer team finished third in the HVIAC conference this season with a record of 6-6-1.
Freshman Troy Ingham was the season’s top scorer with six goals, including an assist, and junior Colby Krauss scooped up three assists from the wing. Seniors Owen Henkler and Caleb Prenoveau totaled six points for the Mighty Oaks in their final season repping the green.
Ingham and Prenoveau were also named to the HVIAC All-Conference team.
BASS FISHING
The ESF bass fishing team competed in the Chautauqua Lake and the Lake George NYS Bass Youth Tournament. Highlights of the season include placing third at both Lake George and Chautauqua Lake. The team also held its Inaugural Alumni Tournament to great success.
Team Captain Nick Sanderson, a junior, had high praise for his team.
“The fall was a great start to the season for the bass fishing team,” Sanderson said, “We fished in two NYBASS youth tournaments and sent more teams than ever to a single event! And, with our annual Autism Awareness and Alumni Tournaments, we’ve been able to include more people than ever in competitive fishing. It’s been an exciting start and we are looking forward to the spring.”
GOLF
The ESF Mighty Oaks golf team competed in five events this season, which included a win against Cazenovia College and the team’s 13th consecutive trip to the USCAA National Championships held at the Penn State Blue Course in State College, Pennsylvania.
The team finished in 11th place out of the 19-team field at Nationals, with Conor Mahoney as the low scorer on the Mighty Oaks squad, turning in rounds of 79 and 83, for a two-day total of 162, tying him for 22nd overall out of the 112-player field.
“For the first time, we hosted a Mighty Oaks golf team fundraiser to celebrate the experience and tradition created by the more than 60 golf alumni,” said Head Coach John Turbeville. “We had 14 alumni travel back to participate in this inaugural event, which hosted 40 participants. It proved to be a great time for alumni to connect, celebrate and share stories from their time at ESF and on the team. We plan to make this an annual event in support of the current team and are looking at September 2023 for our next event.”
TIMBER SPORTS
The ESF timber sports team wrapped up a successful season punctuated by top-three wins at all their meets. Their home field East Coast Lumberjack Roundup in Tully earned them second- and third-place division titles across the ’men’s team, women’s team, and Jack & Jill teams. Away meets also brought top-three division wins.
Head Coach Sarah Murphy ’16 was happy with how the team performed this season.
“The team had a busy and successful fall season, which began with a few demonstrations at the ESF Newcomb Campus and Carpenters Brook Fish Hatchery,” Murphy said. “I’m proud of how the team has performed this year and look forward to next season.”
ESF ATHLETIC HALL OF FAME
This fall ESF’s Hall of Fame hosted a tremendous event inducting a great class.
The 2012 men’s soccer team, a timber sports athlete, a member of the ski/cross country team at Syracuse University, and the driving force behind the creation of ESF’s mascot—Oakie the Acorn—are among the 2022 honorees of the ESF Athletic Hall of Fame.
“This year’s honorees represent the pinnacle of ESF athletics and we are honored to recognize their achievements,” said ESF President Joanie Mahoney. “The discipline, dedication, and teamwork seen on the playing field are mirrored both in the classroom and in their professional lives.”
The 2022 ESF Athletic Hall of Fame honorees are:
2012 ESF Men’s Soccer Team and Coaches
The 2012 team was the first ESF team to make the USCAA National Championships, finishing third in the national tournament. This was the highest-placed ESF team at that point in the program’s history. A tournament highlight was a spectacular goal from 25 yards out by Kyle Bardwell ’15. The soccer team had four All-Academic Americans and three All-Athletic Americans. The Teams Coaches were Jon Ramin and Dan Ramin.
David Andrews
David Andrews ‘12 (environmental forest biology – aquatic and fisheries science) was a member of the Timber Sports team. He was the 2012 team captain and led the team to the Northeast College Timber Sports Challenge Championship. He was the 2012 recipient of the SUNY Chancellor Student Excellence Award.
Peter Arthur
Peter Arthur ‘78 (resources management) was a member and letter winner for the SU soccer team from 1974-1977. In 1978, he served as team captain and was named Most Valuable Player. He is active in the youth soccer program in his community and became an Adirondack 46’er in 2016.
Richard Rybinski
Richard Rybinski ’74 (Resources Management) was a four-year member and competitor on the SU cross country and Alpine ski teams. He was recognized as an Outstanding Skier in 1972 and 1974 for the U.S. ski teams. He was the 1974 Robin Hood Oak Award recipient and was the 1978 third-place finisher in the USSA Cross Country Ski Championships – Veteran Class 1. He also received a Special Achievement Award from the Bureau of Land Management.
Stephen Young
Stephen Young ’74 (Resources Management) was a member and letter winner for the SU soccer team from 1970-73. From 1970-73 he had the most goals by an SU soccer fullback, was 1973’s Most Valuable Player, and was co-captain for the team. Following graduation from ESF, he became a Peace Corps volunteer and was the founder of the Adirondack Botanical Society.
Ryan Henry
Ryan Henry ’11 (landscape architecture) was a consummate Mighty Oaks supporter and driving force for the creation of ESF’s mascot, Oakie the Acorn. He was instrumental in naming the ESF athletic teams The Mighty Oaks, was the 2011 recipient of the Robin Hood Oak Award, assisted in having the student body approve USCAA athletic participation, and was a member of the SU Athletics Cheer Team.