The Nate Lull Podcast

Nate talks with longtime Worcester coach, Jim Kenyon. JK has been a staple at WCS and in the Tri-Valley League for over 40 years. They look back at his playing career in high school and college. Coach Kenyon also tells us how he got his job at Worcester and highlights some bright moments in Wolverine history.

Nate catches up with Sidney alumna, Connor Decker. She was a 3-sport athlete for the Warriors and went on to play college softball at D2 Mansfield University. They look back on her pitching career and talk about her favorite moments. Connor also shares the story of how losing her Dad at an early age helped shape her into the person she is today. 

Nate connects with Unatego senior, Jacob Haqq. He tells us about his journey to a state championship in the triple jump this past winter. Jacob explains how he fell in love with the sport and how it helped him earn a D1 scholarship to Boston University next year. In light of recent events, Jacob, who is a black athlete and whose father is a police officer, shares his feelings regarding racial tens...

Nate welcomes the Mebust brothers from Cooperstown to the podcast. Erik (2013), Sean (2016) & Ted (2018) are all CCS grads who went on to swim in college. The guys talk about their successful careers and what it's like to excel in a sport that isn’t always in the spotlight. They also tell us a great story about swimming across Otsego Lake.

Nate chats with Deposit/Hancock Girls Basketball Coach, Scott Young. Coach Young led the Eagles to a MAC championship and a record of 21-2 this year. He talks about helping to build the D/H program and about how he got into coaching. Scott also tells us about his family business running Camp Hilltop in Hancock.

Nate connects with Sidney grad, Pat Simonds. Pat was a 4-sport athlete for the Warriors and helped them win a football state championship in 2005. He went on to have a record setting career at Colgate University. After college, Pat had an NFL tryout with the Philadelphia Eagles. Hear about his experience playing with Michael Vick and much more.

Nate is joined by retired Davenport (Charlotte Valley) Boys Basketball Coach, Lee Fisher. He is the President of the Oneonta area NAACP. Coach Fisher gives his thoughts on the current state of unrest in our country. They also look back at his historic coaching career at CV where he finished with over 500 career victories and 9 Section IV titles.

Nate chats with Unatego juniors, Meghan and Morgan Perry. The Perry sisters helped lead the Spartans to a state championship game appearance in soccer and a Section IV title in basketball this year. They tell us about their favorite moments from those seasons. Meg and Morgan also discuss their tight relationships with Coach Sue Herodes (soccer) and Coach Bob Zeh (basketball).

Nate sits down with Hancock junior, Laycee Drake. Laycee led the Deposit/Hancock Girls Basketball team to a MAC championship this year and was a NYS Class-C 1st Team All-State selection. She currently has several D1 and D2 scholarship offers. They talk about her college recruitment, her love for basketball and softball, and what she has been up to during quarantine.

Nate chats with Cooperstown Girls Basketball Coach, Mike Niles. They talk about the abrupt end to the Hawkeyes season due to COVID-19 and how he thinks they would have done at the state tournament. Mike tells us about his coaching journey and discusses many of the teams he has coached over the years. He also goes in-depth about the 2015 state championship team at CCS.

Nate catches up with SUNY Oneonta Men's Basketball Assistant Coach, Mike Freilich. They talk about the success of the Red Dragons program and what makes Oneonta such an attractive destination for high quality players. Mike tells us about how his coaching journey led him to Oneonta and how recruiting has changed during these challenging times. 

Nate is joined by Greene junior, Leah Decker. She just committed to play D1 field hockey for the University at Albany. They talk about the success of the GCS program and winning a Section IV title this past year. Leah also tells us about her passion for dirt track racing and how she enjoys working on her car and following in the family tradition of flying around the track. 

Nate talks with Norwich senior, Halea Eaton. She is heading to Le Moyne to play D2 basketball next year. They look at her career at NHS and how she is working her way back from a torn ACL this past season. Halea tells us about her dedication to AAU and what it takes to earn a scholarship at the next level. They also discuss her close relationship with Norwich coach, Josh Bennett.

Nate connects with Delhi Girls Basketball Coach, Todd Bruce. They look back on his coaching journey and how he transitioned from being a long time boys coach to becoming a girls coach. Todd gives us some behind the scenes stories from the DA run to a state title in 2018 and shares why he was so close with that team. They also talk about family and what it was like to coach his daughter, Logan.

Nate is joined by Walton senior, Dylan Jacob. He is a 3-sport athlete that will be heading to Elmira College next year to play basketball. Dylan has been the quarterback of the Warriors football team for 4 years, and takes us inside what it's like to run the legendary offense of the Orange Crush. We also look back at his very successful basketball and baseball career.

Nate welcomes the father/son duo, Jeff and Liam Matthews. Jeff is the longtime football coach at Sidney and Liam is a 3-sport senior athlete who will be attending Cornell next year to play football and study environmental engineering. They talk about their favorite sports memories, the college football recruiting process and what they have been doing together during quarantine. 

Nate catches up with longtime SUNY Oneonta Women’s Basketball Coach, Daphne Thompson. She is a Morris alumna who went on to a decorated playing career at D1 Delaware. They look back at her time on the court for MCS and how she got into coaching at a young age. Coach Thompson gives us recruiting advice and talks about her experiences helping young women through AAU.

Nate talks with Unatego senior Hali Lucia. She is a 3-sport athlete who will be attending SUNY Brockport next year where she'll play basketball. Hali talks about the Spartans run to the soccer state title game this year and recaps a great season on the hardwood including winning a sectional title. Hali, who is openly gay shares her experience of coming out and how that has impacted her on and...

Nate sits down with longtime Franklin Girls Soccer and Track and Field Coach, J.J. Laing. He takes us back to his early days at FCS and talks about his love for both sports. We get a coaches perspective on quarantine life and hear about his philosophy for helping players to learn the game. Coach Laing is an extremely knowledgeable leader with over 35 years of experience. A very fun episode!

Nate chats with Class of 2014 Oneonta alumna, Mariah Ruff. She is one of the most decorated athletes to ever come out of Section IV. She went on to a stellar basketball career at D1 St. Bonaventure. They look back on her days at OHS including winning a soccer state championship. Nate goes beyond the numbers and learns more about the personal side of Mariah's story.

Nate talks with local sports photographers, Ricky & Jason MacPherson. These brothers are B-G grads who have been shooting photos at games for over 10 years. They talk about how far local media coverage has come since they started and what their favorite sports memories are. Ricky & Jason also tell us which sports are the most difficult to shoot and who they look up to in the photography wo...

Nate catches up with Delaware Academy alumna and current 2-sport athlete at SUNY Cobleskill, Anna Post. She tells us about her transition to college athletics and why she decided to play for the Fighting Tigers. They also discuss her love for dairy farming and why she is studying agricultural business. Anna takes us back to her days at DA where one of her biggest accomplishments was helping the Bu...

Nate catches up with Franklin grad and current SUNY Cortland soccer player, Derek Beers. They look back on his decorated career at FCS where he was a 4-sport athlete. Derek tells us about his time playing college soccer and how he has overcome two major knee surgeries to keep his days on the field going. Scoring a goal in his first game back is a must hear story!

Nate talks with Franklin standout and Ithaca College alumna, Jordan Beers. They look back on her stellar career at FCS including finishing 2nd on the all-time basketball scoring list in Section IV with 2,442 points. Jordan tells us about her career at IC, how she has battled with ankle injuries and her passion for the physical therapy program.

Nate sits down with Unadilla Valley Superintendent Bob Mackey. He has been heavily involved with a local study on declining enrollment and how it will affect high school sports in the near future. He discusses the possibility of merging the MAC, Tri-Valley and Delaware Leagues and how that might be an option to keep small school sports alive. Bob talks about what role school budgets, state aid and...