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Mustangs prep for N-O soccer title defense
Photos by Cheryl Wertman – Returning first team All-League honorees Jack Whipple, left, and Nate Dillenbeck, who are shown here in action during games last fall, will help lead Medina/Lyndonville into the defense of the Mustangs Niagara-Orleans League title this fall.
Boasting a large returning contingent which includes seven All-League team honorees, the Medina/Lyndonville boys soccer squad is getting set to defend its Niagara-Orleans League title.
The Mustangs went 9-1 last fall (14-3 overall) to edge out 8-2 Roy-Hart for the title.
Senior forward Nate Dillenbeck and junior defender Jack Whipple, who both earned first team N-O All-League honors last fall, lead the Mustangs veteran contingent. Dillenbeck, who was named N-O Player of the Year, scored a team high 19 goals and added 8 assists.
The Mustangs also return a quartet of second team N-O All-League honorees including junior goalie Zach Fike, senior forward Dan Mandujano, senior midfielder AJ Seefeldt and senior defender Casey Winiecki. Senior midfielder Russ Stephens also earned Honorable Mention. Mandujano had 12 goals and 4 assists, Stephens 5 goals and 2 assists and Seefeldt 4 goals and 7 assists.
The Mustangs veteran group also includes seniors Anthony Moule, Alex Barry and Jack Rutkowski on defense and Jacob Corser, Ricky Wood, Sebastian Ziempe and Miles Hartway at midfield. along with juniors Cole Seefeldt and Roman Heinsler at midfield and Zarie Boyce and Aidam Owczarczak on defense.
Juniors up from the JV ranks who look to contribute include Connor Bell, Sam Kingsbury and Evan Harris.
Two members of the Mustangs varsity football team, whose season has been postponed until March, Brian Fry and Jarin Rhim, are also looking for spots on the roster.
“We’ve got experience and talent across the board and we’re pretty deep,” said Coach Steve Luksch. “I think having most everyone back and the continuity that gives us since they have a lot of experience playing together really gives us an advantage. We’re looking to hit the ground running. Our goals are to defend our league title and make some noise in sectionals.”
The Mustangs graduation losses included first team All-Leaguers midfielder Nate Sherman (7 goals, 4 assists) and defender Evan Horn along with forward Oskar Heinsler, midfielders Jonathan Slingerland and Devin Rounds, defenders Wes Hughes and Hunter Heil and goalie Cooper Fearby.
The Mustangs are slated to begin their title defense at home on October 5 against Wilson.
Schedule:
October: 5 – Wilson, 7 p.m.; 7 – Newfane, 7 p.m.; 10 – at Roy-Hart, 12 p.m.; 14 – Akron, 7 p.m.; 16 – at Albion, 6:45 p.m.; 23 – at Wilson, 4:30 p.m.; 28 – at Newfane, 4:30 p.m.; 30 – Roy-Hart, 7 p.m.; 31 – at Akron, 11 a.m.
November: 5 – Albion, 4:30 p.m.
Fall High School practices get underway
Photos by Cheryl Wertman – This afternoon for the first time since mid March area high school athletes were able to get in a practice session. Though it came a month later than the original scheduled starting date of August 24 due to the Covid-19 situation today marked the start of practice for boys and girls soccer, field hockey, cross-country and golf teams. Here members of the Albion girls varsity soccer team begin their first session. Click here to view action from today’s practices from Albion and Medina.
Members of the Albion girls varsity soccer team here work on a ball control drill. Both Niagara-Orleans and Genesee Region League soccer teams have their first games scheduled for October 5 and 6.
The Medina/Lyndonville boys varsity and JV soccer team shared the Vets Park turf for their first practice season.Here some of the players work on a ball control drill.
Here members of the Medina varsity field hockey team work on a shooting drill during the practice season held on the field inside the track behind the Wise Middle School. Medina is schedule to open the N-O season on October 6 at defending champion Barker.
Academy Stars trim Medina Mustangs 13U
The Medina Mustang 13U baseball team dropped a narrow 10-7 decision to the Academy Stars 14U squad on Sunday in a WNY Boys of Summer Fall League game at Barre Town Park.
After a rough first inning in which Medina gave up up 7 runs, the Mustangs outscored the Stars 7 to 3 in the last six innings coming up short in bottom of seventh stranding two base runners.
Brody Fry pitched 3 great innings only giving up 1 run with 4 strikeouts, Lukas Grimes followed up with 3 strikeouts in the 5th and 6th innings, and Ryleigh Culver closed out game only facing 4 hitters.
Culver led the Mustangs batting with a single, double and 2 RBI’s. Carter Woodworth had a single, 1 RBI, and scored a run, Vinny Gray a single, RBI, and scored a run, Jimmy Dieter a single, and scored a run and Tyler Kroening an RBI. Fry and Preston Woodworth both added a single while Ryan Pegelow and Lukas Grimes each scored a run.
Medina also lost a doubleheader to the 14U WNY Prospects on Saturday at Orchard Park.
Kroening had a double and scored the lone run on RBI by Fry in game 1.
In game two, Preston Woodworth had a single and a double and scored a run, Gray and Kroening each had a single and scored a run, Fry had a single and 2 RBI’s, and Dieter scored a run.
“All three games were played against 14U teams as the WNY Boys of Summer league had to combine 13U and 14U teams in same league due to limited amount of teams playing,” said Medina Coach John Dieter. “The Medina Mustangs 12U are playing up at 13U level for preparation for spring 13U.”
H.S. Fall sports practice set to begin Monday
It’s a day players and coaches have been waiting for a long time. Now nearly a month after the original starting date of August 24 preseason practice for the “low risk” high school fall sports of boys and girls soccer, field hockey, cross-country and golf will begin on Monday.
The fall season’s “high risk” sports of football, volleyball and competitive cheerleading have been postponed until March.
The Niagara-Orleans League fall season will tee off with golf on September 28. Medina is the defending links champ as the Mustangs went 12-0 last fall.
N-O League and Genesee Region League boys soccer will get underway on October 5. Medina/Lyndonville is the defending N-O champion having gone 9-1 last fall.
Tuesday October 6 will be a busy starting date as N-O and G-R girls soccer, N-O field hockey and N-O cross-country will all get underway. The defending N-O champions are Akron in girls soccer, Newfane in boys and girls cross-country and Barker in field hockey. Kendall is the defining G-R Division 2 champ.
This fall, because of the late starting date, N-O and G-R teams are playing schedules comprised of only league games.
The regular season for boys and girls soccer and field hockey is scheduled to conclude between November 5-7 which some sectional competition excepted to follow.
N-O golf will conclude with the All-League Tournament on October 17 and cross-country will wind up with the All-League meet on October 31.
Medina MAC gridders had three title seasons
Contributed Photo – The Medina MAC’s 1952 championship football team included, in front, John Hydock, John Balcerzak, Fran Balcerzak, Walt Wanecski, Fran Moriarty, Chuck Mancuso, Phil LaMachia, Tom Maryjanowski, Burr Breed and Roger Houseman. In the middle row are Gerald Schuyler, George Miller, Jim Carroll, D. Thompson, Dom Terra, Tony Balcerzak, Gene Kujawa, Steve Champlin Jr. and Walt Poodry. In the back row are Merle Fredericks, Joe (Williams) Szczechewiak, Jack Stillwell, Joe Lewandowski, Ray Smith, Bill Eaton, Ed Cotriss, Leonard Balcerzak, Dave Gardner and Coach Bob Breitsman. Missing from the photo were Dick Paul, Ed Middlestedt, Chet Potrubacz, Gerald Trombley, Rich Mancuso and Fritz Price.
During their 16 years of competition (1946-1961) the Medina MACs semi pro football team enjoyed three championship seasons.
Interestingly, those title campaigns all came within a span of just four years – 1949, 1951 and 1952,
The MAC Bulldogs, as the team was called, captured the 1949 Western New York Upstate Football Conference championship by defeating Batavia 12-0 in the playoff title game after the two teams had finished the regular season with identical 4-2 records. The teams split a pair of regular season meeting with Medina taking the first 25-6 and Batavia the second 26-7.
A 42 yard first quarter field goal by Roger Houseman proved to be all of the points the MACs would need in the title contest. Houseman also caught a 60 yard touchdown pass from Tom Maryjanowski in the second quarter and added the extra point kick. The Bulldogs other two points came on a safety.
The MACs most successful season came in 1951 when they went 9-0 capturing both the WNY Football Conference regular season and playoff championships.
The MACs captured the regular season title in dramatic fashion by rallying for two touchdowns in the final two minutes to edge Blasdell 18-13 in the regular season finale.
The Bulldogs closed to within a point at 13-12 on a touchdown run by Dickie Paul.
Then, after Ed Cotriss recovered the ensuing onside kick, the Bulldogs pulled out the incredible victory on a touchdown pass from Francis “Mo” Moriarty to Warren “Burr” Breed with only seconds remaining.
The MACs then completed their perfect 9-0 season by blanking Blasdell 18-0 in the playoff championship game on snow covered Vets Park in mid November. “Mo” Moriarty threw touchdown passes to Breed, Houseman and Ed Mittlestedt to earn the title.
Stretching their undefeated string to 20 games, the Bulldogs successfully defended their WNY Football Conference regular season title in 1952.
The Bulldogs romped past the Olean Rockets 37-8 in the regular season finale to retain the title as Maryjanowski threw four touchdown passes including two to Breed and one each to Houseman and Mancuso.
A narrow 26-24 win over the Dekdebruns of Buffalo the week before set up the title opportunity. Houseman caught three TD passes.
The MACs then defeated the Dekdebruns again 19-7 in the playoff semifinals as Maryjanowski threw two touchdown passes to Breed and one to Houseman.
However, the MACs bid for a second straight playoff title was dashed as Blasdell avenged the 1951 title loss by downing the Bulldogs 25-6 at Vets Park. A Maryjanowski to Houseman TD pass accounted for the MACs only points.
The Bulldogs finished the season with a 10-1-1 overall record.
Roy-Hart’s new purple tennis courts are open
Photo by Cheryl Wertman – Well reflecting the school’s colors Roy-Hart’s new complex of six purple tennis courts located just east of the Middle School will certainly catch the attention of visiting teams next season.
Contributed Photo Superintendent Dr. Hank Stopinski officially opened the new tennis courts at the Middle School. on September 11. Pictured here at the ceremony with Dr. Dr. Stopinski are Athletic Director John Grzymala and R-H Tennis Coach Doug Meyer along with Rams tennis players Dom Peracinny (Class of 2021), Mya Quinn (Class of 2021) and Marissa Scott (Class of 2022).
It was Albion vs. Medina in the Mustangs inaugural field hockey home opener
Contributed Photo – In action here from the Albion at Medina field hockey game during the Niagara-Orleans League’s debut season in 1974 Medina’s Lynne Schlegel (32) and her Mustang teammates Dawn Modern (41), Pam Root (34), Anita Chinn (25) and Lisa Collins work to gain control of the ball.
With the belated start to practice for the fall high school sports season for field hockey, boys and girls soccer, cross-country and golf slated to begin on Monday here is a look back at Medina’s first field hockey home opener in 1974 which was interestingly against Albion.
The Mustangs and Purple Eagles played to a 4-4 tie in that Niagara-Orleans League contest played behind the Wise Middle School.
Medina rallied from a 4-2 deficit on a pair of second half goals by Rita Chambers. The tying goal came with only 30 seconds remaining. Chris and Carol Prawel scored Medina’s other goals in the first half.
Albion played field hockey in the N-O for the league’s first eight years (1974-1981) before switching to soccer as a girls sport for the fall season.
Medina, which went 0-5-1 during that inaugural season quickly moved into a contending team by posting winning records of 7-2-3 in 1975, 8-4 in 1976 and 9-3-2 in 1977 before putting together three straight N-O championship years. The Mustangs claimed the N-O crown by going 13-0-1 in 1978, 14-1-0 in 1979 and 13-1 in 1980.
Section VI moving forward with fall sports
Getting overwhelming support from area school districts, the Section VI Executive Committee today approved moving forward with the start of fall sports practice as scheduled on September 21.
A press released sent out this afternoon by the Executive Committee stated that “the Athletic Council of Section VI today accepted the results of the formal post-card ballot that went out to their membership, and will move forward with fall sports.
“Over 70 districts submitted votes through the ballot process with 67 pledging their support for a September 21 start date.
“The post card ballot is a part of our Constitution and provides us with an avenue to do business”, Section VI President, Brett Banker said. “The procedure allows for consistent messaging and decision making from across our Section and the results speak for themselves.”
“Per the Return to Interscholastic Athletics document circulated by the New York State Public High School Athletic Association (NYSPHSAA) on September 4 and revised on September 11, local schools are now allowed to move forward in cross country, field hockey, golf, gymnastics, soccer, girls swimming and girls tennis. Competitive cheerleading, football and volleyball had already been shifted to March 1.
“It remains the right of each district and league to engage in their own decision-making process and commit to all of the allowable sports, some selected sports or even none”, Banker continued. “Each district will make the appropriate decision for their communities. We respect the position each district must take. Now it’s incumbent on all of us; athletic directors, coaches, athletes and families to do all we can to follow protocols and attempt to limit exposure.
The release concluded by stating that “the Section continues to work with their coaching chairs to discuss the issues associated with postseason play for the allowable fall sports.”
Recalling St. Mary’s title win over Medina
Contributed Photo – The past weekend Medina won the inaugural Orleans County Short Season Baseball League 12U Division playoff championship by nipping the Albion Rotary squad 1-0 at the Midget League Field. Thirty years ago an Albion team reversed that outcome as St. Mary’s downed Medina 17-3 in the title game of the Orleans County Baseball League playoffs. The Albion St. Mary’s squad, which finished the season with a 15-1 record, included, in front Brian Wilston, Jarrod Kappler, Tom Rush, Jason Smith and Chris Berg. In the middle row are Mark O’Brien, Chris Taylor, Tim Talbot, Jerry Salvatore, Mike Beach and Todd Kingsbury. In the back row are Manager Ken Smith, Jeremy Fadale, Saul Harrison, Scott Ward, Marc Derisley, Mike Paddock, Coach Gary Kingsbury and Coach Paul Fadale. Missing from the photo is Scott Kaniecki. Interestingly, Saul Harriosn’s son, Noah Harrison, was a member of this season’s Rotary team.
