Nearly 15 Orleans County athletes earned top five finishes at the New York Wrestling Association For Youth 2026 State Championships held at Syracuse this past weekend.

On the boys’ side, Albion’s Purple Eagles Wrestling Academy had eight place finishers including Matthias Ellis III (1st), Jeffrey Lutes (2nd), Liam McElwin (2nd), Colton Moreland (3rd), Jaxon Francis (3rd), Ayden Porter (3rd), Matthew Schomske (4th) and Jayce Rivera (5th).

The Lyndonville Wrestling Club had Carson Dix place third and Harrison Joy fourth.

On the girls side, the Purple Eagles Wrestling Academy had Elizabeth Colmenero place first, and Zaya Ellis third.

Holley-Kendall had Charlie Fox place second and Lyndonville Jacy Heideman fifth.

Photo by Cheryl Wertman – Getting set to lead the Medina lacrosse team into the upcoming season is this group of veterans. In front are Gavin Dahlhaus, Luke Duffina, Landon Costich and Tegan Meland. In back are Miles Arbegast, Matthew Jacobs, Brennan Allen and Deven Byrne.

Anchored by a good veteran nucleus, the Medina lacrosse team is prepping for the March 24 D Division home opener against Tonawanda at 5 p.m. at Vets Park.

The Mustangs veteran group includes seniors Luke Duffina, Landon Costich, Frankie Stephens, Tegan Meland, Miles Arbegast and Deven Byrne along with juniors Gavin Dahlhaus, Brennan Allen, Matthew Jacobs, Jayzon Wills and Jobi Wheeler.

Dahlhaus had 18 goals and 5 assists last season while Duffina had 7 goals and 10 assists.

“We have a good group back,” said Coach Ben Austin. “We are just going to do our best and work hard to keep Mustang lacrosse heading in the right direction.”

The Mustangs graduation losses included attackmen Cole Callard (45 goals, 24 assists) and Max Pilon (7 goals); midfielders Lucius Wagner (22 goals), Jake Dunn (13 goals) and Cam Kenward (6 goals 4 assists) along with defenders Austin Seefeldt and Ethan Carson.

Medina went 3-7 in the division and 6-12 overall last year.

Photos by Cheryl Wertman – First team All-League honores, from left, Adella Dukes (Roy-Hart), Abby Gerstung (Akron) and Aaliyah Jones (Albion).

Four schools are represented on the first team of the annual Niagara-Orleans girls basketball All-League squad.

Wilson, which shared the N-O title with Akron at 10-2, has placed the senior trio of Bella Thrush, Rowan Simpson and Abbie Faery.

Completing the first team are Akron sophomore Abby Gerstung, Albion freshman Aaliyah Jones and Roy-Hart junior Adella Dukes.

Gerstung, who has been named N-O Player of the Year, is a repeat selection as are Thrush and Simpson.

Wilson’s first team honorees include Abbie Faery, Bella Thrush and Rowan Simpson.

Gerstung scored 340 points (15.45 ave.) and had 133 rebounds.

Faery scored 212 points (9.6 ave.) and had 152 rebounds.

Thrush scored 175 points (7.9 ave.) and had 156 rebounds.

Simpson scored 172 points (7.8 ave.) and had 44 rebounds.

Dukes scored 315 points (15.0 ave.) and had 163 rebounds.

Jones scored 201 points (12.56 ave.)

Five schools are represented on the All League second team as five of the six players are underclassmen:

Akron – Olivia Novak (Sr.) and Clara Bogdan (Fr.)

Albion – Melia Prince (Jr.)

Medina – Alexa Demmer (Jr.)

Newfane – Ah’leena Golden (So.)

Roy-Hart – Courtney Aquilina (Jr.)

Players earning Honorable Mention include, listed by school:

Akron – Cara Swader (Sr.) and Marissa Brege (Sr.)

Barker – Elise Monaco (So.) and Hailey Dodge (Sr.)

Medina – Samantha Heschke (Jr.) and Caliyah St. Louis (Fr.)

Newfane – Julia Noonan (Sr.), Emma Johnson (Fr.) and Julia Leibring (Jr.)

Roy-Hart – Kylie McOmber (Sr.) and Millie Owens (Sr.)

Wilson – Grace Smith (Jr.), Kylee Elia (Jr.) and Lucy Madam (So.)

Photos by Cheryl Wertman – N-O first team honorees, from left, Ryan Hough and Aidan Neumann from Wilson and Mac Capen from Newfane.

Champion Wilson and runner-up Akron have earned five of the six spots on the first team of the Niagara-Orleans boys basketball All League squad.

Wilson, which captured the N-O title with an 11-1 record, is represented by the senior duo of Aidan Neumann and Ryan Hough.

Akron, which posted a 10-2 record, has placed seniors Ben Gerstung and Blake Gerstung along with junior Derren Brooks.

Neumann, who has been named N-O player of the Year, Ben Gerstung and Brooks are all repeat first team honorees.

Completing the first team is Newfane senior Mac Capen.

Akron’s first team All League trio of Blake Gerstung, Derren Brooks and Ben Gerstung.

Neumann scored 518 points (23.5 average) and had 120 rebounds, 66 assists and 57 steals.

Hough scored 258 points (12.3 ave.) and had 182 rebounds, 37 assists and 42 steals.

Ben Gerstung scored 350 points (15.2 ave.) and had 135 rebounds, 87 assists and 34 steals.

Blake Gerstung scored 358 points (15.6 ave.) and had 70 rebounds, 48 assists and 39 steals.

Brooks scored 451 points (19.6 ave.) and had 303 rebounds and 73 blocks.

Capen scored 239 points (11.4 ave.) and had 185 rebounds and 55 assists.

Albion and Medina are both represented by two players on the All League second team.

The Purple Eagles have placed senior Tyler Cody and junior Elijah Doxey.

The Mustangs are represented by senior Jerrell Nealy and junior Preston Woodworth from Medina.

Completing the second team are junior Anthony Taliaferro from Barker and senior Shamus George from Wilson.

Players earning Honorable Mention included, listed by school:

Akron – Ace Abrams (Sr.), Brodie Hill (Sr.), Jackson Pragle (Sr.)

Albion – Nate Gibson (Sr.), Wesley Olles (Sr.)

Barker – JJ Prynn (Sr.), Donovan Hefferon (Sr.)

Medina – Christian Moss (Sr.)

Newfane – Kasey Wheat (Sr.), Isaac Zachary (Sr.) and Camlo Flowers (Sr.)

Roy-Hart – Vinny Fazzio (Sr.) and Matt Aquilina (Jr.)

Wilson – Brock Lepsch (Sr.)

Photos by Cheryl Wertman – Holley’s Avante Walker, left, and Lyndonville’s Lane Woodworth have been named to the Genesee Region League All Star team.

Holley junior Avante Walker and Lyndonville sophomore Lane Woodworth have both been named to the Genesee Region League boys basketball All Star team.

Walker averaged 15.5 points and 8 rebounds per game for the Hawks.

Woodworth averaged 14.1 points and 7.4 rebounds per game for the Tigers.

In addition, Holley senior Josh Silpoch and Lyndonville senior Colton Smith have both earned Honorable Mention.

Silpoch averaged 14.3 points and 4.5 rebounds per game.

Smith averaged 10 points and 6 rebounds per game.

Photos by Cheryl Wertman – Kendall’s Genesee Region League All Stars include, from left, Jonny Conte, CJ D’Agostino and Vinnie D’Agostino.

Kendall is represented by three players on the Genesee Region League boys basketball All Star team

The Eagles trio includes seniors Vinnie D’Agostino and Jonny Conte and junior CJ D’Agostino.

In addition, Kendall junor Noah Morehouse has received Honorable Mention.

CJ D’Agostino scored 334 points this season for a 16.7 average and also grabbed off 180 rebounds.

Vinnie D’Dgostino scored 254 points (12.7 ave.) and pulled down 98 rebounds.

Conte scored 140 points (7.0 ave.) and had 85 rebounds.

Morehouse scored 162 points (8.1 ave.) and grabbed off 110 rebounds.

The Eagles went 12-3 in G-R competition and 15-7 overall.

Photos by Cheryl Wertman – Kendall’s G-R All-Star trio includes, from left, Stella Kwiatek, Izzy D’Agostino and Mia Price.

Kendall has placed three players on the Genesee Region League girls basketball All Star team.

The Lady Eagles trio includes senior Stella Kwiatek, junior Mia Price and sophomore Izzy D’Agostino.

In addition, sophomore Teagan Shaw has earned Honorable Mention.

Price scored 241 points for an 11.0 average, D’Agostino 225 points (10.0 ave.), Shaw 218 points (10.0 ave.) and Kwiatek 166 points (7.0 ave.) Price made 34 threes and Kwiatek 25.

In addition, Shaw averaged 9 rebounds per game and D’Agostino 8. Shaw also had 35 blocks and Kwiatek averaged 4 assists per game.

Photo by Cheryl Wertman – Isabella Groves

Lyndonville senior Isabella Groves has been named to the Genesee Region League girls basketball All-Star team.

Groves scored 201 points on the season for a 10.6 per game average. She also grabbed off 123 rebounds and had 41 assists, 28 steals and 3 blocks.

She capped off her season with a big 27 point scoring effort to help lead the G-R to a 79-40 win over the Niagara-Orleans League in the annual Exceptional Senior game this past Friday at Albion.

Lyndonville sophomore Alexa Robinson also earned Honorable Mention on the G-R All-Star squad.

She scored 154 points or an 8.6 average. She also pulled down 100 rebounds and had 47 steals, 13 assists and 4 blocks.

Holley has Honorable Mention selections

Two Holley players – senior Ali VanAmeron and sophomore Brynn Thomas – have earned Honorable Mention on the G-R All-Star squad.

VanAmeron had 148 rebounds, 81 points and 8 assists this season.

Thomas had 129 points, 55 rebounds, 30 steals and 16 assists.