sports

Local grads set for NCAA Div. III tourneys

By Mike Wertman, Sports Writer Posted 12 November 2024 at 3:23 pm

Contributed Photos – Sydney Mulka, left, and Katrina Clare

Albion High graduate Sydney Mulka and her Penn State Harrisburg soccer teammates will begin NCAA Division III tournament competition at Williams Smith College in Geneva on Saturday.

Penn State Harrisburg advanced to the NCAA national tournament by downing St. Mary’s of Maryland 4-3 on penalty kicks to win the United East Conference championship.

A junior, Mulka made 1 save in goal during regulation time which finished scoreless as did two overtime periods setting the stage for the penalty kick shootout.

A three year stater in goal, Mulka has made 38 saves and has a 0.76 goals against average this season.

Penn State Harrisburg is 10-5-5 and William Smith 12-3-4.

Barker High grad Katrina Clare and her SUNY Geneseo field hockey teammates will begin NCAA Division III tournament competition at Bryn Mawr College in Pennsylvania on Wednesday.

Geneseo, which is 18-2, qualified for the NCAA national tourney by capturing the Empire 8 Conference championship with a 4-0 win over Hartwick in the title contest.

Clare, who is a fifth year player and an International Relations major, leads Geneseo in scoring with 38 points on 16 goals and 6 assists. For her career she has 109 points on 47 goals and 15 assists.

N-O honors All-League volleyball squad

By Mike Wertman, Sports Writer Posted 12 November 2024 at 9:17 am

Photos by Cheryl Wertman – Niagara-Orleans All-League volleyball first team honorees, from left, Julia Knight (Albion), Lila Brigham (Roy-Hart) and Ryleigh Capen (Roy-Hart).

Four schools are represented on the first team of the Niagara-Orleans All-League volleyball squad.

Champion Roy-Hart has placed the duo of senior Lila Brigham and junior Ryleigh Capen.

Brigham, who has been named N-O player of the Year, had 71 spiking kills, 33 service aces and 75 digs. Capen had 154 assists. 45 digs and 32 axes.

Runner-up Wilson is represented by the senior duo of Aleena Adamczyk and Riley Robinson.

Newfane likewise has placed two players in senior Abby Bommelje and junior Kimberly Schmitt.

Rounding out the first team is Albion senior Julia Knight.

Brigham and Robinson are both repeat selections.

Contributed Photos – Rounding out the All-League first team are, from left, Abby Bommelje and Kimberly Schmitt from Newfane along with Aleena Adamczak and Riley Robinson from Wilson.

Roy-Hart likewise has placed two players on the second team in junior Raegan Kern and freshman Lauren Snyder.

Akron also has a pair of second team honorees in seniors Riley Doctor and Kia LaFromboise.

Rounding out the second team are Medina senior Addy Paul, Wilson junior Lyla Adamczyk and Newfane sophomore Julia Leibring.

Players receiving Honorable Mention are as follows (listed by school).

Albion – Madison LeBaron (Sr.), Paige Newton (Sr.) and Hannah Kumalac (Jr.).

Akron – Emma Siska (Sr.), Jordan Smith (Sr.) and Kylie Mangione (Soph.).

Medina – Samantha Heschke (Soph.).

Newfane – Lauren Enderton (Sr.), Alexis Rutherford (Sr.) and Julia Noonan (Jr.).

Roy-Hart – Emily Livergood (Sr.), Ella Martillotta (Sr.), Kylie McOmber (Jr.) and Grace Pearl (Jr.).

Wilson – Izzy Behnke (Sr.) and Donna Clark (Jr.).

Kendall has 6 G-R boys soccer All-Stars

By Mike Wertman, Sports Writer Posted 11 November 2024 at 11:11 am

Photos by Cheryl Wertman = Kendall G-R All-Stars, from left, William Kludt, Pablo Rosario-Reyes and Colby Hughes.

Champion Kendall has placed six players on the Genesee Region League boys soccer All-Star team.

That group includes seniors William Kludt, Colby Hughes and Pantaleon Reyes-Garcia along with juniors Pablo Rosario-Reyes, Jonathan Esposito and Brandon Barrett.

In addition, Kendall junior goalie Jonny Conte received Honorable Mention.

Eagles mentor Rich Esposito was named G-R Coach of the Year,

Rosario-Reyes, who was named G-R Player of the Year, had 29 goals and 24 assists to lead the Eagles.

Barrett had 13 goals and 11 assists, Esposito 10 goals and 8 assists, Hughes 8 goals and 13 assists, Kludt 8 goals and 1 assist and Reyes-Garcia 4 assists.

Conte had a 0.58 goals against average as the Eagles defense registered a total of 13 shutouts.

Kendall won the G-R title with an 11-0-1 record. The Eagles finished with an 18-2-1 overall record having won both the Section V Class C2 title and the Section V Class C state qualifier.

Kendall G-R All-Stars, from left, Brandon Barrett, Pantaleon Reyes-Garcia and Jonathan Esposito.

Lady Eagles have five G-R All-Stars

By Mike Wertman, Sports Writer Posted 10 November 2024 at 3:36 pm

Photos by Cheryl Wertman – Kendall’s Sophia Picardo, left, and Ava Quintern are repeat Genesee REgion League All-Star selections.

Division 2 champion Kendall has placed five players on the Genesee Region League girls soccer All-Star team.

The Lady Eagles honored quintet includes senior Ava Quintern, junior Stella Kwiatek, sophomores Sophia Picardo and Addison Kludt and freshman Ryleigh Denning. Quintern and Picardo are both repeat selections.

Quintern had 20 goals and 9 assists thirs season while Picardo had 17 goals and 27 assists, Denning 16 goals and 9 assists, Kwiatek 4 goals and 6 assists and Kludt 1 goal and 4 assists.

The Lady Eagles also had five Honorable Mention selections including junior Alea Barrett, sophomores Keara Reed and Haley Ball and freshmen Izzy D’Agostino and Brynn Hardenbrook.

Kendall, which won the G-R Division 2 title with a 12-1 record, finished the season at 18-2 overall.

Kendall G-R All-Stars, from left, Stella Swiatek, Ryleigh Denning and Addison Kludt.

N-O sweeps GR in Exceptional Senior soccer games

By Cheryl Wertman Posted 9 November 2024 at 7:02 pm

Photo by Cheryl Wertman – Kaitlin Mettler(Roy-Hart) splits the GR defense of Honesty Hill(Left-Medina), Amy Garcia-Vasquez(Right-Oakfield-Alabama/Elba) and Olivia Brooks(Back-Albion) at the N-O vs GR Exceptional Senior game

The Niagara-Orleans League girls and boys teams swept the Genesee Region teams today in the Exceptional Senior soccer games held on the turf at Albion High School.

The girls N-O team defeated the GR team 5-2 as the GR was lacking players and some N-O players played for the GR.

Leading scorer for the game was Kaitlin Mettler(Roy-Hart) who had 2 goals for the N-O and 1 for the GR. Also scoring for the N-O were Emily Phillips(Wilson), Allie Trombley(Roy-Hart), and Rori Higgins(Albion). Scoring the other goal for the GR was Aleyna Susfolk(Akron).

The N-O boys took the win 12-2 with 5 players scoring 2 goals each. Cole Callard(Medina), Keegan Herrmann(Wilson), David Rosario(Albion), Zach Schultz(Roy-Hart) and Hunter Sears(Akron) each had 2 while Sean Kropp(Wilson) and Tye Talbot(Albion) each had 1.

For the GR Nolan Rzepka(Attica/Alexander) and Chris Mosier(Holley) each had a goal.

The Exceptional Senior games help raise money for scholarships for deserving student athletes.

The Exceptional Senior volleyball match will be held this coming Thursday at Lyndonville at 6:00 PM.

Kendall grad wrestling for Southern Maine

By Cheryl Wertman Posted 9 November 2024 at 11:19 am

Contributed photo – Bruce Rasmusson

Kendall High graduate Bruce Rasmusson is beginning his second season as a member on the University of Southern Maine wrestling team.

A sophomore, Rasmusson is wrestling at 125 lbs.

He is majoring in Computer Science.

Southern Maine is competing in the Rogers Williams Invitational this weekend.

During his scholastic days on the Holley-Kendall team, Rasmusson was a five-time place
finisher at the Section V Class B2 tournament, a multi year Genesee
Region League All-Star and a three-time team captain of the Holley-Kendall squad.

Holley comes from behind to defeat Wellsville

By Cheryl Wertman Posted 8 November 2024 at 10:54 pm

File photo by Cheryl Wertman – Destin Kuyal had 2 TD passes this evening against Wellsville

Holley had to come from behind twice tonight to defeat Wellsville 16-14 in the 8 Man Section V Semifinal tonight at Wellsville High School.

Wellsville scored first with 3:47 left in the first quarter on a 25 yard TD pass from quarter back Brennen Geffers to Jayvontay Howard with the 2 point conversion no good.

Holley made their first comeback early in the second quarter as Destin Kuyal threw a 50 yard TD pass to Vinny Golisano with Mason Moyer getting the 2 point conversion to make the score 8-6 with 11:42 to go.

The Lions scored again with 2:44 left in the second quarter as Trenton Green ran for a 46 yard TD and Geffers passing to Green for the 2 point conversion making the score 14-8 at the half.

Neither team scored in the third quarter with both defenses stopping 4th down plays and making interceptions to stop drives.

In the fourth quarter the Hawks came back again for good as Kuyal threw a 40 yard TD pass to Golisano and then ran for the winning 2 point conversion to make the score 16-14 with 5:49 to go.

Wellsville had a chance to take the lead with less than 30 seconds to go, but Holley stopped them as time ran out.

Holley is now 8-3 and will take on Pembroke(9-0), who defeated Red Jacket this evening 46-14 in the other semifinal, next Friday, 11/15/2024, at Pittsford Sutherland High School at 7:00 PM.

Medina overpowered by Salamanca in Section 6 Class C semifinal

By Cheryl Wertman Posted 8 November 2024 at 10:16 pm

Medina’s offense that carried them throughout the season, met their match tonight as Salamanca’s defense smothered them 50-7 tonight in the Class C Sectional Semifinal at Salamanca High School.

The Mustangs’ only touchdown came in the third quarter on a 22 yard pass from Preston Woodworth to Kolton Fletcher with Cole Callard kicking the extra point.

The Warriors’ quarterback, Maddox Isaac, had 4 TD passes including one of 68 yards and one of 65 yards and 1 rushing TD to account for most of the points. Cory Holleran and Xavier Peters were on the other end of those passes with Peters also scoring 2 rushing TDs.

Medina could never get anything going as Salamanca’s defense kept stopping plays for negative yardage and forced the Mustangs to fumble or punt on their possessions.

Medina finishes the season at 8-2 while Salamanca is now 10-0 and will face Portville in the Class C final at Highmark Stadium next Thursday.

Eagles lose in Class C Far West Regional

By Cheryl Wertman Posted 8 November 2024 at 9:54 pm

Kendall’s quest to make the state semifinals came to an end tonight as Allegany-Limestone won 4-2 in the Class C Far West Regionals at Geneseo High School.

The Gators started the scoring as Noah Hatch scored on a pass from Luke Griffin for the 1-0 lead four minutes into the first half.

They scored again to make it 2-0 by Brady Strong before the Eagles’ Vinny D’Agostino scored on a corner from Pablo Rosario-Reyes to make it 2-1 at the half.

The second half belonged to A-L as they scored goals from Hatch again and Zander Parsons while Kendall got a second goal from D’Agostino on a pass from Jonathan Esposito for the final score of 4-2.

Kendall finishes their season at 18-2-1 while Allegany-Limestone goes to the state semifinals at Middletown High School next Friday.

Albion to host N-O vs. G-R soccer twin bill

By Mike Wertman, Sports Writer Posted 8 November 2024 at 8:04 am

Albion will host a Niagara-Orleans League vs. Genesee Region League senior soccer doubleheader on Saturday afternoon.

The girls game is scheduled for 12 p.m. and the boys contest for 2 p.m.

The tentative lineups for the teams are as follows:

The N-O girls roster includes: Cami London, Mackenzie Snook, Rori Higgins and Olivia Brooks from Albion; Mckenzie Elia and Emily Phillips from Wilson; Alayna Susfolk, Ella Liss, Maddie Hillman, Avery Wolfe and Gracie Leiker from Akron; Kaitlin Mettler, Allie Trombley and Ali Ausman from Roy-Hart; Anna Chunco and Kameryn Boyer from Newfane and Honesty Hill from Medina.

The G-R girls lineup includes: Ava Quintern,  Ava LaMay, Clair VanDussen and Leann Clay from Kendall; Kayla Weyrauch and Emily Mruk from Pembroke; Emma Spink from Attica; Rachel Kelly, Faith Goodenbury, Melissa Sawyer, Maddie Kiebzak, Eva Heineman and Gia Scmia from Alexander; Gianna Altamirano, Lilah Barrett, Jenna Wilkosz, Madalyn Hall, Amy Garcia-Vazquez, Piper Hyde and Erin List from Oakfeild-Alabama/Elba;

The N-O boys roster includes: Noah Crockford, Cameron Reuben, Mason Marcinkowski and Hunter Sears from Akron; David Rosario, Adrian Figuero-Fuentes, Leo Bolton, Matt Kania, Jayden Lewis and Tye Talbot from Albion; Cole Callard, Tyler Kroening, Trenton Morley, Brady Christiaansen and Cam Kenward from Medina; Josh Klumpp, Damian Schafer and Brad Bork from Newfane; Zachary Schultz from Roy-Hart and Keegan Herrmann, Logan Kulak, Nick Palermo, Tyler Durow, Sean Kropp and Austin Woodward from Wilson.

The G-R boys lineup includes: Will Kruger, Chris Mosier and Brenden Sargent from Holley; Jack Farner, Jesus Aragon, Noah Clare, Ian Pulcini, Trent Sheard and Martin MacConnell from Byron-Bergen/Elba; Camlin Costich, Kanton DeRoller and Logan Manne from Pembroke; Padraig Crowley and Keith Nicolosi from Wheatland-Chili and Carter Gorski, Josh Kubik, Nolan Rzepka, Brandon Beal and Zach Richardson from Attica/Alexander.

Sectional football semifinal road games on Friday for both Medina and Holley

By Mike Wertman, Sports Writer Posted 7 November 2024 at 10:26 am

Photo by Cheryl Wertman – Medina’s Preston Woodworth(left) and Holley’s Destin Kuyal will lead their teams into the Sectional semifinals on Friday night.

Medina and Holley will both take to the road Friday for sectional semifinal football games against familiar foes.

Medina, which brings an 8-1 record into the contest, will visit undefeated (9-0) Salamanca at 7 p.m. in the Section VI Class C semifinals. Last fall the Mustangs lost to the Warriors 36-23 in the Class C title contest at Highmark Stadium.

Holley, which is 5-3, will visit Wellsville at 7 p.m. in the semifinals of the Section V 8 Man Division. The Hawks defeated the Lions 44-28 at Wellsville during the regular season.

Offensively the Mustangs have been led on the ground by Christian Moss (1,825 yards and 25 touchdowns) and Jayzon Wills (422 yards and 5 touchdowns) and through the air by quarterback Preston Woodworth (840 yards, 9 touchdowns. Carter Woodworth had caught 4 TD passes, Jerrell Nealy 3, Moss 2 and Kolton Fletcher 1.

Salamanca has been sparked on the ground by Xavier Peters (969 yards, 12 touchdowns) and Maddox Isaac (776 yards, 11 touchdowns) and through the air by Isaac (976 yards, 16 touchdowns to 7 different receivers).

Medina advanced by defeating Falconer/Cassadaga Valley/Maple Grove 28-12 while Salamanca downed Cleveland Hill 49-12.

Friday’s other Class C semifinal will be an all C South Division matchup of Portville vs. Chautauqua Lake.

Holley has been sparked by quarterback Destin Kuyal who has passed for 21 touchdowns and run for 7 more. Vinny Golisano has hauled in 17 of those TD passes.

Kendall set to begin state soccer title quest

By Mike Wertman, Sports Writer Posted 7 November 2024 at 10:03 am

Photo by Cheryl Wertman – Vinnie D’Agostino and his Kendall teammates will face Allegany-Limestone in the Class C Far West Regional at 6 p.m. Friday at Geneseo.

Having already captured Genesee Region League and Section V titles, the Kendall boys soccer team is now setting its sights on an even bigger prize – a state championship.

The Eagles will take the first step in that quest on Friday as the Eagles face Section VI champion Allegany-Limestone in the Class C Far West Regional at Geneseo at 6 p.m.

Kendall, which advanced to the regional be defeating Genesee Valley-Belfast 3-1 for the Section V Class C2 title and East Rochester 3-0 in the Section V Class C qualifier, brings and 18-1-1 record into the state playoffs.

Allegany-Limestone, which advanced by downing Randolph 2-0 for the Section VI Class C title, has a 17-2 record.

The Kendall offense has been spearheaded by Pablo Rosario-Reyes who has 29 goals and 23 assists. The Eagles attack has also featured Brandon Barrett with 13 goals and 11 assists, Jonathan Esposito (10 goals, 7 assists), Colby Hughes (8 goals, 13 assists), William Kludt (8 goals, 1 assist) , Vinnie D’Agostino (7 goals, 5 assists) and Brenden Eichas (6 goals, 5 assists).

Allegany-Limestone’s offense has been led by the quartet of Cooper Wilczewski (15 goals, 6 assists), Zander Parsons (11 goals, 4 assists), Noah Hatch (9 goals, 6 assists) and Matt Buenett (9 goals, 3 assists).

The Kendall defense, which has registered 13 shutouts, is anchored by goalie Jonny Conte who has a 0.39 goals against average. Conte’s defensive mates include William Kludt, Pantaleon Reyes-Garcia, Mikey Colucci and Ethan Hardenbrook. It is a group that Coach Rich Esposito has noted “have been studs back there.”

The winner will advance to next Friday’s state semifinals at Middletown against the winner of the Central Regional contest between Tully (Section III) and Southern Cayuga (Section IV).

This is Kendall’s first appearance in the state playoffs since 1998. That year the Eagles defeated Chautauqua Lake 4-2 in the Far West Regionals but lost to Hamilton 2-1 in overtime in the state semifinals.

Akron bows in field hockey sub-regional

By Cheryl Wertman Posted 6 November 2024 at 8:13 pm

Coming from behind in the second half, Clinton rallied for a 2-1 win over Akron this evening at Webster Schroeder High School in the Class C Field Hockey sub-regional.

Section VI Class C champion, Akron took the lead, 1-0, at 9:47 in the second quarter on a shot by Mackenzie Tomporowski with the assist by Morgan Tomporowski.

Section III Class C champion, Clinton tied the game at 1-1 at 9:34 in the third quarter by Leah Randall off a corner.

That set the stage for the game winning goal by Clinton’s Gabriella Gemelli with 7:30 to go in the game.

Clinton which had a 14-4 edge in penalty corners, next faces East Rochester, the Section V Class C champion, Saturday at Webster Schroeder in the Far West Regional.

Holley teams have 6 G-R soccer All-Stars

By Mike Wertman, Sports Writer Posted 6 November 2024 at 9:57 am

Photos by Cheryl Wertman – The Holley boys soccer squad’s three Genesee Region League All-Stars, from left, Chase Kempa, Chris Mosier and Will Kruger.

Holley’s boys and girls soccer teams both have three Genesee Region League All-Star honorees.

The boys squad is represented by seniors Chris Mosier and Will Kruger and sophomore Chase Kempa.

Mosier led the Hawks in scoring with 25 goals and 5 assists as Kempa had 8 goals and 18 assists and Kruger 2 goals and 4 assists.

The Hawks also had two Honorable Mention selections in junior Cam Mosier and freshman Dylan Warner.

The Holley girls team has placed the senior trio of Alivia Wolf, Zoey Wolf and Alexia Renner.

Alivia Wolf led the Lady Hawks with 17 goals and 13 assists as Zoey Wolf had 5 goals and 3 assists and Renner 4 assists.

The Lady Hawks also had a quartet of Honorable Mention selections including sophomore Mia Thom and freshmen Brynn Thomas, Kyla Burne and Hanna Ostrom.

The Holley girls soccer team’s three G-R All-Stars, from left, Alexia Renner, Zoey Wolf and Alivia Wolf.

Kendall wins to earn berth in state tourney

By Mike Wertman, Sports Writer Posted 5 November 2024 at 9:45 pm

Photos by Cheryl Wertman – Kendall goalie Jonny Conte goes up to knock a shot away in the first half of the Eagles 3-0 Section V Class C state qualifier win over East Rochester this evening at Geneseo.

Punching their ticket to the state tournament, the Kendall Eagles shutout the East Rochester Bombers 3-0 in the Section V Class C state qualifier boys soccer game this evening at Geneseo.

Improving to 18-1-1, the victory advances Kendall to Friday’s Class C Far West Regional against Section VI champion Allegany-Limestone at 6 p.m. at Geneseo.

“I’m just super proud of all of them ,” said Coach Rich Esposito. “They really locked that defense down.”

Kendall wasted little time in moving on top to stay as Colby Hughes scored off a corner by Brenden Eichas just nine minutes into the game.

“We set the tone early,” said Esposito. “We possessed the ball well and getting that early one was huge.”

The Eagles just missed on three other shots later in the half which ended a tight 1-0 contest.

Kendall finally opened up a little breathing room when Vinnie D’Agostino scored on a penalty kick 12 minutes into the second half.

The Eagles then put a lock on the victory when Pablo Rosario Reyes scored on a breakaway with 13 minutes to go upping the lead to 3-0.

Kendall goalie Jonny Conte and his defensive mates including William Kludt, Pantaleon Reyes-Garcia, Mikey Colucci and Ethan Hardenbrook combined to post the Eagles 13th shutout of the season.

“They’ve been a bunch of studs for us back there,” said Esposito of his defensive group.

Kendall advanced to the state qualifier by downing Genesee Valley-Belfast 3-1 for the Class C2 title while East Rochester bested Byron-Bergen/Elba 3-2 for the Class C1 title.

The sectional title and the berth in the state tournament is the first for the Eagles since 1998.

Kendall’s Jonathan Esposito goes up for a header against East Rochester’s Judah Tanner.

Kendall’s Mikey Colucci sends the ball up field as Elijah Tanner moves in for East Rochester.

A large crowd of Kendall fans were on hand to support their Eagles.