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Unbeatens to clash for Section VI Class C title as Medina takes on Fredonia Saturday
Photo by Cheryl Wertman – Anchoring the Medina lineup going into Saturday’s Class C title contest against Fredonia at Highmark Stadium will be the Mustangs offensive line. That group includes Chris Johnson, Josh Wilson, Colvin Stalker, Zach Oliver and Roosevelt Mitchell. Missing from the photo is Ollie Wilson.
It will be a matchup of two undefeated 10-0 teams as top seed defending champion Medina takes on No. 3 Fredonia in the Section VI Class C championship game at noon Saturday at Highmark Stadium with the victor advancing to the state playoffs.
“Fredonia is a big, physical team,” said Medina Coach Eric Valley. “The y have a big quarterback who can sling the ball all over the field and they are big up front so we will have to play really strong defense.”
Senior quarterback Nick Whitfield, who has thrown for 1,694 yards and 16 touchdowns and rushed for 631 yards and 12 TDs, leads the Fredonia attack.
Senior Matthew Lotter, who has rushed for 1,050 yards and 12 touchdowns, sparks the Hillbillies ground attack while the receiving corps is led by the trio of junior Ethan Fry (35 catches for 488 yards and 8 TD), senior Davon McCall (31 for 412 yards and 3 TD) and senior Simon Davis (19 for 386 yards and 3 TD).
Looking to stymie the Fredonia attack will be the Mustangs defensive unit whose leading tacklers include Noah Skinner (61), Hayden Woodroe (49)’ Joe Cecchini (44), Chris Johnson (43), Iverson Poole (39), Dominic Larabee (32) and Josh Wilson (28).
Cecchini leads the ‘D’ unit with 11 sacks while Skinner and Robert Arnold both have 6, Johnson 4 and Larabee 3.
“As a whole we’ve played pretty well defensively all year,” said Valley, “Now we just have to continue to play solid football. We know there will be a lot of distractions this week but we have to focus on what we have to do each and every play.”
Offensively, Medina is led by quarterback Xander Payne who has passed for 1,368 yards and a school record 21 touchdowns.
Payne has thrown to a balanced receiving corps including Jarin Rhim (31 receptions for 402 yards and 7 TDs), Greg Thompson (16 for 370 yards and 5 TD), Cecchini (19 for 297 yards and 4 TD) and Poole (10 for 177 yards and 4TD).
Poole with 568 yards and 10 touchdowns and Skinner with 565 yards and 7 TDs leads the Mustangs ground attack as Arnold has rushed for 300 yards and 4 TDs and Payne 185 and 4 TDs.
“We have had good balance on offense,” said Valley. “We’ve got a good receiving corps, a tight end who can block and catch and on the ground we’ve used three tailbacks and a fullback. It’s been a pretty good recipe for us.”
Keying the Mustangs offense has been the front line which includes tackles Johnson and Roosevelt Mitchell, guards Josh Wilson, Ollie Wilson and Zack Oliver and center Colvin Stalker.
“Our line changed a lot this season but once they jelled as a group they’ve been really solid,” said Valley.
Medina advanced to the title contest by defeating Eden 30-4 in the quarterfinals and Lackawanna 32-0 in the semifinals while Fredonia bested Akron 45-6 and Southwestern 28-21.
This will be Medina’s first trip to the finals at the stadium since 1988 when the Mustangs edged rival Albion 14-7. The Mustangs are 3-0 at the stadium having also defeated Silver Creek 20-14 in 1980 and Cassadaga Valley 26-7 in 1982.
This past May Medina did end a 33 year title drought by edging Southwestern 21-13 in the Class C title contest at Vets Park capping a Covid-19 shortened post season.
Fredonia is seeking its first sectional title since 2010 when the Hillbillies nipped Southwestern 12-10.
Medina grad on Daemen Triathlon team
Contributed Photo – Corinne Hill
Medina High graduate Corinne Hill is a freshman member of the Triathlon team at Daemen College this fall.
The Triathlon competition is a combination of three specialties – biking, swimming and running.
Hill is majoring to become a Physicians Assistant.
During her scholastic days at Medina she competed in cross-country, swimming and track. She placed second in the Steeplechase at the Niagara-Orleans League track meet this past spring.
Lady Rams trio sign college letters of intent
Contributed Photo – A trio of Roy-Hart seniors, who signed college letters of intent today, are shown here with R-H Athletic Director John Grzymala. They are, from left, Reanna Perkins who will be playing softball at St. Bonaventure, Amanda Hill who will be swimming at Canisius and Kara Choate who will be playing soccer at Roberts Wesleyan.
Roy-Hart trio heads first team of annual N-O All-League volleyball squad
Contributed Photos – Roy-Hart’s first team All-League honorees include Samantha Albright, Allison Dent and Marissa Scott.
Three players from undefeated (10-0) champion Roy-Hart head the first team of the annual Niagara-Orleans All-League volleyball team.
The Lady Rams trio includes seniors Allison Dent and Marissa Scott and junior Samantha Albright who was named N-O Player of the Year.
Albright had 73 spiking kills and 45 service aces, Dent 17 kills, 12 aces and 113 digs and Scott 45 kills and 70 aces.
Newfane is represented by the duo of senior Jensen McGhee and junior Emma Hoffer.
McGhee had 98 kills and 20 blocks and Hoffer 20 kills, 14 aces and 251 digs.
Rounding out the first team is Akron senior Ella Hill, a repeat selection, who had 147 kills, 95 aces and 248 digs.
The first team also includes Akron’s Ella Hill along with Newfane’s Emma Hofer and Jensen McGhee.
Roy-Hart also placed senior Ava Brigham and junior Alex Stern on the second team. Brigham had 47 kills, 23 blocks and 25 aces and Stern 75 kills and 34 aces.
The second team also includes Newfane senior Sarah Leibring and junior Lauren Bax along with Wilson senior Samantha Herlan and Akron senior Giahna LaFromboise.
The Honorable Mention selections, listed by team, are as follows:
Albion – Emily Graham (Sr.), Maya Knaak (Jr.) and Madison Hughson (Soph.)
Akron – Sloan Jonathan (Soph.)
Newfane – Alayna Ander (Sr.), Skylar Renz (Sr.) and Charley Buscaglia (Jr.)
Roy-Hart – Makenna Elsenheimer (Jr.) and Samantha McIntyre (Jr.)
Wilson – Emma Hurtgam (Sr.), Hanna Roberts (Jr.) and Cait Cliffe (Soph.)
Mustangs take part in Media Day at Highmark
Photos by Cheryl Wertman – Medina team captains, from left, Colvin Stalker, Jarin Rhim, Xander Payne, Hayden Woodroe and Joe Cecchini, meet here on the Highmark field with Mustang assistant coaches Charlie Wilson, left, and Gordy Luthart who were both starters on Medina’s last sectional championship team at the stadium, the 1988 squad which downed rival Albion for the title.
It has been 33 years since Medina has played in a Section VI football championship game at Highmark Stadium, a drought which will end at noon Saturday when the Mustangs take on Fredonia for the Class C title.
This morning the Mustangs five team captains – Xander Payne, Joe Cecchini, Hayden Woodroe, Jarin Rhim and Colvin Stalker – got a preview look at the home of the Buffalo Bills when they and the coaching staff took part in Media Day.
Medina Head Coach and art teacher Eric Valley did this portrait of the late Dick Gallagher which Section VI officials presented to his family. Gallagher was a longtime booster and supporter of high school football in Western New York.
“It’s amazing, I got the chills coming in. I’m speechless. I don’t know how to describe it,” said Payne as he practiced making some throws on the turf field. “It’s special not just for the team but for our whole program.”
“It’s exciting to think we get to play on that field,” said Cecchini.
“It’s definitely crazy, It’s an opportunity not a lot of people get,” added Rhim
“It’s the chance of a lifetime for a lot of these kids,” said Mustangs Head Coach Eric Valley. “It’s a wonderful opportunity to do something special.”
The visit to the field also brought back special memories to two of the Mustang coaches – Charlie Wilson and Gordy Luthart – who were both starters on the last Medina team which appeared at was then Rich Stadium, the 1988 squad which claimed the title with a 14-7 win over rival Albion.
“We’re back,” exclaimed Wilson with a big smile on his face.
“It seems like just yesterday,” added Luthart.
The appearance at stadium the will be the fourth for the Mustangs which previously scored championship victories in 1980, 1982 and 1988. (Click here to view a video of what the teams heard today at media day and some fun on the turf afterwards.)
Players from all 10 teams which will be participating in this coming weekend’s sectional playoff title games here get a chance to try out the turf field.
Kendall, Holley have G-R soccer All-Stars
Photos by Cheryl Wertman – Kendall’s Genesee Region League All-Stars, from left, Jeffrey Pratt, Mike McCue and Toby Passer.
A quartet of Kendall players have been named to the Genesee Region League boys soccer All-Star team including seniors Michael McCue, Jeffrey Pratt, Jorden Ostrander and junior Toby Passer.
McCue scored 15 goals and dished out 13 assists while Ostrander made 128 saves and had a goals against average of just 1.697.
Holley is represented by senior goalie Broek Ostrom who made 100 saves and had a goals against average of just 1.514.
The All-Star team also includes Aaron Lund, Josh Gebhardt, John Lynch, Terry Bayly-Henshaw and James Nolan from champion Wheatland-Chili; Simon Lamparelli, Evan Dickhut, Ryan Meides and Jonah Clark from Attica; Colin Martin and Caleb Carlson from Byron-Bergen/Elba and Connor Friedmann from Pembroke.
Final G-R Standings: Wheatland-Chili 9-1, Kendall 7-2-1, Attica 7-3, Byron-Bergen/Elba 4-6, Holley 1-8-1, Pembroke 1-9.
G-R All-Star goalies Broek Ostrom (Holley) and Jorden Ostrander (Kendall).
Orleans has six G-R girls soccer All-Stars
Photos by Cheryl Wertman – Holley’s Genesee Region League All-Stars include, from left, Isabella Thom, Samantha Bates and Emma Brady.
A total of six Orleans players have been named to the Genesee Region League girls soccer All-Star team.
That group includes Holley sophomores Samantha Bates, Emma Brady and Isabella Thom; Kendall seniors T’Mia Kitchings and Alezya Brown and Lyndonville/Medina senior Ella Lewis.
Bates had 18 goals and 5 assists on the season, Brady 11 goals and 4 assists, Thom 1 goal and 4 assists, Kitchings 11 goals and 2 assists, Brown 10 goals and 3 assists and Lewis 20 goals and 1 assist.
Brady, Kitchings and Lewis are all repeat selections.
Orleans’ G-R All-Stars Ella Lewis, left, T’Mia Kitchings and Alezya Brown.
Holley also had sophomore Jailyn Bishop along with freshmen Alivia Wolf and Zoey Wolf earn Honorable Mention.
Kendall had a quartet of Honorable Mention selections including Grace Levett, Julie Coble, Grace Robinson and Kailie Regan, all seniors.
Lyndonville/Medina’s Honorable Mention selections included seniors Lily Jo Carpenter, Megan Zakes, Kortney Boyce and junior Maddy Satkowski.
The All-Star team also included Mia Gray. Makenzie Hagen, Emma Starowitz, Ava Wagoner, Ava Gray and Brooke Jarkiewicz from Byron-Bergen; Emily Parker and Chyene Whitcomb from Wheatland-Chili; Kelsey Schlagenhauf, CJ Ryan and Brooke Reding from Oakfield-Alabama/Elba; Autumn Mathisen, Arabella Rogers and Maylee Green from Notre Dame; Skylar Savage and Kaylie Bugasiski from Attica and Natalie Whitmore from Alexander.
Gray, who had 27 goals and 17 assists, was named Division 1 Player of the Year and Mathisen Division 2 Player of the Year.
Final Standings
Division 1 – Byron-Bergen 7-1, Holley 4-3-1, Oakfield-Alabama/Elba 3-4-1, Wheatland-Chili 3-5, Kendall 2-6
Division 2 – Notre Dame 8-0, Attica 6-2, Alexander 4-4, Lyndonville/Medina 2-6, Pembroke 0-8.
Akron bows in state field hockey playoffs
Highly ranked Whitney Point (Section IV) romped to an 11-0 victory over Akron in the quarterfinal round of the state Class C field hockey playoffs this afternoon at Pittsford Sutherland.
Undefeated (16-0) Whitney Point, which is ranked No. 1 in the state and No. 4 in the nation, built up a 4-0 half-time advantage.
Football Playoffs
Section VI Class C
Semifinals
No. 1 Medina def. No. 5 Lackawanna 32-0
No. 3 Fredonia def. No. 7 Southwestern 28-21
Final
Medina (10-0) vs. Fredonia (10-0), 12 p.m. Nov. 13 at Highmark Stadium
Section V Class C
Semifinals
No. 1 East Rochester/Gananda def. No. 5 Letchworth/Warsaw/Perry 28-13
No. 3 Bath Haverling def. No. 2 LeRoy 14-7
Final
East Rochester/Gananda vs. Bath Haverling, 12 p.m. Nov. 13 at Honeyoe Falls-Lima High School
Section VI Class B
Semifinals
No. 1 Maritime def. N. 4 West Seneca East 30-0
No. 2 Iroquois def. No. 3 Albion 35-20
Final
Maritime (8-2) vs. Iroquois (10-0), 3:15 p.m. Nov. 13 Highmark Stadium
Michelle’s Memorial 5K race is upcoming
The 10th annual Michelle’s Memorial 5K will be held on Saturday, November 20th at 9 a.m. The 3.1 mile USATF Certified Course is along the Historic Erie Canal in Middleport.
The race honors the memory of Michelle A. Bewley who was a graduate of the Royalton-Hartland Class of 1994. She was an excellent student and athlete that was also devoted to her community who passed away in 2006.
Proceeds from the race will benefit the Michelle A. Bewley Scholar Athlete Award which is a scholarship given each year to a graduating Senior at Royalton-Hartland Central High School. Every recipient must meet the criteria of maintaining a 90+ average, participate in three sports a year and be involved in the music department for all four years of high school.
Awards will be given to the Overall Male and Female winners as well as the Overall Masters Male and Female Winners. Awards will be given to the Top 3 in each age group (14 and under, 15-19, 20-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, 60-69, 70+).
To register, go to www.faceboook.com/michellesmemorial5k and click the “Sign Up” button. Race Day registration will start at 8 AM at the Middleport Firehall. For more information contact michellesmemorial5k@gmail.com.
Week 9 Axe League results
The Week 9 results of the Meadworks Axe Throwing League are as follows. The teams are listed by their total of wins, losses and ties. The championships will be November 17 involving the top 8 teams
Mother Chuckers 71-4-1, Pain in the Axe 63-12-1, Great Axpectations 61-15-0, Axing for a Friend 51-23-2, Axing for Trouble 51-21-4, Lizzie Bordens 47-26-3, Two Cord 44-30-2, Triple Axes 43-31-2, Happy Hippies 43-33-0, Bustin Axes 40-31-4, Kiss Our Axes 37-39-0, Here 4 Pizza 30-40-6, Lillies Girls 28-48-0, Bad Axes 26-48-2, We Aim to Misbehave 24-49-3, Looking Sharp 23-49-3, Mad Axes 23-51-2, Swoosh 21-52-3, Just the Tip 16-60-0, Holler’n Herons 16-58-2, Melanin-Tingz 10-65-1.
