Decade in Review: #10 Albion football, R-H swim and Medina tennis have big title runs

By Mike Wertman, Sports Writer Posted 31 December 2019 at 9:30 am

Photos by Cheryl Wertman – Kevin Hillman goes high to haul in a pass during Albion’s playoff victory over Tonawanda this past season which saw the Purple Eagles win a third straight division title and advance to the sectional finals.

The Albion football squad closed the decade with a flurry capturing three straight division championships.

Ending an 11 year drought, Albion shared the B2 Division championship with Dunkirk in 2017 and then captured the B2 title outright in 2018 and the B3 crown outright in 2019.

Albion also ended a 17 year drought by advancing to the Class B sectional final in 2019 where the Purple Eagles dropped a 34-20 decision to WNY Maritime at New Era Field. The Purple Eagles advanced to the finals for the first time since 2002 with narrow home field wins over Tonawanda (17-14) and Olean (21-14).

The Purple Eagles had an overall record of 23-5 over the past three title seasons.

Albion also went 5-5 against rival Medina during the decade.

The Mustangs captured the B East Division title in 2016.

The Roy-Hart boys swim team dominated the N-O League during the decade capturing the championship eight years in a row from 2010-2017.

The Channel Cats went 79-0 during that title stretch.

The Albion boys swim team shared the N-O crown with Barker in 2018 and then captured both the league and Section VI Class C titles in 2019.

The Roy-Hart girls swim team shared the N-O crown with Akron in 2018 and then won it outright in 2019 after Newfane had claimed the league championship for eight years in a row from 2010-2017.

The Medina tennis team captured five N-O championships during the 2012, 2013, 2014, 2016 and 2017 seasons..

Akron claimed the crown twice (2018 and 2019) while Albion (2015), Wilson (2010) and Newfane (2011) each won it once.