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Senior volleyball match Tues. at Lyndonville
Lyndonville will host the Niagara-Orleans League vs. Genesee Region League Exceptional Senior volleyball match at 6 p.m. Tuesday.
The lineup for the N-O League includes Maya Knaak from Albion; Samantha Albright, Makenna Elsenheimer and Alex Stern from Roy-Hart; Elsie Logan, Kaylee Orr and Rachel Dugan from Akron; Emma Hoffer, Lauren Bax, Charley Buscaglia, Melissa Klinger and Reese Rutherford from Newfane and Lilah Frerichs and Hanna Roberts from Wilson.
The G-R League roster includes Tia Hoffarth from Holley, Taigan Guerrero and Lauren Pilon from Kendall, Lorelei Dillenbeck and Haley Shaffer from Lyndonville, Maddie Durfee and Olivia Mercado from Attica, Taylor Moore and Taylor Drummond from Wheatland-Chili, Melanie Pohl from Alexander, Carley Cerasani from Pembroke and Sonji Warner, Maggie Monachino, Amelia McCulley and Avelin Tomidy from Notre Dame.
Mulka earns first team All-Conference honors; Hagen is named Athlete of the Week
Contributed Photos – Sydney Mulka, left, and Kayla Hagen
Albion High graduate and Penn St. Harrisburg freshman Sydney Mukla has earned first team United East All Conference soccer honors.
Mulka started all 20 games in goal this season for Penn St. Harrisburg which posted a 13-4-3 record including 13 shutouts.
She made 62 saves and had a goals against average of 0.82.
Roy-Hart grad and SUNY Fredonia junior swimmer Kayla Hagen has earned the college’s Athlete of the Week honor.
Hagen recently scored wins in the 50 Freestyle, 100 Backstroke and 200 Backstroke and was also a member of the winning 200 Free Relay team in a meet against William Smith College to earn the weekly honor.
She is majoring in Childhood Inclusive Education.
Port Byron nips Akron in Class C Regional
Photos by Cheryl Wertman – Akron’s Lacey Berghorn goes after the ball against a Port Byron defender during the Lady Tigers narrow 2-1 loss to the Panthers in the Class C Far West Regional at Vets Park this afternoon.
A furious last minute rally came up just inches short as Akron dropped a narrow 2-1 decision to Port Byron in the Class C Far West Regional field hockey game this afternoon at Medina’s Vets Park.
Trailing 2-0, Akron got right back into the game on a goal by Olivia McClaine with just 38 seconds remaining, a tally which came off the Lady Tigers fifth corner opportunity of the afternoon and the second in the final two minutes.
Keeping the momentum, Akron stormed right back into the Port Byron goal area. The Lady Tigers kept furious pressure on until the final whistle blew but could not get the ball across the goal line, which was only inches away, to gain the tying goal.
Port Byron built up the 2-0 lead on goals by Abby McKay a minute and a half into the second quarter and by Sadie White three and a half minutes into the third period.
Akron advanced to the regional by edging Niagara-Orleans League rival Barker 1-0 for the Section VI championship, the Lady Tigers third in a row.
Port Byron downed Morrisville-Eaton 6-1 to win the Section III Class D championship. However, since there is no Class D in the state playoffs Port Byron moved up to Class C for the regional.
Port Byron, which is now 16-3, will next face Whitney Point (Section IV) in the state semifinals next weekend. Whitney Point romped past Canastota (Section III) 9-0 to win the Central Regional.
Section VI captured the day’s first two games as Clarence blanked Brighton 3-0 in the Class A contest and Iroquois edged Pittsford Sutherland 1-0 in the Class B game.
Akron’s Olivia McClaine, who scored the Lady Tigers goal, works to get the ball toward the Port Byron goal.
Akron’s Madison Brege, at right, puts a last second shot toward the goal but Port Byron goalie Maria Burns, who had several huge stops on the day, dives to make the save. Moving in on the play for Akron are Lacey Berghorn, left, and Nevada Bergman (8).
Fredonia trims Medina in Class C semifinal
Photos by Cheryl Wertman – Medina’s Noah Cudzilo goes high to catch a pass that he took in for a touchdown during the Mustangs 29-22 loss to Fredonia in the Section VI Class C semifinal this evening at Vets Park. Defending for Fredonia is Micah Davis.
Avenging a lopsided loss in last year’s title contest, No. 5 seed Fredonia edged top seeded Medina 29-22 in the Section VI Class C semifinals this evening at Vets Park.
Trailing 22-21, Fredonia regained the lead for good in the sea-saw contest on a 13 yard touchdown pass from quarterback Ethan Fry to Davion White and a two-point conversion pass from Fry to Jameson Quinn with 4:21 remaining in the fourth quarter. Micah Davis had a 22 yard run and Fry pass completions of 13 and 10 yards to highlight the drive.
The Hillbillies quickly regained possession just two plays after the ensuing kickoff as a fumble recovery by Keegan Whitfield at the Fredonia 35 ending Medina’s final possession.
Fredonia then capped off the win by running out the final three minutes as Davis had a key three yard run on fourth down to keep the drive alive.
“They have a very good football team,” said Medina Coach Eric Valley. “You have to play your best game against a team like that and they played better than we did. It was a tough one but I’m very proud of our kids.”
Medina took the lead for the last time at 22-21 after a 27 yard touchdown pass from quarterback Aiden Pitts to Noah Cudzilo and a two-point conversion carry by Pitts with 6:35 remaining. A 28 yard run by Amari Soule and a 15 yard personal foul penalty on Fredonia keyed that drive.
The contest was deadlocked at 14-14 going into the wild fourth quarter which saw the lead change hands after each of the period’s three touchdowns.
Fredonia broke that 14-14 deadlock just 2:01 into the quarter on a 22 yard touchdown pass from Fry to Jay Hawk and an extra point kick by Sai Tabone for a 21-14 lead.
The Hillbillies had controlled the ball for most of a scoreless third quarter driving deep into Medina territory twice, first to the 7 and then to the 18.
However, the Medina defense rose to the challenge stopping both drives with pass interceptions first by Kaedon Cleveland in the endzone and then by Cudzilo at the 7.
Fredonia also scored first in the contest as Davis tallied on a 6 yard run and Tabone added the extra point kick for a 7-0 lead with 4:10 to go in the opening quarter. Fry had a 22 yard run and a 33 yard pass completion to Hawk to key the drive.
Medina though answered right back to knot the contest at 7-7 on a 32 yard touchdown run by Noah Skinner and an extra point kick by Cole Callard with 42 seconds to go in the period.
The Mustangs defense set up that opportunity on a fumble recovery by Roosevelt Mitchell at the Hillbillies 40 yard line.
Medina took the lead for the first time at 14-7 midway through the second quarter on a 5 yard touchdown run by Pitts and an extra point kick by Callard. Pitts had a 17 yard run and a big 57 yard pass completion to Julian Woodworth to highlight the drive.
Sparked by a 26 yard pass completion from Pitts to Soule, Medina drove inside the Fredonia 35 on their next possession only to have a lost fumble wipe out the opportunity.
Fredonia capitalized on the turnover as Fry hooked up with Davis for a 14 yard touchdown pass and Tabone again added the extra point kick to retie the contest at 14-14 with 1:27 to go in the first half. Fry had pass completions of 29, 17 and 13 yards to key the drive.
The contest remained deadlocked at 14-14 going into the decisive fourth quarter which saw the Hillbillies outscore the Mustangs 15-8 to claim the win and avenge a 58-6 loss to the Mustangs in last year’s title game played in a snowstorm at Highmark Stadium.
Fredonia, which is now 9-1, will face the winner of Saturday’s semifinal between No. 2 Lackawanna and No. 3 Salamanca in the Class C title contest next Thursday at Highmark Stadium.
Medina, which has captured the last two Class C titles, finishes the season at 8-2.
Medina’s Noah Skinner breaks free for a first quarter touchdown.
Medina’s Julian Woodworth takes a pass reception for 57 yards.
Medina defender Ollie Wilson holds onto Fredonia quarterback Ethan Fry as Brody Fry comes in to help.
Barker boys place second at X-C sectionals
The Barker boys placed second in the Class D race at the Section VI cross-country championships held today at Alden.
Frewsburg won the boys Cass D race with 57 points as Barker finished in the runner-up spot with 69 and Wilson fifth with 111.
Mason Allee Castro placed third to lead the Barker runners as Luke Fay took 11th, Dawson Donovan 15th and Noah Sandolfini 17th.
Jaydan Ruble placed 4th to lead Wilson’s runners as Joey Dane Jones was 12th.
The Barker girls placed third and Wilson fourth in Class D. Clymer/Sherman/Panama won the race and Maple Grove took second.
Barker’s Emma Evans placed second to lead the way for Barker as Lydia Sampson was 15th and Mikala Woock 16th.
Madelynne Jowdy placed 10th and Ella Ingersen 12th for Wilson.
In the girls Class C race, Newfane placed third with 65 points behind East Aurora (41) and Allegany-Limestone (49).
Kylie Bowman finished second for Newfane and Cat Ersing 12th.
Four of the Niagara-Orleans League runners have qualified for the upcoming state championships including Allee Castro, Evans, Ruble and Bowman.
Wrestling academy moves into former Apollo restaurant site in Albion
Photos by Tom Rivers: Kids in the Purple Eagles Wrestling Academy practice stances, takedowns and other wrestling moves on Wednesday evening at the Purple Eagles Wrestling Academy. There are 71 wrestlers in the program from age 4 to seventh- and eighth grade.
ALBION – The former Apollo restaurant on Route 31 has a new purpose: the training site for a growing number of young wrestlers.
The Purple Eagles Wrestling Academy received its certificate of occupancy on Monday to run wrestling programs at the former Apollo at 13939 NY 31. The academy will have open houses today and Saturday from 6 to 8 p.m.
The academy already has 71 wrestlers in the program, including 15 girls. It is open to wrestlers from age 4 right through high school. Right now the oldest kids in the program are seventh- and eighth-graders.
Girls wrestling is also an emerging sport with several colleges running programs for female wrestlers. Sanders expects it will be offered in the not-so-distance future at Albion. The wrestling academy will help to get girls ready so Albion can field a competitive team.
Some of the wrestlers in the academy gather for a photo on Wednesday evening. The coaches pictured include Jared Moreland, front left; Mike Sanders, back left; Kyle Piccirilli, front right; and Jeff Lutes, back right. B.J. Aina and Brian Schomske also volunteer as coaches with the program. The wrestling mat used to be owned by the Albion school district for its wrestling program. It was purchased by the Wrestling Academy when the school got a new mat.
Mike Sanders pushed to start the wrestling academy four years ago. The first season there were 44 wrestlers and they used Cafeteria B in the high school. Twice a week, Sanders and the volunteers moved 90 chairs and 15 tables to set up for practices. The season was abruptly cut short because of Covid-19 restrictions in mid-March 2020.
The second year, the program was based out of Sanders’ garage. He had 35 wrestlers in the academy, coming to his garage from Monday through Friday for training.
Last year, in the third season, the program shifted to the Pratt Theater on Main Street with 60 wrestlers.
Sanders said the program is grateful for its new home. It has two large open rooms with mats, lockers for the wrestlers and a big opportunity to grow. The building is owned by Rick Stacey. It was last operated as the Apollo about two decades ago.
The former Apollo on Route 31 is owned by Rick Stacey. He has renovated the site and given it a much different look.
The location gives the program a place year-round. Sanders said there will be wrestling camps and clinics as well as practices.
“We can make our own schedule,” he said. “At the school we were limited to two days.”
The academy will be available for training Monday through Thursday, with live wrestling on Friday.
It costs $50 a month to be in the academy or $200 for the five-month season from November through March. The facility will be available year-round.
The Purple Eagles Wrestling Academy is a non-profit organization. Sanders is president/treasurer and Moreland is vice president/financial advisor. Brian Schomske is secretary/financial advisor. Ashley Sanders is the team coordinator, with Jennifer Moreland the parent liaison, Cassie Schomske the fundraising manager and Justin Mengs, Rocky Sidari and Zach Gillette as at-large members.
Mike Sanders gives instructions to the young wrestlers. Sanders is a former Section VI champ for Albion in 2004 at 130 pounds. He is the varsity coach at Albion this year.
Sanders, 36, won the Section 6 wrestling title in 2004 in the 130-pound weight class. He returned to the area as an English teacher four years ago. He and his wife Ashley have four children.
Sanders went to Gannon and was an All-American wrestler in the 133-pound class. After graduation he taught and coached for five years in Florida and then five years in Virginia before coming home to Albion in 2018. He works in the Albion Middle School.
Sanders said the skills he learned in wrestling, especially the mental approach, have been critical in his life. He wants to share that knowledge with a new generation.
“I want to give back to them,” Sanders said. “It’s mental skills and controlling your emotions. It’s showing up every day and facing challenges.”
Sanders is serving as the Albion varsity wrestling coach for the first time this season, after four years as the assistant coach. He knows the youth wrestling program is a key to building a strong high school program.
When he was a kid, he wrestled in youth programs in Kendall and Holley. The Purple Eagles Wrestling Academy is open to young wrestlers outside of Albion, too. Sanders wants to grow the sport locally, and repay the welcome he received from Kendall and Holley.
These wrestlers get in a cool-down run around one of the big mats. There are two large rooms for training.
The wrestling academy will compete in tournaments in 14 different weight classes through the Niagara Frontier Youth Wrestling League. That competitive team will be called the Purple Eagle Wrestling Academy Team Gold Force. That name is a tribute to the Gold Force Wrestling Club that was led by Hall of Fame coach John Grillo in Holley.
Sanders is assisted in running the program by coaches Jared Moreland, Kyle Piccirilli, Jeff Lutes, B.J. Aina and Brian Schomske.
Moreland is also a sectional champ from when he was at wrestling powerhouse Spencerport. He wrestled at 119 pounds. He is now a sergeant at the Orleans Correctional Facility. Like Sanders, he wants to give back to the sport of wrestling.
“Wrestling is a sport unlike any other in high school,” Moreland said. “It takes a lot of sacrifice and discipline.”
Moreland said the wrestling academy will help other Albion sports programs. He expects to see the wrestlers playing on the football, basketball, baseball, track and other sports teams.
“It will help them to be a gritty tough kid who can handle a challenge,” Moreland said.
For more information on the academy, click here.
Medina will host field hockey regional Sat.
Photo by Cheryl Wertman – Akron’s Lacey Berghorn and her Lady Tiger teammates will compete in the Class C Far West Regional at Medina’s Vets Park at 3 p.m. Saturday.
Medina’s Vets Park will play host to a tripleheader of Far West Regional field hockey games on Saturday.
Niagara-Orleans League and Section VI champion Akron will face Port Byron from Section III in the Class C regional contest at 3 p.m.
Akron edged N-O rival Barker 1-0 for the Section VI Class C title on Wednesday. Port Byron downed Morrisville-Eaton 6-1 in the Section III Class D final. However, since there is no Class D in the state playoffs Port Byron has moved up to Class C for the regional.
The Class A regional will open the day’s competition at 11 a.m. pitting Section VI champion Clarence against Section V representative Brighton.
Clarence edged Williamsville North 1-0 to win the Section VI title while Brighton downed Webster Thomas 5-2 in the Section V final.
The Class B regional at 1 p.m. will match Section VI champion Iroquois against Section V champ Pittsford Sutherland.
Iroquois downed Hamburg 2-0 in the Section VI title contest while Pittsford Sutherland edged rival Pittsford Mendon 2-1 for the Section V title.
Saturday’s winners will advance to next weekend’s state semifinals.
Medina hosts Fredonia in Class C semi Friday
Photo by Cheryl Wertman – Noah Skinner picks up yardage in the snow for Medina during last year’s win over Fredonia in the Class C final at Highmark Stadium. The teams will meet again at 7 p.m. Friday as Medina hosts Fredonia in the Class C semifinal at Vets Park.
In a rematch of last fall’s memorable title game in a snowstorm at Highmark Stadium, top seeded defending champion Medina will host No. 5 Fredonia in the semifinals of the Section VI Class C playoffs at 7 p.m. Friday at Vets Park.
Medina defeated Fredonia 58-6 in that title contest which saw heavy snow fall throughout the first half.
“I’m sure Fredonia is excited for a rematch after last years championship game in the snow,” said Medina Coach Eric Valley. “In that game the weather made it extremely difficult to throw the ball, so the conditions favored a ground game. Luckily we had success on the ground and were able to control the ball.”
Both teams bring an 8-1 record into the semifinals as Medina defeated No. 8 Eden 48-7 and Fredonia bested No. 5 Depew 43-22 in the quarterfinals.
Fredonia is led offensively by quarterback Ethan Fry who has passed for 2,117 yards and 22 touchdowns and rushed for 513 yards and 7 touchdowns; running back Micah Davis who has rushed for 1,012 yards and 10 touchdowns and receivers Keegan Whitfield who has 53 receptions for 760 yards and 6 TDs and Jameson Quinn who has 45 catches for 599 yards and 9 TDs.
“Fredonia features an explosive offense. They can spread the field and they have the ability to score in the air and on the ground,” said Valley. “They have had a great group of athletes the last 2 years, and I’m sure they are just as excited as we are to get back to the championship game this year.”
Medina is led offensively by quarterback Aiden Pitts who has passed for 714 yards and 7 TDs and rushed for 378 yards and 3 TDs.
Running back Noah Skinner leads the ground attack with 1,411 yards and 25 TDs. Amari Soule has had 374 yards and 4 TDs and Cayden Lilleby 204 yards and 5 TDs. Lilleby also leads the receiving corps with 12 catches for 171 yards and 5 TDs. Kaedon Cleveland also has 2 TD receptions and Skinner 1.
“We are going to need to cover well and put pressure on their QB up front,” said Valley. “On offense we need to execute, hold on the the football and play a very physical game.”
The victor will advance to the Class C title game at Highmark Stadium on Thursday November 10 against the winner of this Saturday’s other semifinal between No. 2 Lackawanna and No. 3 Salamanca.
Section VI goes to online ticket sales
Section VI has gone to online ticket sales only for sectional games. Click here to order online tickets
Akron nips Barker for Section VI Class C title
Photos by Cheryl Wertman – Akron’s Megan Gates stops a shot by Barker’s Alexis Weeks during the Lady Tigers Section VI Class C title win over the Lady Raiders this evening at West Seneca West. Moving in are Barker’s Alexa Zglinicki and Akron’s Isabella Jones.
Making it a three-peat, top seeded Akron captured a third straight Section VI Class C field hockey championship by nipping Niagara-Orleans League rival No. 2 seed Barker 1-0 this evening at West Seneca West High School.
Nevada Bergman scored the game’s lone goal for Akron, her 15th of the season, four minutes into the second quarter.
Barker had a 10-4 edge in corner opportunities and the Lady Raiders best scoring chances came off two of them. The first came in the final seconds of the third quarter and the other early in the fourth, but both times had shots just miss.
Akron, which also blanked Barker twice during the N-O season by scores of 4-0 and 2-0 in route to a 12-0 title run, will now face Port Byron (Section III) in the Far West Regional at 3 p.m. Saturday at Medina’s Vets Park.
Akron’s Melanie Holtz and Barker’s Ashlin Cole reach for the ball as Akron’s Sophia Jones moves in to support.
Barker’s Mia Herman brings the ball up field as Olivia McClaine defends for Akron.
N-O teams bow in sectional volleyball semis
Both Niagara-Orleans League entrants were defeated in the semifinal round of the Section VI Class C1 volleyball playoffs Tuesday evening.
No. 2 seed N-O champion Akron was ousted by No. 3 Southwestern in four sets 25-12, 18-25, 25-17, 25-10.
No. 5 Newfane was eliminated by No. 1 Eden 25-15, 25-7, 25-14.
Eden and Southwestern will now meet for the C1 title.
