Sports Reporter honored for years of dedication to high school athletes

Staff Reports Posted 15 May 2014 at 12:00 am

Wertman

West Seneca – Mike Wertman, who has covered Niagara-Orleans high school athletes for nearly four decades, has been recognized for his years of commitment by a state association of athletic administrators.

Wertman and three others from the Niagara-Orleans League were presented awards on Wednesday at Erie 1 BOCES at the Chapter VI Athletic Administrators Association meeting.

Wertman is the 2014 New York State Athletic Administrations Association Community Service Award winner for his dedication in covering local high school and community sports in Section VI. Wertman has covered athletes in Niagara and Orleans counties first for 35 years at the Medina Journal Register and since late August for the Orleans Hub.

Also receiving an award was Gale Doe of Wilson High School. She received the Judith Martens Secretarial Award for her 21 years of dedicated service as the secretary to the Athletic Administrators who have served at Wilson.

Olivia Denny of Barker and Kaeli Mathias from Kenmore West received the New York State Athletic Administrators Association Scholar Athlete award for excellence in academics and athletics starring in the classroom as well as on the athletic field. Olivia is a three-sport athlete (Field Hockey, Basketball and Softball) and Kaeli in Field Hockey and Ice Hockey.