Local athletes, coaches honored at 12th annual Night of Champions

The 2024-25 school year was yet another one to savor for the Tompkins County high school sports scene. Many of the top student-athletes and coaches were recognized at ESPN Ithaca’s 12th annual Night of Champions awards ceremony on June 18, with each of the six county schools having awardees.

Ithaca High School’s Kulp Auditorium was the site of the event for the second straight year, and the Little Red garnered the most awards with 22 in total. Becca Lovenheim earned the most honors with three as the Girls Cross Country, Girls Indoor Track & Field, and Girls Outdoor Track & Field Coach of the Year. Lovenheim led the Little Red to great heights, winning a STAC title with cross country and runner-up finishes in all three sports. Under her tutelage, the Little Red sent many athletes to compete at the state and national level featuring many strong performances.

Tsadia Bercuvitz was named the Girls Cross Country Scholar-Athlete of the Year for winning the STAC and Section IV title while placing second at states. The sophomore was also named the Girls Indoor Track & Field Scholar-Athlete of the Year after taking home sectional titles in the 1,500-meter and 3,000-meter runs, finishing runner-up at states in the latter. She also earned All-American honors in the one-mile run and two-mile run.

Owen Simons also earned two honors as the Boys Hockey and Boys Lacrosse Scholar-Athlete of the Year. The senior led both teams in scoring and was named a Section IV All-Star in both sports. Additionally, he was named to the All-State Second Team for hockey.

In sports offered by more than just Ithaca, Riley Hubisz was the Boys Cross Country Scholar-Athlete of the Year for coming out on top at STACs and sectionals. Noah Hilker was the Boys Indoor Track & Field Scholar-Athlete of the Year for winning two sectional titles and stellar performances at states and nationals. Claire Park was the Girls Tennis Scholar-Athlete of the Year for a STAC doubles runner-up finish. 

In addition, Helen Evans was the Boys Tennis and Girls Tennis Coach of the Year for leading both teams to STAC division titles. Clayton Fickenscher was the Boys Lacrosse Coach of the Year for guiding the Little Red to a Section IV Class A championship appearance. Jonathan Singer was the Boys Swimming & Diving Coach of the Year after leading the team to a fourth place finish at sectionals.

Lansing was well-represented once again with five recipients. The mother-daughter duo of Kelly and Hailey Baughan were named the Girls Golf Coach of the Year and Scholar-Athlete of the Year, respectively. Kelly led the Bobcats to a fifth straight IAC title and second consecutive Section IV title, while Hailey won the individual title at IACs for the third year in a row and made her fourth straight appearance at states.

Owen Clark was the Boys Wrestling Scholar-Athlete of the Year for earning gold at IACs, silver at sectionals, and bronze at states at the 138 weight class. Shelby Howells was the Girls Hockey Scholar-Athlete of the Year, playing in goal for Ithaca and surpassing 750 career saves. Connor Lajza was the Boys Swimming & Diving Scholar-Athlete of the Year for an incredible senior season, including breaking multiple records in the 100-yard butterfly.

Trumansburg had a total of four recipients. The lone athlete honored was Nik Nelson as the Baseball Scholar-Athlete of the Year, dazzling both at the plate and on the mound and being named the IAC North Large Division MVP. Scott Voorhees was the Baseball Coach of the Year for guiding Nelson and the Blue Raiders to their first IAC championship since 2017. Chad Doolittle was named the Football Coach of the Year for leading Trumansburg to its first-ever Section IV title, while Anthony Ouckama was the Girls Soccer Coach of the Year for helping the Blue Raiders win back-to-back IAC crowns.

Groton had three recipients, including the newest honor of Girls Wrestling Coach of the Year. Jayme Evans pioneered the first varsity girls wrestling program in school history, spearheading them to impressive performances at IACs, sectionals, and states. Steve Lott was the Boys Golf Coach of the Year after the Red Hawks won their first Section IV title since 2001. Scott Weeks was named the Boys Indoor Track & Field Coach of the Year in large part due to the brilliance of Ross Bush, who broke multiple school records and also excelled in the postseason.

Newfield’s two recipients have done a tremendous amount for the community. Greg Taylor received Male Senior Leadership Award not just for his leadership on the playing surface as team captain for soccer, basketball, and outdoor track and field. He was also a leader in the classroom as the class valedictorian and was part of multiple clubs throughout the school. Ricky Stewart was the Boys Outdoor Track & Field Coach of the Year, overseeing many great outings in the postseason.

Dryden’s lone recipient was a very significant one. Zack LeViere was named the Boys Basketball Coach of the Year and the overall Coach of the Year in a boys sport after leading the Lions to their first IAC championship since 1986 and their first-ever Section IV title.