One week in and the countdown is starting to spread its wings. Section IV cracks the countdown for the first time.
Spectrum News launched in the fall of 2003. Four years later the station started broadcasting down in the Southern Tier. To be fair, Mark and Erik are considering each team’s achievements from 2003 to the present. Though with the way these two programs tied at number eight have won during the last few years, they could’ve have easily claimed a spot.
8. Windsor Softball and Deposit Softball
When it comes to the softball diamond Section IV reigns supreme. The section has claimed 50 state championships and every year almost sweep the weekend. It was destined to have a team or two make the countdown.
Really Section IV could have had three-to-four teams make the list, but in the interest of fairness, and variety, Mark and Erik chose the top two programs to crack the list at number eight.
While at Windsor, Bill Waldron has led the Black Knights to nine Section IV titles and four state championships in the Spectrum News Era. During the last decade, Windsor won six sectional crowns in a row. Meanwhile, their four state titles are little more spread out. Proving Windsor’s program has been in it for the long haul.
As for the Lady Jacks, the last decade was even more kind. 2010 and 2013 are the only years during that decade where Deposit didn’t come away with a Section IV championship. And when you give yourself enough chances at the big prize, you’re going to come away with some hardware. Deposit took home state bragging rights four-of-five-years from 2015-19.
Perhaps what is most impressive is that Coach Waldron of Windsor and Coach Briggs of Deposit have churned out college athletes. Year in and year out these programs have had New York State player of the year honorees before making their way to big time softball.
These qualities make both programs an easy choice to make the countdown.
Windsor’s Resume
- Nine Sect. IV Titles
- Won Six Straight Section IV Titles from 2011-16
- Four State Championships
Deposit’s Resume
- Eight Sect. Four Titles
- Won a Sectional Championship 8-of-9 Years from 2011-19
- Four State Championships
- Won Three Straight from 2015-17
8. Lansing Boys Soccer
The Lansing Boys Soccer team has been a staple on the pitch, and their coached by one of their own.
The Bobcats have won an incredible 11 Section IV championships since we went on the air in the fall of 2003, and two NYS titles as well. Benji Parkes played on the sectional title team of 2011 and then capped his senior year by pitching the baseball team to a 26-0 state championship season in the spring of 2012. But his most remarkable accomplishment is when he took the reins of the team when the coach for whom he played, Adam Heck, died unexpectedly at a pre-season tournament in August 2016.
In Heck’s memory, the school has inducted him into their hall-of-fame. The soccer program has adopted the slogan ‘Play Like Heck’ and they still honor him by wearing tape around their wrists while on the field.
Parkes has not only continued Lansing soccer's winning tradition by winning four Section IV titles in his four years, he's also led the Bobcats to their first two state championships in 2017 and 2018, and just missed a three-peat with a loss in the 2019 state final.
Lansing’s Resume
- 11 Section IV Championships
- Won 9-of-10 Sectional Titles Last Decade
- Two State Championships (2018 & 2017)
- Nearly Completed a Three-Peat in 2019 (Lost in the Title Game)
