TIOGA COUNTY SPORTS REPORT: OWEGO'S STUART, KATCHUK NAMED ‘ATHLETES OF THE WEEK’ (2022-10-02)

Tioga County Sports Report
TIOGA COUNTY — Two Owego standouts reaped the rewards of strong individual efforts and have been selected the Tioga County Sports Report “Athletes of the Week.”

OWEGO’S STUART IS BOYS ‘ATHLETE OF THE WEEK’
Jace Stuart has been one of the top distance runners in Section IV the past couple of seasons. On Friday, he stepped to the front of the pack with a victory in the Maine-Endwell Cross Country Invitational.

The senior navigated M-E’s 5,000-meter course in 16:56 and was the only runner to post a sub-17-minute time.

Not only did Stuart cross the finish line in front of 105 other competitors, he also led the Indians to the team championship. They scored 33 points, well ahead of the runner-up, which had 78.

Honorable Mentions: Kaleb Carp, Newark Valley; Gavin Mann, Newark Valley; John Mincher, Newark Valley; Derek Payne, Newark Valley; Joey Sherwood, Newark Valley; Landon Spoonhower, Newark Valley; Steven Bidwell, Owego; Peyton Farrell, Owego; Patrick Tammariello, Owego; Ryan Pryor, Owego; Jace Riegel, Owego; Kyle Riegel, Owego; Jacob Banks, SVEC; Kody Goble, SVEC; Jason Jantz, SVEC; Addison Young, SVEC; Owego boys cross country team; Owego boys soccer team.

OWEGO’S KATCHUK IS GIRLS ‘ATHLETE OF THE WEEK’
The sophomore sensation posted victories on back-to-back days for the Indians.

On Thursday, she won the 1-meter diving competition against Oneonta with 266.3 points for six dives, more than 83 points ahead of the next closest competitor.

On Friday, Katchuk headed to Section V for the Lady Yeti Classic. She battled Brighton’s Cecilia Hanuch of Brighton the last dive, edging the senior, 451.3 to 450.85, and also topping Pittsford junior Jamie Kotalik (449.75). All three divers eclipsed the state qualifying mark of 440 points (11 dives).

Katchuk is familiar with her competitors. Kotalik was a medalist (7th) at the 2021 state championships while Hanuch and Katchuk, placed 13th and 17th, respectively.

Honorable Mentions: Phoebe Swartz, Candor; Emma Miller, Newark Valley; Kathryn Simmons, Newark Valley; Maggie Hamed, Owego; Lexi Herceg, Owego; Erin McDonald, Owego; Lily Morton, Owego; Sophia Palladino, Owego; Faith Brenchley, S-VE; Marah Cooper, S-VE; Owego girls cross country team; Owego girls soccer team; Owego girls volleyball team.