2016: A big year for local triple threat athletes
Photos by Cheryl Wertman – Albion senior Chanyce Powell not only placed in the top five at the state track championships in both the triple and long jumps but also set school scoring records in basketball and earned All-WNY honors in volleyball in 2016.
Several area high school triple-threat athletes had big years in 2016 including Albion senior Chanyce Powell whose year was highlighted by placing fourth in the triple jump and fifth in the long jump at the state track and field championships.
Powell won both the triple and long jumps at both the N-O All-League meet and the Section VI Division 2 (small schools) championships. She set a new school record of 37-7 in the triple jump at the sectionals.
On the basketball court Powell, who is a four year varsity starter, broke the 1,000 point career scoring total in a season opening 37-36 win over Brockport. She also set a school single game record with 37 points in a 70-67 double overtime win over Batavia.
On the volleyball court, Powell earned a third straight N-O first team All-League honor and was also named to the second team of the All-Western New York squad.
Medina High junior Jalin Cooper likewise had big year highlighted on the track as he captured both the Section VI Division 2 100 and 200 meter sprint titles. He went on to place sixth in the 100 at the state championships.
On the football field, Cooper helped lead Medina/Lyndonville to the B East Division title earning first team B East and second team All-WNY honors. Cooper, who scored 16 touchdowns and had over 1,200 all-purpose yards was also named the B East Division offensive MVP.
On the basketball court, Cooper helped Medina capture the N-O title with a 13-1 record. He earned first team N-O All-League honors and received Honorable Mention on the All-WNY and All-State Class B teams having scored 340 points and grabbed off 225 rebounds on the season.
Medina senior Kristian Snyder had a big season on the soccer field setting a new Mustangs single season record with 27 goals. He also earned a third straight first team N-O All-League tennis honor as he helped lead the Mustangs to the championship for the fourth time in the last five years. He is also a versatile member of the Seahorses swim team.
Roy-Hart senior Andy Xapsos topped the 1,000 point career scoring mark in basketball and helped lead the Rams to their first N-O baseball championship since 1953. He was also the two year starting quarterback for the Barker/Roy-Hart football squad.
However, the most unusual competition for a local triple threat athlete was Lyndonville native Scott Bradley competing in his second season as a professional triathlete. His very ambitious year in this grueling sport for which a full triathlon includes a 2.4 mile swim, a 112 mile bike ride and a 26.2 mile run, included competitions in Panama, Puerto Rico and Cozumel, Mexico, and was highlighted by the earning of his initial first place finish at the Finger Lakes Triathlon.
Medina junior Jalin Cooper not only won both the 100 and 200 meter sprints at the sectional championships but also helped lead Medina to league titles in both football and basketball.
