? looms on start of Section VI season

By Mike Wertman, Sports Writer Posted 28 August 2022 at 10:59 am

A busy first week of the fall high school sports season is set to begin this week but for Section VI schools, which includes the Niagara-Orleans League, there is one big question mark looming if those games will get played on schedule.

That big question mark involves the Officials Associations which provide game officials for Section VI contests whose contracts expire this week (on August 31). The two sides are now at an impasse on agreeing to a new contract.

As of right now those Officials Associations have informed Section VI that their officials will not work games to start the season if that contract impasse is not resolved. The only sport that would not be involved is golf which does not use officials.

On Friday, New York State Public High School Athletic Association President Dr. Robert Zayas announced that he has called for a meeting of both sides in Buffalo on Monday in an effort to resolve the impasse.

Whether or not the Section VI fall season starts on time likely depends in large part on the outcome of that meeting.

The start of the season for three Orleans County schools – Holley, Kendall and Lyndonville – will not be affected as they are members of Section V.

The first week’s schedule will be highlighted by girls soccer tournaments at both Albion and Holley beginning on Wednesday as well as Friday’s night’s opening football games with Albion, Medina and Roy-Hart/Barker/Lyndonville all at home.

Monday
Golf – Medina at Albion, 10 a.m.

Tuesday
Golf – Akron at Roy-Hart, 11 a.m.; Albion at Barker, 4 p.m.
Field Hockey – Nardin at Roy-Hart, 10 a.m., Kenmore at Barker, 5 p.m.

Wednesday
Golf – Akron at Medina, 11 a.m.; Newfane at Roy-Hart, Albion at Barker, 4 p.m.
Field Hockey – Wilson at Medina, 7 p.m.
Boys Soccer – Albion at Wheatland-Chili, 6:30 p.m.
Girls Soccer – Albion Tournament (Kendall vs. Newfane, 4:30 p.m., Albion vs. Alexander, 6:30 p.m.); Holley Tournament (Alden vs. Byron-Bergen, 4:30 p.m.; Holley vs. Wilson, 6:30 p.m.)

Thursday
Golf – Roy-Hart at Wilson, Barker at Newfane, 4 p.m.
Field Hockey – Iroquois at Medina, 7 p.m.
Volleyball – Holley at Medina, 6:30 p.m.

Friday
Football – Falconer at Albion, Newfane at Medina, Alden at Roy-Hart/Barker/Lyndonville, 7 p.m.
Boys Soccer – Medina at Eden, 10 a.m., Roy-Hart at Hamburg, 11 a.m.; Kendall at Akron, 4:30 p.m., Batavia at Holley, 5 p.m.
Girls Soccer – Medina at Lyndonville, 4:30 p.m.; Albion Tournament (2 and 4:30 p.m.), Holley Tournament
Golf – Roy-Hart at Albion, 10 a.m.; Barker at Akron, Wilson at Newfane, 4 p.m.

Saturday
Football – Holley at Wellsville, 5 p.m.