
Chelsea and England defender Bright announces retirement
Chelsea captain Millie Bright to retire from football after this season.
Several male athletes in Section 4 have excelled in winter sports, showcasing remarkable skills and breaking records. This year's Athletes of the Season include standout performers in basketball, swimming, wrestling, bowling, and track.
Several male athletes across Section 4 have dominated in their respective sports, creating headlines and outshining their competition this season. The question posed: What characteristics make a standout athlete?
These fan-picked athletes have shown up and shown out in their respective sports this year; some athletes breaking long-standing records, other athletes stepping up to lead a team, and a handful of newcomers that redefined what underclassmen could do.
Here are this year's Athlete(s) of the Season in Section 4 boys' basketball, swimming, wrestling, bowling and track:
Click below to see all nominees and their accomplishments.
This season's nominees: Nolyn Proudfoot (Corning), Allan Eagles (Seton Catholic Central), Marco Konrad (Maine-Endwell), Brady Carr (Oneonta)
Nolyn Proudfoot from Corning takes a shot in a 72-64 win over William Floyd in a NYSPHSAA Class AAA boys basketball regional final March 15, 2026 at Visions Veterans Memorial Arena in Binghamton.
Proudfoot's accomplishments this season: Proudfoot scored 50 points in early February, surpassing 1500 career points as a sophomore. The six-foot-two guard is considered one of the top prospects in the region and has been an integral part of Corning’s postseason victories, including claiming the Section 4 Class AAA title and its state final four appearance this year.
The Athletes of the Season include top performers in basketball, swimming, wrestling, bowling, and track.
Standout athletes in Section 4 are recognized for breaking records, leading teams, and redefining expectations for underclassmen.
The Athletes of the Season were fan-picked based on their outstanding performances and accomplishments throughout the season.
The announcement includes athletes from boys' basketball, swimming, wrestling, bowling, and track.

Chelsea captain Millie Bright to retire from football after this season.
How New F1 Rules Will Impact the Miami Grand Prix Racing

Sofie Junge Pedersen leads World Football Giving Day to support global charities.
See every story in Sports — including breaking news and analysis.
This season's nominees: Strati Anastos (Maine-Endwell), Joey Crisco (Corning), Carson Thaete (Watkins Glen/Odessa-Montour), Koen Anderson (Ithaca)
Corning's Joey Crisco won the 200-yard IM as Maine-Endwell beat Corning, 105-80, in a STAC boys swimming & diving meet Jan. 15, 2026 at Corning-Painted Post High School.
Crisco's accomplishments this season: Crisco broke the STAQ record in the 100 breaststroke and achieved his second consecutive Section 4 Class A individual title. Crisco’s efforts in the pool helped Corning to its second straight Class A title and put him in the top 20 swimmers in the state in his sophomore season.
This season's nominees: Gavin Heath (Owego), Keegan Waltz (Oxford-Greene), Milo Wilson (Binghamton), Darren Rose (Oneonta)
Heath's accomplishments this season: Heath won the 300-meter dash at the Section 4 class championship with a 36.37 run–a new personal best–in early February and later secured a ticket to states with a first-place finish in the 600-meter run at qualifiers for another personal best, coming in at 1:22.89.
This season's nominees: Gavin Lovell (Owego), Landyn Shaffer (Deposit-Hancock), Maverick Beckwith (Norwich), Anthony Valls (Chenango Valley)
Gavin Lovell from Owego Free Academy defeated Brody O'Hern from Chenango Forks in the 103-pound championship match at the Southern Tier Athletic Conference Boys Wrestling Championships on Jan. 24, 2026 at Binghamton High School.
Lovell's accomplishments this season: Lovell became one of the program’s youngest champs after securing the 2026 STAC champion at 103 pounds. Despite only being in seventh grade and heading into a new state tournament, Lovell stood his own as one of the youngest in Division 2 at the NYSPHSAA boys wrestling championships.
This season's nominees: Landon Butenko (Chenango Forks), Dominick Bernthon (Binghamton), Alex Gublo (Elmira), Cayden Bowman (Horseheads)
Landon Butenko of Chenango Forks boys bowling team.
Butenko's accomplishments this season: Butenko topped the Division 2 series, games, and composite scores with a finish of 755, 279 and 2,186, respectively, at the Section 4 boys bowling championships, sending the Blue Devils to the state championships. Butenko ranked second in the Division 2 state championships.
This article originally appeared on Binghamton Press & Sun-Bulletin: See Section 4 titleholders and record breakers for boys winter sports