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Section VI to allow two spectators per athlete for home team only; schools have the option
The Section VI Executive Committee met Monday afternoon and voted to allow home schools the option of allowing up to two of their spectators, per athlete for the remainder of the winter season.
The new policy goes into effect on Wednesday, February 24. The Section had committed to reviewing the ‘No Spectators’ verdict at its last meeting on January 28.
“As we stated late last month, it was our intent to review local data and trends this week”, Section President, Brett Banker said. “In addition, we surveyed all member schools in an effort to gauge their thoughts. It was clear that school districts supported a Section-wide policy and that is what we have created.”
In the sports of basketball and swimming, the host districts will have the prerogative to allow up to two home spectators per athlete. Since hockey, bowling and skiing are held at private businesses, the prevailing parameters at each facility will be followed. For instance, the majority of hockey facilities allow only one spectator per athlete.
“As a Section we do not have the authority to override the protocols of private facilities, we are guests and because of that, those standards will still apply”, Banker continued. “Each school district will be responsible for ensuring the health and safety of all spectators and participants in their buildings by requiring masks and enforcing social distancing”.
Schools have the autonomy to adjust down if they deem that the foot print of their facilities are insufficient to safely host two spectators from the host school for each athlete. It is clear from the survey that not all home sites can host spectators from both schools while following social distancing regulations.
“We realize that based on the differences in facilities and staffing across the Section, we need to offer schools some flexibility to create protocols that work for them,” Banker noted. “We are grateful for the support of our schools, school leaders, and the patience that so many have displayed.”
Results of the annual N-O All-League boys swim meet are not final yet
Contrary to reports in some other area publications the results of Monday’s annual Niagara-Orleans boys All-League swim meet, which was run in a “virtual” format, are not yet final.
On Monday swimmers from five of the N-O League’s six schools which have swim teams competed. Newfane was unable to compete as the Panthers boys and girls swim teams and girls varsity basketball team are currently on a Covid related pause.
Newfane swimmers are scheduled to complete their All-League races on March 3. That situation will also affect Wednesday’s N-O girls All-League meet.
On Monday regular season team champion Roy-Hart had the top time in five events and runner-up Medina the best times in four.
Roy-Hart’s Carter Green has the top time in both the 200 Freestyle (1:51.96) and the 500 Free (5:21.14) and his teammate Noah Stern is tops in the 100 Free (:55.01).
Green and Stern also teamed up with Charles Rickard and Andrew Ossont to post the top time in the 200 Free Relay (1:39.46) and with Jake Hagen and Ossont to hold the lead in the 400 Free Relay (3:47.24).
Medina’s Isaac Pace posted the best times in both the 50 Free (:23.36) and 100 Breaststroke (1:03.61) and his teammate Michael Marker has the lead in the 100 Butterfly (1:03.40). Pace’s time broke his own school record in the 50 Free.
Pace and Marker also teamed up with Xander Payne and Bryson Costich to post the top time in the 200 Medley Relay (1:56.21).
Barker’s Ryan Santarsiero holds the top time to date in the 200 Individual Medley (2:14.53) as does Akron’s Dawson Stone in the 100 Backstroke (1:03.43).
W-C girls down Lyndonville
Steadily pulling away over the first three quarters, host Wheatland-Chili emerged with a 32-24 win over Lyndonville this evening in a Genesee Region League girls basketball game.
W-C led by six (8-2) after one period, by 12 (22-10) at the half and by 19 (31-12) after three quarters.
Lyndonville did battle back in the final period with a 12-1 run but could get no closer than eight. Ella Lewis had seven, including a three, to lead the Lady Tigers late surge which also included a three by Lorelei Dillenbeck and a basket by Alexis Hughes.
Lewis finished with 12, Hughes 4, Dillenbeck 3, Prezli Silversmith and Ashlee Stephens 2 and Kaylee Nesbitt 1.
Hannah Beldue led W-C with a game high 13.
Lyndonville, which is now 1-5, next hosts Notre Dame on Wednesday.
Channel Cats repeat as N-O swim champs
Contributed Photo – Compiling a perfect 10-0 season record, the Roy-Hart boys swim team has successfully defended its Niagara-Orleans League championship. The Channel Cats lineup included, from left, Zackary Walker, Nicholas Saia, Charles Rickard, Christopher Ulrich, Sean Labiak, Noah Stern, Zachary Livergood, Evan Gerdes, Jake Hagen, Carter Green, Maximillion Stern, James Heideman and Andrew Ossont.
Lady Bulldogs edge past Lady Rams
Photo by Cheryl Wertman – Roy-Hart’s Rileigh McCabe drives to the basket against Alden defender Emersen Bartsch during the host Lady Rams non league loss to the Lady Bulldogs this evening.
A late rally fell just short as Roy-Hart dropped a narrow 37-35 decision to visiting Alden this evening in a non league girls basketball game.
Trailing by six, 31-25, with three minutes to go Roy-Hart rallied back into a 35-35 tie with 57 seconds remaining after two layups by Shelby Wolf and a jumper by Claire Halstead.
However, the Lady Rams could not score again and the Lady Bulldogs answered back with what proved to be a game winning jumper by Jenna Kersten with 42 seconds to go.
Brianna Boucher scored 9 and Kersten and Caroline Wrest both added 8 to lead the way for Alden.
Wolf and Ava Owens both scored 9 to lead Roy-Hart as Halstead added 7, Rileigh McCabe 5, May Quinn 3 and Kara Choate 2.
Roy-Hart jumped out to an 8-5 lead at the end of the opening quarter as Owens had a pair of early baskets.
The Lady Rams doubled their lead to six, 21-15, at the half as five players contributed baskets in the second quarer including a three by Quinn.
However, Alden came battling back in the third period outscoring Roy-Hart 15-5 to take a 30-26 lead at the three-quarter mark. Boucher hit a three and Kersten chipped in with a pair of baskets during that uprising.
A bucket by Halstead pulled Roy-Hart within one, 30-29, early in the final period but Wrest answered with a pair of layups to put Alden back up by six, 35-29, with three minutes to go.
That set the stage for the Lady Rams late rally which came up just short.
N-O All-League Swim Meet
The annual Niagara-Orleans League boys individual swim meet got underway today in a “virtual” format.
However, the meet is still incomplete as Newfane’s swimmers were unable to compete because the Panthers boys and girls swim teams and girls varsity basketball team are all in a Covid related pause. The Newfane swimmers are expected to do their All-League races on March 3 to complete the All-League meet scoring.
The girls All-League meet, which is scheduled for Wednesday, also looks to face an incomplete situation until Newfane swimmers are eligible to compete on March 3.
Green has sparkling golf debut for USF
Contributed Photo – Medina’s Melanie Green had a sparkling tournament start to her collegiate golf career at the University of South Florida.
Medina High graduate and University of South Florida freshman Melanie Green recently made a sparkling debut to her collegiate golf career.
Green placed second overall at the Florida Atlantic University Paradise Invitational. She had rounds of 69, 69 and 73 for a five under par total of 211.
Her 36 hole goal of six under par 138 ties her for third best on USF’s all time list. In addition, her 54 hole total of 211 is seventh best in the program’s history just four strokes off of the school record 207.
In a release by the college on the tournament Bulls head Coach Erika Brennan was quoted as saying “MG was solid start to finish and it was great to see her earn runner-up honors in her collegiate debut. Her work ethic back home propelled her to an awesome finish.”
Green’s efforts helped South Florida place fourth in the 13 team tournament which was won by Michigan State.
During her scholastic career at Medina, Green captured three Section VI and two state championships.
Roy-Hart/Barker/Medina icers open season
In the belated start to the Western New York Club Hockey League season the Roy-Hart/Barker/Medina squad dropped a 6-2 decision to Wilson/Newfane on Saturday at the Cornerstone Arena in Lockport.
Beginning its fourth season of competition, RBM is playing in the White Division along with Wilson/Newfane, East Aurora/Holland, City Honors/Cardinal O’Hara, ELPS (Eden/Lake Shore/ Pioneer/Springville) and Jamestown. Each team has 1a 10 game regular season schedule.
All of the Wilson/Newfane goals were scored on power plays with two of them coming on five on three man advantages.
W/N took a 1-0 lead at the 11:24 point of the first period, but RBM evened the score on a goal by Corey Saj (Medina) early in the next period. Assists went to Tyler Chraston and Lawson Wallworth, both from Roy-Hart.
Later in that period, RBM took the lead on a score by Dayton Ruppel (Akron) with Saj assisting.
However, W/N tied and took the lead for good by the end of the middle period.
RBM’s next game is Friday evening against ELPS (Eden/Lake Shore/Pioneer/Springville) at Leisure Rinks in Orchard Park at 9 p.m.
Lady Bees edge past Lady Tigers
Byron-Bergen edged past visiting Lyndonville 49-42 this evening in a Genesee Region League girls basketball game.
Ava Wagoner scored 11 and Cavi Caballero 10 to lead the way for Byron-Bergen which used a 15-9 third period scoring edge to break away from a 19-19 halftime deadlock and move out to a 34-28 advantage heading into the final quarter.
Ella Lewis led Lyndonville with 11 as Lorelei Dillenbeck added 8, Karlee Rounds 7, Alexis Hughes 6, Ashlee Stephens 5 an Kaylee Nesbitt 3
Alexander 52, Holley 27
Building up a 29-10 halftime advantage, Alexander went on to defeat visiting Holley 52-27 in another G-R contest.
Haley Kramer led the Lady Trojans with a game high 19 while Halee Passarell paced Holley with 12.
Lyndonville places second at B-B Tourney
Lyndonville placed second at the six team Byron-Bergen Wrestling Tournament today.
Bolivar-Richburg took the team title with 268.5 points followed by Lyndonville 249, Alexander 140, Byron-Bergen 115, Holley-Kendall 81 and Eastridge 62.
Lyndonville had a pair of individual weight class champions in Rodney Davis (179) and Avery Wilcox (285). In the title bouts Davis decisioned Malichi Smith (Byron-Bergen) 17-10 and Wilcox pinned Zane Christakes (Holley-Kendall) in 5:39.
The Tigers had a quartet of second place finishers in Connor Bell (118), Dillon Burt-Hodgins (145), Payton Grabowski (160) and Sam Doolan (215).
Earning third place honors for the Tigers were Christian Garver (102), Ty Holmes (110), Sebastian Temich (152) and Maddox Stirk (189).
Medina swimmers score sweep over Albion; Roy-Hart boys cap 10-0 N-O title season
Photo by Cheryl Wertman – Michael Marker was a double winner in the Backstroke and the Individual Medley for Medina this morning during the regular season ending “virtual” meet against Albion.
Medina scored a sweep over rival Albion this morning in a regular season ending Niagara-Orleans League “virtual” swim meet.
The Medina boys squad completed an 8-2 campaign with a 107-62 victory
Michael Marker doubled in the 200 Individual Medley and 100 Backstroke and Isaac Pace took both the 100 Freestyle and 100 Breaststroke for the Seahorses. Ben Griffin added a win in the 200 Free and Jaxon Phillips took the 500 Free. Marker, Pace, Griffin, Xander Payne and Austin Tompkins were also each on two winning relays.
Finn McCue won the 50 Free and Dallas Ecker the 100 Butterfly for Albion.
The Medina girls completed the sweep by downing Albion 95-68 to finish at 6-4.
Brooklynn Brown won both the IM and Butterfly and Amanda Woodruff the 50 Free and 100 Free for Medina as Madelynn Satkowski took the 200 Free. Brown, Woodruff and Satkowski were also each on two winning relays.
Albion had Clara Bolton win the 500 Free, Devyn Pearles the Backstroke and Rylee Pearles the Breaststroke.
The Roy-Hart boys completed a 10-0 N-O championship campaign by downing Albion 117-50.
The Channel Cats had Carter Green double in the 200 Free and 500 Free and Noah Stern in the 50 Free and 100 Free as Charles Rickard won the Backstroke and Zachary Livergood the Breaststroke. Green, Stern and Andrew Ossont were each on two winning relays.
Completing the sweep the Roy-Hart girls defeated Albion 96-56 to finish at 8-2.
Amanda Hill was a double winner in the IM and 100 Free for Roy-Hart which also had Alexis Seib take the 50 Free, Raychel Dunker the Butterfly, Sophia Santella the 500 Free, Molly Russell the Backstroke and Brooke Livergood the Breaststroke. Hill, Seib and Nadia White were each on two winning relays.
The morning’s other meet saw Albion split with Newfane.
The Purple Eagles won the boys meet 86-75 as Finn McCue took the 50 Free and Jacob Coolbaugh the Breaststroke.
Newfane had Ethan Niver double in the IM and Butterfly and Eli Thompson take both the 100 Free and Backstroke.
The Newfane girls downed Albion 93-61 as Bridget Martin doubled in the 200 Free and 500 Free, Lauren Enderton in the IM and Backstroke and Adoree Nayler in the 50 Free and Breaststroke.
The N-O season will conclude next week with “virtual” All-League meets for the boys on Monday and the girls on Wednesday.
Final N-O Standings
Boys: Roy-Hart 10-0, Medina 8-2, Akron 6-4, Albion 4-6, Barker 1-9, Newfane 1-9
Girls: Akron 10-0, Roy-Hart 8-2, Medina 6-4 Newfane 4-6, Albion 2-8, Barker 0-10
