Photo by Cheryl Wertman – Albion’s veteran group includes, in front, Alakai Colmenero and Garret Jones. In back are Nathan Wehling, Ayden Coston and Landon Graybill. Missing are Adam Burgio and John Marat.

Looking to improve upon last fall’s 3-6-1 Niagara-Orleans record, Albion will have a pair of non league tune-up games next week before beginning league competition at Newfane on September 9.

The Purple Eagles will open at Holley on September 1 at 7 p.m. and then visit Pembroke on September 3 at 6 p.m. The N-O opener will be at Newfane on September 9.

Anchoring the Albion lineup will be the veteran group of seniors Adam Burgio, Alakai Colmenero, Ayden Coston, Landon Graybill and John Marat Along with juniors Garret Jones and Nathan Wehling. Jones earned second team N-O All-League honors last fall.

“We’ve got a good group of athletes but not a lot of soccer experience,” said Coach Bridgett Varin.

Photo by Cheryl Wertman – Barker’s large veteran group includes, in front, Addisyn Weller, Xyon Weese, Jillian Maines, Sophia Pavlock, Lexi Brazzell and Autumn Lewis. In back are Naomi Bish, Elise Monaco, Milayna May, Adeline Atwater, Brooke Weber, Lauren Zglinicki and Faith Bowerman.

Perennial contender Barker returns a large veteran group with which to again challenge for top Niagara-Orleans League field hockey honors.

That veteran contingent for Barker, which has finished either first or second in each of the past 25 years, includes seniors Brooke Weber, Faith Bowerman, Lauren Zglinicki and Naomi Bish along with juniors Elise Monaco, Sophia Pavlock, Lexi Brazzell, Xyon Weese, Addisyn Weller, Jillian Maines, Milayna May, Autumn Lewis and goalie Adeline Atwater.

“We’ve got a good core group and they are stepping up,” said Coaches Karin Menz and Bill Moeller.

Barker’s graduation losses included first team N-O All-League honorees Kaylee Stoll and Madelina Pavlock along with second team selections Jordyn Kinne and Haley Dodge.

Barker went 10-2 in N-O action last fall finishing second to Akron which had a fifth straight 12-0 N-O championship season.

Barker will tune-up for the N-O season opener at home against Wilson on September 10 by facing Pioneer in the WNY Field Hockey Preseason Classic on September 2 at 4 p.m. at Starpoint.

Photo by Cheryl Wertman – Holley’s large veteran group includes, in front, Jayna Burris, Emma Burne, Hanna Ostrom, Carsyn Mogle, Brianna Tomasino and Aiyana Stevens. In back are Kyla Burne, Zoey Warner, Ava Mosier, Brynn Thomas, Addison Bevins and Aurora Arnold. Missing are Mya Brown and Riley Sweet.

Last fall a very youthful Holley girls varsity soccer team matured quickly as the Lady Eagles went 8-3-1 in Genesee Region League competition and went on to capture the Section V Class C1 championship.

“We’ve got a solid group of returners but we’re still young,” said Coach Renee Wolf.

Now that still young squad returns nearly intact led by the G-R All-Star trio of juniors Ava Mosier, Brynn Thomas and Kyla Burne along with Honorable Mention selections juniors Jayna Burris and Hanna Ostrom. Mosier scored 15 goals last season and Ostrom 8.

The Lady Hawks veteran group also includes senior Mya Browm, juniors Riley Sweet, Addison Bevins, Aurora Arnold and goalie Zoey Warner along with sophomores Carsyn Mogle, Aiyana Stevens, Brianna Tomasino and freshman Emma Burne.

Holley will open the season with a pair of non league road games near Utica against Lake George on September 5 and Frankfort-Schuyler on September 6 before beginning the G-R campaign at Pembroke on September 8.

Contributed Photo – Melanie Green

Carding her second straight even par round, Medina’s Melanie Green has finished competition in the LPGA’s Canadian Open  Tournament being held at Edmonton, Alberta with a 2 under par total of 278.

Green had three birdies on the day to offset three bogeys as she had her third straight roller-coaster type of round.

She got of to a quick start with a birdie on 1. She then had another birdie on 9 to offset bogeys on 3 and 7 to keep her at 2 under for the tournament at the turn.

The back nine then saw Green have a birdie on 16 to offset a bogey on 13 to finish with an even par round of 70 for the second day in a row.

The LPGA Tour then moves cross-country for a tournament in the Boston area Thursday through Sunday.

Contributed Photo – Albion’s Tre Ellis makes a tackle on Elliott Morrison of LeRoy during Saturday’s action.

The Albion youth football teams earned a split of four games in Niagara Orleans Football Association action on Saturday.

The Albion Beginners earned an 18-6 victory over LeRoy  behind a strong rushing performance from Myles LaBarge.

LaBarge led the Albion offense with 171 rushing yards and three touchdowns. James Mahoney added 47 yards, while Hudson Hodgins contributed nine yards and Jaxon Nashburn added two yards.

Defensively, Tanner Beecher, Levi Purnell, LaBarge, Mahoney and Hodgins were all in on tackles as Albion’s defense held LeRoy to six points.

The Albion Minis battled LeRoy in a defensive matchup, coming up just short in a 6-0 loss.

Albion’s defense turned in a strong performance, led by Hudson Palmer with eight tackles. Gunner Jackson and Patrick Westlund recorded seven tackles each, while Lexington Pridgen, Drake Neri, Elijah Cornick and Xavier Weis each finished with five.

Tre Ellis, KK Richardson, Arlen Beecher and Jaxon Sloper added three tackles apiece, with Colton Daggs recording two. Jaxon Francis, Quinton Gottberg, Chazz Monacelli and Jordan Button also contributed with tackles for the Albion defense.

Offensively, Ellis led Albion with 19 rushing yards, followed by Westlund with 12 and Jackson with 11. Cornick added six yards, Weis finished with four and Palmer contributed three yards on the ground.

The Albion JV team fell to a strong LeRoy squad, 33-0, despite a hard-working defensive effort.

Kaydence Russaw led the Albion defense with an impressive 13 tackles. Arkell Lewis and Kairo Bennett recorded eight tackles each, while Parker Gardner finished with seven and Conor Murphy added six. Jaidyn Harper recorded five tackles, Jayce Torres and Elijah Warren had three each, David Parsell and Mason Cornick added two apiece, and Jai’Kaih Drisdom recorded one tackle.

Offensively, Drisdom led Albion with 31 rushing yards, followed closely by Torres with 30. Greyson Roberts added six yards and Harper finished with four yards on the ground.

Albion’s Varsity team turned in an impressive all-around performance, defeating Newfane 55-15.

Jeramiah Hildreth made all four of his touches count, finding the end zone each time. Hildreth scored on touchdown runs of 4, 26 and 45 yards and added a 37-yard touchdown reception from Jace DiMatteo. AJ Lewis added two touchdowns, while Damareon Shine rushed for 55 yards and a touchdown. Camden Holt added 39 yards on the ground, followed by Jace Wright with six, Matthew Colmenero with four and Roman Allport with two.

Holt also made a huge impact defensively, returning an interception 92 yards for a touchdown, recovering a fumble and adding two tackles. Lewis led the Albion defense with 12 tackles, followed by Conner Hinkley with five and Ryan Gardner with four.

Allport, Shine, Wright, Hildreth and Brady Graham each recorded two tackles. Cooper Traxler, Hudson Armer, Kayden Donnelly, Liam Saporito and Colmenero were also in on stops. Colmenero added a pair of fumble recoveries to help Albion’s defense create several turnovers in the victory.

Contributed Photos – In the Flag Football game Lyndonville’s Easton Klotzbach eludes a Pembroke defender. At the right Teddy Taribone scampers for a touchdown for the Lyndonville Cubs.

The Lyndonville Tri County Football League youth football teams kicked off the season with a great showing from their Pre-K and Kindergarten Flag Football and Littles Cheer squads. The new league has focused on developing the littlest kids to learn the sport in a non contact format that includes no scores on the scoreboard or standings with games lasting 2 20 minutes halves. It was a great showing and the kids were really fun to watch.

That was followed up by the Beginners level (1st & 2nd graders) game which features tackling with modified rules. The LYFC Cubs won 12-0 over visiting Pembroke Dragons at that level. The Cubs scored on an Opening play 70 yd touchdown run by Teddy Tardibone.
Sawyer Joy ran hard all day and gave the team a cushion with a 30 yard td late in the 3rd. The defense pitched a shutout helping seal the team win.

That was followed by Mini Level (3rd & 4th) where the LYFC Sabres lost a hard fought game 26-13. The game was tied for the majority of the game. Going into the 4th quarter the score was 13-13. The offensive effort was spearheaded by Bryson Holloway who scored 2 touchdowns on runs of 40 and 30 yards . Kam Griffin and Preston Rath had long runs as well to setup those touchdown. But two late scores by Pembroke put the game away.

At the Majors Level (5th and 6th grades) the LYFC Bengals game was postponed late in the 3rd quarter with the Bengals trailing 8-7 to Pembroke. The game was suspended due to weather. Zach Allen scored on a 45 yard touchdown run and completed the PAT as well. Scottie Nesbitt also had a few long runs for the Bengals. While Kannon Pangrazio-Coger recorded an interception on defense.

At left, Kam Griffin heads up field for the Lyndonville Sabres. At right, Zach Allen runs for a touchdown for the Lyndonville Bengals.

Contributed Photo – Melanie Green

Unable to keep the momentum from a red hot start, Medina’s Melanie Green finished with an even par 70 at today’s third round of the LPGA’s Canadian Open being held at Edmonton, Alberta.

Starting the day at 2 under after back to back rounds of 1 under 69 to open the tournament, Green quickly improved to 5 under after registering birdies on 4, 5 and 7.

However, just as was the case during Friday’s second round, the rest of this round would be a roller-coaster ride.

Bogeys on 8 and 9 set her back to 1 under for the day and 3 under for the tournament.

Green got that one right back with a birdie on 10 to go to 2 under for the day and 4 under for the tourney.

However, bogey trouble struck again on both 12 and 14 again putting her back to even for the day and 2 under for the tournament.

Green rebounded with a birdie on 15 but that advance was quickly wiped out by a bogey on 16 as she finished the day at even par 70 and at 2 under for the first three days of the tourney.

The tournament will conclude on Sunday.

Contributed Photo – Joe Pawlak

Villa Maria College Press Release
Former Roy-Hart Coach Joseph Pawlak has been named the new Villa Maria College Head Women’s Basketball Coach, announced Villa Maria Athletic Director Chris Heximer.

“Coach Pawlak brings extensive experience coaching high school and college basketball with both women’s and men’s teams,” Heximer said.

“Further, he has been active in coaching travel basketball and has helped host numerous basketball camps in the WNY area over the years. Coach Pawlak is eager to share his core values, develop student-athletes, and promote their academic success. Please join me in welcoming him to Villa Maria College.”

Pawlak has nearly two decades of basketball coaching experience with both men’s and women’s teams. He spent six seasons at Medaille University in various roles, including Head JV Coach, Assistant Varsity Coach, Director of Operations, and Team Manager. In that role, he received the Men’s Basketball Team’s First Award for managerial excellence. During his final season at Medaille, Pawlak served as both Men’s Varsity Basketball Assistant Coach and Men’s JV Basketball Head Coach while completing his Master’s Degree in Organizational Leadership.

“I want to thank Villa Maria College for this incredible opportunity. My family and I are very blessed to join the Villa Maria community. This is a dream come true; God has a plan. We look forward to connecting with the college community and getting to work. Go Vikings! Quiet, unassuming, talented, and tough,” said Pawlak.

Pawlak comes to Villa after spending last season at Oakfield-Alabama High School as the Women’s Varsity Basketball Team’s Assistant, helping the Hornets win the 2026 Genesee Region League Championship.

Prior to Oakfield-Alabama, Pawlak served as the Men’s Varsity Basketball Head Coach at the Royalton-Hartland Central School District, earning numerous accolades, including the Niagara-Orleans League Championship, Section Champion Runner-Up, and the Niagara-Orleans Basketball Coaches Association of New York (BCANY) Coach of the Year.

Pawlak has served as a basketball instructor at numerous camps and clinics at collegiate venues, including Niagara University, Daemen University, Canisius University, Medaille University, and Buffalo State University.

In addition to BCANY, Pawlak is affiliated with the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) and the National High School Basketball Coaches Association (NHSBCA), and is licensed by USA Basketball (USAB) as a Gold-level Coach.

Pawlak and his wife, Gabriella, live in Medina with their three children, Michael, Julian, and Noah.