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N-O honors for Medina and Newfane runners
Photos by Tom Rivers – Medina’s Cameron Castanon and Newfane’s Kylie Bowman have earned Niagara-Orleans League cross-country Runners of the Year award.
Medina’s Cameron Castanon and Newfane’s Kylie Bowman have been named Niagara-Orleans League Cross-Country Runners of the Year.
Castanon, a senior who won all of Medina’s dual meets, took first place honors at the N-O All-League meet and placed second at the Section VI Class C1 race.
“He consistently pushes himself hard in every workout and has been a leader on our team,” said Medina Coach Christian Held. “Cameron has helped his team go from a 1-5 record last year to a 5-1 record this year and a second-place finish in the section. We are going to miss him a lot next year! “
Bowman, who is a freshman, likewise went undefeated in dual meets this season and won both the N-O All-League meet and the Section VI Class C1 race.
“This is a tremendous honor for these 2 athletes, especially overcoming everything they had to for the 2020 season,” said Albion Athletic Director and N-O cross-country chairman Adam Krenning.. “As the N/O Cross Country Chair, I am honored to be part of these elite athletes that represent our League. I am proud of every student-athlete that competed this year in Cross County and they should all feel accomplished in what they have done in this difficult time. “
East Rochester tops Holley for Class C1 title
Jumping out to a quick 2-0 lead in the first 15 minutes, top seeded East Rochester went on to defeat No. 3 Holley 4-0 this evening in the Section V Class C1 boys soccer championship game at East Rochester.
Goals by Chuck Domm seven minutes in off a corner and by Ian Szemczak six minutes later on a cross put the Bombers in command.
East Rochester made it 3-0 before halftime on a goal by Russell Domm who also netted the Bombers lone second half tally.
East Rochester finishes the season at 12-1 and Holley at 11-4-1.
Holley advanced to the title contest by scoring 2-0 victories over Addison in the quarterfinals and Pavilion/York in the semifinals.
Holley’s trip to the C1 final recalls the Hawks first state championship season of 1990
Contributed Photos – Holley’s Keith Jarosinski, left, who scored both goals, advances the ball against a Southold defender during the 1990 state Class D championship game at Tonawanda. At right, Chip Sugar, who assisted on the game winning goal, outraces a Southhold defender to the ball.
Holley will wrap up the soccer season on Thursday evening as the No. 3 seeded Hawks visit top seeded East Rochester at 6 p.m. for the Section V Class C1 championship.
Because the COVID -19 pandemic has caused the state playoffs to be cancelled the sectional class finals is the farthest teams can advance in the postseason playoffs this season.
This trip to the class final though recalls Holley’s historic first state soccer championship in 1990.
That fall the Hawks claimed the state Class D championship with a thrilling 2-1 double overtime victory over Southhold of Long Island at old Clint Small Stadium in Tonawanda.
Keith Jarosinski scored both Holley goals in the second 10 minute overtime period to ease a 1-0 deficit.
Southhold, which had claimed the state Class D title five of the previous 10 years, took a 1-0 lead in the first 10 minute overtime.
Rebounding strongly, Holley knotted the contest just 2:21 into the second overtime period as Jarosinski scored on a rebound after Nick Voges initial shot hit the post.
Keeping the momentum, the Hawks then got the game winner when Jarosinski netted his 40th goal of the season with 3:01 remaining off a nice pass from Chip Sugar.
Holley had advanced to the final by blanking Roxbury from Section IV 4-0 in the state semifinals held at Byron-Bergen.
Sugar scored two goals while Jarosinski and Voges each netted one for the Hawks which led 1-0 at the half.
Holley’s long journey to the state finals began with four victories in the Section V playoffs including 2-0 over Scio in the Class DD quarterfinals, 3-0 over Honeoye in the DD semifinals, 3-1 over Baples in the DD final and 4-0 over Greenwood in the Section V Class D state qualifier contest.
The Hawks then won a thrilling 2-1 overtime victory over North Collins in the Class D West Regional at Lew-Port to advance to the state semifinals.
North Collins took an early first half lead but Holley rallied to tie on a penalty kick goal by Jarosinski with 11:33 to go in the opening half.
Jarosinski later scored the game winner with a goal at 4:31 of the first overtime period.
Coach Dan Orbaker’s squad, which finished the season with a 24-1-1 record included Jarosinski, Sugar, Voges, Lee Dillenbeck, Frank Mitchell, Hai Nguyen, Scott Seely, Nick Hansen, Ben Schiavone, Tan Le, John Gorman, Brian Hein, Jeff Dinehart, Jason Rees, Rob Requa, Steve Young, Orlando Perez, Chris Mitchell, Mike Bennage, Carl Pedly and Ian Casperson.
The Hawks certainly kept the momentum from that historic season by going on to repeat as state champions in 1991.
Section VI delays start of swim season
The Section VI Executive Council today voted to delay the start of practice for the low-moderate risk winter sports which for Niagara-Orleans League schools involves swimming.
Swim practice, which had been scheduled to begin on November 30, will now start on December 14.
“The Section remains committed to providing opportunities for our winter athletes,” Section VI President Brett Banker said. “Much like the recently completed fall season when we did all we could, our leadership groups across the Section are working tirelessly for our athletes, families and our coaches.”
“With the reality of where we are statistically, we need to assist our Superintendents and there leaders and pause for a moment,” Banker continued. “There are great people in the Section’s athletic world working on the issues and who are fully cognizant of what these programs mean to kids.”
The Executive Committee added that “High Risk” sports, including basketball and wrestling, remain scheduled for a January 4 start up.
Mustangs celebrate sectional soccer title
Contributed Photo – Medina/Lyndonville players and coaches celebrate earning a share of the Section VI Class B1 soccer title after tying host Tonawanda 2-2 in double overtime in the title contest Saturday. The sectional title is the third in the last nine years for the Mustangs who previously nipped Tonawanda 1-0 in the 2011 final and Newfane 2-1 in overtime for the 2013 crown. Head Coach Steve Luksch’s squad includes Alex Barry, Zaric Boyce, Brandon Boyce, Aiden Burczyk, Jacob Corser, Nate Dillenbeck, Zach Fike, Brian Fry, Evan Harris, Miles Hartway, Roman Heinsler, Sam Kingsbury, Dan Mandujano, Jackson Moreland, Mason Moreland, Mason Nicholson, Aidan Owczarczak, Jack Rutkowski, AJ Seefeldt, Cole Seefeldt, Russ Stephens, Jack Whipple, Ricky Wood and Sebastian Zilempe along with Anthony Moule and Casey Winiecki who were not in the picture.
Holley scores shutout win in Class C1 semi
Photos by Cheryl Wertman – Holley’s Nathan Nothnagle sends a shot past Pavilion/York goalie Evan Amberger for the Hawks second goal. The action took place during Holley’s home field sectional semifinal win this evening.
Goals just before and after halftime earned No. 3 seeded Holley a 2-0 victory over visiting No. 7 Pavilion/York this evening in the semifinal round of the Section V Class C1 boys soccer playoffs.
Kayden Servais scored what proved to be the game winning goal for Holley when he connected on an angle shot with 5:53 to go in the first half off an assist from Nathan Nothnagle.
Holley’s KJ Biedlingmaier advances the ball between Pavilion/York defenders Kyan Tiede and Jake Taylor.
The Hawks then got a huge insurance goal when Nothnagle scored just 22 seconds into the second half off a nice pass from Cameron Bates.
The goals were the 12th of the season for Nothnagle and the seventh for Servais.
“That was our best game. We really moved the ball around well, the best we’ve done all season,” said Holley Coach Zach Ritz. “All around everyone really played very well.”
Broek Ostrom earned the shutout in goal for the Hawks whose defense was anchored by the quartet of Caleb Schultz, Nick Mandigo, Charlie Turpyn and KJ Biedlingmaier.
“They really stepped up,” said Ritz of his defense. We always say we want to defend in the other team’s end and that’s what we did. They really kept the pressure on.”
Improving to 11-3-1, Holley will next visit top seed East Rochester in the Class C1 championship game on Thursday. East Rochester downed No. 5 Sodus 6-1 in the other semifinal.
Holley’s Kayden Servais works wtween Pavilon/York defenders Caleb Brooks and Jake VanWyk.
Naples downs Kendall in Class C2 semifinal
Top seeded Naples bested visiting No. 4 Kendall 2-0 this afternoon in the semifinal round of the Section V Class C2 boys soccer playoffs.
Improving to 11-0, Naples scored the game winner at the 15 minute mark of the first half and then added a big insurance tally with only 1:40 to go in the half.
“That one hurt,” said Kendall Coach Rich Esposito of Naples’ second goal. “We had plenty of chances ourselves we just couldn’t get one to fall. I’m proud of the boys they played well.”
Kendall finishes the season with a 6-9 record.
NYSPHSAA announces a new start date for “High Risk” winter sports
The New York State Public High School Athletic Association (NYSPHSAA) this morning announced that the start for “High Risk” winter sports including basketball, wrestling, competitive cheerleading and ice hockey has been moved back to January 4, 2021.
The NYSPHSAA release added that until authorization is granted by state officials, NYSPHSAA member schools are not permitted to participate in sports determined to be high risk by the New York State Department of Health. (NYSDOH).
Low and moderate risk winter sports which includes swimming, will be permitted to begin on November 30th as previously determined by NYSPHSAA.
“The NYSPHSAA membership has expressed concerns pertaining to the increase in infection rates,” said NYSPHSAA Executive Director Robert Zayas. “Minimizing risk and exposure to COVID-19 is a top priority of the Association. We continue to make these types of decisions based upon readily available information and communication with state officials.”
The release adds that low and moderate risk winter sports practices are still on schedule to begin on November 30th for those schools and sections who have determined it feasible to host interscholastic athletics at that time. Regular season games/contests can begin for low and moderate sports once student-athletes have participated in the required number of practices.
“NYSPHSAA’s leadership recognizes the numerous challenges interscholastic programs are experiencing and the obstacles associated with resuming high risk sports,” said NYSPHSAA President Julie Bergman. “While it is certainly the goal of the Association to provide all students with the ability to participate in interscholastic athletics we must remain steadfast in our decisions to ensure the safety of our athletes is our focus.”
The release concludes by stating that “at this time all winter NYSPHSAA State Championship events remain as scheduled.”
Avon girls down Holley in Class C1 semi
Jumping out to a 2-0 halftime advantage, top seeded Avon went on to defeat visiting No. 4 Holley 4-0 this evening in the semifinal round of the Section V Class C1 girls soccer playoffs.
Avon, which improves to 14-0, will face the winner of the No. 3 Warsaw vs. No. 2 Gananda semi in the championship game on Wednesday.
Holley finishes the season with a 12-2-2 record.
Fry signs to play baseball at Toledo U.
Contributed Photo – Medina High senior Brian Fry signs a letter of intent to continue his education and his baseball career at Division 1 Toledo University. He is planning on majoring in Physical Education. Shown with him are his parents Brian Sr. and Michelle and his brother Brodie. He has been a starter on the Mustangs varsity baseball team since eighth grade and is a three time Niagara-Orleans All-League honoree. He has also been a multi year starter on the Mustangs varsity football and basketball teams.
