The challenges born out of the pandemic resonate everywhere, and it has affected the lives of all college students and certainly student-athletes. At ESF in the fall and spring of 2020 and 2021 there were few activities for student athletes. Most programs were cancelled and only some had minimal practices allowed. In the fall of 2021, training and competition returned. With the support of President Joanie Mahoney and Vice Provost/Dean of Student Affairs Anne Lombard, the coaches and athletics staff worked hard to ensure a safe and healthy environment for our student athletes. Not only was it great to be back competing, it also turned out to be the most successful fall in the College’s athletics history! The Mighty Oaks captured three national championships: men’s and women’s cross country and women’s soccer. In addition to that tremendous accomplishment, we also had three coaches nationally recognized as USCAA coaches of the year: Mandy DaRin - women’s soccer; Mike Melfi - cross country; and John Turbeville – golf. Our national champion teams are featured separately (list page if not in same section), but here are some recaps and highlights from our other terrific groups. It is great that the Oaks are back!

Men’s Soccer

• The team ended the season with a 7-3-1 record. The Oaks were ranked consistently in the USCAA top 10 nationally but closed out the season losing in the HVIAC conference semifinals. It was a strong return and winning season for the team.

Bass Fishing

• Two ESF teams finished within the top 10 at the MLF Abu Garcia College Fishing Open in June. This earned them spots at the 2022 MLF Abu Garcia National Championship in March.

• The team hosted an Autism Awareness Tournament on Onondaga Lake, raising over $500 for the My Little Buddy’s Boat non-profit agency in support of autism awareness. The ESF team also took top honors for the event, among a field of 15 teams.

Timbersports

• After a nearly two-year hiatus from competitions, the ESF Timbersports team had a strong opening season.

• Men’s A, Women’s A, and Jack & Jill 1 teams all won first in their division at the Morrisville Competition.

• Overall, the men’s team won two of three meets, the women’s brought back one first and two second-place finishes, and the Jack & Jill 1 earned two firsts and one second-place finish. The Jack & Jill 2 team, comprising mostly new competitors, rounded the season off with an impressive third-place overall finish.

• ESF will host a meet in the spring.

Golf recap

• ESF golfers Benjamin Carguello and Andrew Crossway were named to the 2021 USCAA 84 Lumber Golf National All-Academic Team. 

• Golf Coach John Turbeville was named Coach of the Year by the USCAA. Turbeville, senior assistant dean for student affairs/director of career services, has coached the ESF golf team since its inception in the spring of 2007. He played golf in high school and as an undergrad at SUNY Oswego.

Track update

• The track team entered the indoor track season with a lot of momentum coming from the men's and women's cross country national championships. The first meet was at Cornell with 15 student athletes - the most that have ever been brought to a meet.