By Mike Wertman, Sports Writer Posted 12 January 2026 at 7:15 am
Photos by Cheryl Wertman – Medina’s Christian Moss, left, and Barker/Roy-Hart’s Vinny Fazzio have earned All State football honors.
Two local players, Medina senior running back/defensive end Christian Moss and Barker/Roy-Hart senior linebacker/running back Vinny Fazzio have been named to the second team of the Class C All State football squad.
Moss rushed for 1,138 yards and 16 touchdowns and caught 13 passes for 185 yards and 2 touchdowns. On defense he had 50 tackles, 1 sack and 1 fumble recovery.
Fazzio led the Barker/Roy-Hart defense with 72 tackles, including 51 solo, 8 fumble recoveries and 1 interception. On offense he rushed for 384 yards and 7 touchdowns and caught 13 passes for 256 yards and 5 touchdowns.
The Class C squad also had Akron seniors Blake Gerstung and Colin Miller earn Honorable Mention.
The All State Class D squad includes a total of 13 Newfane and Wilson players.
Earning first team offensive unit honors are Newfane senior quarterback Mac Capen and Wilson senior wide receiver Ryan Hough.
The first team defensive unit includes Wilson senior linebacker Brock Lepsch and Newfane senior defensive linemen Colin Doxey.
Earning second team offensive unit honors are Newfane senior end Isiah Gerstung and Wilson senior running back Michael Ruble.
The second team defensive unit includes senior lineman Koa Leapai and Wilson junior lineman Nasir Spencer.
Five players also earned Honorable Mention including Newfane defensive lineman Tristian Smith, junior linebacker Jake Morelli and defensive back Camro Flowers along with the Wilson duo of senior defensive back Josiah Lawrence and junior place kicker Connor Woodworth.
U.S. Army National Guard photos by Stephanie Butler: Army National Guard Major General Ray Shields, left, the adjutant general of New York, presents the guidon of the New York Air National Guard to Air National Guard Major General Gary Charlton II, during promotion and change of command ceremonies held on January 9 at New York National Guard headquarters in Latham. Charlton is now the commander of the 5,800 men and women of the New York Air National Guard, the largest Air Guard component in the nation.
LATHAM, NY – An Air Guard officer who started as an enlisted Airman and served in the Persian Gulf War, Iraq and Afghanistan, assumed command of the New York Air National Guard during a ceremony on Friday at New York National Guard headquarters in Latham.
Major General Gary Charlton II, who has also commanded the New York Air Guard’s 107th Attack Wing in Niagara Falls, and the 105th Airlift Wing in Newburgh, now heads the largest Air National Guard in the United States.
Charlton, who lives in the Albany suburb of Loudonville, replaced Major General Michael Bank, who is retiring after 37 years of service.
He has been serving as assistant adjutant general, Air for the New York National Guard and will now serve simultaneously in both assignments.
Charlton was promoted from one-star brigadier general to two-star major general before assuming command of the New York Air Guard.
Major General Ray Shields, the adjutant general of New York, and the presiding officer for the ceremony, said Charlton was the “right leader” to command New York’s Airmen.
“You have the opportunity to continue to build the New York Air National Guard and to take the organization to new levels of professionalism,” Shields told Charlton.
In his remarks, Charlton thanked his wife, Susan and his daughters, Megan and Ginger, as well as his extended family, for their support over the years.
“You have carried this career as much as I have,” he said.
Charlton said his years as an enlisted Airmen shaped his command style as an officer.
“Before I ever wore a commission, I wore stripes,” Charlton said.
“I learned that the best ideas often come from the flightline, the shop floor and the Airmen who make the mission happen,” he said.
“Leader is not about a position, it’s about people, it’s about listening before speaking, serving before leading, and earning trust every single day,” Charlton told his audience.
The members of the New York Air Guard are the “embodiment of versatility and excellence,” he said.
Air National Guard Major General Gary Charlton II has new two-star general stars pinned on by his daughters during promotion and change of command ceremonies held on Jan. 9.
Charlton, who is a command pilot with more than 3,400 hours in a variety of aircraft, started his Air National Guard career by enlisting in the 174th Fighter Wing at Hancock Field Air National Guard Base, in 1990 as a fuel system technician. He deployed with the wing’s F-16s to the Middle East in 1990/ 91 as part of Operation Desert Shield and Operation Desert Storm.
In 2000, he was commissioned as a second lieutenant and became an F-16 pilot. Charlton served in the 138th Fighter Squadron and made the transition from the F-16 to the remotely piloted MQ-9, when the 174th converted to an attack wing from 2010 to 2012.
Charlton served as the commander of the 138th Attack Squadron before being reassigned to the 107th Attack Wing at Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station. He served as the command of the wing’s operations group and then wing vice commander before commanding the 107th from 2018 to 2022.
From 2022 to 2024, Charlton served as commander of the 105th Airlift Wing, the C-17 Globemaster III unit based at Stewart Air National Guard Base in Newburgh. He was promoted to brigadier general in June of 2022, while leading the 105th Airlift Wing.
He left command of the 105th in 2024 and served briefly as the director of operations for the Air National Guard Bureau’s operations section, before returning to New York to assume his current position.
Charlton holds a Bachelor of Arts in psychology from Columbia College and is a graduate of the Air Command and Staff College and the Air War College. He is a graduate of the National Security Studies Program at Syracuse University and the General and Flag Officer Seminar conducted by Harvard University.
Charlton’s military awards include the Legion of Merit, the Meritorious Service Medal the Air Medal. The Aerial Achievement Medal and campaign medals for his military deployments.
The New York Air National Guard, with over 5,800 Airmen serving in five air wings and the Eastern Air Defense Sector is the largest Air National Guard in the country.
The New York Air Guard also includes the 109th Airlift Wing at Stratton Air National Guard Base in Scotia, and the 106th Rescue Wing at Francis S. Gabreski Air National Guard base in Westhampton Beach.
The Eastern Air Defense Sector is responsible for the air defense of the United States east of the Mississippi as part of the North American Aerospace Defense Command.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 11 January 2026 at 7:52 pm
Provided photos: Th winning teams in the Medina Rotary Cornhole Tournament on Saturday at Dubby’s Tailgate in Albion included, from left: A bracket – Jimmy Youmans and Colin Hodet; B bracket – James Findlay and Shawn Murray; C bracket – Jeff Koch and David Leake.
ALBION – The Medina Rotary Cornhole Tournament again drew a big response from top cornhole players in the region and beyond on Saturday with 89 teams vying for $5,000 in prize winnings.
Saturday was the third time Medina Rotary has put on the event at Dubby’s Tailgate. The teams were divided into three brackets.
The payouts included A bracket (top players) – $1,300 for first, $750 for second, and $500 for third.
B bracket – $750 for first, $500 for second, and $250 for third.
C bracket – $500 for first, $300 for second, and $150 for third.
The tournament was expected to raise about $5,000 for Medina Rotary. Each team paid $90 to compete in the tournament. Sponsorships and a 50/50 raffle at $1,200 also boosted the amount for Rotary, which gives the money back to causes in the community.
Medina Rotary President Randy Reese said the tournament has proven to be a fun activity for the cornhole players and a good fundraiser for the Rotary Club.
Photos by Tom Rivers: Some of the cornhole take warmup tosses before a game on Saturday. Each team played four rounds before going into a double-elimination playoff. There were some pro players from Canada and also the American Cornhole League among the participants in the tourney.
Tyler McClary, who is part of a team with Mike Beach of Albion, competes in the tournament on Saturday.
Dubby’s hosts a winter cornhole league on Wednesday evenings that started last week. Click here for more information on the league.
Contributed Story Posted 11 January 2026 at 6:03 pm
Contributed Photos – Holley-Kendall wrestlers had, from left, Jeremy Lutes and Don Heirigs place second and Jayden Rivera third at the Pavilion Tournament Saturday.
Holley-Kendall had five top four place finishers at the Pavilion Wrestling Tournament on Saturday.
Jeremy Lutes (103) and Don Heirigs (126) both placed second, Jayden Rivera (110) third and Joey Prevenza (126) and Immanuel Cornell (285) both finished fourth.
Holley-Kendall, which finished sixth out of 16 teams, next faces Alexander-Pembroke in a Genesee Region League match at Kendall at 6 p.m. Wednesday.
Contributed Story Posted 11 January 2026 at 5:45 pm
Contributed Photos – Some of the Purple Eagles Academy wrestlers who earned top tourney honors this weekend included, from left, Romen Allport, Colton Moreland, Liam McElwain, Lucas Ruggles and Mathias Ellis III.
The Purple Eagles Wrestling Academy had wrestlers attend three different tournaments this weekend.
“While their place finishes are remarkable, what is even better is that they have athletes that represent different communities in the area: Albion, Medina, Lyndonville, and Holley. They also had athletes from Cal-Mum and Brockport representing the program this weekend,” said Academy organizer Mike Sanders.
Here are the results:
Pal-Mac Youth Tournament (Saturday)
Colton Moreland (1st), Romen Allport (1st), Liam McElwain (1st), and Lucas Ruggles (1st).
Lew-Port Youth Tournament (today)
Liam McElwain (1st), Dom Pangrazio (1st), Luke Joy (1st), Harrison Joy (1st), Matthew Colmenero (2nd), Harrison Froman (2nd), Grayson Buffin (3rd).
Youth Eastern States (today)
Mathias Ellis III (1st Place)
Contributed Story Posted 11 January 2026 at 5:36 pm
The Roy-Hart/Barker/Medina Knights Club Hockey team could not hold their lead against St. Joseph’s this morning in a home game losing 6-5.
Ryan Felicetti (Wilson) opened the scoring for RBM halfway through the first period from Max Pilon (Medina).
One minute later. St. Joe’s tied the score on a powerplay.
However, RBM earned a two goal lead by the end of the period on goals by Felicetti unassisted and John Peracciny (R-H) with assists from Felicetti and Sean Mettler (R-H).
The Knights increased their lead to 4-1 in the second on a goal by Tyler Rohring (Newfane) from Nate Downey (RH) and Cameron Bryer (Wilson).
St. Joe’s went on a five goal surge carrying a 6-4 lead until the last minute of the game when Peracciny scored his second goal, again from Felicetti and Mettler.
RBM was outshot in the game 37-20.
The next outing for RBM is at undefeated Olean on Saturday, January 17 at 7 p.m.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 11 January 2026 at 11:04 am
Finger Lakes Community College, Jacksonville State University, SUNY Canton and Southern New Hampshire University note academic achievers from Orleans
Four colleges have recently notified the Orleans Hub of students from Orleans County who made either the Dean’s List or President’s List for the fall semester.
• At Finger Lakes Community College in Canandaigua, there are 973 students on the Dean’s List, maintaining at least a 3.5 grade point average for the semester.
Those students include Rachael Howard of Albion, Bryan Hardenbrook of Kendall, and Addison Paul and Julian Woodworth of Medina.
• Seagan Christine Majchrzak of Medina has been named to Dean’s List at Jacksonville State University in Alabama.
To be named to the Dean’s List, students must earn a 3.5-3.99 GPA for the semester while completing at least 12 GPA hours of course credit.
• Two students from Orleans County were named to the President’s List at SUNY Canton with GPAs of 3.75 or higher.
Lakshia Johnson of Albion and Lorelei Sanders are both Legal Studies majors.
• Two from Orleans also were named to the President’s List at Southern New Hampshire University in Manchester, NH.
Andrea Sanchez Vargas of Holley and Nordia Campbell of Albion both had GPAs of 3.70 or higher.
By Mike Wertman, Sports Writer Posted 11 January 2026 at 10:38 am
Nearing the midpoint of the league season, Albion faces a pair of key contests this coming week as the Purple Eagles look to stay in the Niagara-Orleans boys basketball title race.
Currently at 2-2, Albion will visit rival Medina (2-1) on Tuesday and then host league leading Wilson (4-0) on Friday, both at 6:30 p.m. Medina also faces another key contest at Akron (2-1) on Friday at 6:30 p.m.
The Albion girls likewise face a pair of contests this week as they seek to stay in the N-O title chase. Now at 3-1, Albion will host Medina (1-2) on Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. and then visit front-running defending champion Wilson (4-0) on Friday at 6 p.m.
The N-O wrestling season will conclude on Saturday with the All League Tournament at Albion beginning at 10 a.m. Defending champion Newfane leads the way as the Panthers have gone 4-0 to date during the dual match portion of the season.
Weekly Schedule Monday Boys Basketball – CG Finney at Kendall, 7 p.m.
Tuesday Boys Basketball – Newfane at Barker, 6 p.m.; Albion at Medina, Akron at Roy-Hart, 6:30 p.m. Girls Basketball – Medina at Albion, 5 p.m.; Barker at Newfane, Roy-Hart at Akron, 6:30 p.m.; Lyndonville at Elba, Kendall at Holley, 7 p.m. Swimming – Medina at Newfane, Albion at Roy-Hart/Barker, 5 p.m.
Wednesday Boys Basketball – Lyndonville at Elba, Kendall at Holley, 7 p.m. Wrestling – Medina at Albion, Roy-Hart/Barker at Akron, Wilson at Newfane, Lyndonville at Byron-Bergen, Alexander/Pembroke vs. Holley-Kendall at Kendall, 6 p.m.
Thursday Girls Basketball – Lyndonville at Holley, 7 p.m. Swimming – Newfane at Albion, Akron at Roy-Hart/Barker, 5 p.m. Wrestling – Lyndonville at Wilson, 6 p.m.
Friday Boys Basketball – Medina at Akron, Wilson at Albion, Roy-Hart at Newfane, 6:30 p.m.; Holley at Lyndonville, 7 p.m. Girls Basketball – Akron at Medina, 5 p.m.; School of the Arts at Kendall, 5:30 p.m.; Albion at Wilson, 6 p.m.; Newfane at Roy-Hart, 6:30 p.m.
Saturday Girls Basketball – Lyndonville at Alexander, 11:30 a.m.; Barker at Cleveland Hill, 12:30 p.m.; Elba at Holley, 1 p.m. Wrestling – N-O All-League Tournament at Albion, 10 a.m.
By Mike Wertman, Sports Writer Posted 11 January 2026 at 10:17 am
Akron swept to doubleheader victory over Roy-Hart/Barker in a Niagara-Orleans League swim meet Saturday.
Akron won the boys’ meet 64-57 and the girls’ competition 84-73.
Quinn O’Malley was a double winner in the 50 Free and 100 Free for the Akron boys. The TigerSharks also got wins from Aron Gehl (200 Individual Medley) and Logan Meyers (100 Butterfly).
Jackson Braun was a double winner in the 500 Free and 100 Breaststroke for Roy-Hart/Barker which also had Noah Corraine take the 200 Free and Hendrick Trombley the 100 Backstroke.
The TigerSharks are now 2-2 and the Channel Cats 0-4.
The Akron girls had a trio of double winners including Brooke Milhollen (200 Free and Backstroke), Charlotte Carlson (IM an Butterfly) and Aurora VanDusen (100 Free and Breaststroke) as Avery Haak took the 500 Free.
By Mike Wertman, Sports Writer Posted 10 January 2026 at 7:01 pm
Going 4-1, Lyndonville placed second at the Caledonia-Mumford Duals Wrestling Tournament today.
Rebounding from an opening round loss to Cal-Mum, Lyndonville rattled off four straight wins downing East 61-18, Avon-Geneseo 68-6, Red Jacket 54-29 and Lyons 54-30.
Shannon Withey went 5-0 (5 pins) and Ben Doolan 5-0 (3 pins) to lead the Tigers as Bryson Hazel, Brody Hazel, Dom Hargrave and Bub Benedict all went 4-1.
Falconer Tournament
Medina’s Luke Duffina placed fourth at 132 lbs. at the Falconer Tournament today.
By Mike Wertman, Sports Writer Posted 10 January 2026 at 6:44 pm
Photos by Cheryl Wertman – Holley’s Josh Silpoch (11) erupted for 30 points, including eight threes, to lead the Hawks past visiting Dansville 62-46 this afternoon.
Snapping a five game losing streak, Holley downed visiting Dansville 62-46 in a non league boys basketball game this afternoon.
Josh Silpoch spearheaded the Holley offense by pouring in 30 points including eight threes. Avante Walker added 14, Cooper Wolf 8. Cam Mosier 5, Tarek Garrett 3 and Blake Coleman 2.
Clayton Rigdon scored 17 and Brady Henchen 10 to lead Dansville.
Holley grabbed a 14-11 first quarter lead as Wolf hit two threes, Silpoch one and Walker tallied five points.
Silpoch then caught fire from long range in the second quarter erupting for 16 points including four threes during one big run which vaulted the Hawks out to a 14 point, 32-18, lead.
Dansville though answered with a 10-0 run to close the period and cut the deficit to four, 32-28, at the half.
Dansville did rally into a brief 38-37 lead late in the third period but Holley closed with a 6-0 run which included a three by Silpoch and a basket and a free throw by Garrett to regain a 43-38 lead at the three-quarter mark.
The Hawks then locked up the win by outpointing the Mustangs 19-8 in the final period. Silpoch scored 8, including a pair of threes, Walker 6 and Mosier 5 to key that surge.
By Mike Wertman, Sports Writer Posted 10 January 2026 at 6:39 pm
Photos by Cheryl Wertman – Lyndonville’s Lane Woodworth drives in for a layup during the Tigers home court win over Lima Christian this afternoon.
Putting together a big first quarter scoring surge, Lyndonville went on to defeat visiting Lima Christian 71-62 in a non league boys basketball game this afternoon.
The Tigers jumped out to a 15 point, 26-11 lead in the opening quarter. Lane Woodworth scored 12, including a pair of three-point plays, to lead that uprising as Lyric Raduns and Devon Babcock both had a three and a two.
Lyndonville maintained leads of 16 points, 43-27. at the half and of 17 points, 57-40, at the three-quarter mark.
Woodworth and Atticus Mank both scored 5 in the second period for the Tigers while Babock had 6 and Colton Smith 4 in the third.
The Saints did battle back to within six, 59-53, midway through the final period but could get no closer.
The Tigers answered with a key 8-2 run including two baskets by Babcock and one by Woodworth to regain a 12 point, 67-55 lead.
Woodworth finished with game high 22 points, Babcock 18, Raduns 10, Quincy McClinsey 8, Mank 7 and Smith 6.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 10 January 2026 at 10:11 am
Apex will focus on site work in 2026 before 28 turbines constructed next year
BARRE – The first phase of construction is expected to start next week for a high-profile project that has been 10 years in the making.
Apex Clean Energy will start clearing about 30 acres of trees next week in Barre. Apex has hired Ironwood Heavy Highway in Rochester for the job of clearing trees. Ironwood is expected to start cutting down trees on Jan. 19. The job should take a few weeks with work limited to between 7 a.m. and 8 p.m., said Carmen O’Keefe, the director of development, and Brian O’Shea, director of public of public engagement for Apex Clean Energy.
Apex is owner and developer of the Heritage Wind project in Barre, which will have the capacity to produce 126 megawatts of electricity.
The tree clearing is limited to no later than March 31 due to the presence of federally listed bats.
There will be a full mobilization of about 200 construction workers in the community in May or June to work on installing access roads, turbine foundations and other site work, including construction of turn radiuses for the delivering of the turbine components.
The Heritage Wind project will have 28 turbines, and the turbines will be constructed in 2027 with the project expected to be operational in late 2027, O’Shea said. The turbines will be more than 600 feet high.
The project also includes 10.5 miles of access roads, one permanent meteorological tower, 25.2 miles of collection lines, a temporary construction laydown yard of approximately 13.9 acres, a temporary concrete batch plant (if needed), parking for construction workers, an operations and maintenance facility with two buildings totaling about 4,000 square feet, and one aircraft detection lighting system tower.
For maps and more details of the project, click here.
Once the project is operational, Apex will pay $9,000 per megawatt to local municipalities or $1,134,000 in the first year, with a 2 percent increase after that over 25 years.
Barre gets 75 percent of the money as part of a Host Community Agreement. The $6,750 per megawatt totals $850,000.
The remaining 25 percent or $2,250 per megawatt is evenly split by the school district and county. That is $140,175 each.
In addition, Heritage Wind will be paying $4.575 million administrative fees to the Orleans Economic Development Agency for administering the PILOT with the school district and county.
The project also will save the average Barre household $150 annually in energy bills through the first ten years of the project’s operations through NYSERDA’s Host Community Benefit Program, O’Shea said.
