James McClendon, Observer-Dispatch

James McClendon

Observer-Dispatch

Utica, NY, United States

Contact James

Discover and connect with journalists and influencers around the world, save time on email research, monitor the news, and more.

Start free trial

Recent:
  • Unknown
Past:
  • Observer-Dispatch

Past articles by James:

Mahomes to headline All-Mohawk Valley Awards show

Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes II has led the NFL in passing touchdowns, won a regular season MVP, and now the Super Bowl MVP will be added to the roster of superstar athletes to present awards during this year’s All-Mohawk Valley All-Stars awards show.The online event — set for 6 p.m. Thursday, June 18 — will feature a full cast of professional athletes including Drew Brees,… → Read More

UC men’s hockey shuts out Wilkes for Game 1 win

The Utica College men’s hockey team has had no problem getting to the conference final over the last five seasons.The Pioneers — ranked No. 3 in the latest US College Hockey Online Division III poll — earned a 4-0 victory over Wilkes in Friday’s opening game of the United Collegiate Hockey Conference (UCHC) Championship series at the Adirondack Bank Center at Utica Memorial Auditorium. This is… → Read More

Proctor football 'proud' of best season in school history

MAHOPAC — The season may be over for Proctor’s state-ranked football team, but head coach Steve Strife made sure his players held their heads high as they walked off the field. “I’m just proud that my guys went out there as tough as they did in a hostile situation and we stood tall,” Strife said. “We are proud and we are happy with where we are. I’m ecstatic about the way we performed. I can’t… → Read More

Frankfort-Schuyler football takes Class D title

The Frankfort-Schuyler and Waterville state-ranked football teams squared off in their regular season finale less than a month ago. → Read More

Herkimer women's hoops gives MVCC's Durr first loss

Emily Durr enters her first season at the helm of Mohawk Valley Community College’s women’s basketball team with a virtual blank slate. The former Notre Dame High School and Iowa State University basketball star was hired to take over the program after MVCC did not field a team during the 2018-19 season because of NJCAA violations in 2017-18. “It’s been pretty smooth so far,” Durr said. “It’s… → Read More

Herkimer women's hoops gives MVCC's Durr first loss

Emily Durr enters her first season at the helm of Mohawk Valley Community College’s women’s basketball team with a virtual blank slate. The former Notre Dame High School and Iowa State University basketball star was hired to take over the program after MVCC did not field a team during the 2018-19 season because of NJCAA violations in 2017-18. “It’s been pretty smooth so far,” Durr said. “It’s… → Read More

Men's Basketball: Hawks, Generals clash in early-season meeting

Both Herkimer County Community College men’s basketball coach Matt Lee and Mohawk Valley Community College coach Matt LaCroix entered this season with very different rosters from a year ago. Lee, heading into his 18th season as head coach of the Generals, has only one returning player from last year’s National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) national championship team, and LaCroix,… → Read More

Field Hockey: Camden, Holland Patent advance to regionals

VERONA — Shannon McPheron’s Camden field hockey team is no stranger to postseason success. In fact, the Blue Devil’s 5-0 shutout of Class D champion Port Byron in Sunday’s Class C/D play-in game at Vernon-Verona-Sherrill’s Sheveron Stadium was just another day at the office for the three-time defending Section III champions. “When we got back to practice on Friday and Saturday, those were… → Read More

Girls Tennis: Lyga's senior season ends at states

It was Ellen Lyga’s second trip to the girls tennis state tournament in as many years, so she knew exactly what to expect from the competition. → Read More

Field Hockey: Mix, Camden 'visualize' victory over Clinton

SAUQUOIT – Mackenzie Mix and the rest of her Camden field hockey team spent halftime of Wednesday’s Section III Class C final with their backs on the turf and their eyes closed. “She was having us meditate,” Mix said about head coach Shannon McPheron’s halftime speech. “She was telling us that we needed to win if we want that 2019 banner to hang in our gym. Our coach made us mentally strong… → Read More

MVCC, HCCC field top men's and women's soccer teams in Region III

With the fall season winding down, several local college sports teams have begun to shift into playoff mode. The Herkimer County Community College men’s soccer team (16-0-0) leads the National Junior College Athletic Association Region III standings, and Mohawk Valley Community College (17-2) is in the No. 2 spot. The Generals will play in Region III’s District A bracket and the Hawks landed in… → Read More

Camden, Clinton meet in Class C field hockey rematch

Stop me if you've heard this before, but Shannon McPheron's Camden field hockey team has reach a sectional title game against the Clinton Warriors. In a → Read More

Field Hockey: Camden, Clinton meet in C rematch; Little Falls to play for Class D title

Clinton, Camden and Little Falls on Sunday all punched their tickets to field hockey sectional title games. The third-seeded Mounties (10-7) will play No. → Read More

Section III football semifinals set

With all quarterfinal round games complete, Section III high school football officials met Sunday to decide the times and locations for the semifinals for → Read More

Dolgeville's shutout victory sends team to Class D semis

Dolgeville's senior running back Kyle Getman scored three rushing touchdowns and led the Blue Devils to a 30-0 shutout victory in Saturday's Section III → Read More

RFA wins back-to-back CSC swim titles

The Rome Free Academy girls swim and dive team (14-1) continued its impressive season, winning the Center State Conference Championships for the second- → Read More

Whitesboro field hockey advances to Section III semifinals

Senior forward Isabella Callahan scored three goals and head coach Renee LaValley’s Whitesboro field hockey team (7-9-1) on Wednesday advanced to → Read More

Notre Dame's Ellen Lyga off to hot start at tennis state qualifier

After dominant first-round and quarterfinal performances in Tuesday's Section III state qualifier, Notre Dame's Ellen Lyga is one step closer to reaching → Read More

Camden field hockey earns top seed again

The Section III field hockey playoff pairings are in, and for the third straight year the Camden Blue Devils are a top seed.Head coach Shannon McPheron's → Read More

Lyga sisters meet for fourth time in girls tennis Section III final

ONEIDA — Ellen Lyga hugged her younger sister Emily — who was fighting back tears — following Saturday morning's Section III Division IV girls tennis final.Those tears were not being shed because Emily lost to her older sister for the fourth-straight year, but because this would be the last time the two Notre Dame High School tennis stars would meet in a section final."It's a family win," said… → Read More