Photos by Cheryl Wertman – Medina’s Ki’Mani Poole goes up for a spike for the Niagara-Orleans League as Pembroke’s Olivia Peterson (3) and Lyndonville’s Ashlee Stephens (1) goes up to try and block during the G-R’s Exception Senior match win this evening at Lyndonville.

Rebounding from an opening set loss, the Genesee Region League rallied to down the Niagara-Orleans League 21-25, 25-23, 25-10, 25-16, 14-16 in the Exceptional Senior match this evening at Lyndonville.

The N-O rallied to take the opening set as Cait Cliffe (Wilson) had a big run of 12 straight service points (11-22), a run which included 3 service aces and 2 spiking kills by Ashlee Henning (Akron). Cliffe also registered a kill for the set winning point.

The G-R had built up an early 18-8 lead ignited by a 4 point runs of service points (2-5) by Ashlee Stephens (Lyndonville).

The G-R though tied the match with a second set win as Katelyn Kowalski (Notre Dame) served up points 11-13, Malia Scinpoulin (Wheatland-Chili) 15-18 and Katelyn Breeze (Lyndonville) 20-22 including a pair of aces. Jackie Mack (Lyndonville) had a kill for the set winning point.

The G-R then moved on top to stay by taking the third set as Jackie Neureuter (Pembroke) scored points 8-12 with two aces, Maddy Baird (W-C) 14-21 with 3 aces and Emma Balduf (Byron-Bergen) 23-25 with an ace for the set winner.

Medina’s K’Mani Poole served up points 3-6 with an ace to give the N-O a brief early 6-4 lead.

The G-R then closed out the match with a win in the fourth set as Scinpoulin served up points 3-6 and 19-22 with a total of 3 aces and Kowalski 24-25 with an ace for the set and match winner.

A fifth “fun” set then went to the N-O.

The G-R lineup also included Loretta Sorochty (Notre Dame), Kaitlyn Landers (Notre Dame), Sayde Bush (Oakfield-Alabama),  Carlee Barons (Byron-Bergen) and Olivia Peterson (Pembroke).

Rounding out the N-O lineup were Zoe Marat and Madison Hughson from Albion, Sloan Jonathan and Shanna Thomas from Akron, MyKayla Schultz and Abbey Szmula from Newfane, Elliana Brauen from Roy-Hart and Lorelei Sanders from Medina.

Lyndonville’s Jackie Mack digs for a service return.

Roy-Hart’s Elliana Brauen dives to make a return.

Photo by Cheryl Wertman – Ashlee Stephens

Lyndonville High senior Ashlee Stephens has been named to the Genesee Region League volleyball Division 2 All-Star team.

On the sesson, Stephens had 43 spiking kills, 33 service aces, 37 blocks, 89 digs and 173 assists.

Attica, which captured the G-R Division 1 title with a 15-0 record, has placed a trio of players on the All-Star team. That threesome includes Ellie Cusmano, Maddie Robinson and Elise Dressel.

G-R Division 1 runner-up Pembroke (11-4) has placed Reagan Schneider and Jackie Neureuter

Rounding out the Division 1 All-Star team are Emma Balduf and Lily Stalica from Byron-Bergen and Sayde Bush from Oakfield-Alabama.

Heading the Division 2 All-Star team is a trio of players from champion Alexander which went 12-2. They include Alyssa Kramer, Holly Bikowski and Maia Sallie.

Division 2 runner-up Notre Dame (10-4) has placed Loretta Sorochty and CJ Campagna.

Rounding out the Division 2 team is Elba’s Alexa Ocampo.

Senior game tonight at Lyndonville

Lyndonville will host the Niagara-Orleans League vs. Genesee Region League Exceptional Seniors volleyball match at 6 this evening.

Contributed Photo – Melanie Green

Capping off a solid fall season, University of South Florida senior and Medina High graduate Melanie Green has been named American Athletic Conference golfer of the month for October,  an award which she also received in September.

Green led USF to top four finishes in all four Fall tournaments and placed in the top four individually in every tourney.

In October, she placed second at the Hurricane Invitational with a 10 under par total of 206 and third at the Dale McNamara Invitational with an 8 under par total of 208.

She was a combined 18 under par for the two tournaments and all six of her rounds were par or better including four under par.

Her second round at the McNamara of 8 under par 64 was a career best and tied a USF record. In addition here 36 round total of 136 ties for second on the all-time USF list. She also tied for the tournament lead in birdies with 15.

At the Hurricane Invitational she was under par in all three rounds with scores of 70, 67 and 69. She was also second in birdies with 16.

A three time AAC All-Conference honoree, Green holds USF records for season scoring average (71.03), career scoring average (72.13) and low round relative to par (-8).

Green and her USF teammates will begin the Spring portion of their 2023-2024 year on February 5-6 at the FAU Paradise Invitational at Boca Raton, Florida.

Eight Holley and four Kendall players participated in the Genesee Region League’s Senior boys soccer game on Saturday.

Holley was represented by Cavan Bennage, Lance Babcock, Anthony Giancursio, Keon Haughton, Elijah Lang, Carter McGuire, Brenden Trowbridge and Lorenzo Zaragoza.

Kendall’s quartet included Jimmie Swift, Louis Conte, Josh Esposito and Hunter Richards.

Conte and Esposito each scored a goal in the contest which ended in a 5-5 tie.

Bennage and Swift also both played in today’s Section V Exceptional Seniors game.

Section VI Senior Games
Several local players are competing in the Western New York Exceptional Seniors games today.

In the boys’ game are Finn McCue and Alonzo Figueroa-Fuentes from Albion, Alex Benz from Medina, Cole Fleming and Liam Haak from Akron.

In the girls’ game are Leia Cloy from Wilson, Maggie Middaugh and Ava Blochowitz from Akron.

Photos by Cheryl Wertman – Holley’s Samantha Bates, who scored both goals, works around Frewsburg defender Molly Spontaneo during the Lady Hawks 2-0 Class C Far West Regional win this evening at Cal-Mum.

Next Stop – The Final Four!

Continuing a history making run, Holley captured its first girls soccer Class C Far West Regional championship by blanking Frewsburg 2-0 at Caledonia-Mumford this evening.

The victory propels Holley to the Class C state semifinals next Saturday.

“It’s a super, super accomplishment. I’m just super proud of you,” Holley Coach Renee Wolf told her team after they received the championship plaque.

“It’s super amazing,” she added. “I knew they could do it they just had to believe they could. They really wanted it.”

Holley wasted little time in scoring what proved to be the game winning goal as Samantha Bates netted her 30th of the season just nine minutes in off an assist from Hanna Ostrom.

“That was super important,” said Wolf of the early goal. “Sometimes we need a feel good goal to help get us going and that was it.”

The Lady Hawks controlled play for most of the rest of the game with an edge in speed and passing. However, they didn’t put a lock on the victory until Bates scored on a penalty kick with just 2:08 remaining in the second half.

“We all work really hard and it’s crazy we’re going to the states,” said Bates.

Frewsburg did put on one strong surge midway through the second half off a string of four straight corner opportunities but the stingy Holley defense turned back the challenge.

Holley goalie Layne Walker had one save and Zoey Wolf came in to make a clutch clear in front of the net to highlight that key defensive stand.

“Our defense played very well,” said Coach Wolf whose defense was anchored by Layne Walker, Bella Thom, Alivia Wolf, Zoey Wolf and Leigha Walker. “Our goalie only had to make three or four saves. Our defense kept the ball away from getting to her.”

The shutout was the third in five playoff games for the Lady Hawks defense which has allowed a total of only three goals over that five game span.

Holley advanced to the regional by downing Genesee Region League foe Byron-Bergen 3-2 in overtime in the state qualifier to capture the Lady Hawks first Section V Class C title.

Frewsburg gained a spot in the regional by winning the Section VI Class C title with a 2-1 win over Niagara-Orleans League champion Wilson in a contest decided in a penalty kick shootout.

Improving to 18-3, Holley will now face Waterford/Half Moon (Section II) in the Class C state semifinals at noon next Saturday at Homer High School near Cortland. Waterford/Half Moon posted a 4-0 win over Northern Adirondack (Section VII) in the Capital District Regional.

The state Class C championship game is scheduled for next Sunday at SUNY Cortland.

Holley’s Emma Brady and Frewsburg’s Kealy Caflisch battle for control of the ball.

Holley’s Alyssa Wright knocks the ball away from Frewsburg’s Brionna Dumaine.

Shown in action on defense for Holley are, from left, Alivia Wolf, Leigha Walker, Zoey Wolf and Bella Thom.

A large crowd of Holley fans was on hand to cheer on the Lady Hawks.

Improving to 17-1, Section VI champion Akron blanked Section V representative East Rochester 3-0 in the Class C field hockey Far West Regional this morning at Webster Thomas High School.

The victory propels Akron into the state Class C semifinals next Saturday at Centereach Long Island against the winner of today’s Long Island Regional between Carle Place and Pierson.

Madigan Regan scored what proved to be the game winning goal for Akron at the 5:10 mark of the second quarter off a corner opportunity.

The Lady Tigers then put a lock on the victory and a trip to the Final Four for the first time since 2017 with a pair of rebound goals in the second half.

Nevada Bergman scored at 5:41 of the third quarter off an assist from Julia Klodzinski and Brooke Milhollen added the clincher at 12:03 of the fourth period.

The shutout was the 15th in 18 games for the Akron defense.

“Last year we lost the Far West Regional game and graduated 11 seniors and when most thought this would be a rebuilding season, it’s hard to comprehend just how hard this young team had to work and then execute to win today’s game,”: said Akron Coach Marlene Stone. “We will do our very best to represent section 6 field hockey at the state tournament.”

Boys Soccer Far West Regional
Section V champion Byron-Bergen edged Section VI champ Wilson 2-1 in the boy soccer Class C Far West Regional on Friday.

Football Section VI Playoffs
Wilson nipped Franklinville/Ellicottville 21-20 in the semifinals of the Section VI Class D football playoffs on Friday.

Photos by Cheryl Wertman – Noah Cudzilo, shown here breaking loose for a good gain, had a big night on both sides of the ball in helping lead Medina to a 21-0 win over Southwestern in the Class C semifinal at Vets Park this evening.

Getting a second straight shutout performance by the defense, Medina blanked Southwestern 21-0 in the Section VI Class C semifinals at Vets Park this evening.

Improving to 10-0, the victory propels Medina into the Class C title game for the third time in four seasons.

Interceptions by Noah Cudzilo, Kaedon Cleveland and Justin Pitts, along with a fumble recovery by Colton Fletcher and two sacks by Xavier King, highlighted the Mustangs huge defense effort. In fact, the Trojans deepest advance into Mustangs territory was only to the Medina 29 yard line.

“You don’t win ball games without a defense like that,” said Medina Coach Eric Valley. “Southwestern made a few big plays that had us buckle a bit but they stepped up and made the big plays when they had to. They were just hawking the ball.”

Noah Cudzilo makes a nifty diving catch for a Medina touchdown in the second quarter.

Cudzilo also had a huge game offensively rushing for 135 yards and a touchdown and adding 33 yards receiving including a touchdown.

“Noah has been electrifying all season when we’ve given him the ball and we had planned to get him more touches and he really stepped up,” said Valley.

Medina grabbed a 7-0 lead late in the first quarter on a 4 yard touchdown run by Cudzilo and an extra point kick by Cole Callard. Back-to-back runs of 17 yards by Christian Moss and 18 by Julian Woodworth highlighted the drive.

Cudzilo then made a spectacular diving catch to complete an 18 yard scoring pass midway through the second quarter and Callard added the PAT kick to up the lead to 14-0.

An interception by Cleveland at the Trojans 36 set up that scoring opportunity.

Pitts then ended the half on a high note for the Mustangs defense with an interception at the Trojans 31 on the final play.

The Mustangs finally put a lock on the victory when Woodworth scored on a 7 yard TD run with 2:08 remaining in the fourth quarter and Callard again tacked on the PAT. Runs of 28 and 16 yards by Cudzilo and 16 by Woodworth keyed the drive.

Medina will now face Salamanca for the Class C title at Highmark Stadium next Friday afternoon at 1 p.m.

Medina defensive lineman Xavier King sacks Southwestern quarterback Owen Hayes.

Medina defensive back Kaedon Cleveland gets set to make an interception as the ball sails over the outstretched arms of Southwestern receiver DeClan Kennedy.

Medina quarterback Julian Woodworth works to get away from the tackle attempt of Southwestern’s Brody Larson.

Photos by Cheryl Wertman – Holley’s Jailyn Bishop and Akron’s Nevada Bergman will help lead their teams into regional playoff competition on Saturday.

Venturing into uncharted waters, Holley will open state girls soccer playoff competition by taking on Frewsburg in the Class C Far West Regional at 5 p.m. Saturday at Caledonia-Mumford.

This will be the first appearance in the state playoffs for the Lady Hawks which advanced by downing Genesee Region League foe Byron-Bergen 3-2 in overtime for the Section V Class C state qualifier.

Frewsburg likewise had a long game to advance having to outlast Niagara-Orleans League champion Wilson 2-1 in a shootout in the Section VI Class C qualifier.

“My girls need to play with heart and together,” said Holley Coach Renee Wolf. “One of the things I have been driving home with them is, if we play as a team, we can do amazing things. This is what they have been preparing for. It’s been a crazy, but a fun ride and that ride is not over. I’m super proud of my girls and look forward to Saturday.”

Holley has been led offensively by Samantha Bates with 29 goals and 10 assists, Jailyn Bishop with 11 goals and 13 assists and Emma Brady with 9 goals and 9 assists.

Pacing Frewsburg has been the quartet of Taytum Jimerson (20 goals, 15 assists), Audrey Eckwahl (14 goals, 8 assists), Kealy Coflischt (9 goals) and Addison Hultberg (9 goals).

“I know that they have a couple goal scorers and they are known to be physical,” said Wolf. “Their defense is one of the best in the league and their goalie has only allowed 7 goals. They play very well to targets.”

Holley brings 17-3 record into the regional while Frewsburg is 12-2-3.

The victor in Saturday’s Regional will advance to the state Class C semifinals on November 11 at Homer High School near Cortland.

Fans are remined that tickets must be purchased on-line in advance.

To obtain tickets for the soccer click here

Akron to face East Rochester
Undefeated (12-0) N-O champion Akron will take on East Rochester in the Class C field hockey Far West Regional at 10 a.m. Saturday at Webster Thomas High School.

The victor will advance to the state semifinals at Centereach Long Island on November 11.

Akron, which is 16-1 overall, advanced to the state playoffs by nipping Medina 1-0 in the Section VI Class C title game as a goal in the first 25 seconds by Nevada Bergman held up.

East Rochester is the only Class C field hockey team in Section V so gains an automatic berth the regional. ER, which is 1-15, plays a regular season schedule against all Class A and Class B teams.

Akron last met ER in the regional in 2017 when the Lady Tigers downed the Bombers 7-0.

Defense has been a strong point for Lady Tigers which are 15-0 against N-O opponents including league and sectional games and have allowed just 1 goal in all of those contests.

Offensively, Akron has been led by Bergman with 14 goals and Olivia McClaine with 11 goals and 12 assists.

“Our pregame cheer asks two questions: what’s the goal? States! and who are we? Family! Beginning on the first practice of the season we remind ourselves with this mantra that the goal is to attend the State playoff games and that the way to do this is by treating each other respectfully, as family,” said Akron Coach Marlene Stone.

Fans are reminded that tickets must be purchased on-line in advance.

To obtain tickets for the field hockey click here