Photo by Mike Wertman – New Medina girls varsity basketball Coach Larry Lash meets here with the Mustangs two returning starters Maddie Williams, left, and Je’ne Brown.

Two returning starters anchor the lineup for the Medina girls varsity basketball team which is prepping for the season under new Coach Larry Lash.

A very familiar face around Niagara-Orleans League basketball circles for many years, Lash, who previously coached boys basketball at Wilson and Newfane and girls basketball at Wilson where he led the Lakewomen to four straight league titles, takes over the helm from Ken Haak who stepped down after 11 seasons for family considerations.

“It’s exciting,” said Lash. “It is a golden opportunity.”

The Mustangs are led by the returning starting junior duo of Je’ne Brown and Maddie Williams.

Brown, a first team N-O All-League selection, scored a team record 427 points, grabbed off 252 rebounds and had 58 blocks last year. Williams, a second team All-League honoree, had 257 points, 119 rebounds, 88 steals and 70 assists.

“Those are two pretty good players to have back,” said Lash.

The Mustangs also return senior Shamarie Howard, juniors Kharise Johnson and Bri MacFarland and sophomore Camri King along with seniors Faith Henning and Hannah Sones and junior Sarah Cochrane. Sophomore Divera Brown is also vying for playing time.

“I’m kind of in a new coach, new team mode right now but things are going well,” said Lash. “I’m really pleased with their effort. They are picking things up well. They really want to learn.”

The Mustangs graduation losses include the starting trio of Emily Kams, Molley Gross and Maddie Winters along with sixth man Kayla Cuadra.

Medina ,which went 8-4 in the league and 17-6 overall last year advancing to the Class B-2 sectional finals, will visit Williamsville North in the non league season opener on December 2. The Mustangs N-O opener will be at Albion on December 15.

Mustangs Schedule
December: 2 – at Williamsville North, 1 p.m.; 5 – Health Sciences, 6:30 p.m.; 7 – Nardin, 6:30 p.m.; 15 – at Albion, 7 p.m.; 20 – at Mt. St. Mary’s, 6:30 p.m.; 22 – at Elba, 6:30 p.m.; 27 – Oakfield-Alabama, 7 p.m.

January: 5 – Roy-Hart, 6:30 p.m.; 9 – at Wilson, 6 p.m.; 11 – Newfane, 6:30 p.m.; 16 – Barker, 6:30 p.m.; 19 – Akron, 6:30 p.m.; 23 – Tapestry, 6 p.m.; 26 – Albion, 6:30 p.m.; 30 – at Grand Island, 7 p.m.

February: 1 – at Roy-Hart, 6:30 p.m.; 6 – Wilson, 6:30 p.m.; 9 – at Newfane, 6:30 p.m.; 13 – at Barker, 6:30 p.m.; 14 – at Akron, 6:30 p.m.

Photo by Cheryl Wertman — Akron’s Olivia Diebel and her Lady Tiger teammates will take on Whitney Point in the semifinals of the state Class C field hockey playoffs on Saturday at Maine-Endwell.

Looking to keep the momentum from a big win in the Far West Regional, Akron will take on three-time defending champion Whitney Point (Section IV) in the semifinals of the state Class C field hockey championships at 9:30 Saturday morning at Maine-Endwell High School near Binghamton.

Akron, which is making its first trip to the state semifinals since 1995, advanced by defeating Niagara-Orleans League rival Barker 2-1 for the Section VI Class C title and then romping past East Rochester (Section V) 7-0 in the Far West Regional.

Offensively, Akron has been led by the senior duo of Abby Stone (18 goals, 10 assists) and Rebecca Breymeier (14 goals).

Whitney Point, which has claimed the state crown in 2014, 1015 and 2016, likewise advanced to the semis with a lopsided 9-1 regional victory over Roundout Valley.

The victor will take on the winner of the Carle Place vs. Schuylerville semi in the championship game at 9:30 Sunday morning.

Interestingly, in their last semifinal appearance in 1995, Akron dropped a snowy 5-0 decision to Schuylerville.

Prior to that Akron did capture the state Class C championship in 1992 by defeating Carle Place 2-0 in the semifinals and Oxford 3-2 in the title contest. Ironically that year the Lady Tigers also romped past East Rochester by a very similar score of 6-0 in the Far West Regional.

The Lady Tigers also reached the state championship game in 1993 dropping a narrow 2-1 decision to Red Hook.  Akron advanced by defeating East Rochester and Cooperstown in regional competition and East Hampton in the state semifinals.

That 1992 Akron squad is the only N-O team to date to capture a state field hockey championship.

Photos by Cheryl Wertman – Roy-Hart’s Aspen Moore and Medina’s Je’ne Brown have earned spots on the first team of the Niagara-Orleans All-League volleyball squad.

A trio of players from undefeated (10-0) Akron head the first team of the annual Niagara-Orleans All-League volleyball squad.

Akron, which has captured the N-O crown the last two years in a row, is represented by senior setter Neely Abrams along with outside hitter Darion Jonathan and middle/outside hitter Helena Hill, both juniors.

Contributed Photos – Champion Akron is represented by the trio of Neely Abrams, Darion Jonathan and Helena Hill.

Jonathan, a repeat selection, had 283 kills, 243 digs, 56 aces and 3 blocks on the season while Hill had 180 kills, 103 digs, 48 aces and 37 blocks and Abrams 56 kills, 225 digs, 40 aces and 525 assists.

Completing the first team are Medina junior middle blocker Je’ne Brown,  Roy-Hart junior middle blocker Aspen Moore and Wilson senior outside hitter Raechel Blasius

Brown had a school record 246 kills and now ranks fourth on the Mustangs all-time list in both kills with 465 and blocks with 77.

Contributed Photo – Raechel Blasius, Wilson

Moore had 230 hill, 70 blocks, 31 aces and 153 digs while Blasius had 59 kill, 33 aces and 138 digs.

Medina is represented on the second team by the duo of senior setter Grace Masse and junior outside hitter Maddie Williams.

Rounding out the second team are Albion junior middle blocker Haley Smith, Roy-Hart senior outside hitter Olivia Vorholzer, Newfane junior outside hitter Faith Morgan and Wilson sophomore middle blocker Isabel Dinse.

A quartet of players also received Honorable Mention including Medina senior Libero/outside hitter Alyssa Beyer, Roy-Hart senior outside hitter Skyler Christopher, Newfane senior middle blocker Erin Harrington and Wilson senior Libero Jenny Meyers.

Photos by Cheryl Wertman – Lyndonville faculty members took on a local law enforcement squad which took on the nickname of  “The Law Brigade”  in a volleyball match this evening to benefit the Lyndonville High Junior Class. The back-and-forth match went five sets with “The Law Brigade” emerging with a 23-25, 25-23, 25-15, 18-25, 25-15 victory. In the top photo two members of “The Law Brigade”, Jeff Robinson, left, and Corey Ambrose, go up to block a return by Jeff Kingsbury of the Tigers faculty team. In the photo at the right Jim O’Connor returns a serve for the Tigers faculty. “The Law Brigade” lineup also included Torry Tooley, Steve Fox, Jason Barnum, Vernon Fonda, Guy Burke, Shea Mathes, Brian Belson, Nate Staines and Scott Wilson. The Tigers faculty squad also included Kerry Papaj, Theresa Pierson, Aimee Chaffee, Kim Bow, Michelle Randolph, Julia Robinson and Jim Zeliff. The event also had Orleans Sheriff’s Department Investigator Ken Strickland issuing New York State Registry ID cards for youngsters attending.

Contributed Photos – Co-champion Akron is represented on the first team of the Niagara-Orleans All-League field hockey squad by Olivia Diebel, Amanda Jeziorowski and Abby Stone.

Co-champion Barker has placed the threesome of Casey A’Hearn, Katrina Clare and Natalie Menz.

Co-champions Akron and Barker have both placed three players on the first team of the annual Niagara-Orleans All-League field hockey squad.

Akron is represented by senior midfielder Abby Stone, a four-time first team honoree, senior halfback Amanda Jexiorowski, a repeat selection, and junior halfback Olivia Diebel. Stone had 18 goals and 10 assists.

Barker has placed senior midfielder Casey A’Hearn (5 goals, 1 assist), senior forward Natalie Menz (8g, 10a) and sophomore forward Katrina Clare (13g, 2a).

Roy-Hart is represented by the duo of senior sweeper Delaney Draper (3g, 2a) and junior forward Alexis Lovewell (5g, 7a).

Rounding out the first team are Wilson senior forward Madelyn Mocarski, Medina junior forward Guin Schalck (6g, 2a), who is a repeat selection, Newfane senior defender Anne Judd and Kenmore senior forward Jena House.

The second team likewise is headed by a trio of honorees from both Akron and Barker which shared the N-O title with identical 11-1 records.

Akron is represented by the senior trio of forward Rebecca Breymeier (14g), midfielder Skyler Earle and halfback Julianna Kieffer.

Barker has placed senior goalie Cara Fox (0.789 goals against average), senior midfielders Jillian Moeller (2g, 3a) and sophomore forward Ciara Gregoire (9g, 4a).

Roy-Hart is represented by junior goalie Jamie Bower (108 saves, 1.492 gaa) and sophomore midfielder Samantha Choate (5g, 4a).

Completing the second team are Wilson senior midfielder Olivia Mitchell, Medina junior goalie Alissa Blount, Newfane sophomore goalie Elizabeth Klumpp and Kenmore sophomore goalie Hope Falzone.

The Honorable Mention selections, by school, include:

Wilson – Elizabeth Soles (Sr.), Hannah Day (Jr.) and Emilee Mouio (So.)

Roy-Hart – Jayden Townsend (Jr.), Jenna Heiser (Jr.), Ashley Hill (Jr.) and RayLynn Chraston (Jr.)

Newfane – Madison Bunn (Sr.)

Medina – Grace Flores (Sr.), Lacey Kenward (So.), Lydia Battaglia (Sr.)

Kenmore – Candie Bozzard (Jr.)

Barker – Haley Brown (Sr.), Lena Fazzolari (Fr.), Madison Gancasz (Fr.), Haleigh Mason (So.) and Sarah Mason (Fr).

Roy-Hart is represented by Delaney Draper and Alexis Lovewell and Kenmore by Jenna House.

Completing the first team are Medina’s Guin Schalck, Newfane’s Anne Judd and Wilson’s Madelyn Mocarski.

Contributed Photo – Akron’s quintet of Maggie Leeds, Mackenzie O’Brien, Laurie Poeller, Jenna Robnett and Kara Sequin head the first team of the annual Niagara-Orleans All-League girls soccer squad.

Five Akron players head the first team of the annual Niagara-Orleans All-League girls soccer squad.

That Lady Tigers quintet includes freshman forward Kara Sequin, junior midfielder Jenna Robnett, senior midfielder Maggie Leeds, senior defender Mackenzie O’Brien and senior goalie Laurie Poeller, O’Brien is a repeat first team honoree.

Photos by Cheryl Wertman – Champion Newfane has placed the duo of Kayleigh Daniels and Emily Foltz on the first team.

Sequin had 29 goals and 14 assists on the season, Robnett 16 goals and 15 assists, Leeds 8 goals and 8 assists and O’Brien 1 goal and 3 assists. In the net, Poeller made 137 saves and had a 0.776 goals against average.

Wilson has placed the trio of senior goalie Emily Kelly, senior defender Madelyn Austin and sophomore forward Skylar Munnikhuysen.

Kelly made 155 saves and had a goals against average of 0.839. Munnikhuysen had 11 goals and 5 assists and Austin 3 goals and 3 assists.

Champion Newfane is represented by the high scoring senior duo of forwards Kayleigh Daniels and Emily Foltz.

Daniels, a repeat selection, had 29 goals and 17 assists and Foltz, a three-time honoree, had 26 goals and 11 assists.

Rounding out the first team are Albion junior forward Brylie Hapeman and Medina/Lyndonville senior forward Dentiny Satkowski.

Photos by Cheryl Wertman – Medina/Lyndonville is represented by Destiny Satkowski and Albion by Brylie Hapeman.

Hapeman had 19 goals and 5 assists while Satkowski, who missed the last part of the season with an injury, had 16 goals and 3 assists.

Roy-Hart has placed a trio of players on the second team including junior forward Meghan Washington (6 goals, 1 assist), junior midfielder Maddie Fry (1g, 7a) and senior midfielder Ellie Todd.

Newfane likewise has three second team honorees including junior goalie Madalyn Traverse, senior midfielder Erica Flagler (3g, 11a) and junior midfielder Sarah Milczarski.

Akron has placed the defender duo of senior Julia Wartinger and sophomore Morgan Wdowka.

The second team also includes Barker senior goalie Kylie Miller, Wilson junior forward Isabella Schultz, Albion senior defender Natalie DiCureia and Medina/Lyndonville sophomore defender Olivia Carter (6g, 3a).

The Honorable Mention selections, by school, includes:

Akron – Amanda Swader (Sr.), Mindy Doktor (So.) and Julia George (So.)

Albion – Paige Derisley (So.), Kendall Derisley (So.) and Elisabeth Baker (Sr.)

Barker – Mallory Gross (Sr.), Abby Harris (Sr.) and Morgan Szczepaniak (Sr.)

Newfane – Meghan Mietlicki (Sr.), Renee Hulbert (Sr.) and Megan Knoll (Jr.)

Medina/Lyndonville – Ashlee Howell (Jr.) and Kaya Bloom (Sr.)

Roy-Hart – Josephine Capen (Sr.) and Kara Choate (8th)

Wilson – Chaylee Wilson (Sr.), Julia Seider (Sr.), Melanie Gray (Fr.)

Photos by Cheryl Wertman – Wilson is represented on the first team by the trio of Skylar Munnikhuysen, Emily Kelly and Madelyn Austin.

Contributed Photos – Champion Newfane’s first team Niagara-Orleans All-League honorees include Jarrett Gilson, Mateo May, Trevor Morelans and Max Weber.

Four players from champion Newfane head the first team of the annual Niagara-Orleans All-League boys soccer squad.

The Panthers quartet includes senior forward Trevor Moreland, senior midfielder Mateo May, junior midfielder Jarrett Gilson and senior defender Max Weber.

Moreland, a four-time first team honoree, had 26 goals and 26 assists this season. May, a repeat selection, had 22 goals and 14 assists. Gilson had 13 goals and 7 assists and Weber 4 goals and 10 assists.

Wilson’s first team honorees include Matt Couturier, Cesar Carlin and Alex Chiappone.

Runner-up Wilson has placed a trio of players on the first team including senior forward Cesar Carlin, junior midfielder Alex Chiappone and senior defender Matt Couturier.

Carlin, a four-time first team selection, had 7 goals and 6 assists while Chiappone hard 6 goals and 7 assists and Couturier 3 goals and 2 assists.

Roy-Hart has placed the senior duo of forward Jamasen Johnson and defender Andrew Srock on the first team.

Albion is represented on the first team by Preston Flugel and Medina/Lyndonville by Ethan Leonard.

Jamasen, a repeat honoree, had 13 goals and 6 assists and Srock 2 goals and 2 assists.

Rounding out the first team are Albion senior defender Preston Flugel, Medina/Lyndonville senior midfielder Ethan Leonard and Akron senior goalie Marcis Kenline.

Leonard, a repeat honoree, had 4 goals and 8 assists, Flugel 1 goal and 3 assists and Kenline, who is also a repeat selection, made 196 saves.

Albion had a trio of second team honorees including junior forwards Kendyll Hadick (10 goals, 6 assists) and Spencer Lombard (7g, 4a) and senior midfielder Noah Goudreau (4g, 7a).

Roy-Hart has placed Jamasen Johnson and Andrew Srock and Akron Marcus Kenline

Akron likewise had three second team selections including senior forward Ethan Martin (7g, 3a), junior midfielder Micah Suckow (4g, 8a) and senior defender Wyatt Martin).

Wilson is represented by the duo of senior midfielder MacGregor Musall and junior defender Ralph Grizanti.

Roy-Hart has placed the senior duo of midfielder Noah Kindron (8g, 1a) and goalie Kodey Hayes (74 saves).

The second team also included Newfane seminar defender Nick Connolly and Medina/Lyndonville junior defender Matt Hess (3g, 3a).

The Honorable Mention players includes, by school:

Newfane – Trevor Heschke (Fr.), Kyle Jurek (Sr.), James DeBiase (Sr.) and Cam Stanton (Sr.).

Wilson – Mason Secor (Sr.), Jacob Miller (Jr.) and Kyle Lyon (Sr.).

Roy-Hart – Patrick Sheelar (Sr.), Aidan Bligh (Fr.) and Tyler Choate (Sr.).

Albion – Devin Gaylord (Sr.), Nate Smith (Sr.) and Nate Scanlon (Jr.).

Avenging a loss the week before, Legion defeated Sacred Heart 39-31 Monday to take over the Medina Euchre League lead.

Legion now holds a 6 point lead over the former front-running Hearts.

JR Wilson downed Vets Club 39-31 in the other match.

The league standings now have Legion at 226-194, Sacred Heart 220-200, Vets Club 197-223 and JR Wilson 197-223.

League competition continues on November 13 with Vets Club at Legion and JR Wilson at Sacred Heart.