Trumansburg celebrates upcoming college student-athletes

Prior to graduation last month, Trumansburg held a “Signing Day” celebration to recognize seven students who will continue their athletic and academic careers in college. In total, seven athletes were honored, all of whom are staying in-state.

Nik Nelson was a standout three-sport athlete during his illustrious time with the Blue Raiders. An All-State selection in both football and basketball, Nelson will pursue baseball at St. John Fisher University. He ends his varsity career with a .388 batting average at the plate, 136 strikeouts on the mound, and a school-record 59 stolen bases. This spring, he was named the IAC North Large Division MVP.

Nelson shared how the mental game has not only been his biggest area of growth throughout his high school career, he also knows that aspect will help him thrive in college ball.

“To play at the next level, you have to be focused all the time,” Nelson said. “It’s a game of failure, so you really have to  stay within yourself, stay confident. I feel like what I worked on from freshman year to now will help me do good at the next level.”

Nelson won’t be the only Blue Raider heading to St. John Fisher, as Dikota Hamilton and Lucas Grove will become Cardinals in a few months’ time. Both athletes will join rare company by playing in multiple sports, with Hamilton doing football and wrestling and Grove on the football and track and field teams.

Hamilton was a force to be reckoned with on the gridiron on both sides of the ball, especially this past fall. He racked up 1,290 all-purpose yards and 20 touchdowns on offense and 98 tackles on defense, garnering an All-State nod. 

On the mat, Hamilton was equally as dominant, winning three league championships and two Section IV titles and competing at states three times. His senior year was by far his most memorable one. With the wrestling program returning for the first time in 12 years, Hamilton got to be part of his own school’s team after wrestling at Ithaca in the years prior.

“My goal since 10th grade was to be able to wrestle for my school just one time,” Hamilton said. “Honestly, the first time doing it in the gym, it was awesome. I knew the people that were there. I got to wrestle in front of people that have never seen me wrestle before and that I’m also close with.”

Grove was also an All-State selection in football on the offensive and defensive lines. For track and field, he earned multiple IAC and Section IV All-Star nods and holds the school record in the weight throw. The old mark was held by his brother Bryce, who is also part of the St. John Fisher track and field team. Teaming up with his brother was one of the many reasons that made the school stand out.

“They have really good athletic programs,” Grove said. “Their dining hall food is really, really good, so that’s what made me really excited. My brother had a really good experience there. [It’s] kind of a smaller school, which I always kind of was looking for. And it’s not too close and not too far away from home, so if you ever need to make a quick trip home, you’re able to do something like that.”

Quinn Van Valen will be doing track and field closer to home at Ithaca College. He specializes in the pole vault, which he qualified for states in during his junior year. His pole vaulting coach will be none other than Trumansburg alum Dominic Mikula.

“It’s very exciting,” Van Valen said. “We’re a little family friends too, so I’m just very excited to work with him, and I’m excited to really skyrocket.”

Raya Mount will also be part of the Bombers’ track program. While she might be more well-known for her stalwart defending on the soccer pitch, Mount enjoyed her two years running on the track team so much that she wanted to spend more time doing so in college.

“All the training for soccer was my favorite part,” Mount said. “I loved the running and working up to a timed mile and a half and stuff like that. It was kind of easy for me to just keep running.”

Speaking of soccer, Amara Landon will be taking her talents to the Division II level at Dominican University. A prolific attacker, she recorded 46 goals and 28 assists and was three-time IAC First Team All-Star. Landon saw strong parallels between the Blue Raiders and the Friars in terms of the camaraderie.

“It was the culture around the team,” Landon said. “A lot of my future teammates reminded me a lot of my current teammates now and like joking around with each other. That’s just something I look for in a team.”

Owen Fulton rounds out the Blue Raider college athlete contingent, playing baseball at Alfred State College. Fulton was a three-time IAC All-Star and recorded a .426 batting average, four home runs, 67 runs batted in and 62 runs throughout his career.