Photo by Cheryl Wertman – Veteran members of the Roy-Hart/Barker/Lyndonville football squad include, in front, Josh Hahn, Jackson West, Logan Tolliver, Jackson Webber and Tommie Hart. In back are Brayden Flynn, Lucas Brees, Payton Grabowski, Trenton Muck and Alex Ark.

Boasting good numbers and good experience the Roy-Hart/Barker/Lyndonville Silverbacks are prepping for their second year of 11 man football competition. They will be competing in the C North Division after being in the B North last season.

The Silverbacks veteran contingent includes seniors Trenton Muck (QB/DB), Brayden Flynn (LB), Justin Terwilliger (WR/DB), Lucas Drees (LB), Tommie Harris (OL/DL), Logan Tolliver (OL) and Payton Grabowski (TE/DE) along with juniors Aidan Mescall (WR/DB), Josh Hahn (OL/LB), Jackson Webber (OL/DL) and Jacob Manacle (OL) and sophomores Wyatt Sherman (RB/LB), Alex Ark (TE/LB) and Jackson West (OL/DL).

“I think up front should be our strength and we’ve got a lot of experience at the skill positions,” said Coach Joey Suhr of his 28 member squad. “Our team chemistry is much improved and we’re really focusing on doing the little things right which should pay off in the games.”

The Silverbacks will open the season by hosting Alden at 7 p.m. Friday. The other home games will be against Medina on Sept. 9, Newfane on Sept. 23 and Lew-Port on Oct. 14. The road games will be at Lackawanna on Sept. 17, Cleveland Hill on Oct. 1, Tonawanda on Oct. 7 and Akron on Oct. 20.

Photo by Cheryl Wertman – Getting set to lead Albion into the up coming season is this group of veterans. In front are John Eible, Nick Radder and Jacob Hughson. In back are Dallas Ecker, Nick Harling, Sh’kwe Rily, Javon Jones, Amari Jones, Aquil Gaffney and head coach David Skrip.

Anchored by a strong nucleus of skill position players, Albion is prepping for the September 2 B 2 Division season home opener against Falconer.

Senior quarterback Amari Jones leads that veteran group which also includes senior running backs Jacob Hughson, Sh’kwe Riley and junior running backs Josh Bovenzi and Austin Johnson along with senior receivers Javon Jones, Dallas Ecker, Nick Harling and Aqui; Gaffney.

Amari Jones passed for 863 yards and 20 touchdowns and rushed for 252 yards and 3 TDs last year while Hughson rushed for 229 yards and 3 TDs, Riley rushed for 327 yards and 6 TDs and Javon Jones caught 28 passes for 509 yards and 6 TDs and rushed for 171 yards and 4 TDs.

Up front the Purple Eagles are looking to juniors John Eible, Nick Radder and Mason Lynch to help anchor the offensive line.

“It is a tight crew and they’ve stayed focused on football,” said Coach David Skrip. “And we have some young kids who have worked hard in the off season and I feel they will be able to step up and help us. These kids all have high expectations  for the season.”

The Purple Eagles lost 20 players to graduation including backs Jr. Morales, Jahmeek Riley and Bryce Froman; receivers Tyler Gibson, Ozzie Mators, Ellwood Hafner and Alex Hafner along with linemen Dayne Aina, Simon Ellison, Jabari Johnson, Angel Cruz and Brendan LeBaron.

Following the Falconer game Albion will also host Maryvale on Sept. 9, Dunkirk on Sept. 30 and Medina on Oct. 21.

The Purple Eagles road games will be at Olean on Sept. 16, Pioneer on Sept. 23, Cheektowaga on Oct. 7 and East Aurora on Oct. 13.

Albion went 4-1 in the division and 6-3 overall last fall.

Photo by Cheryl Wertman – Veteran members of the Holley football squad include, in front, Hunter Smith and Hunter Kennedy. In back are Antonio Geska, Destin Kuyal, Mike Fallato and Kam Walch. Missing from the photo are Frank Galisano and Vinny Galisano.

Last fall injuries and low numbers caused Holley’s 8 man varsity football season to be ended after just two games. However, the Hawks did continue with a JV season and went 2-2.

Now with numbers improved a bit the Hawks are taking aim at returning for a full season of 8 man football competition.

“We’re glad to be back. Our numbers are a little better and we’ve got some good experience back,” said Coach Wil Prince.

Sophomore quarterback Destin Kuyal, a three year varsity player, heads the Hawks veteran contingent which also includes senior running backs Antonio Geska and Mike Fallato, sophomore running back Hunter Smith, senior wide receiver Cole Kennedy, sophomore wide receiver Vinny Golisano along with senior linemen Kim Walch and Frank Golisano.

Holley will open the season with a pair of road games at Wellsville on Sept. 3 and at Mynderse on Sept. 9 before hosting Bolivar-Richburg in the home opener on Sept. 17.

The Hawks will also host Canisteo-Greenwood on Oct. 1, Red Jacket on Oct. 15 and Wellsville on Oct .21 and visit Finney on Sept. 24 and Pembroke on Oct. 7.

Contributed Photo – Kory Allen

Kory Allen, a 1995 Albion High graduate, has been named the head football coach at Findlay University in Ohio.

Allen, who is beginning his 17th season at Findlay, has previously served as the team’s offensive coordinator.

He has been serving as interin head coach since April 20 when former Coach Rob Keys announced he was leaving the program.

“Having helped build this program in the NCAA era over the last 16 years has been extremely satisfying. A lot of players and coaches have put in a lot of work into making Findlay football what it is today”, said Allen in a press release at the time of his appointment. “I am humbled and honored to be selected as the next head football coach. We will work every day to represent this school in a first class manner.”

Allen graduated from Ohio Northern University in 2000 with a B.A. in Sports Management. He was a three year starter for the Polar Bears.

He served as offensive line coach at Ohio Northern from 2001-2003 and then as offensive line coach and recruiting coordinator at Baldwin Wallace in 2004 before coming to Findlay.

Photo by Cheryl Wertman – Holley’s large group of veterans include, in front, Layne Walker, Isabella Thom, Zoey Wolf, Samantha Bates and Alivia Wolf. In back are Leigha Walker, Emma Brady, Jaily Bishop, Caitlin Dobri, Emma Downey and Mia Thom.

Anchored by a large group of 11 veterans, the Holley girls varsity soccer team is looking to improve upon last fall’s second place Genesee Region League Division 1 finish.

Coming off an 11-5-2 overall campaign, the Lady Hawks veteran group includes senior Emma Downey, juniors Samantha Bates, Isabella Thom, Jaily Bishop, Emma Brady, Leigha Walker, Caitlin Dobri and Layne Walker along with freshmen Alivia Wolf and Zoey Wolf and eighth grader Mia Thom.

Bates, Isabella Thom and Emma Brady all earned G-R All-Star honors while Bishop, Alivia Wolf and Zoey Wolf were all Honorable Mention selections.

Bates scored 17 goals and Brady 11 while Bishop and Alivia Wolf each netted 6.

“We still have a pretty young team but we have a lot of returners and we’re hoping to do well,” said Coach Renee Wolf. “Our goals are to win the division and go deep into the sectionals.”

Holley will tune up for the G-R season by hosting a tournament next week. Wednesday’s semifinals will have Holley vs. Wilson and Alden vs. Byron-Bergen. The consolation and championship games will be held next Friday (September 2).

Photo by Cheryl Wertman – Anchoring the Lyndonville lineup will be this quartet of seniors including Mason Nicholson, Kevin Travis, Josh Slingerland and Christian Garver.

It will be a special season for the Lyndonville boys varsity soccer squad as the Tigers will be fielding their own team after competing as a merged team with Medina for the past 10 years.

“Our goal is to have enough kids and build the program,” said Coach Joe Smith who previously coached Lyndonville’s JV team.

The senior foursome of Mason Nicholson, Christian Garver, Josh Slingerland and Kevin Travis, who played on last year’s merged team with Medina will anchor the Tigers lineup.

The Tigers also return experience in half a dozen players who previously played on Lyndonville’s JV team including Alex Farrell, Auston Fonda, Colton Smith, Jacob Wilson, Ian Mank and Sebastian Temich.

“They love playing together and they are excited about the opportunity to get back together. They were a pretty tightly knit group and they all wanted to come back,” said Smith.

“These guys all help to make the program a reality,” added Smith whose Tigers are scheduled to open the season at home on September 8 with a Genesee Region League contest against Wheatland-Chili.

Photo by Cheryl Wertman – Among the players on the newly merged Lyndonville/Barker girls varsity soccer team are Shelby Dauphinee and Madison Miller from Barker along with Elizabeth Whipple and Kayli Miller from Lyndonville.

It is a new era for the Lyndonville girls varsity soccer team this season.

After competing as a merged team with Medina the past five years Lyndonville will now host a merged team with Barker this season competing in the Genesee Region League.

Ironically, Lyndonville/Barker’s first scheduled game is a non league home contest against Medina on September 2.

“It really in a new era for the two communities,” said Coach Lee Dillenbeck. “Both schools need each other to have a team. Our numbers have improved since the start of practice but we are looking to keep adding to it. Our goal, and our hope, is to get more kids out and active.”

The Lyndonville trio of senior Annabelle Follman and juniors Elizabeth Whipple and Kayli Miller, who were members of last year’s merged team with Medina, provide some varsity experience.

Senior Madison Miller an sophomore Shelby Dauphinee are veterans from Barker’s last varsity team in 2020. Barker which did not have a varsity team last year due to a lack of numbers.

Lyndonville/Barker’s G-R League debut is scheduled at Wheatland-Chili on September 7.

Photo by Cheryl Wertman – Leading Barker into the upcoming field hockey season are these senior members of the Lady Raiders squad. In front are Mia Herman, Lilly Monthony, Alexa Zglinicki and Miya Goodale. In back are Alexis Weeks, Mackenzie Dodge, Ashlin Cole and Aaliyah Wheat.

Having lost just one player to graduation from last fall’s second place team, the Barker field hockey team is again taking aim at competing for top honors in the Niagara-Orleans League.

Leading Barker’s veteran laden squad are midfielder Mia Herman and defender Ashlin Cole, both seniors who earned first team N-O All-League honors, along with midfielder Alexis Weeks and defender Aaliyah Wheat, both seniors who were both second team picks, and senior defender/goalie Lilly Monthony who was an Honorable Mention selection.

The Lady Raiders also return seniors Alexa Zglinicki, Mackinzie Dodge and Miya Goodale along with juniors Addison Szafranski, Keira Dalton, Rachel Sutter, Cole Carnes, Macie May, Petra Bish and Anna Bowerman.

That large group includes the Lady Raiders top five scorers including Zglinicki with 10, Herman and Sutter 9, Weeks 7 and Goodale 6.

“We’re very encouraged with everyone back but one. The girls are very excited and ready to go.” said Karen Metz who co-coaches the Lady Raiders with Aileen Hinton.

Barker, which went 9-3 in N-O action last fall, will open the N-O season at home next Tuesday against Kenmore.

Fall is coming and the summer leagues are winding down at Hickory Ridge. The Tuesday Night Ladies Night Out League will be finished next week after their position round and its close in the standings.

Deb Wood and Aleta Martin lead with 103 points. Marcia Zambito and Margie Page are in second with 100.5 points with Laurie Freeman and Linda Chrzan close with 100 points.

This week Wood had low gross with 38. Martin and Freeman both had 43. Freeman led low net with a 32 while Brenda Powers and Diane Abel both had a 33. Freeman and Powers both recorded birdies.

It is also close in the standings for the Men’s Wednesday Night League. Clark Brooks and Dick Taylor are tied for first with the team of Jim Zambito and Owen Toale (sub). Each team has 92 points. Bob and Craig Wyant have moved up to third with 88.5 points.

Tim Hendrickson and AJ Gifaldi shared low gross with a 39 with Bob Wyant one behind with a 40. Gifaldi had low net with a 30. There were a bunch of birdies last week which is unusual for the back nine that was played. Loyd Denniston led the birdie count with three followed closely by Hendrickson who had two. Gifaldi, Craig Hazen, Raymont Daniels, Bob Wyant and Jim Zambito had one each.

The Men’s Traveling League on Thursday had Jake Cotter leading low gross with a 40. Zack Burgess had low net with a 29. Brian Payne had two birdies.

Jake Cotter and Tyler Root continue to leading the standings with 290 points. Dave Cotter and Randy Knaak are in second 2ith 284 points and Jim Peglow and Bud Peglow hold third place with 248 points.

The next Hickory Ridge Golf Association tournament is a Two Person Scramble and is scheduled for Monday, September 12 with tee times beginning at 9am. Players can sign up as a two some or as a single and the board will attempt to place you with another single. The tournament is open to HRGA members, non-members or social golfers who have either a GHIN handicap or a league handicap. This fun tournament signup is in the pro shop and you must signup by Thursday, September 1.

Photo by Cheryl Wertman – Returning starters Cami London, left, and Olivia Krenning will lead Albion into the upcoming girls varsity soccer season.

It will be tourney time for the Albion girls varsity soccer team to open the season next week.

The Purple Eagles will host Alexander at 6:30 p.m. next Wednesday in the opening round. Kendall will face Newfane at 4:30 in the other semifinal. The consolation and championship games will be at 2 and 4:30 on Friday.

Senior midfielder Olivia Krenning and sophomore forward/midfielder Cami London are the only returning starters for Albion which lost a dozen players to graduation 8 of whom earned spots on the Niagara-Orleans All-League squad.

Albion also returns some varsity experience in seniors Jessica Penna, Taylor Soule, Samantha Basinait, Jamie Penna, Lisa Beam and Iris Rosario Reyes and junior Alison Gibson.

The Purple Eagles graduation losses included first team N-O All-League honorees forward Abby Scanlan, midfielder Nikki Creasey, defender Leah Pritchard and goalie Sydney Mulka; second team selection defender Aly Knaak and Honorable Mention picks midfielder Kenzi Hapeman, defender Charley London and defender Aurora Serafin.

“We knew we were going to be young,” said Coach Maggie Orbaker. “It is a real good group though and they just work so hard.”

Albion will open the N-O season at Medina on September 9.