Featured champions
211 medal-winning performances by New York athletes, 1978–2012.
The Empire State Games produced thousands of medalists across thirty-five years. The list below is a featured selection of New York athletes whose Games performances were notable enough to be recorded in public Hall of Fame archives — across the Summer Games, Senior Games, and Masters divisions.
Read across the table and you can trace some careers running across decades — Kermit Cadrette’s name appears in dozens of Senior Games entries from the 1990s into the 2010s; Gary Bartell’s hammer throw and discus medals run through most of the early 1980s. Soccer coach Perry Nizzi appears in the rosters through Open and coaching credits.
Featured champions, 1978–2012
Compiled from the Rome Sports Hall of Fame's public Empire State Games champions records. This is not the complete ESG champions list — Games-wide medal totals run to the tens of thousands — but it is a representative cross-section of New York athletes whose ESG performances earned wider recognition.
| Year | Sport / Event | Athlete |
|---|---|---|
| 1978 | Wrestling | Todd Bowers |
| 1978 | Wrestling | Frank Biamonte |
| 1979 | Field Hockey | Leslie Prossner |
| 1979 | Shot Put | Eric Decker |
| 1979 | Swimming-100 yd breaststroke | Rich Wells |
| 1979 | Soccer | Perry Nizzi |
| 1980 | Hammer Throw-Regional | Gary Bartell |
| 1980 | Soccer | Perry Nizzi |
| 1981 | Soccer | Perry Nizzi |
| 1981 | Swimming | Ellen Potocki (2 gold) |
| 1982 | Hammer Throw-Syracuse | Gary Bartell |
| 1982 | Discus-Syracuse | Gary Bartell |
| 1982 | Discus | John Dominic |
| 1983 | Hammer Throw-Masters | Gary Bartell |
| 1983 | High Jump- Scholastic | Allison Coccia |
| 1983 | Swimming-100m butterfly-Masters | Gary Francisco |
| 1984 | Discus-Syracuse | Gary Bartell |
| 1984 | Hammer Throw-Syracuse | Gary Bartell |
| 1984 | Marathon-age 50-54 | Connie LaSalle |
| 1985 | Discus-Buffalo | Gary Bartell |
| 1985 | Hammer Throw-Buffalo | Gary Bartell |
| 1986 | Baseball | Mike Zmudosky |
| 1986 | Baseball-Central Open | Archi Cianfrocco |
| 1986 | Baseball-Central Open | Mike Moshier |
| 1986 | Discus-Scholastic | Tom Myslinski, Jr. |
| 1986 | Hammer Throw-Buffalo | Gary Bartell |
| 1986 | Marathon-age 50-54 | Connie LaSalle |
| 1986 | Shot Put-Buffalo | Gary Bartell |
| 1986 | Shot Put-Scholastic | Tom Myslinski, Jr. |
| 1986 | Soccer-Coach | Perry Nizzi |
| 1986 | Swimming-400 medley relay | Gina Jacobs |
| 1987 | Discus-Syracuse | Gary Bartell |
| 1987 | Field Hockey | Amanda Travis |
| 1987 | Marathon-age 50-54 | Connie LaSalle |
| 1987 | Hammer Throw-Syracuse | Gary Bartell |
| 1987 | Shot Put-Syracuse | Gary Bartell |
| 1987 | Soccer-Coach | Perry Nizzi |
| 1988 | Basketball | Lori Keys |
| 1988 | Discus-Open | Anthony Washington |
| 1988 | Hammer Throw-Syracuse | Gary Bartell |
| 1988 | Swimming-50 m freestyle | Krista Cordsen |
| 1988 | Swimming-200 Individual medley | Tim Pfeuffer |
| 1989 | Basketball | Lori Keys |
| 1989 | Discus-Syracuse | Gary Bartell |
| 1989 | Hammer Throw-Syracuse | Gary Bartell |
| 1989 | Swimming-440 yd medley relay | Krista Cordsen |
| 1990 | 5000m run | Eric Foley |
| 1990 | 10,000m run | Eric Foley |
| 1990 | Gymnastics-Central | Kristen Evans |
| 1990 | Gymnastics-Vault-Open | Kristen Evans |
| 1990 | Shot Put-Scholastic | Brett Crofford |
| 1990 | Swimming-400m medley relay | Tim Pfeuffer |
| 1990 | Swimming-100m backstroke | David Pfeuffer |
| 1990 | Swimming-200m individual medley | Krista Cordsen |
| 1991 | Gymnastics-Scholastic | Shelby DeFranco |
| 1991 | Gymnastics- Vault- Open | Kristen Evans |
| 1991 | Swimming-400 medley relay | Tim Pfeuffer |
| 1991 | Swimming-100 m backstroke | David Pfeuffer |
| 1991 | Track- 10,000m run | Eric Foley |
| 1991 | Volleyball- Open | Jody Kahler |
| 1992 | Basketball- Scholastic | Brad Nelson |
| 1992 | Gymnastics | Jennifer Davis |
| 1992 | Swimming- 100m backstroke | David Pfeuffer |
| 1992 | Swimming- 200m backstroke | David Pfeuffer |
| 1993 | Basketball-Scholastic | Brad Nelson |
| 1993 | Gymnastics-Scholastic | Sara Wasilenko |
| 1993 | Gymnastics- Open | Kristen Evans |
| 1993 | Swimming- 200m backstroke- Open | David Pfeuffer |
| 1994 | 800m run- Open | Lubert Lewis |
| 1994 | 4 Man Bobsled | Ralph Mirabelli |
| 1995 | Golf-Masters 18-hole event | Don Bellefeuille |
| 1995 | Gymnastics- Open | Sara Wasilenko |
| 1995 | Swimming- 400m medley- Open | David Pfeuffer |
| 1995 | Swimming- 100m backstroke- Open | David Pfeuffer |
| 1995 | Swimming- 400m freestyle relay- Open | David Pfeuffer |
| 1996 | 400m run- Scholastic | Lubert Lewis |
| 1996 | Field Hockey- Scholastic Division | Shannon Corigliano |
| 1997 | Gymnastics- Open | Sara Wasilenko |
| 1997 | Gymnastics- Scholastic | Trisha Valerico |
| 1997 | Judo- 71 kilo- Open | Bill Jones |
| 1998 | 10km Time Trial- 55-59 Division | Paul Allgaies |
| 1998 | 9 Ball Billiards-age 60-70 | John Aiello |
| 1998 | Field Hockey | Kristen Ciotti |
| 1998 | Field Hockey | Kelly Washburn |
| 1998 | Field Hockey | Stacy Russell |
| 1998 | Field Hockey | Julie Zingerline |
| 1998 | Gymnastics- Vault- Open | Sara Wasilenko |
| 1998 | Half-Marathon- 30-34 Division | Rich Miller |
| 1998 | Half-Marathon- 60-65 Division | Kermit Cadrette |
| 1998 | Hockey- Open | Mike Vitalone |
| 1998 | Wrestling- Scholastic | Craig Valenti |
| 1999 | 800 m- Men’s Open | Lubert Lewis |
| 1999 | Basketball- Women’s Open | Mary Dooher |
| 1999 | Basketball- Senior 3 on 3 | Don McLellan |
| 1999 | Basketball- Senior 3 on 3 | Leonard Summa |
| 1999 | Golf-Senior | Roy Barnes |
| 1999 | Wrestling-Scholastic | Craigh Valenti |
| 2000 | 1500m run- Open | Christina Raulli |
| 2000 | Basketball-Senior 3 on 3 | Don McLellan |
| 2000 | Basketball-Senior 3 on 3 | Leonard Summa |
| 2000 | Bobsledding-Ind. Intermediate Ladies | Marcellina Raulli |
| 2000 | Canoe Marathon-age 30-39 | Paul Olney |
| 2000 | Golf-Senior | Roy Barnes |
| 2000 | Pentathlon-Men’s Masters | Eric Lauber |
| 2001 | Basketball-Senior 3 on 3 | Don McLellan |
| 2001 | Basketball-Senior 3 on 3 | Leonard Summa |
| 2001 | Cross Country Skiing-Women’s Open 10k | Julie Zingerline |
| 2001 | Cross Country Skiing-Women’s Freestyle 10k | Julie Zingerline |
| 2001 | Cycling- 5km | Paul Allgaies |
| 2001 | Cycling- 10km | Paul Allgaies |
| 2001 | Cycling- 20km | Paul Allgaies |
| 2002 | Figure Skating Group III | Jessica Smithers |
| 2002 | Kayaking- 500m | Paul Olney |
| 2002 | Kayaking- 200m | Paul Olney |
| 2001 | Snowshoe Racing- 100m Men’s Open | Ralph Mirabelli |
| 2001 | Snow Shoeing- 1500 meters | Eric Lauber |
| 2002 | Swimming- Masters | Dan Patane |
| 2003 | 1500m run- Senior Games | Kermit Cadrette |
| 2003 | 5000m run- Senior Games | Kermit Cadrette |
| 2003 | Golf- Senior Games 75 and over Division | Eddie Lekki |
| 2003 | Kayaking-Men’s Open Division | Paul Olney |
| 2003 | Snowshoe Racing Men’s Open 100 m | Ralph Mirabelli |
| 2004 | 110m Hurdles- Scholastic Division | Matt Parker |
| 2004 | High Jump- Scholastic Division | Matt Parker |
| 2004 | Kayak-500 M- Singles- Open Division | Paul Olney |
| 2004 | Running-10,000m Run- Senior Games | Kermit Cadrette |
| 2004 | Running- 800m Run- Masters Division | Kermit Cadrette |
| 2005 | 10-kilometer run- Masters Division IV | Kermit Cadrette |
| 2005 | 5-kilometer Run- Senior Games | Kermit Cadrette |
| 2005 | 10-kilometer run- Masters Division | Kermit Cadrette |
| 2005 | 3200 Relay Run- Masters Division | Kermit Cadrette |
| 2005 | Long Jump | Kermit Cadrette |
| 2005 | Orientating- Senior Games | Kermit Cadrette |
| 2005 | Pole Vault | Kermit Cadrette |
| 2005 | Snow Shoeing- 5 kilometers- Masters Division IV | Kermit Cadrette |
| 2006 | 5km run- Masters Division III | Kermit Cadrette |
| 2006 | 5km Orienteering- Masters Division III | Kermit Cadrette |
| 2006 | 10km run- Masters Division III | Kermit Cadrette |
| 2006 | 1500m run- Masters Division III | Kermit Cadrette |
| 2006 | 200m Run- Scholastic Division | Kaleigh McKinney |
| 2006 | Long Jump- Masters Division III | Kermit Cadrette |
| 2006 | Racquetball- Senior Games | Peter Bosco |
| 2006 | Snow Shoeing- 200m- Masters Division III | Kermit Cadrette |
| 2006 | Snow Shoeing- 400m- Masters Division III | Kermit Cadrette |
| 2006 | Snow Shoeing- 1500m- Masters Division III | Kermit Cadrette |
| 2006 | Snow Shoeing- 5km- Masters Division III | Kermit Cadrette |
| 2007 | 5km trail race- Senior Games 65-69 Division | Kermit Cadrette |
| 2007 | 5km run- Senior Games 65-69 Division | Kermit Cadrette |
| 2007 | 10km run- Masters 65-69 Division | Kermit Cadrette |
| 2007 | 1500m run- Senior Games 65-69 Division | Kermit Cadrette |
| 2007 | 400m relay- Masters 65-69 Division | Kermit Cadrette |
| 2007 | 3200m relay- Masters 65-69 Division | Kermit Cadrette |
| 2007 | 100m dash- Open | Durrell Cull |
| 2007 | Racquetball- Senior Games 85-89 Division | Peter Bosco |
| 2008 | 1500 Technical Run- Senior Games 70-74 Division | Kermit Cadrette |
| 2008 | 1600m Relay- Masters Division | Kermit Cadrette |
| 2008 | 10,000m Relay- Masters Division | Kermit Cadrette |
| 2008 | 3200m Relay- Masters Division | Kermit Cadrette |
| 2008 | 400m Relay- Scholastic Division | Jessica Razy |
| 2008 | 400m Relay- Masters Division | Richard Rico |
| 2008 | 400m Relay- Masters Division | Eric Lauber |
| 2008 | 5km Race Walk- Senior Games 70-74 Division | Kermit Cadrette |
| 2008 | Golf- Masters Division | Pennie Carlo |
| 2008 | High Jump- Senior Games 70-74 Division | Kermit Cadrette |
| 2008 | Javelin Throw- Masters Division | Kermit Cadrette |
| 2008 | Long Jump- Senior Games 70-74 Division | Kermit Cadrette |
| 2008 | Men’s Basketball- Senior Games 80-84 Division | Leonard Summa |
| 2008 | Orienteering- Senior Games 70-74 Division | Kermit Cadrette |
| 2008 | Racquetball- Senior Games 85-89 Division | Peter Bosco |
| 2008 | Snow Shoeing- 100m- Masters Division IV | Kermit Cadrette |
| 2008 | Snow Shoeing- 200m- Masters Division IV | Kermit Cadrette |
| 2008 | Snow Shoeing- 1500m- Masters Division IV | Kermit Cadrette |
| 2008 | Snow Shoeing- 100m- Masters Division III | Tim Stenglein |
| 2008 | Swimming- 200yd back stroke- Senior Games | Kermit Cadrette |
| 2008 | Swimming- 100yd freestyle- Senior Games | Kermit Cadrette |
| 2008 | Swimming- 50yd breaststroke- Senior Games | Kermit Cadrette |
| 2008 | Triathlon- Senior Games 70-74 Division | Kermit Cadrette |
| 2009 | Snow Shoeing – 100m – Masters Division V | Kermit Cadrette |
| 2009 | Snow Shoeing – 200m - Masters Division V | Kermit Cadrette |
| 2009 | Snow Shoeing – 400m - Masters Division V | Kermit Cadrette |
| 2009 | Snow Shoeing – 1500m - Masters Division V | Kermit Cadrette |
| 2009 | Snow Shoeing – 5000m - Masters Division V | Kermit Cadrette |
| 2009 | Senior Games – Racquetball | Peter Bosco |
| 2009 | Senior Games – Swimming 100m Breaststroke | Kermit Cadrette |
| 2009 | Senior Games – Swimming 200m Backstroke | Kermit Cadrette |
| 2009 | Senior Games – Track 5000 Track Run | Kermit Cadrette |
| 2009 | Senior Games – Track 1500 Technical Run | Kermit Cadrette |
| 2009 | Senior Games – Track 5K Orienteering | Kermit Cadrette |
| 2009 | Senior Games – Basketball (Ole Geezers) | Leonard Summa, Donald McLellan, John Stoehr |
| 2010 | 70-79 age group – Snowshoeing. 100 M. | Kermit Cadrette |
| 2010 | 70-79 age group – Snowshoeing. 200 M. | Kermit Cadrette |
| 2010 | 70-79 age group – Snowshoeing. 400 M. | Kermit Cadrette |
| 2010 | 70-79 age group – Snowshoeing. 1500 M. | Kermit Cadrette |
| 2010 | Men’s open – Triple Jump | Shawn Carter |
| 2011 | Senior Games – 5 Mile Road Race | Kermit Cadrette |
| 2011 | Senior Games – 5k Race Walk | Kermit Cadrette |
| 2011 | Senior Games - 1500m Men’s Walk Race | Kermit Cadrette |
| 2011 | Senior Games – Javelin | Kermit Cadrette |
| 2011 | Orienteering 5 Mile Road Race | Kermit Cadrette |
| 2011 | Senior Games – High Jump | Kermit Cadrette |
| 2011 | Senior Games – Long Jump | Kermit Cadrette |
| 2011 | Senior Games – 1500m Mens | Ted Lenio |
| 2011 | Senior Games – 5K Race Walk | Ted Lenio |
| 2012 | 70-79 age group – Snowsheoing 10K | Ted Lenio |
| 2012 | Senior Games – 1500m Run | Kermit Cadrette |
| 2012 | Senior Games – 5K Race Walk | Kermit Cadrette |
| 2012 | Senior Games – 5K Road Race | Kermit Cadrette |
| 2012 | Senior Games – Long Jump | Kermit Cadrette |
| 2012 | Senior Games – High Jump | Kermit Cadrette |
| 2012 | Senior Games – 55yd Dash | Kermit Cadrette |
| 2012 | Senior Games – Hammer Throw | Kermit Cadrette |