Taking advantage of the New York State Public High School Athletic Association’s recent decision to add an eighth regular season football game, Albion will now open the season at Batavia on September 4 at 7 p.m.

The NYSPHSAA’s decision gave schools the option to schedule an eighth game on the weekend traditionally used for scrimmages and the Purple Eagles added the Blue Devils as the eighth contest.

“It’s going to be a great opening game for us,” said Albion Athletic Director and Varsity Football Coach Adam Krenning. “We’ve done a lot in the past over the summer with them so it’s a great way to kickoff the season with a matchup of two local teams. It will be a great test for us.”

The Purple Eagles and Blue Devils have met in scrimmages in recent years.

It will be the first regular season meeting between the teams since 2012 when the Blue Devils downed the Purple Eagles 22-12.

Albion will then open Class B2 Division competition by hosting Depew on September 11.

Contributed Photos Roy-Hart’s Athletes of the Year Kayla Hagen and Ozzy Moore

The accomplishments of Roy-Hart’s student/athletes over the past school year were recognized in an on-line slide show awards program released by the Athletic Department on Tuesday.

The Outstanding Athlete Awards were presented to seniors Kayla Hagen who competed in swimming, cross-country and tennis, and Ozzy Moore who competed in cross-country, swimming and track.

Hagen, who was named Niagara-Orleans League Female Swimmer of the Year, set school swim records in the 50 Freestyle, 100 Free and 100 Backstroke. She was also on the record setting 200 and 400 Freestyle Relay teams.

Moore earned first team N-O All-League honors in cross-country after placing third at the All-League meet. He also was on Roy-Hart’s winning 200 and 400 Freestyle Relay teams at the All-League swim meet.

Hagen and Will Rickard received the N-O League Scholar Athlete Award while Matt Scott and Samantha Choate received the Niagara PAL Award.

Kennedy Lang, Michael Huntington and Jamie Seib shared in receiving the Roy-HEART Award.

Noah Draper received the Bruno Pacini Award, Hagen the David Brown Memorial Award and Maddie Ciemny the Bill Holahan Coaches Award.

In addition, Will Rickard and Ed Hahn received the Brian Weaver Memorial Award, Reed Albee and Samantha Choate the Dan Seefeldt Memorial Award and Moore and Anna Rickard the Wally Sidebottom Senior Academic/Athletic Excellence Award.

Six Year Awards were presented to Hagen (swimming) and Kennedy Lang (cross-country).

A Five Year Award was presented to Madison Ohol (swimming).

Most Valuable Player Awards were presented to Gavin Ciarfella (wrestling), Kayla Hagen and Amanda Hill (girls swimming), Carter Green (boys swimming), Shelby Wolf (girls basketball), Tommy Ragonese (boys basketball), Maddie Ciemny (volleyball), Kara Choate (girls soccer), Aidan Bligh (boys soccer), Colin Dodge (boys golf), McCarthy Lang (girls golf), Mike Huntington (football), Sam Choate (field hockey), Ozzy Moore (boys cross-country) and Anna Rickard (girls cross-country).

Contributed Photo – Members of Barker’s 2003 Niagara-Orleans League championship softball team include, in front, Holly Bigelow, Alicia Kenyon, Alana Heilman, Melissa Moore and Kelley Meahl. In the second row are Sara Lewis, Jennifer Mason, Andrea Walter and Missy Flint. In the back row are Coach Bridget Beilein, Carly Pavlock, Kristi Brown, Virginia LaJoie, Samantha Clark and Coach George Teague.

Compiling a perfect 14-0 record, Barker captured its first Niagara-Orleans League softball championship in 2003.

A late season doubleheader sweep of runner-up Starpoint by scores of 6-3 and 5-1 clinched the title for the Lady Raiders.

Trailing 3-0, Barker erupted for five runs in the home half of the first inning to take the lead for good in game one.  Five straight hits on singles by Sarah Lewis, winning pitcher Missy Flint, Alana Heilman, Carly Pavlock and a triple by Sarah Roth keyed that decisive uprising.

In the second game the Lady Raiders scored three times in the seventh on a single by Roth and two errors to break open a tight 2-1 contest and lock up the win and the title.

Flint picked up both wins in the circle allowing seven hits with four strikeouts in the opener and three hits with eight strikeouts in the second contest.

The Lady Raiders then completed a 14-0 N-O title campaign with  narrow 7-6 win over Newfane.

Barker rallied for three runs in the seventh inning to claim the slender win. A two-run double by Andrea Walter tied the game and Lewis followed up with an RBI single to plate the game winner.

In the circle, Melissa Moore pitched a six hitter with 10 strikeouts for the Lady Raiders.

Flint, Heilman and Roth all earned first team N-O All-League honors. Pavlock and Kristi Brown both earned second team honors while Walter, Lewis and Alicia Kenyon all earned Honorable Mention.

Keeping the momentum, Barker then scored Section VI Class C playoff wins over Gowanda (7-0) and Westfield (3-1) before being downed by Falconer 3-0 in the semifinals.

Flint, who earned first team All-Western New York honors, hurled a two hitter with 14 strikeouts against Gowanda and a three hitter with 13 strikeouts against Westfield. Pavlock had a key two-run single in the third inning to key the Lady Raiders offense against Westfield.

Photos by Cheryl Wertman – Lyndonville Valedictorian Oskar Heinsler, left, and Salutatorian Evan Horn.

Lyndonville Valedictorian Oskar Heinsler and Salutatorian Evan Horn have not only had top scholastic careers in the classroom but have also been multi sport varsity athletes for the Tigers.

Heinsler and Horn were both multi year members of the varsity soccer team, which captured the league title last fall.

Horn has also been a multi year member of the Tigers varsity basketball and track teams.

Heinsler has also been a two year member of the varsity baseball team.

Contributed Photo – Medina’s Eric Barna moves the ball upfield during the Mustangs first ever varsity lacrosse victory, a 6-5 overtime win over Gow School in 1982 at the Towne School field.

Following several seasons of intramural and club level play, Medina began varsity lacrosse competition in 1982 and it took just two games for the Mustangs to claim their historic first victory.

Rebounding from a 6-4 opening game loss to Orchard Park, Coach Chuck Mancuso’s Mustangs squad claimed the milestone first victory by nipping visiting Gow School 6-5 in overtime on a goal by senior midfielder Brynton Thomas, who had the three goal hat-trick on the day.

It was a come-from-behind win for Medina which had to rally from three goal deficit.

Gow jumped out to a 3-0 first quarter lead and held a 4-1 advantage early in the third quarter as sophomore Tim Jennings had the Mustangs lone goal during that long stretch.

However, Medina battle back to tie the contest at 4-4 at the three-quarter mark after a quick three goal scoring burst on tallies by senior Randy Barnum, Thomas and senior Bill Maryjanowski.

The Mustangs then grabbed the lead for the first time at 5-4 on a goal by Thomas two minutes into the final period. Gow though answered back with a goal to retie the contest to force overtime.

Medina though was not to be denied as Thomas scored the game winner just 55 seconds into the overtime period off an assist from junior Eric Barna.

The Mustangs finished that inaugural season with a 4-10 record as Maryjanowski netted a total of 14 goals, Thomas 12, senior John Licinio 11 and junior Todd VanAuker 10.

That season Medina was just one of only 11 Section VI schools playing varsity lacrosse. The Mustangs played in the Tuscarora Division along with Grand Island, Niagara-Wheatfield, Nichols, Sweet Home and Park. The league’s other division, the Seneca, included Gow, Orchard Park, Gowanda, Hamburg and Salamanca.

Photos by Cheryl Wertman – Medina High Valedictorian Nate Sherman and Salutatorian Margaret Klotzbach.

Medina High Valedictorian Nate Sherman has not only had an outstanding scholastic career in the classroom but this year became a four sport athlete for the Mustangs.

Under the Niagara-Orleans League’s new dual participation rule, Sherman played both soccer and football last fall.

A multi year starter at midfield on the soccer team he helped lead the Mustangs to the N-O title earning first team All-Leagee honors. On the football field he handled the place kicking duties.

Sherman was also a three year starter on the Mustangs basketball earning first team All-League honors this past season.

On the baseball team he was the starting centefielder and helped the Mustangs win league, sectional,and regional titles and a berth in the state semifinals last spring. A first team All-League honoree he will continue his baseball career at Canisius College.

Medina’s Salutatorian Margeret Klotzbach has also been a competitor in the Mustangs athletic program. She was a multi year starter on the swim team regularly posting wins in the 200 and 500 Freestyle and 100 Backstroke events.

A member of the Mustang Band, she was also a member of one of Medina’s two teams which competed in the Destination Imagination’s Global Finals last year in Kansas City.

Contributed Photo from Photos by Bruce and Associates – Albion’s 2006 Niagara-Orleans League champion girls track squad included, in front, Shunieka Williams, Porsche Taylor, Tibreya Grace, Michaeli Moffett, Lisa Skrypnik, Catherine DiBella, Jamie Chappius, Kit Lyman, Liz Rosario, Rahema Quddus and Katie Forder. In the middle row are Frances Taomina, Shelby Murek, Amber O’Kussick, Kelsey Moffett, Anna Metcalf, Hannah Moffett, Camri Taylor, Kenyetta Oliver, Kristina Kasper, Robin Rosecrans, Michele Kasper, Ashley Neibert, Valerie Livingston, Emilie Edwards, Ashley Walter and Nancy Rosario. In the back row are Coach Pat Uveino, Coach Julie Garlock, Coach Dave Carson, Melissa Fromm, Madeline Bensley, Shardae Hadick, Staci Waters, Morgan Eastlack, Chelsea Bokman, Liz Lyman, Josephine Rivera, Coach Wayne Wadhams and Coach Jon Priset. Missing from the photo are Shawna Albright, Amber Skrip, Rebecca Deegan and Betesha Thompson.

After finishing in the runner-up spot two of the previous three years, the Albion girls track team claimed its elusive first Niagara-Orleans League championship in 2006 going 6-0 in dual meet competition and taking first place honors in 10 events at the All-League meet.

The milestone achievement sparked Albion to a strong run which saw the Purple Eagles win or share the N-O title five more times over the next six years.

Albion’s closest call during the season was a 25 point (83-58) win over Newfane. The other meets saw the Purple Eagles down Wilson 108-33, Akron 97-44, Roy-Hart 101-40, Barker 103-34 and Medina 105-35.

At the All-League meet, Madeline Bensley swept the 100, 200 and 400 while Lisa Skrypnik captured the 800, Anna Metcalf the 1500, Hannah Moffett the 3000 and Jamie Chappius the Triple Jump.

The Purple Eagles also swept all three relays as Bensley, Chappius, Skrypnik and Catherine DiBella took the 400; Skrypnik, Morgan Eastlack, Kit Lyman and Liz Lyman the 1600 and Skrypnik, Metcalf, Liz Lyman and Kelsey Moffett the 3200.

The Albion boys squad also captured its third straight N-O title that spring.

The Albion girls repeated as N-O champs in 2007 again going 6-0 and claiming 10 wins at the All-League meet.

Bensley repeated in the 100 and 200 while Hannah Moffett swept the 800, 1500 and 3000. Eastlack also took the 400 Hurdles and Staci Waters the Triple Jump.

Again the Purple Eagles swept the three relays with Bensley, Chappius, Kit Lyman and Shawna Albright in the 400; Bensley, Eastlack, Lyman and Chelsea Bokman in the 1600 and Bokman, Lyman, Eastlack and Baylee Hapeman in the 3200.

After finishing in the runner-up spot in 2008, Albion reclaimed a one-third share of the title in 2009 sharing it with Roy-Hart and Akron at 5-1.

The Purple Eagles concluded their big run by claiming the championship outright in 2010, 2011 and 2012 going 6-0 each year.

Photos by Cheryl Wertman – Kendall Valedictorian Katie Pearson, left, and Salutatorian Hailee Mitchell

Competing in high school athletics is often also reflected in a student’s academic success in the classroom and an outstanding example of that is this year’s Top 10 seniors at Kendall High.

All 10 of the Eagles academic leaders have also enjoyed successful athletic careers, most in multiple sports.

Valedictorian Katie Pearson and Salutatorian Hailee Mitchell, who have both been key members of the Lady Eagles very successful varsity soccer team, lead the academic standouts.

In fact, all four senior members of the girls soccer team, which won the state title in 2018 and reached the sectional finals last fall, are on the Top 10 as Lizzie Sutphen and Olivia Reed round out that quartet.

Pearson manned the key goal position while Sutphen and Reed were on defense and Mitchell led the team in goal scoring.

Pearson and Sutphen have also been multi year regulars on the Lady Eagles varsity basketball and softball teams.

Pearson will attend the University at Buffalo and major in Aerospace Engineering. Mitchell will attend the University at Rochester to pursue Psychology and Nursing degrees, Sutphen will be enrolled in the Physician Assistant program at Daeman College. Reed plans to attend college for Forensic Criminology.

Mason Kuhn was a multi year starter for the Eagles in soccer, basketball and baseball serving as team captain in each. He will be attending the University at Buffalo to major in Exercise Science to become a chiropractor.

Olivia Caldwell has been a multi year member of both the volleyball and softball teams and served as captain for both squads. She will attend Nazareth College majoring in Communication Science and Disorders to become a speech therapist.

Noah Rath was a multi year member of the soccer, basketball and baseball teams. He plans to attend Alfred State College for Business and Marketing.

Victoria Weed served as captain of the cross-country team for three years and was also a member of the softball team. She will attend The College at Brockport for a Secondary Education degree in English.

Tristyn Moyer was a member of the variety soccer team for two years and has competed in wrestling since eighth grade. He will attend the SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry pursuing a degree in Landscape Architecture.

Jayden Pieniaszek was a multi year member of the soccer, wrestling and baseball teams. He plans to join the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve and to continue working for Micro Instrument Corp. where he is currently employed.

For these 10 Eagle seniors their high school education has been a very successful combination of academics and athletics.

Contributed Photo – David Hilner hurled a pair of no hitters during Kendall’s 1994 Genesee Region League Division II title season

A pair of no hitters highlighted Kendall’s 1994 Genesee Region League Division II baseball championship campaign.

Senior David Hilner hurled both shutouts first blanking Elba 10-0 with 15 strikeouts early in the season and later nipping Pavilion 2-1 with 13 K’s.

In the narrow win over Pavilion, the Eagles scored what proved to be the game winning run in the fourth inning on an RBI single by Joe Gursslin. A hit batter and a double by Bill Pearce set up the tally. Hilner retired the last 14 batters he faced, 10 via the strikeout route.

Kendall also had a key late season 9-8 10 inning win over Lyndonville before locking up the G-R Division II title with a doubleheader sweep of Notre Dame by scores of 7-3 and 9-4 in the league finale.

Against Lyndonville, Kendall pulled out the win by rallying for three runs in the bottom of the 10th inning on an RBI double by Jason Cole and run producing singles by Tony Trimm and Brett Robinson.  Lyndonville had scored twice in the top of the 0th on an error, three walks and a wild pitch for an 8-6 lead.

Earlier in the game, the Eagles had erased a  4-2 deficit by scoring four times with two out in the sixth inning on a two-run single by D’Agostino and RBI singles by Jim Marion and Keith Akers. However, Lyndonville sent the contest into extra innings by scoring twice in the seventh to knot the contest at 6-6.

In the first game against Notre Dame a four-run fourth inning on an RBI triple by Trimm and run producing singles by Hilner, Phil DAgostino and Gursslin keyed the win. A double by winning pitcher Cole ignited the uprising.

In the second contest, Kendall took the lead for good by scoring four times in the third inning on a two run single by D’Agostino and RBI doubles by Cole and Gursslin to erase a 2-1 deficit.

The Eagles went 10-0 in the division and 12-3 overall in G-R competition.

Cole, Hilner and Trimm all earned G-R first team All-Star honors.

Keeping the momentum, Kendall then scored three straight sectional wins 7-1 over Letchworth, 4-2 over Warsaw and 10-6 over Geneseo before bowing to East Rochester 11-2 in the Class C championship game.

The title campaign ignited a strong seven year run of diamond success for Kendall which included three more sectional final appearances (1996, 1999 and 2000). The Eagles captured their first sectional title in 1999 and went on to win the Far West Regional and gain a berth in the state semifinals.

Contributed Photos – Barker High’s Athletes of the Year Peter DiLorenzo and Katrina Clare

Two seniors, Katrina Clare and Peter DiLorenzo have been named Barker High’s Athletes of the Year.

Clare helped lead the Barker field hockey team to Niagara-Orleans League, Section VI and Far West Regional championships last fall and a berth in the state semifinals.

A three-time first team N-O All-League honoree and a two-time N-O Player of the Year, Clare also earned All-Western New York and All-State honors.

Clare, who will be playing field hockey at SUNY Geneseo, scored 18 goals and added 21 assists for the Lady Raiders last fall.

DiLorenzo is a three-time first team N-O All-League cross-country team honoree,

He placed third in the Section VI Class D race last fall and went on to earn third team All-State honors after placing 21st in the state Class D race.

DiLorenzo also took top honors in there 400 Hurdles at the N-O All-League track meet as a junior.

Barker’s recipients for the Niagara-Orleans Scholar Athletic League Scholar-Athlete are Kylie Annable and Alex Jenks who both received Honorable Mention Scholarships

Barker’s  Student/Athlete Award of $400 each is presented to Ciara Gregorie  and Jacob Harris who have maintained an average of 85% or better while earning varsity or junior varsity letters throughout high school.