Photos by Cheryl Wertman – Roy-Hart’s Andy Xapsos, left, who is the lone repeat selection on the first team of the Niagara-Orleans All-League squad, and Barker’s Nate Luckman.

Five schools are represented on the first team of the annual Niagara-Orleans All-League boys basketball squad.

Champion Medina is represented by sophomore Jalin Cooper and runner-up Roy-Hart by senior Andy Xapsos, who is the lone repeat selection.

Rounding out the first team are Newfane senior Chad Gilson, Barker junior Nate Luckman and Wilson sophomore Ryan Bradley.

Cooper led Medina in scoring with 340 points for a 15.4 per game average. He also grabbed off 225 rebounds and had 56 assists, 47 steals and 46 blocks.

Xapsos led the area in scoring with 496 points for a 22.5 average.

Medina’s Jalin Cooper

Gilson scored 223 points (11.7 ave.) and also had 150 rebounds, 41 steals and 37 assists.

Luckman scored 361 points (17.1 ave.) and Bradley tallied 328 (16.4 ave.).

The All-League second team includes Medina senior Tyler Ames, Albion junior Tommy Mattison, Wilson senior Alex Fox and Newfane sophomores Max Weber and Kyle DeVoogel.

Ames led Medina on the boards with 270 rebounds. He also scored 211 points (9.5 ave.) and had 49 blocks and 33 steals.

Mattison scored 265 points (13.3 ave.) and had 117 rebounds, 67 steals and 42 assists.

Fox scored 205 points (10.7 ave.).

DeVoogel scored 301 points (14.3 ave.) and had 73 rebounds, 63 steals and 31 assists.

Weber tallied 262 points (12.5 ave.) and had 124 rebounds, 126 assists and 57 steals.

Four Medina players also received honorable mention including seniors Justin Morgan, Dylan Lewis, Jared Zinkievich and junior Daryl Haynes.

Albion likewise has a quartet of honorable mention selections including seniors Brady Meakin, Evan Pappalardo and Manwell Taylor along with junior Kory Reynolds.

Rounding out the first team are Newfane’s Chad Gilson, left, and Wilson’s Ryan Bradley.

Roy-Hart’s senior trio of Chris Anderson, Justin Heschke and Ben Maynard also earned honorable mention as did Barker’s trio of senior Mike Snelll and juniors Eddie Wasnock and Jake Arnold.

Rounding out the honorable mention selections are Newfane junior Albert Kramp, Akron senior Gates Abrams and junior Austin Ladd, Wilson senior Andrew Eames and junior Jonah Miller along with the CSAT senior quartet of Juan Verdejo, Shaun Wilson, Jahleel Burks and Demire Grant.

Photo by Mike Wertman – The newly merged Holley/Kendall varsity baseball team began practice this afternoon. Here Holley varsity Coach Jason Cole, center, meets here with players from both schools. From left are Jacob Richardson and Cody Spellan from Kendall and Dylan Hillabush and Zach Vaccarelli from Holley.

The start of spring practice this afternoon signaled a new era for the Holley and Kendall sports programs which for the first time are fielding a merged varsity baseball team.

Due to an insufficient number of players, Kendall has been unable to field a JV baseball team each of the past two years. That situation has now left the Eagles without a sufficient number of players for a varsity team.

In order to give Kendall’s varsity aged players an opportunity to continue to play baseball the school boards of the neighboring districts have agreed to a merged team which allows Kendall players to tryout for the Holley varsity squad.

When Holley varsity Coach Jason Cole, who interestingly is a Kendall High graduate, got the first practice going several Kendall players were on hand to try out for spots on the Hawks squad which is prepping to defend its Section V Class CC title.

“It’s neat for those kids to have an opportunity to play their senior year,” said Cole. “I think overall it will help our team with the extra talent.”

The Holley/Kendall Hawks squad is scheduled to open the season on April 5 with a non league game at Medina.

Photo by Cheryl Wertman
Area high school sports teams were greeted by temperatures in the 50’s this afternoon as spring practices got underway for baseball, softball, tennis, track and lacrosse. Here members of the Medina varsity lacrosse team go through a stick drill at Vets Park. The Medina varsity softball and baseball teams also took advantage of the nice weather and the lights at Vets Park to get in a full outdoor practice on opening day.

Staying undefeated, Medina 1 bested rival Medina 2 by a score of 8-2 over the weekend in a Lockport Indoor Soccer League Senior Division game at the Kenan Center.

Josh Klotzbach scored 3 goals, Brian Anderson and Nick Albone 2 each and Angelina Careri 1 for Medina 1 which improves to 5-0.

Greg Husung scored both goals for Medina 2 which is now 3-2.

Photo by Mike Wertman – The annual All Orleans County wrestling team includes, in front, Tristyn Moyer (Kendall), Colby Petrie (Medina), Paul Urquhart (Kendall), Preston Flugel (Albion), Jeff Gress Jr. (Lyndonville) and Cade Aina (Albion). In the middle row are Jordan Wolcott (Albion), Joe Velez (Medina), Nick Shenck (Holley), Chris Yockel (Holley), Dustin Joy (Lyndonville), Blake Aina (Albion) and Jeremy Browe (Kendall). In the back row are Tom Follman (Lyndonville), Patrick Purtell (Holley), Braxton Leary Hart (Holley), Zach Day (Holley), Tim Drake (Albion), Charles Beach (Medina) and Austen Vroman (Holley). Missing from the photo are Dustin Hinkley and Garren Bayne from Lyndonville.

Three state championship meet competitors head the annual All Orleans County wrestling team as selected by the coaches.

That trio includes Medina seniors Charles Beach (220) and Joe Velez (126) along with Lyndonville junior Dustin Joy (138).

Medina is also represented on the team by eighth grader Colby Petrie (106) and Lyndonville by senior Tom Follman (152) and juniors Jeff Gress Jr. (120), Dustin Hinkley, (160) and Garren Bayne (126).

Holley has placed seniors Nick Shenck (132), Austen Vroman (285), Chris Yockel (138) and Patrick Purtell (152) along with juniors Zach Day (170) and Braxton Leary Hart (182).

Kendall is represented by senior Paul Urquhart (113), sophomore Jeremy Browe 152) and eighth grader Tristyn Moyer (99).

Albion has placed seniors Jordan Wolcott (126) and Tim Drake (195), junior Blake Aina (145), sophomore Preston Flugel (120) and freshmen Cade Aina (113).

Five other wrestlers also received honorable mention including Scott Smith and Alex Doran from Lyndonville along with Camron Thorn, Erik Balys and Ross Pinson from Holley.

Beach, who went 33-2 on the season, captured a Section VI championship and went on to place third at the state championships.

Velez, who was 36-7, captured Niagara-Orleans League, Class C and Section VI championships to earn a berth in the state championships.

Petrie, who captured an N-O championship went on to place fourth at Class C and third at the Section VI championships, posting a 27-13 record.

Joy, who placed second at both the Class B and Section V championships to earn a berth in the state championships as a wildcard entrant, went 43-12 on the season.

Follman, who placed second in the Class B competition and fourth at the Section V championships, went 40-10.

Gress, who won a Class B title and took fourth at the Section V championships, posted a 42-8 record.

Hinkley, who was 44-8, placed second in the Class B competition and fourth at the Section V championships.

Bayne, who was 30-15, placed fourth at the Class B tournament.

Shenck, who won a Class BB title and placed fifth at the Section V championships, went 42-5 on the season and finishes with a career record of 146-50.

Vroman, who placed second at the Class BB Tournament, went 37-7 on the season and finishes with a career record of 73-33.

Yockel placed fourth at the Class BB Tournament and went 34-11; Purtell took fourth at Class BB and went 36-9, Day placed third at Class BB and was 36-10 and Leary Hart went 28-9.

Urquhart, a four year varsity wrestler placed fourth at the Class B championships and went 20-13 for the season finishing with a career total of 96 wins.

Browe, who placed sixth at the Class B championships, went 22-14 on the season.

Moyer, who went 24-4 on the season, placed third at the Class B championships.

Blake Aina, who went 31-4, won an N-O League title and placed third at the Class B championships.

Flugel, who also captured an N-O title, placed third at Class B and 6th at the Section VI championships going 35-8 on the season.

Drake, who was third at both the N-O and Class B championships, went 30-10.

Cade Aina, who went 16-8, placed third at the N-O and fourth at the Class B championships.

Wolcott, who was fourth at the N-O and sixth at the Class B championships, went 23-12.

Contributed Photo – Members of the Cal-Mum Tournament winning Medina team included, in front from left, Ronnie Koonce, Mason Lewis, Brendan Luthart and Alex Allis. In back are Trenton Jones, Jalin Cooper, Coach Adam Hellwig, Daemon Shatar and Johnny Salone.

Medina posted a 4-0 record over the weekend to capture the championship of the 9th and 10th grade Cal-Mum basketball tournament.

The team included four players from the Niagara-Orleans league champion Mustangs varsity squad; Jalin Cooper, Ronnie Koonce, Mason Lewis, and Johnny Salone. The rest of the squad was made up of junior varsity players Alex Allis, Trenton Jones, Brendan Luthart, and Daemon Shatara.

The first game against Batavia proved to be the toughest.

Medina led the entire first half, until a long three at the buzzer put Batavia ahead 37-36 going into the half. Batavia then scored 9 unanswered to open the second half to take a 46-36 lead.

The Mustangs were able to battle back and close the game on a 20-8 run, the last points coming on a layup by Cooper to knot the game at 56 with 10 seconds left and force overtime.

In the extra period, Medina out scored Batavia 8-0 to win the game 64-56.

Cooper finished with 20 points, while Lewis added 17, Salone 10, Koonce 8, Luthart 6, and Allis 3.

In the second game, Medina defeated Perry 68-57. Cooper again led the scoring with 21 points, while Lewis contributed 15, Salone 10, Allis 8, Koonce 8, and Luthart 7.

The semifinal game matched Medina up against Mt. Morris. The Mustangs were able to build a 30-14 lead at half, only to see Mt. Morris get back in the game with hot shooting in the second half and eventually cut the lead to one, 53-52.

However, two free throws by Lewis and one by Cooper sealed the victory for the Mustangs 56-52.

Lewis led the scoring with 19, while Cooper added 14, Luthart 9, Koonce 6, Salone 4, Allis 3, and Jones 1.

In the championship game, Medina rolled to a 74-32 victory over Honeoye. Cooper capped off a big tournament with 29 points while Salone netted 15, Lewis 10, Jones 7, Shatara 4, Allis 3, Koonce 3, and Luthart 3.

Photos by Cheryl Wertman

In a pair of close decisions, the Niagara-Orleans League and Genesee Region League earned a split Friday in the 17th annual senior games basketball doubleheader held at Albion. The G-R captured the girls contest 40-39 and the N-O rebounded to take the boys game 73-67. Here Roy-Hart’s Emma Lindke (1) of the N-O League works against G-R defenders Alex Reigle (13) of Elba and Taylor Dimartino (12) of Notre Dame. Just ahead of he play is Wilson’s Serina Jaeger (33).

Barker’s Lindsey Williams tries to put up a shot as Kierra Perl (14) of Attica and Kali Wright (22) of Alexander defend.

Albion’s Manwell Taylor puts up a shot over Justin McLendon of Wheatland-Chili.

Tyler Ames of Medina dunks.

Zach Vaccarelli of Holley tries to put up a shot as Medina’s Jared Zinkievich attempts to block.

Justin Heschke of Roy-Hart tries to go up for a shot as Nick Perry (12) of Attica and John Hocmuth of Elba defend.

Kendall’s Jacob Ramsdell pulls down a rebound.

Colton Breslawski of Kendall drives against N-O defenders Juan Verdejo (3) of CSAT and Mike Snell (11) of Barker.

Photo by Mike Wertman – Local Genesee Region League wrestling All-Star honorees include, in front, Austen Vroman, left, and Nick Shenck from Holley. In back are Tom Follman, Dustin Joy and Jeff Gress Jr. from Lyndonville. Missing from the photo are Dustin Hinkley and Garren Bayne from Lyndonville.

Five Lyndonville and two Holley wrestlers have earned spots on the Genesee Region League All-Star team.

Lyndonville is represented by senior Tom Follman and juniors Dustin Joy, Jeff Gress Jr., Dustin Hinkley and Garren Bayne.

Holley has placed seniors Nick Shenck and Austen Vroman.

Joy went 43-12 on the season and placed second at both the Class B and Section V championships earning a berth in the state championships as a wildcard entrant.

Follman, who placed second in the Class B competition and fourth at the Section V championships, went 40-10.

Gress, who won a Class B title and took fourth at the Section V championships, posted a 42-8 record.

Hinkley, who was 44-8, placed second in the Class B competition and fourth at the Section V championships.

Bayne, who was 30-15, placed fourth at the Class B tournament.

Shenck, who won a Class BB title and placed fifth at the Section V championships, went 42-5 on the season and finishes with a career record of 146-50.

Vroman, who placed second at the Class BB Tournament, went 37-7 on the season and finishes with a career record of 73-33.

Photos by Cheryl Wertman – Barker’s Caitlyn Mason drives by Oakfield-Alabama’s Kenydie Mott during the annual Niagara-Orleans vs. Genesee Region girls senior game this evening at Albion.

Getting point production from 11 players, the Genesee Region League girls nipped the Niagara-Orleans League 40-39 this evening in the 17th annual seniors game between the two leagues.

Jayna Wright (Alexander) scored 8 to lead the G-R’s balanced attack as Bret Stephens (Alexander) and Bethany Ezard (Byron-Bergen) both added 5, Karli Phillips (Alexander) and Taylor Dimartino (Notre Dame) 4, Kali Wright (Alexander) and Hannah LaGrou (Oakfield-Alabama) 3 and Kierra Perl (Attica), Alex Reigle (Elba), Kenydie Mott (Oakfield-Alabama) and Aralyse Johnson (Pembroke) 2.

Caitlyn Mason (Barker) and Serina Jaeger (Wilson) both scored 9 to lead the N-O as Emma Lindke (Roy-Hart) added 5, Henryetta Jones (Akron) 4, Lindsey Williams (Barker), Jodie Vincent (Wilson) and Chelsea Carrier (CSAT) 3, Surenaty Davis-Patterson (CSAT) 2 and Ashley Mietz (Akron) 1.

Roy-Hart’s Emma Lindke, right, tries to block a shot by Elba’s Alex Reigle.

Highlighted by second quarter threes by Kali Wright and Stephens, the G-R built up a 21-12 half-time advantage.

However, the N-O came battling back with a 13-0 run to open the second half. Mason spearheaded that rally with 7 points including a game tying three and a layup which gave the N-O the 25-21 lead.

Deadlocked at 29-29 at the three-quarter mark , the N-O went up 36-35 late in the fourth quarter after a three by Lindke.

The N-O took its last lead at 39-36 after a basket by Vincent and a free throw by Mietz.

The final rally though belonged to the G-R as a basket by Karli Phillips cut the deficit to 39-38 and Ezard followed up with what proved to be the game winning basket for a slender 40-39 victory.

The win was the second in the last three years for the G-R which still trails the N-O 11-6 in the series.

Photos By Cheryl Wertman – Roy-Hart’s Chris Anderson puts up a shot over Kendall’s Jacob Ramsdell during the Niagara-Orleans League’s win over the Genesee Region League this evening in the annual senior game at Albion.

Making it four wins in a row and eight of the last nine, the Niagara-Orleans League boys bested the Genesee Region League 73-67 this evening in the 17th annual senior game at Albion.

The CSAT duo of Juan Verdejo and Shaun Wilson led the N-O’s balanced attack with 12 and 11 points respectively. Chad Gilson (Newfane) added 9, Mike Snell (Barker) and Tyler Ames (Medina) 8, Manwell Taylor (Albion) 7, Justin Morgan (Medina) 6, Dylan Lewis (Medina) 4, Alex Fox (Wilson) and Jahleel Burks (CSAT) 3 and Chris Anderson (Roy-Hart) 2.

Kendall’s Jacob Ramsdell led the G-R with 12 as Josh Bradley (Alexander) had 9, Nick Perry (Attica) 8, Colton Breslawski (Kendall) and John Hocmuth (Elba) 7, Luca Zambito (Notre Dame) 6, CJ Suozzi (Notre Dame), Justin McLendon (Wheatland-Chili) and Tyler Prospero (Notre Dame) 5, Richard Flores (Elba) 2 and Zach Vaccarelli (Holley) 1.

The N-O built up a 15 point, 28-13, lead midway through the 20 minute first half after an 11-0 run spearheaded by a three and two twos by Wilson.

Three late tallies by Verdejo kept the N-O up by nine, 43-34, at the half after the G-R had closed to within five at 39-34.

Medina’s Dylan Lewis drives against Elba’s Richard Flores.

Putting together a big 12-0 run, the G-R did rally back into a 48-47 lead six minutes into the second half as Hocmuth had two buckets during that stretch.

However, that proved to be the G-R’s last lead as back-to-back threes by Snell and Gilson quickly put the N-O back on top for good at 55-48.

The G-R did close back to within two at 55-53 after a three by Breslawski and a dunk by Ramsdell but could get no closer.

The N-O answered the challenge with a key 13-2 run to open up a 13 point, 68-55, advantage.

Layups by Verdejo and Gilson ignited that uprising which also included a dunk and a layup by Ames along with baskets by Lewis and Morgan.

A three by Morgan and a layup by Taylor, which made it 73-62, helped to lock up the win.

The victory gives the N-O a 12-5 lead in the series.