Mar 24, 2022
Paul Smith’s Carson Wohlers approaches the 10K finish line at the 2022 U.S. Snowshoe Nationals in Cable, Wisconsin. (Provided photo — Greg Prellwitz, U.S. Snowshoe Association)
PAUL SMITHS — It was a winter to remember for the athletic department at Paul Smith’s College.
In reviewing the past six months, the Bobcat’s teams got back to the basics of trying to win games and competitions with the specter of COVID-19 still present.
Paul Smith’s was led by the Nordic ski team, which won four national team titles and two individual crowns in the U.S. Collegiate Ski Association championships in Lake Placid.
It marked the first time in nearly 60 years that a Paul Smith’s team won a national championship.
Other Bobcat squads also had memorable seasons.
Paul Smith’s Ellen Haas competes in the 5K snowshoe race in Cable, Wisconsin. (Provided photo — Greg Prellwitz, U.S. Snowshoe Association)
–
Woodsmen’s team
–
Earlier in March, the Bobcats sent two pairs of athletes to the Jack and Jill meet at the University of Connecticut in Storrs, Connecticut.
Paul Smith’s was paced by winning performances from Zachary Cowperthwait and Hannah Aldrich, who emerged victorious in six events and won the overall championship of the meet.
Men’s coach Keith Braun said the pairs — which included Danny Miner and Allie Howard — worked together in the log roll, pulp toss, crosscut sawing, standing block chop and underhand chop.
“The success of the PSC teams really speaks to the competitors’ dedication to developing themselves as athletes and learning the intricacies of their sport,” Braun said in a statement. “Typically, each competitor needs to hone their skill in only a handful of disciplines, but Zach, Hannah, Danny and Allie have shown that with focused training and a little bit of extra grit you can be successful across the board.”
The meet was atypical of a normal competition, which usually sees six-person teams instead of pairs.
Paul Smith’s women’s coach Kate Snyder did double duty in Storrs. She helped guide her athletes and competed in the professional division.
“It was great to have been part of the team out here representing Paul Smith’s College. We were able to watch the pros chop and saw throughout the day, which gives younger athletes a great perspective,” Snyder said. “Both PSC teams had excellent performances, and we look forward to bringing the same energy to the next meet at SUNY ESF later this month.”
–
Men’s basketball
–
The Bobcats ended the season ranked 15th in the nation — the highest ranking in over a decade.
Paul Smith’s finished the regular season with eight straight wins to secure an 8-6 conference record and a 11-10 overall mark before falling in the Yankee Small College Conference quarterfinals to Great Bay Community College.
It was a solid season for a team that had many games either canceled or postponed this season, making it hard to get into any kind of playing rhythm.
“I’m extremely proud of this team,” Third-year coach Josh Clemens said. “In a season where momentum was the hardest thing to grasp, we were able to turn the year around. Losing a few close ones in the middle of the hardest stretch of the season could have ruined a lot of weak-minded teams, but we kept moving. I want to thank our senior leadership and all of our team members for keeping the train on the track and the team culture stable.”
Senior guard Kenny Smith averaged 15 points per game and was ranked top 10 in the conference in rebounds, assists, blocks and steals. Smith was named second-team All-Conference and Honorary Mention All-American.
Freshman Anthony Henson led the league in points per game. While academically, senior center Bailey Loatman and junior guard Ryan Luzzi were named Academic All-Americans.
Next season, the Bobcats plan to return 17 student-athletes from this year’s roster.
“We are definitely not in a rebuild, just a reload,” Clemens said.
–
Women’s basketball
–
The Bobcats went three seasons without winning a game, but this season Clemens took over the women’s program.
This season, Clemens brought in a strong group of freshmen that changed the culture. The result was fifth place in the conference with a 6-8 record and 9-10 overall on the season.
Paul Smith’s was led by three freshmen, including two top-five scorers in the conference, Jordan Louis and Jastic Eleby.
On the defensive side, the team was anchored by Jayla Gray, who ranked third in the conference in rebounding and fourth in blocks. The additions to these players, along with a dedicated group of returners, were able to have their best season in over a decade.
“It was a wonderful season by everyone on this team,” Clemens said. “This is a spectacular group of student-athletes with an extremely bright future.”
The Bobcats won their first playoff game of the post-season, defeating New Hampshire Technical Institute, before falling to the eventual national champions, Central Maine.
The YSCC recognized the Bobcat’s season by naming Louis first-team All-Conference. Senior forward Shannon McPheters and sophomore guard Keely VanValkenburgh were named Academic All-Americans.
Paul Smith’s will return their entire roster next year and is expected to add some more depth in the off-season.
“This was a great foundational year, but we have to stay hungry,” Clemens said. “There’s a lot of work left to get where we want to be.”
–
Snowshoe nationals
–
A total of 13 Bobcats snowshoers competed in mid-winter conditions at the 2022 U.S. Snowshoe Nationals in Cable, Wisconsin earlier in March.
Zack Sprott-Scribner paced the Bobcats with a sixth-place finish overall in the championship 10K race. He covered the hilly course in 44 minutes, 5 seconds to win the 20-29 age category for the men.
Sprott-Scribner’s result was just one back of the top five finish needed to earn a position on the U.S. National Team. His performance, however, was the closest any Paul Smith’s athlete has come to earning that spot in 22 years.
In U20 racing, the Bobcats earned three podiums finishes, with Ellen Haas winning the division and placing 15th overall, while her teammates, Samantha Severing and Ellie Judice placed second and third, respectively.
In the men’s U20 category, Paul Smith’s Carson Wohlers was second and Nathan Shader took third to earn their respective spots on the age group podium.
–
Alpine skiing
–
With the return of alpine skiing, the men’s team took an eighth-place overall finish and the women’s team finished 10th overall in the USCSA Mid-East Conference.
The Bobcats raced against Colgate, Cornell, Syracuse, Binghamton and Hobart William Smith among the 16 institutions in the league.
Paul Smith’s men and women had skiers finish inside the top 20 on a weekly basis, with TJ Swagler leading the skiing Bobcats.
Today’s breaking news and more in your inbox
LAKE PLACID — For the first time since 2015, Lake Placid will host the International Ski Federation Continental …
Marc-Andre Fleury may have been the biggest winner at the NHL trade deadline, getting dealt by the rebuilding …
Today’s breaking news and more in your inbox
Copyright © Adirondack Daily Enterprise | https://www.adirondackdailyenterprise.com | 54 Broadway, Saranac Lake, NY 12983 | 518-891-2600 | Ogden Newspapers | The Nutting Company