Andrew LegareElmira Star-Gazette
Elmira High School celebrated 19 seniors who signed to contribute at 13 colleges in a total of eight sports.
Monday afternoon's ceremony at the high school auditorium impressed from a numbers standpoint, but the impression left by this group runs deeper.
Two coaches who spoke choked up as they discussed athletes who played on their teams and other coaches joined them in praising the overall impact of the group.
A look at Monday's signees:
Sam Brenen-Buseck, lacrosse, Le Moyne College
A highly recognized goalie in soccer and lacrosse, Brenen-Buseck will compete in college in lacrosse. He is a four-year varsity starter who set a program record with 183 saves as a freshman and followed with 305 as a sophomore. He is a three-time all-league selection and two-time Under Armour All-American.
Brenen-Buseck is a National Honor Society member who last weekend placed third at 170 pounds in the Section 4 Division I wrestling tournament.
"I have been blessed with three sons of my own and consider Sam to be like a fourth son," said Express coach Jason Stukey, who choked up as he talked about Brenen-Buseck.
Bobby Cavalier, baseball, University of Pitt-Bradford
Cavalier is a four-year varsity baseball player for 2023 Section 4 Class AA champion Elmira. He earned Section 4 all-star honors last season and is a versatile hitter who can lay down a bunt or smash a ball into the gap, Express coach Jason Manwaring said. Cavalier is also a reliable pitcher and ranks among the program leaders in games played (63) and hits (36).
He is class president and a National Honor Society member who ranks in the top 5% of his class.
Ellie Clearwater, basketball, SUNY Geneseo
Clearwater is in her sixth season with the Elmira girls varsity basketball program, including the last four at the varsity level. After a shortened COVID season and injury-plagued sophomore season, Clearwater has been among the region's top players the last two seasons.
Last season she earned All-Southern Tier Athletic Conference West recognition after ranking second on the team in scoring, steals and blocked shots, third in rebounding and first in assists. She is the top scorer this season for the Express.
Said Elmira coach A'Don Allen, who became emotional in talking about Clearwater: "Ellie is the epitome of what Elmira Express basketball is: a hard worker, fiery, passionate, the ultimate competitor and the ultimate team player."
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Kaiden Green, lacrosse, Onondaga Community College
Green, a four-year varsity starter, has ranked in the top-five in scoring for Elmira's varsity boys lacrosse team in each of his seasons. He has played both attack and midfield for the Express.
Said Stukey: "I have had the pleasure of watching Kaiden grow as a young man and a lacrosse player. I coached him for almost his entire lacrosse career and am very proud of how far he has come."
Piper Hooey, volleyball, Le Moyne College
Hooey earned fourth-team Class AAA all-state honors as a senior after helping the Express to the first sectional championship in program history. She had 130 kills during the season and was team captain. Hooey is also a two-time Section 4 champion in the triple jump and treasurer for the National Honor Society.
"She pushes her teammates to be the best they can be and sets an incredible example for hard work," said Express volleyball coach Danielle Dille.
Ben Klee, soccer, Wells College
Klee played two seasons of varsity soccer for the Express, helping the team advance to sectional finals each year and starting all 16 games as a senior.
Elmira coach Derek Hamilton said Klee is one of the hardest workers to come through the program and a fantastic leader on and off the field. Added Hamilton: "Wells College is gaining a high character, fantastic teammate."
Emily Klotz, soccer, Alfred University
Klotz helped Elmira to two STAC West championships, three Section 4 finals and two Section 4 titles during her four seasons with the program.
She started every game since her sophomore season after making her varsity debut during the delayed 2021 COVID spring season. Klotz, a top student, registered 19 goals and six assists during her prep career and was a co-captain as a senior.
Bryce Mashanic, baseball, Niagara County CC
Mashanic's pitching was a key to Elmira capturing the Section 4 Class AA championship last season. He enters his senior season second in team history with 11 wins and in innings pitched. He holds Express records for strikeouts (122) and ERA (2.39) and last season was voted Elite Player of the Year for the Elmira-Corning region.
Manwaring described Mashanic as "the ultimate competitor" and praised his preparation, mental fortitude and year-round commitment.
Greyeson McMaster, volleyball, Monroe CC
She played outside hitter and helped the Express volleyball team win a sectional title this past season.
McMaster has made the high honor roll all four years of high school and is a member of the National Honor Society and chapter president of FFA at Greater Southern Tier BOCES. She placed third at the state convention for Senior Creed FFA last spring for speaking.
Said Dille: "She works hard, shows integrity and always gives 100% effort."
Brady Morrell, baseball, Shenandoah University (Virginia)
Morrell is a four-year varsity baseball player who has twice been named a Section 4 all-star while excelling at catcher for the Express, last year's Section 4 Class AA champion. Manwaring said Morrell does "a tremendous job" catching the Express pitching staff.
He brings a career batting average of .335 into the season and his 27 RBI rank just outside the top-five in Elmira history.
Duane Nichols, track/cross country, Onondaga CC
Nichols has competed in track & field and cross country for the Express over three school years and has been a top runner for the program as a senior.
He set personal records in cross country and indoor track this school year. He has top times of 21:34 in the 5K, 12:14.06 in the 3200 meters, 5:37.22 in the 1600, 3:13.53 in the 1000 and 2:24.62 in the 800.
John Overton, football, Alfred State
Overton was a three-year varsity starter at right tackle for the Express and contributed to Elmira's Section 4 Class AA title this past fall. Over 30 games, he has blocked for 8,176 rushing yards, 1,363 passing yards, 95 rushing touchdowns and 26 passing TDs.
Said Express coach Jimmy McCauley: "From his relentless hours of offseason training to his willingness to push others to their best in practice, to never quitting on a play in the field and his unselfish team-first attitude, he has shown what an important part he was to the program's success."
Luke Palmer, baseball, Cayuga Community College
Palmer, a National Honor Society member who is graduating a year early, has contributed to Elmira's baseball program by helping with practices, social media, video content and more. Manwaring has dubbed him Elmira's director of baseball operations, a role he will serve at Cayuga Community College.
"I could not be prouder of Luke and how hard he has worked and matured over the past four years," Manwaring said. "His dedication to myself and the program will serve him well at his next stop as director of baseball operations for coach (John) Rizzo and will also help support the athletic department on campus."
Michael Palmer, baseball, Niagara County CC
Michael, Luke's brother, bounced back from a serious injury suffered during the football season to help the Express capture the Section 4 Class AA baseball title last spring. He broke the program record by reaching base in 18 consecutive games and excelled defensively at first base.
"When this kid is healthy, he can be the best hitter in Section 4," Manwaring said. "His ability to drive baseballs with backspin, get on base with his ability to know the strike zone, makes him a complete hitter."
Ben Rhode, baseball, Barry University (Florida)
Rhode is another four-year varsity baseball player for Elmira and was a key to the Express' sectional championship last season, earning Section 4 all-star honors and Elite 15 selection from the coverage areas of the Star-Gazette, Ithaca Journal, Corning Leader and Binghamton Press & Sun-Bulletin.
He has the Express record for stolen bases with 72 and has scored 76 runs. He ranks fourth on the program's list for career batting average at .370 and is near the top-five in team history in games played at 63.
Rhode is a National Honor Society student and among the top 5% in his class.
Jack Stemerman, baseball, Cayuga CC
Stemerman posted a 1.35 ERA last season over 25 innings, developing as the top reliever for Elmira's Section 4 Class AA championship team. His contributions run deeper than what he does on the mound.
Said Manwaring: "Not only has his arm and command improved, but his ability to hit the ball for power and use his speed has made him a weapon for us down in the order and really helps us do what want to do offensively."
Cooper Taft, lacrosse, Alfred University
Taft is a four-year starter on the Elmira boys varsity lacrosse team and has been the top faceoff guy for the Express over that time and ranked among the team's top scorers. Taft enters his senior season with 75 goals and 23 assists.
He also competes in swimming and golf.
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Ashtyn Traugott-Knoll, baseball, Cayuga Community College
Another four-year varsity player for Elmira's sectional champion baseball team, Traugott-Knoll is described by Manwaring as "the ultimate competitor and team player." He has contributed in a number of ways to the team's success, including his defense at second base, his pitching and his presence in the middle of Elmira's lineup.
Said Manwaring: "His dedication to continue to get better and improve on his strength and weight training will serve him well as he makes the jump to college next year."
Jack VanDine, football, St. John Fisher College
VanDine was a two-year starter for Elmira and a key part of the Express' run to the Section 4 Class AA championship this past season. Over his career, VanDine had 36 carries for 262 yards and three touchdowns, along with five catches for 65 yards and three touchdowns. He also played defensive back.
"From his relentless hours of offseason training to his willingness to push others to their best in practice, to never quitting on a play and his unselfish team-first attitude, he has shown what an important part he was to the program's success," McCauley said.
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