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Roy-Hart senior to play field hockey at Fisher
Contributed Photo – Roy-Hart senior Lexiss Diel has signed to continue her education and her field hockey career at St. John Fisher College. She is shown here at the signing with her parents Rachel and Michael Diel. She is planning a career in Nursing. This past Roy-Hart field hockey season she had 14 goals and 5 assists, was named the Offense MVP and received the Rampage Award. She was a first team Niagara-Orleans League honoree and a second team All-Western New York selection.
N-O League trio earns first team All-WNY field hockey honors
Contributed Photos – Niagara-Orleans League players earning first team All-WNY honors include, Lacey Berghorn (Akron), Madison Gancasz (Barker) and Madison Brege (Akron).
Niagara-Orleans League co-champions Akron and Barker have placed a total of three players on the first team of the All-Western Nw York field hockey squad.
Akron is represented by sophomores Lacey Berghorn and Madison Brege and Barker by senior Madison Gancasz.
Berghorn, who plays an attack position, scored a Section VI high 33 goals. Brege, a midfielder scored 12 goals.
Gancasz, a midfielder who was named N-O Player of the Year, had 9 goals and 6 assists.
The N-O also had three second team All-WNY honorees including Akron junior midfielder Jenelle Kieffer, Barker senior midfielder Lena Fazzolari and Roy-Hart senior attacker Lexiss Diel.
Kieffer scored 5 goals while Fazzolari had 4 goals and 5 assists and Diel 11 goals and 3 assists.
Barker sophomore defender Ashlin Cole also earned Honorable Mention to the All-WNY squad. She had 3 goals and 3 assists on the season.
Recalling Albion’s N-O cross-country championship three-peat
Contributed Photo – Albion began its three year Niagara-Orleans League cross-country championship run with a victory by this 1993 squad. In front are Mike VanDussen, Paul Nichols, Darryll Beach, Joel Nowatchik, Mark Hooper and Chris Miller. In back are Coach Robert Ord, Kyle Groth, Andy West, Mike Grager, Jose Pas-Rojas, Chris West, Mark Nichols and Rob Snyder.
Over the years Albion has captured the Niagara-Orleans League boys cross-country championship half a dozen times with three of them coming during one very successful three year run from 1993-95.
Coach Robert Ord’s Purple Eagles ended an 11 year title drought by capturing the N-O crown in 1993 going 14-0.
Albion won the All-League meet by 27 points over runner-up Starpoint (34-61) to lock up the title.
Leading the way for Albion at the All-League meet were Kyle Groth who finished third, Mike VanDussen fourth and Jose Pas-Rojas sixth to earn first team All-League honors. The Purple Eagles also had a trio of second team honorees as Mike Grager placed 9th, Mark Nichols 12th and Darryll Beach 16th.
Keeping the momentum, Coach Ord’s Albion squad scored a successful title defense in 1994 again going 14-0.
The Purple Eagles won the All-League meet by 16 points over runner-up Barker (59-75) as Jon Huyck finished third, Mark Nichols 6th, Mike VanDussen 7th and Chris Miller 17th to lead the way for the Purple Eagles
Albion completed the three-peat by claiming the N-O crown in 1995 again going 14-0 with Roger Klatt at the coaching helm.
The Purple Eagles capped off the league title campaign with a 27 point victory at the All-League meet over runner-up Starpoint (38-65).
Albion had five runners in the top 10 at the meet as Joel Nowatchik was 5th, Mike VanDussen 6th, Mark Nichols 8th, Mike West 9th and Joe Gardner 10th.
The Purple Eagles kept rolling that fall by capturing the Section VI Class B championship again besting runner-up Starpoint for the title by a margin of 58 points to 77. Albion had five runners finish in the top 20 as Nichols placed 7th, VanDussen 11th, Nowatchik 12th, Gardner 14th and Mike West 16th.
That win advanced Albion to the state meet where the Purple Eagles finished ninth.
Albion’s other three N-O title seasons have been in 1978, 1982 (a co-championship with Barker) and in 2012.
N-O getting set for a “virtual” swim season
In this very uncertain Pandemic year of 2020 remote learning, zoom meetings and virtual events have become the norm, changes which certainly has affected sports at all levels.
Locally, the Niagara-Orleans League is preparing for what will be a most unusual season of “virtual” boys and girls swim meets.
The “virtual” meets, which would match Albion vs. Medina for example, will have each team swimming the events at its own pool. The times of the teams would then be compared by a computer program to determine the winner of each event and the overall winning team.
“It’s not ideal but it gives the kids an opportunity to do something and right now there is not a lot that they can do,” said Medina Athletic Director Eric Valley.
Practice sessions for the season are scheduled to begin on December 14 with the first of the virtual meets being slated for December 22 with Newfane vs. Albion, Medina vs. Roy-Hart and Barker vs. Akron.
The meets are slated to be held without spectators.
The first meets had been scheduled for December 10 but when the start of practices were moved back from November 30 to December 14 the first three meets (Dec. 10, 12 and 17) had to be rescheduled and are now slated for three Saturdays in January.
Practices for the winter season’s “High Risk” sports of basketball land wrestling are scheduled to begin on January 4 as of now. However, an update on the status of those sports is expected to be released by the New York State Public High School Athletic Association by December 21.
N-O trio earns All-WNY soccer squad honors
Contributed Photos – Niagara-Orleans League All-Western New York squad selections include, from left, Roy-Hart’s Kara Choate, Akron’s Kara Seguin and Albion’s Sydney Mulka.
Three Niagara-Orleans League players have been named to the second team of the annual All-Western New York girls soccer squad.
The trio includes Albion junior goalie Sydney Mulka, Roy-Hart junior forward Kara Choate and Akron senior forward Kara Seguin.
All three earned first team N-O All-League honors.
Mulka made 112 saves and had a goals against average of 1.617.
Choate scored 18 goals and had two assists.
Seguin, a four time first team N-O All-League honoree, had a league high 21 goals and 10 assists.
Mustangs strong cross-country season recalls Medina’s big 1980’s N-O title run
Contributed Photos – Medina’s 1985 Niagara-Orleans League champion cross-country team included, in front, Mark Colton, Joe Granchelli, Joel Messore and Paul Finger. In back are Dan Heschke, Chuck Petkus, Paul Messore, Jeff Grimes, Paul Fox, Bob Kwandrans and Coach Ed Weider.
Enjoying their best season in decades, the Medina High boys cross-country team went 5-1 during the dual meet portion of the campaign and then finished second both at the All-League meet and in the final standings to undefeated champion Newfane (12-0) finishing with a 10-2 record.
The finish was the best for Medina since the Mustangs last captured the N-O championship in 1985. That title was the fifth in six years for Coach Ed Weider’s Mustangs which went 14-0 during each of those seasons.
Individually, the Mustangs also had a very impressive run taking top honors at the N-O All-League meet six years in a row as Doug Wienke won in 1981, Steve Kenward in 1982 and 1983 and Paul Finger in 1984, 1985 and 1986.
Medina claimed its first N-O title in 1980 by besting rival Albion by eight points (45-53) to win the All-League meet.
Good depth keyed the win as the Mustangs top five runners all finished in the top 15. Neil Mack was third, Pat Cassidy fifth, Jeff Hall 10th, Don Cavers 12th and Jim Gardner 15th.
During the regular season the Mustangs posted key wins over defending champion Newfane (28-29) and Albion (24-31).
The Mustangs successfully defended their N-O title in 1981 winning the All-League meet by 30 points over runner-up Newfane (54-84.
Wienke won the race as Jeff Hall was seventh and Steve Kenward ninth.
Kenward went on to win the N-O All-League meet himself in 1982 but Albion and Barker emerged as team co-champions interrupting Medina’s title run.
However, Medina rebounded strongly to reclaim the title in 1983 again winning the All-League meet by 30 points over runner-up Starpoint (38-68).
Kenward successfully defended his individual finish line as Hobie Beedon finished second and Mark Colton fourth.
The Mustangs made it two in a row by repeating as champions in 1984 taking the All-League meet by 11 points over runner-up Roy-Hart (46-57).
Finger won his first All-League meet title to lead the Mustangs as Beedon finished second and Colton fifth.
Medina made it a three-peat by capturing the 1985 title by a narrow six point margin over runner-up Roy-Hart (63-69) at the All-League meet.
Finger also repeated as the meet’s individual champion as Colton finished second.
Finger went on to win his third straight All-League meet title in 1986 but Medina’s team title run was ended by Barker.
Finger placed fifth at the Section VI meet in 1985 and third in 1986 to earn a berth to the state meet both times.
Medina would not have another All-League meet individual champion until Daniel Heil won the race in 2016.
Cameron Castanon also claimed the title this fall to help highlight the Mustangs most successful season in some 35 years.
This trio of runners earned a combined total of six straight N-O All-League meet individual championships. From left, are Doug Wienke (1981), Paul Finger (1984, 1985, 1986) and Steve Kenward (1982-1983).
Dillenbeck heads N-O All-WNY soccer quartet
Photo by Cheryl Wertman -Medina/Lyndonville senior forward Nathan Dillenbeck has earned All-Western New York honors
Medina/Lyndonville senior forward Nathan Dillenbeck has been named to the overall All-Western New York boys soccer team.
Three other Niagara-Orleans League players, Medina junior goalie Zach Fike, Roy-Hart junior forward Trent Choate and Newfane senior midfielder Trevor Heschke, have all been named to the small schools All-WNY team.
Dillenbeck, a two-time first team N-O All-League honoree,had 23 goals and 5 assists this season.
Choate had 13 goals and 2 assists and Heschke, who was named N-O Player of the Year, had 5 goals and 9 assists. In the net Fike made 76 saves.
Dillenbeck is also a nominee for the WNY Prep Fall Athlete Award. Information on voting for nominees for the award can be found on the Lyndonville High website under the Live Feed section.
Contributed Photos – Zach Fike (Medina), Trent Choate (Roy-Hart), Trevor Heschke (Newfane)
Holley seniors sign to play soccer in college
Contributed Photos – Holley High senior Kayleigh Neale this morning signed to continue her education and her soccer career at Baldwin Wallace University in Ohio. She is shown here at the signing with her parents Theresa and Keith Neale. A two time Genesee Region League All-Star, she plans on majoring in Psychology.
Holley High senior Halee Passarell signed this morning to continue her education and her soccer career at Finger Lakes Community College. She is shown here with her parents Lorraine and Michael Passarell at the signing. A three time Genesee Region League All-Star she plans on majoring in Viticulture and Enology.
Albion trio heads N-O All-League soccer team
Photos by Cheryl Wertman – Albion’s first team Niagara-Orleans All-League honorees include, from left, Claire Squicciarini, Sydney Mulka and Abby Scanlan.
Albion has placed a trio of players on the first team of the annual Niagara-Orleans All-League girls soccer squad.
The Purple Eagles are represented by senior midfielder Claire Squicciarini, junior forward Abby Scanlan and junior goalie Sydney Mulka.
Scanlan had 20 goals and 6 assists, Squicciarini 3 goals and 7 assists and in the net Mulka made 112 saves.
Co-champions Roy-Hart and Wilson have each placed two players.
Roy-Hart’s Kara Choate and Nadia White
The Lady Rams are represented by junior forward Kara Choate and sophomore forward Nadia White.
Choate, who has been named N-O Player Of The Year, had 18 goals and 2 assists and White 5 goals and 6 assists.
The Lakewomen have placed senior midfielder Lilly O’Lay and freshman forward Leia Cloy. O’Lay had 11 goals and 4 assists and Cloy 9 goals and 7 assists.
Akron and Newfane have also both placed two players.
The Lady Tigers are represented by senior forwards Kara Seguin and Natalie Karmazyn. Seguin had a league high 21 goals and 10 assists and Karmazyn 13 goals and 3 assists.
Wilson’s Lilly O’Lay and Leia Cloy
The Lady Panthers have placed senior midfielder Rachel Chunco and junior defender Angelina DiTullio. Chunco had 6 goals and 4 assists and DiTullio 1 goal.
Completing the first team is Barker senior goalie Sydnie Luckman who made 285 saves..
Squicciarini, Scanlan, Choate, White and Seguin are all repeat first team honorees.
Roy-Hart leads the second team selections with four including senior defenders Maddy Colley and Clara Jones, sophomore midfielder Grace Parker and senior midfielder Cecelia Santos.
Wilson is represented by the trio of junior defender Kaelin Faery, sophomore defender Maddie Miller and freshman defender Rian Faery.
Albion has placed the junior duo of forward Leah Pritchard and defender Alyson Knaak.
Completing the second team are Akron seniors Madison Henning, a midfielder, and Olivia Kreher, a forward, along with Newfane eighth grader Anna Chunco, a midfielder.
The Honorable Mention selections, listed by school, are as follows:
Akron – senior Ava Martina, sophomore Stella VanWyk and freshman Maggie Middaugh
Albion – juniors Kenzi Hapeman, Emily Harling and Charley London
Barker – seniors Nya Johnson, Sarah Outten and Paige Sutch
Newfane – seniors Cora Harding and Natalia May and sophomore Ainsley DeBiase
Roy-Hart – sophomore Amelia Konstanty
Wilson – senior Kenzie Beyer and sophomores Madelaine Schultz and Isabella Lemke
Contributed Photos – Barker’s Sydnie Luckman and Akron’s Kara Seguin and Natalie Karmazyn
Mustangs and Rams head the first team of the N-O All-League boys soccer team
Photos by Cheryl Wertman – Champion Roy-Hart’s first team Niagara-Orleans All-League honorees include Peter Martillotta, Trent Choate and Dominic Peracciny.
Medina/Lyndonville has placed four players and champion Roy-Hart three to head the first team of the annual Niagara-Orleans All-League boys soccer squad.
Medina/Lyndonville is represented by senior forward Nathan Dillenbeck, senior midfielder Casey Winiecki, senior defender Russ Stephens and junior goalie Zach Fike.
Medina/Lyndonville’s Nathan Dillenbeck and Casey Winiecki.
Dillenbeck, a repeat first team honoree, led the Mustangs in scoring with 23 goals and 5 assists. Winiecki had 5 goals and 2 assists, Stephens 2 goals and 2 assists and in the net Fike made 76 saves.
Roy-Hart, which captured its first N-O title in 20 years, has placed junior forward Trent Choate, sophomore midfielder Peter Martillotta and senior defender Dominic Peracciny.
Choate, a repeat first team selection, had 13 goals and 2 assists and Martillotta 9 goals and 2 assists.
Newfane and Akron have both placed two players on the first team.
Medina/Lyndonville’s Zach Fike and Russ Stephens.
The Panthers are represented by the senior duo of midfielder Trevor Heschke and defender Umaru Capen.
Heschke, who has been named N-O Player of the Year, had 5 goals and 9 assists and Capen one goal and one assist.
The Tigers have placed junior forward Travis Fry and senior defender Jashua Mazza. Fry had 10 goals and 3 assists.
Rounding out the first team is Wilson junior midfielder Owen Cloy who had 6 goals and 12 assists.
Roy-Hart and Newfane led the way on the second team with each placing three players.
Contributed Photos – Akron’s Jashua Mazza and Travis Fry.
The Rams are represented by senior forward Aidan Bligh, sophomore midfielder Aiden Guild and senior defender Noah Stern.
The Panthers have placed senior forward Jeremy Foltz, junior defender Connor Gunby and junior goalie Brady Harrington.
Medina/Lyndonville is represented by the duo of senior midfielder AJ Seefeldt and junior defender Jack Whipple.
Wilson has two honorees in junior midfielder Patrick Hemming and senior defender Michael Miller.
Completing the second team are Albion senior forward Alex Gibson and Akron sophomore midfielder Caleb Suckow.
The Honorable Mention selections, listed by school, are as follows:
Roy-Hart – senior Brad Voelker and juniors Christian Lates and Brett Ricker.
Medina/Lyndonville – seniors Dan Mandujano, Alex Barry and Anthony Moule.
Albion – seniors Zac Albright and Jacob Thom and junior Tyler Gibson.
Akron – seniors Joey Abrams, Even Lazzazero, Jackob Mazza, Adam Mietz and Evan Janik.
Newfane – juniors Ty Williams, Max Czekaj and Jacob Miller.
Wilson – seniors Ben Lyman and Ben Mahar and junior Joey Moote.
Contributed Photos – Wilson’s Owen Cloy along with the Newfane duo of Trevor Heschke and Umaru Capen.
