Just like the Heisman, they overlooked Riley Dixon
Earlier this week, the Daily Orange released their list of the “Top 25 Syracuse Orange athletes of the quarter century” and there were some notable omissions.
First, let me say that anytime you try to rank athletes across sports over an extended time, there will be worthy candidates left out. I did appreciate that the DO staff did a good job of getting representation across a number of Syracuse sports, so let’s look at their list first:
1) Carmelo Anthony, men’s basketball, 2002-03
2) Michael Powell, men’s lacrosse, 2001-04
3) Kayla Treanor, women’s lacrosse, 2013-16
4) Justyn Knight, track and field, 2014-17
5) Dwight Freeney, football, 1998-2001
6) Alyssa Manley, field hockey, 2012-15
7) Hakim Warrick, men’s basketball, 2001-05
8) Gerry McNamara, men’s basketball, 2002-06
9) Dyaisha Fair, women’s basketball, 2022-24
10) Meaghan Tyrrell, women’s lacrosse, 2019-23
11) John Galloway, men’s lacrosse, 2008-11
12) Polina Shemanova, volleyball, 2018-22
13) Kyle McCord, football, 2024
14) Kayla Alexander, women’s basketball, 2009-13
15) Katie Rowan Thomson, women’s lacrosse, 2006-09
16) Joel White, men’s lacrosse, 2008-11
17) Emma Russell, field hockey, 2012-15
18) Nathan Opoku, men’s soccer, 2022
19) Miles Robinson, men’s soccer, 2015-16
20) Stephanie Grossi, ice hockey, 2014-18
21) Jenna Caira, softball, 2009-12
22) Brandon Mullins, men’s lacrosse, 2012-16
23) Walter Reyes, football, 2001-04
24. Eric Dungey, football, 2015-18
25. Alexis Peterson, women’s basketball, 2013-17
Without telling you who I’d take off the list, I’m going to say that we all know that Riley Dixon being left off is criminal. I’d also say that Chandler Jones, Brittney Sykes, Michelle Tumolo and Wes Johnson should be on any top 25 list of this quarter century.
Others who I think warranted serious consideration would be;
Track and Field: Jarret Eaton, Freddie Crittenden, Martin Hehir, Katie Hursey and Paige Stoner
Soccer: Alex Bono and Courtney Brosnan,
Softball: Sydney O’Hara
Football: Ryan Nassib and Zaire Franklin
Rowing: Natalie Mastracci and Mike Gennaro
Lacrosse: Emily Hawryschuk and Mike Leveille
Ice Hockey: Stefanie Marty, Allie Kelley and Jessica DiGirolamo
Tennis: Gabriella Knutson
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What other Syracuse athletes would you include in a top 25 from 2000?