Hawks and coach eye special season

Photo by Mike Wertman – Holley boys varsity soccer coach Dan Orbaker meets here with the Hawks returning starters. In front is Gabe Mendoza. In the middle row are Andrew Cary, Justin Parker, Derek McArthur and Santino Morales. In back are Patrick Bower, Flint DiLella, Taylor Hill, Chris Balys and Orbaker.

Looking to make Coach Dan Orbaker’s milestone 30th season a special one, the Holley boys varsity soccer team returns a large contingent of no less than nine regulars with which to make a strong run at Genesee Region League and Section V titles this season.

“I love it. I still have the fire. I just love it,” said Orbaker who has guided the Hawks to no less than 14 G-R League, 9 Section V, 5 West Regional and 2 state championships over the past three decades.

The Hawks are led by the veteran contingent of seniors Gabe Mendoza (midfield/forward), Flint DiLella (defender), Justin Parker (forward), Santino Morales (forward) along with juniors Derek McArthur (midfield/forward), Andrew Cary (forward), Chris Balys (defender), Tyler Hill (defender) and sophomore Patrick Bower (goalie).

Mendoza, Cary and Balys all earned G-R All-Star honors last fall.

The Hawks lineup also includes seniors Ryan Moseman (midfield), Dan Kozlowski (midfield), Jake DeSimone (defender), Cameron Bennage (goalie), Xander Apicella (forward) and Pablo Romero (forward), an exchange student from Argentina, along with juniors Bryce Baxter (defender), Will Harrington (midfielder), Dylan McKay (midfield), Antonio Puente (forward), Bailey Schubmehl (midfield) and James Skehan (defender).

“This is one of the biggest and most experienced squads we’ve had so we are going to expect and demand the best from them,” said Orbaker. “I look for it to be a very competitive league.”

The Hawks will prep for the G-R campaign by hosting their own tournament on September 2 and 4 facing Roy-Hart in the opening round. The G-R opener will be September 16 at Byron-Bergen.

Holley’s Schedule

Sept. 2 – Holley Tournament vs. Roy-Hart, 6:30 p.m.
Sept. 4 – Holley Tournament
Sept. 8 – University Prep, 6:30 p.m.
Sept. 12 – Sodus, 6:30 p.m.
Sept. 16 – at Byron-Bergen, 6:30 p.m.
Sept. 18 – at Pembroke, 4:30 p.m.
Sept. 22 – at Kendall, 6:30 p.m.
Sept. 24 – Wheatland-Chili, 6:30 p.m.
Sept. 28 – at Sodus, 4:30 p.m.
Sept. 30 – at Attica, 4:30 p.m.
Oct. 2 – Byron-Bergen, 6:30 p.m.
Oct. 6 – Pembroke, 6:30 p.m.
Oct. 10 – Kendall, 4:30 p.m.
Oct. 12 – Geneseo, 6:30 p.m.
Oct. 14 – at Wheatland-Chili, 6:30 p.m.
Oct. 16 – Attica, 6:30 p.m.