The Oswego girls basketball program’s all-time leading scorer (1,267 points), Reed led the Buccaneers to three consecutive league championships and three straight appearances in the Section III finals.

She displayed a tireless work ethic, played tough defense, and always had a team-first approach. Reed was a first-team All-CNY Selection in 2007, 2008, and 2009, and was twice the league’s co-player of the year. She went on to have a stellar basketball career at NCAA Division I New Hampshire.

Her athletic ability was also evident as an outside hitter for Oswego’s volleyball team as she twice earned all-league second-team honors.

She was presented for induction by her father and her varsity basketball coach, Phil Reed. He pointed out that during his daughter’s four years of high school, the team won 75 games.

“By the time I reached high school, we had an incredibly talented team,” Carissa said, adding that she was grateful to play alongside such outstanding teammates.

She thanked her father for pushing her, and all her school and travel team coaches.

“I wouldn’t have been the player that I was or the person that I am without the coaching that I received throughout the years,” she said.

Reed congratulated her fellow inductees and thanked the Buccaneer Boosters.

“It is an honor to be inducted into the hall of fame today among some of the school’s best athletes past and present,” she said.

Yule excelled in football and hockey for Oswego.

He was a center for the hockey team from 1977-80, earning Section III Class A second-team recognition in 1980 as part of the Bucs’ league-championship squad. He tallied 15 goals and eight assists to place second on the team in scoring.

Yule was selected to play in the Exceptional Seniors Game. He also played at Northwood Prep and later for the Oswego State hockey team.

On the gridiron, Yule was a Section III Class A first-team defensive back in 1979, a season in which he recorded six interceptions.

His contributions to local youth sports continued as a volunteer and coach for several programs. Alongside John Rice, he coached an Oswego Bantam hockey team to a state crown and a trip to the nationals in Seattle.

The Children’s Board of Oswego in 2023 presented Yule with the Unsung Hero Award for his volunteer work and involvement with youths in the community.

Yule was unable to attend Saturday’s ceremony. His son Trent accepted his hall of fame plaque.

Trent noted that his father always gives 100 percent, working hard for his family.

“He just set an example for me every day,” he said. “He’s a great man.”

Folts starred throughout her four years in high school with the Buccaneers’ swim team, advancing to the state championships each year. In 1997, as a senior, she won Section III championships in the 100-yard freestyle and the 200 free (with a sectional meet record time of 52.62), and also as a member of the 200 free relay and the 400 free relay. She received the Outstanding Swimmer Award at the sectional championships. Cotter went on to post top-six finishes in all four of those events at the state meet.

At the end of her senior season, she held five school swimming records and was named The Palladium-Times Athlete of the Year.

She was a key part of the Oswego girls swim program that ruled the pool in the late 1990s. In 1995, the team started an undefeated streak that stretched over five seasons. The Bucs recorded over 80 consecutive dual-meet wins and multiple league championships during that time. Beyond Cotter’s talent and statistical achievements, Coach Debbie Mann praised her leadership and work ethic for helping the team rise to unprecedented heights.

Her college swimming career began at Northeastern and continued at the University at Buffalo on a Division I scholarship.

“Seven-year-old Tracy never would have thought as she struggled to compete in her first 25 free that she would eventually make it to nationals and a Division I swimming scholarship,” she said, thanking coach Mann. “She instilled a sense of drive in me and took me to levels I did not know I could achieve.”

Folts also thanked her family and her teammates, and said that swimming taught her about hard work and persistence.

“Being inducted into the Oswego High School Athletic Hall of Fame is a privilege beyond words. I follow some incredible athletes and coaches who have come before me wearing blue and white,” she said. “Thank you to everyone who believed in me, supported me, and challenged me. I will forever be a proud Lady Buc.”

As head of grounds for the district, Flack oversaw work on all fields, grooming them to perfection. He took pride in comments from coaches and players praising the condition of the fields.

Flack would come to Leighton School to water the varsity football field on his own time, and check the lights and offer assistance to anyone who needed it.

He could always be counted on for big events, such as Anthony Richmond’s lacrosse tournament every Memorial Day weekend. Flack worked every one of those.

Coaches enjoyed working with him because he was so concerned about the field conditions.

During the winter months, Flack made sure the parking lots and sidewalks were plowed and sanded.

A member of the OHS class of 1976, he played football as a Buccaneer.

“I was raised to take pride in my work, no matter what it was,” Flack said.“I worked with a number of athletic directors, coaches, and fellow grounds crew members over the years, and we can’t forget the amazing Michele Wink (the late former athletic trainer who is also in the hall of fame). One thing we all strived for was the safety of our athletes,” Flack said.

“I want to thank you for this honor. Go Bucs!”

Class of 2008 (inaugural class): David Garrow, Brian Akley, Erik Cole, Robert Sheldon, Elmer Akley, Helen Jermyn, Sally (Dowd) McCrobie,
Pete Sears, Dave Powers, 1932 boys basketball team

Class of 2009: Helen Kessler, Jim Jermyn, Wendy Seaton, Robert L. Farrell, Joseph Wilber, William Symons, 1983 softball team

Class of 2010: Charles Hutcheson, David Maniccia, Theodore Kerley, 1991 boys bowling team

Class of 2011: Denise Sawyer, Kim Schneider, Dr. Wallace Brown, Bobbi Jo Louis, Dr. Dan Gould, 1941 football team

Class of 2012: Francis Carl, Sherry (Brown) McCann, Howard McCann, Debbie (Miller) Lyons, Erwin “Jeep” Dewey, 1995-96 and
1996-97 boys hockey teams

Class of 2013: Howard J. Mulcahey, Debbie Mann, Maggie Lester, Alice Reardon, 1991 boys tennis team

Class of 2015: William Drumm, Katie Frawley, Donna (Clark) Gayne, Stephen Jermyn, Anthony Richmond

Class of 2016: Mike Skinner, Michele Kunzwiler, Barb (Verdoliva) Carroll, Robert E. Farrell, Emily (Kaier) Cromwell

Class of 2017: Mike Boyzuick, John Glinski, Dave Perlman, Abby (Delia) Molinari, Josh Molinari, 1975 girls soccer team

Class of 2018: Doug Leavens, John Edwards, Ashley Wallace, Nancy Nitardy, 1990-91 and 1991-92 boys hockey teams

Class of 2019: Michele Wink, Jacob McAndrew, Tom Farrell, Mike McCrobie, Carmen Ruggio, Dennis “Gary” Richardson

Class of 2020: Jolene Todd, Zach Eason, Will Weimer, Kris Enwright, 1965 varsity boys cross country team

Class of 2022: Richard Benjamin, Lou Crisafulli, Mark Donabella

CLASS OF 2024 INDUCTEES

CARISSA REED (Class of 2024)

RICH YULE (Class of 2024)

TRACY COTTER FOLTS (Class of 2024)

STEVE FLACK (Class of 2024)

The Oswego girls hockey team captured the state crown in 2010, capping the title drive with a 4-0 victory over Alexandria Bay in the championship game.

The coaching staff included head coach Dan Bartlett and assistants Beth Arduini and Andrew Lazzaro. The roster included goalies Madisyn Whalen and Allison Yule, forwards Whitney Daino, Erika Lazzaro, Taylar Cianfarano, Kaitlin Friel, Danielle Faivus, Carolyn Dougherty, Karissa Favata, Taite Phillips, Sarah Gosek, Lainey Celeste, and Devyn Hutcheson, and defenders Sage Dudley, Sarah Mancuso, Tessa Opet, and Caty Darling.

After finishing third in the regular-season standings, the Bucs edged sixth-seeded Ithaca 4-3 in the state quarterfinals. They followed that with a 3-0 shutout over Skaneateles and then the shutout over Alex Bay.

Cianfarano, an eighth grader, tallied an incredible 58 goals and 16 assists on the season. Hutcheson contributed 16 goals and 23 assists, and captain Friel had four goals and a team-high 27 assists.

Oswego finished with an overall record of 16-4-1.

Bartlett noted that near the end of the regular season the Bucs were not the favorites to win the state title, as there were teams ahead of them in the standings. But the players were determined.

“Each player had a role. They bought into that role and they carried it to a state title,” Bartlett said.

He said the players accomplished something equally important. They served as ambassadors for the sport of girls hockey, working with the youngest minor hockey players who eventually became the future of girls hockey in Oswego.

Tessa Opet was the team’s only senior. She said players ranged in age from 12 to almost 18.

“I think we all got along well and we learned from each other,” she said. “We’re really excited to be inducted.

”Karissa Favata said the team’s song was “It’s Our Time,” and they rode that confidence through the title game.

“We went into that game knowing it was our time, and it was,” she said. “It was going to be our chance to prove ourselves.”

2009-2010 GIRLS VARSITY HOCKEY TEAM (Class of 2024)