Contributed Photo – Jeffrey Lutes

Jeffrey Lutes, an eight year old third grader from Kendall elementary school, won his first state youth wrestling title this past Saturday.

After three consecutive second place finishes, Jeffrey won his first state title on his fourth straight trip to the championship match.

He dominated the tournament only giving up one point against and pinning every opponent who stood in his way.

His finals match was won by pin after locking a cradle up in under 15 seconds.

Jeffery trains at the Purple Eagles Wrestling Academy in Albion and Revolution Elite in Lockport.

The 2025 divisional lineup for the Section VI Football Federation has been released and with Class B being reduced from three to two divisions Albion will be competing in the B2 Division this fall.

The Purple Eagles will have plenty of familiar opponents as Dunkirk, Lackawanna, Maryvale, Olean and Depew are also all moving from the former B3 to the new B2 division. The division will also include Iroquois and East Aurora/Holland which are both hold overs from the old B2.

Medina is listed as just one of two Section VI teams who will be competing in the 8 Man Division. The other school is Frewsburg as Allegany-Limestone has returned to 11 man competition and will be competing in the Class D division.

However, that number could be reduced to just one – Medina – as Frewsburg is apparently looking to merge with Southwestern for football.

Newfane will be competing in the D Division this fall after dropping down from the C North Division. The Panthers will now be reunited with their rivals Wilson in the D Division.

Barker/Roy-Hart and Akron will again be competing in the C North Division along with Tonawanda, Alden, Maritime, and Cleve Hill. JFK also returns to the C North Division after not competing at the varsity level last fall due to low numbers. In addition, Eden/North Collins has moved from the C South Division into the C North to take Medina’s place to make an eight team division.

The Niagara-Orleans League is guaranteed to have a team in the upcoming boys basketball state tournament as Tuesday’s Section VI Class B state qualifier will have Akron facing Wilson at 5 p.m. at Buffalo State.

In addition, the Newfane girls are also seeking a spot in the state tournament as the Lady Panthers take on Salamanca in the Section V Class B qualifier on Wednesday at 5 p.m. at Buffalo State.

Akron advanced by defeating Olmsted 49-38 for the Class B1 championship while Wilson downed Allegany-Limestone 56-47 for the Class B2 title.

The sectional championship is the first for Akron since since the Tigers won back-to-back titles in 2009 and 2010. The title is the first ever for Wilson. In Akron’s two previous appearances in the Section VI state qualifier game the Tigers lost to Olean in both 2009 and 2010.

Akron downed Wilson twice during the N-O season by scores of 51-41 and 58-34.

The Tigers bring a 22-1 record into the qualifier while the Lakemen are 17-6.

Offensively, Akron’s balanced attack is led by the trio of Ben Gerstung (202 points, 14.4 average), Derren Brooks (274 pts., 13.0 ave.) and Blake Gerstung (229 pts., 12.8 ave.).  Brooks, a 6-7 sophomore, has also grabbed off 228 rebounds and Ben Gerstung 130.

Wilson is led by Aidan Neumann (481 pts., 21.9 ave.), Ryan Hough (293 pts., 13.3 ave.) and Shamus George (186 pts., 8.5 ave.) Hough has also grabbed off 203 rebounds and George, who is a 6-5 junior, has pulled down 197.

The victor will face the Section V Class B champion, either East Rochester or World of Inquiry, in the Far West Regional at Gates Chili at 5:30 p.m. Friday.

Girls State Qualifier
Newfane (17-5) advanced to the state qualifier by defeating Health Sciences 59-38 in the Class B1 championship game Sunday while Salamanca (17-6) downed Wilson 51-32 in the Class B2 final.

The sectional title was the seventh for the Lady Panthers but the first since 1996.

The Lady Panthers are led by Anna Chunco (261 points, 112 assists, 96 rebounds), Kameryn Boyer (193 points, 118 rebounds) and Sienna Bowers (189 points, 125 rebounds).

Wednesday’s victor will face the Section V champion, either Hornell or Lyons, in the Far West Regional this weekend at Buffalo State.

Four Medina winter season varsity teams have earned New York State Public High School Athletic Association Scholar-Athlete Awards by compiling a composite average of at least 90.

The four teams and their averages include Girls Swimming (96.1333), Boys Swimming (92.541), Girls Basketball (91.509) and Wrestling (92.641).

Contributed Photos – GIRLS SWIMMING – Bottom Row: Allie Frentz, Isabelle Perez, Sophia Goyette, Madison Watts and Malloree Rinker. Top Row: Madison Farley, Madeline Mark, Maya Anderson and Payton Denniston.

BOYS SWIMMING – Bottom Row: Bradley Goyette, Bryson Ford, Jackson Reese, Owen Sargent and Cameron Kenward. Top Row: Hunter Walczak, Aidan Papaj, Tim Zeiner and Brandon Brueckner. Absent from the photo were Jonathan Dix and Juan Velazquez.

GIRLS BASKETBALL – Bottom Row: Rhoswyn Oakes, Samantha Heschke, Tatianna Maxon and Alexa Demmer. Top Row: Taylor Schrader, Honesty Hill and Cassidy Janas.

WRESTLING – Bottom Row: Tyler Raduns, Luke Duffina, Brody Fry and Nate Surdel. Top Row: Nathan Garrow, Cole Herman, Britton Brady and Roman Maksimchuk. Absent from the photo were Jacob Duffina, Harrison Ribbeck-Farley, Ryan Frentz, Reece Senske and Austin Seefeldt.

Niagara-Orleans League teams split at the Section VI girls basketball championships held this afternoon at Buffalo State as Newfane defeated Health Sciences 59-38 in the Class B1 title game and Wilson bowed 51-32 to Salamanca in the Class B2 final.

Newfane 59, Health Sciences 38
Taking charge from the outset, No. 4 seeded Newfane bested No. 2 Health Sciences 59-38  in the B1 final to claim the Lady Panthers first sectional title since 1996.

HUB File Photo – Anna Chunco

Anna Chunco scored a game high 26 points and Kameryn Boyer 17 to lead the way for the Lady Panthers as Sienna Bowers and Ah Leena Golden both added 8.

Newfane jumped out to a 19-6 first quarter lead as Boyer scored 9 and Chunco 8. The Lady Panthers made good on 9 of 10 free throw attempts during that stretch and 21 of 30 for the game.

The Lady Panthers maintained a 33-18 advantage at the half as Chunco tallied 10 in the second period including a pair of threes.

Newfane upped the lead to 20, 45-25, at the end of the third period as Golden had 5 in the quarter.

Newfane will now face Salamanca for the overall Section VI Class B title and a berth in the state tournament on Wednesday at Buffalo State.

Salamanca 51, Wilson 32
Unable to get the offense going, No. 4 seeded Wilson dropped a 51-32 decision to No. 2 Salamanca in the B2 final.

Leilene McComber and Skyla Dowdy each scored 16 to spark Salamanca which held leads of 11-6 after the first quarter, 24-14 at the half and 35-21 at the three-quarter mark. McComber scored 7 in the first quarter and Dowdy 9 in the second.

Addison Elia scored 8 and Emily Phillips and Abbie Faery 7 each to lead Wilson.

HUB File Photo – Derren Brooks

Ending a 15 year post season title drought, top seeded Akron captured the Section VI Class B1 boys basketball tournament championship by besting No. 2 Olmsted 49-38 this afternoon at Buffalo State.

The championship is the first for Akron since the Tigers captured back-to-back titles in 2009 and 2010.

Ben Gerstung scored 15 and Derren Brooks 12 to lead the way for Akron as Blake Gerstung added 9, Brayden Lamont 7 and Syras Jonathan and Coy Patterson 3 each.

Olmsted was led by Tacari McCray with a game high 25.

Improving to 22-1, Akron jumped out to a big 16-2 first quarter lead as Brooks had four baskets and Blake Gerstung and Ben Gerstung both hit threes.

The Tigers maintained a slender 20-17 lead at the half on a last second three by Jonathan which was Akron’s only basket of the second quarter.

Keeping the momentum from that long range basket, Akron outscored Olmsted 19-7 in the third quarter to open up a 15 point, 39-24, advantage.

Blake Gerstung, Lamont, Ben Gerstung and Patterson all took turns hitting threes during that uprising.

Olmsted could get no closer than 11 in the final stanza as a three and four free throws by Ben Gerstung along with a three by Blake Gerstung helped the Tigers lock up the championship victory.

The Tigers victory sets up an all Niagara-Orleans League matchup for the overall Section VI title and a berth in the state tournament as Akron will take on Class B2 champion Wilson at 5 p.m. Tuesday at Buffalo State.

HUB File Photo – Aidan Neumann

Making a big 21 point first quarter lead hold up, No. 4 seeded Wilson made school history as the Lakemen earned their first Section VI Class B2 boys basketball championship by downing No. 7 Allegany-Limestone 56-47 in the Class B2 title game this afternoon at Buffalo State.

Aidan Neumann scored a game high 27 points and Ryan Hough netted 13 to lead the Wilson offense. Colton Frerichs added 6, Chase Martin 5,  Shamus George 3 and Brock Lepsch 2 for the Lakemen.Carson Kwiatkowski scored 15 and Gavin Straub 12 to pace Allegany-Limestone

Carson Kwiatkowsi scored 15 and Gavin Straub 12 to pace Allegany-Limestone.

Wilson roared out to a 23-2 first quarter lead as Neumann had 8, Hough 7, including a pair of dunks, Frerichs two threes and Lepsch a basket.

The Lakemen maintained leads of 30-15 at the half and 38-26 at the three-quarter mark. Neumann had a pair of threes in the second quarter as Hough and Martin both had threes in the third period.

The Gators did rally back to within six twice late in the fourth quarter first at 46-40 and then at 53-47 but could get no closer.

Wilson’s final eight points came from the free throw line has Neumann had 6 and George 2. Neumann had a total of 11 points in the final period.

Wilson will now face the winner of the Class B1 title contest between No. 1 seed Akron and No. 2 Olmsted for the overall Section VI Class B title and a berth in the state tournament on Tuesday at Buffalo State.

Having successfully cleared the semifinal round hurdle, four Niagara-Orleans League teams are now setting their sights on capturing Section VI basketball championships this weekend at Buffalo State.

That quartet includes the Akron boys, Newfane girls and both the Wilson boys and girls teams.

Top seeded Akron (21-1) will face No. 2 Olmsted (14-8) in the Class B1 championship at 1:45 p.m. Saturday.

The Tigers, who are seeking their first sectional championship since capturing back-to-back Class B2 titles in 2009 and 2010, downed No 4 Alden 46-31 in the semifinals.

Olmsted downed No. 3 Middle Early College 67-57 in overtime in the other B1 semi.

The No. 4 seeded Wilson boys (16-6) will take on No. 7 Allegany-Limestone (15-8) for the Class B2 title at noon on Saturday.

In the semifinals, Wilson, which is seeking its first sectional title, edged top seeded Salamanca 63-60 while Allegany-Limestone topped No. 3 Eden 70-63.

The No. 4 seed Wilson girls (15-7) will take on No. 2 Salamanca (15-5) for the Class B2 championship at 12:15 p.m. Sunday.

In the semifinals, Wilson edged No. 8 Portville 38-37 and Salamanca topped No. 3 Eden 56-34.

The 4 seeded Newfane girls (16-5) will face No. 2 Health Sciences (15-4) for the B1 championship at 2 p.m. Sunday.

The semifinal round saw Newfane nip top seeded Southwestern 57-55 and Health Sciences down No. 3 Olmsted 46-29.

The Newfane and Wilson girls squads are both seeking their seventh sectional championship.

Previously Newfane captured sectional titles in 1984, 1985, 1987, 1989, 1990 and 1996.

Wilson’s previous sectional championships came in 2003, 2010, 2011, 2013, 2014 and 2017.

The B1 and B2 boys and girls winners will then meet early next week for the Section VI overall Class B championships and berths in the state tournament.

Contributed Photos – Local players on the Finger Lakes Community College baseball team include, from left, Julian Woodworth, Trenton Muck and Zach Barrett.

The roster for this season’s Finger Lakes Community College baseball team includes a large contingent of six local players.

That group includes sophomore pitcher Trenton Muck from Lyndonville, freshman outfielder Julian Woodworth from Medina, freshman infielder Jacob Gould from Roy-Hart, freshman catcher Ethan Kuzma from Roy-Hart, freshman pitcher Zach Barrett from Kendall and freshman pitcher Conner Ernest from Wilson.

Woodworth and Barrett are majoring in Business Administration while Gould, Ernest and Muck are majoring in Physical Education.

Rounding out the local players on the FLCC diamond squad are, from left, Conner Ernest, Jacob Gould and Ethan Kuzma.