By Mike Wertman, Sports Writer Posted 4 November 2020 at 1:33 pm
Contributed Photos – It truly is the Year of the Ram in Niagara-Orleans League soccer this season as both the Roy-Hart boys and girls teams claimed league titles. The Lady Rams, shown here, captured a share of their first ever N-O championship by downing host Wilson 3-0 on Tuesday. Roy-Hart and Wilson finished as co-champions with identical 8-2 records. That record was also the best ever for the Lady Rams who finished in the runner-up spot last year. Coached by Rich Jennings and assisted by Michelle Jennings, Bob Kneeland and Emma Lindke the Lady Rams lineup includes seniors Hana Willard, Ceci Santos, Mya Quinn, Maddy Colley, Clara Jones, Shelby Wolfe and Rileigh McCabe; juniors Kara Choate, Brooke Livergood, Reanna Perkins, Ryan Hiller and Ava Owens; sophomores Grace Parker, Amelia Konstanty, Ada Livergood, Nadia White, Grace Trombley and Alezis Seib and eighth graders Allie Trombley and Kaitlin Mettler.
The Roy-Hart boys squad ended a 20 year title drought by capturing the N-O championship by a half game over Akron and a game over Newfane. Roy-Hart finished at 7-3, Akron 6-3-1 and Newfane 6-4. Roy-Hart’s only previous N-O title came in 2000 when Coach Carl Husung’s Rams posted a 9-3 record to edge out Albion and Starpoint, both at 8-4, for the crown. Interestingly, Husung, at far left in the picture, is on the Roy-Hart coaching staff this season serving as the Rams JV coach. Coached by Greg Martillotta, at the far right, and assisted by Barry Webber, second from the left, the Rams lineup includes seniors Hunter Babel, Aidan Bligh, Dillen Giertz, Dom Peracciny, Noah Stern and Brad Voelker; juniors Gavyn Boyle, Trent Choate, Elijah Giroux, Christian Lates, Zach Livergood, Brandin Masters and Brett Ricker; sophomores Aiden Guild and Peter Martillotta and freshmen Landen Guild and Jayden Swyggert.