The LOYAL soccer board announced today that it is canceling its program for this coming season due to the Covid-19 pandemic situation..

“It is with great sadness that we are announcing the cancellation of the 2020 season of the LOYAL Soccer programs,” the board’s statement said. “This decision has come following the closing of all NY State schools for the remainder of the academic year and the continued need for social distancing in our area. We hope that all families stay home, stay safe and stay healthy. We look forward to serving you again for the 2021 summer soccer season.”

The board added, “We are looking into doing possible a free clinic in August if the the social distancing is lifted by then.”

Contributed Photo – The athletes and coaches from RoyHart’s 1969 Niagara-Orleans League championship track team. In the front row are F. Kaiser, L. Demmin, D. Vanderwalker, D. Ramming, J. Ferington, R. Dill, T. Uschold, R. Kempton, J. Fagan, S. Brauen and E. Keller. In the second row are B. Wallace, M. Thaxter, R. Germain, T. Ulrich, M. DiNardo, H. West, W. Querns, R. Wagner, R. Orlando, R. Simmons, B. Ginty, W. Scott, T. Sharp, E, Knapp and B. Gothard. In the third row are Coach Kerry Finger, D. Menzel, L. Dill, D. Ogden, M. McCabe, C. Snowden, T. Elsenheimer, P. Merritt, P. Helwig, D. Brown, J. Sharp, B. Holahan, G. Newton, B. Metcalf and Coach Phillip Ciarico. In the back row are E. Sanderson, D. Piedmont, J. Schumacher, M. Spears, S. Socha, B. Spencer, D. McCabe, S. Silsby, G. Vanderwalker, D. Gilbert, T. Phillips, J. Weber and W. Trinder.

From the mid 1960’s to the mid 1970’s Roy-Hart dominated the Niagara-Orleans League boys track competition.

In fact, from 1966-1976 Coach Kerry Finger’s Rams won or shared the N-O crown 11 of 12 years.

The only team to interrupt the Rams title run was Medina’s 1973 championship campaign as the Mustangs went 6-0 during the regular season and 6-0 at the All-League meet.

Roy-Hart began it’s memorable run with seven straight undefeated championship seasons from 1966 to 1972. Including regular season and All-League meet competition the Rams went 14-0 in 1966-67-68 and 12-0 in 1969-70-71-72.

Then, after Medina’s 1973 title season, Roy-Hart shared the N-O crown with Newfane in 1974 at 11-1.

The Rams then were tri-champs in 1975 with Medina and Newfane at 10-2.

Then, after claiming the title outright in 1976 at 12-0, Roy-Hart ended its lengthy run by sharing the crown with Wilson in 1977 at 11-1.

Interestingly, Wilson went on to win the N-O title outright each of the next five years (1978-82).

Roy-Hart’s long title run featured a large number of outstanding individual student/athletes just of few of whom included Tom Nasal, Ryan Dill and Richard Gothard in the distance events, Bill Spencer and Tom DeCarlo in the 400, Jim Ferington in the hurdles and Tom Weber and Paul Merritt  in the jumps.

Since N-O track competition began shortly after World War II the league has seen several other long championships runs. Wilson won the crown nine years in a row from 1948-56 while Starpoint took it eight years in a row from 1996-2003 and Albion seven in a row from 2004-2010.

Contributed Photo – Penny Hilger-Hogan

Qualifying for the state high school championships in any sport is quite an accomplishment but to do it four years in a row is really something special.

But that is exactly what 1982 Medina High graduate Dr. Penny Hilger-Hogan did during the fledgling early days of Niagara-Orleans League girls track competition.

The holder of a doctorate in Veterinary Medicine, she competed at the state meet in the 400 in each of her freshman, sophomore and junior years and in the 800 during her senior year.

She qualified for the state meet by posting top finishes at the Section VI championships. At the sectionals she won the 400 in 1979 and the 800 in 1982 and placed second in the 400 in both 1980 and 1981.

At the N-O championship meet she captured both the 400 and Long Jump events during her junior year and both the 800 and Long Jump titles her senior year.

During her years of competition she set Medina records in the 100, 200, 400, 800 and Log Jump.

Inducted  into the MHS Sports Hall of Fame in 1991, she was also a three year varsity starter in volleyball and field hockey earning All-League honors in both sports her senior year.

Section V officials met with athletic directors in a conference call this morning and tabled making any decision on the regular season and sectional playoffs for the spring season until Governor Andrew Cuomo gives an update on school closings.

Currently schools are closed until May 15 under the Governor’s Pause order. He is expected to make an announcement by the end of the week if the closing date will be extended.

“There was no decision on sectionals or the regular season. They are leaving it alone for right now awaiting the governor’s decision at the end of the week,” said Lyndonville Athletic Director Jim Zeliff. “Right now they are just waiting on that and not trying to rush a decision. And based on what the Governor’s recommendations are they will come up with a plan.”

Zeliff noted that Section V officials and athletic directors are scheduled to meet by conference call again in two weeks.

“By then we should have a much better idea of the situation,” he said. “I know most Athletic directors in the Genesee Region League would like to have some sort of sports opportunity for the kids and our Lyndonville coaches have been doing a great job keeping in touch with their athletes by e-mail. But it all depends on the Governor’s decision when schools can open.”

Earlier this week the New York State Public High School Athletic Association cancelled the spring sports state championships. In addition, Section VI officials cancelled spring sectional competition and announced that if schools are not back in session by June 1 that the regular season would be cancelled.

Contributed Photo – Steve Balcerzak of the Penny Saver team puts up a shot over Mark Lafler of the Sacred Heart squad during the 1979 inaugural season of the John P. Kennedy Memorial Basketball League at Medina’s Pearl street Armory.

When the state closed Medina’s Pearl Street Armory and moved the local National Guard unit to Batavia in 1977, a concerted effort by a determined local citizens group headed by former Mayor John P. Kennedy was successful in obtaining title to the building allowing for its reopening as a community use and recreation facility.

Fittingly when a men’s basketball league was organized at the armory, which now is the Lake Plains YMCA, it was called the John P. Kennedy Memorial Basketball League.

The Albion Correctional team captured both the regular season and playoff titles during that inaugural 1979 season.

Albion Correctional, which went 8-0 during the regular season, downed Penny Saver 87-80 in the playoff championship game. Fisher-Price bested Sacred Heart 81-70 in the consolation game.

Four players hit double figures for Albion’s balanced offense while Penny Saver’s Steve Balcerzak took game high honors with 33 points.

David Kennedy, one of John Kennedy’s sons, presented the championship trophy.

In the semifinals, Albion Correctional downed Fisher-Price 93-84 and Penny Saver edged past Sacred Heart 85-81.

High scorers in the semifinal contests were Balcerzak with 38 for Penny Saver, Michael Briggs with 34 for Albion Correctional, Mark Dennis with 34 for Fisher-Price and Bruce March with 29 for Sacred Heart.

The other teams competing in that inaugural season of the regional basketball league included Journal-Register, Crazy Dave’s, Job Corps, Medina Optical Fashions and Zavits Motors.

Following quickly on the heels of this morning’s announcement by the New York State Public High School Athletic Association (NYSPHSAA) that the state championships for the spring sports season have been cancelled Section VI officials have announced that the spring Section VI championships have also been cancelled.

The Section VI announcement is as follows:

“NYSPHSAA released a statement today (10:00 AM) canceling their championships. Unfortunately, the Section VI championships are cancelled as well.

“The Section VI Executive Committee is still affording leagues the opportunity to participate in some form of a regular season at the VARSITY LEVEL only (no sub-varsity level)– following the NY Pause guidelines and practice requirements established by NYSPHSAA: 10 for Baseball and 6 for all other sports. Practices attained from the original start date of March 9, 2020 cannot be counted toward the minimum number of practices required per NYSPHSAA.

“Speaking with Mr. Stoltman (Section VI President) earlier today, we have relented to the fact, if our schools are not in session June 1, 2020, all varsity sports (regular season) would be cancelled.

“Individual leagues have the ability to cancel sooner than June 1, 2020.

“Lastly, this information has been shared with the leaders of the leagues that comprise Section VI”

In a decision that was expected, the New York State Public High School Athletic Association’s Executive Council this morning voted to cancel the 2020 state championships for spring sports which includes baseball, softball, track, tennis, golf and lacrosse due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Decisions on the status of regular season and sectional games cannot be made until a date for the reopening of schools is announced. Currently schools are closed until May 15 as part of Governor Cuomo’s Pause order.

The complete NYSPHSAA release is as follows.

“Unfortunately, with the continued impact of the COVID-19 crisis, hosting the spring 2020 state championships is no longer feasible (time factor, facility and venue availability, etc.)” said Paul Harrica, NYSPHSAA’s President. “Canceling the remaining winter state championships in late March was challenging and the cancelation of our spring state championships today is equally disappointing.”

Dr. Robert Zayas, NYSPHSAA Executive Director said, “Today’s decision is difficult for the membership of NYSPHSAA.  We certainly sympathize with the students, coaches and their school communities, especially the graduating seniors.”

“The NYSPHSAA will continue to rely upon information from the New York State Department of Health, local health departments as well as the Governor’s office for information and guidance on COVID-19 and its impact upon the spring regular season.  As of today, the spring regular season remains on hold for nine of the 11 Sections; Section VIII and XI (Long Island) officially canceled all spring events on April 21st.  Individual Sections have the authority to decide whether to hold regular season contests.

For student-athletes to return to athletic participation this spring, schools need to be reopened by the Governor of New York State.  The date students can return to school will play a significant role in the possibility of a spring sports regular season.”

Currently schools are closed until May 15 as part of Governor Cuomo’s Pause order.

Contributed Photo – Medina team captains, from left, David Maiorana, Kevin Furness, Glenn Bashford and Ed Bloom receive the trophy after capturing the 1980 sectional football championship. Presenting the trophy is former Medina Athletic Director and Past Section VI President Nunzio Maiorana.

Making history, the 1980 Medina High football team captured the school’s first sectional championship by posting a come-from-behind 20-14 victory over Silver Creek at Rich Stadium (now New Era Field).

Now the team is planning to celebrate that memorable achievement with a 40th reunion to be held during the Medina vs. Albion game on Friday October 9.

David Maiorana and Kevin Furness, who served as team captains along with Glenn Bashford and Ed Bloom, are spearheading the planning for the reunion event.

“We are getting a big response to this event. We have 99% of the team contacted along with the coaches and cheerleaders,” said Maiorana. “All of the guys are really excited about it and both Kevin and I want this to be a big success for MHS and the Medina Community as a whole.”

“The 1980 Football Reunion, Homecoming, and Playing Albion.  It does not get any better than that. It’s the Perfect Storm!” he added.

The sectional title contest was truly one to remember as the Mustangs rallied from an early 14-0 deficit to claim the win as Bloom scored two touchdowns and Furness one.

Medina advanced to its first sectional appearance by capturing the Division VI title with a 14-7 win over Newfane.