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Contributed Photo – Leading the Roy-Hart swim teams into the Niagara-Orleans League season will be this group of seniors. They include, from left, Jay Heideman, Chris Ulrich, Zach Livergood, Captain Jake Hagen, Brooke Livergood, Molly Russell, Amanda Hill and Charles Rickard.

Anchored by a good veteran nucleus Roy-Hart is looking to keep the momentum from last season which saw the Channel Cats capture the Niagara-Orleans League boys championship and the girls finish in the runnner-up spot.

The boys squad, which went 10-0 in N–O competition, is led by seniors Jake Hagen, who placed third in both the 100 and 200 Freestyle events at the N-O All-League meet, Charles Rickard (3rd in Breaststroke, 5th in 50 Free), Chris Ulrich (4th in 500 Free), Zach Livergood (5th in Backstroke) and Jay Heideman (6th in 200 Free) along with juniors Andrew Ossont (3rd in 50 Free and 5th in Breaststroke) and Max Stern and freshman Sean Labiak (5th in 500 Free).

Mandy Hill, who won both the 200 Individual Medley and 100 Free at the All-League meet, heads the veteran group for the girls squad which went 8-2 finishing second to undefeated (10-0) Akron). That veteran contingent also includes seniors Brooke Livergood (4th Breaststroke) and Molly Russell (5th Backstroke) along with juniors Alexis Seib (5th 50 Free) and Nadia White (6th 50 Free and Breaststroke) and sophomores Sophia Santella and Julie Miles.

“Medina should be our toughest meets for the boys and Akron for the girls,” said Coach Dottie Barr. “We just have to go into every meet really mentally focused.”

Roy-Hart will tune-up for the December 14 N-O opener at Newfane with a pair of meets against Genesee Region League foes. The Channel Cats will host Wheatland-Chili this Friday (5:30 p.m.) and then visit HAC on Dec. 7 (:30 p.m.)

Albion Purple Eagles
The accent is on youth for the Albion swim squads.

The veteran group for the Purple Eagles girls squad, which is looking to improve upon last year’s 2-8 N-O record, includes senior Emily Harling; junior Clara Bolton; sophomores Devynn Pearles, Hannah Pahura, Autumn Flugel, Mia Olles, Julia Fuller and freshman Willow Gaines.

The boys squad, which went 4-6, returns seniors Jacob Foote, Declan McCue, Dallas Ecker and Jeff Brown along with sophomores Mason Giattino, Finn McCue and Joel Stack and freshmen Matthew Kania, Leo Bolton and Seth Krenning.

Albion, which will host Barker in the N-O opener on Dec. 14, will host Attica this Friday (5:30 p.m.) and then visit Wheatland-Chili on Dec. 7 in non league tune-up meets.

Photos by Cheryl Wertman – Veterans Lily Carpenter of Medina and Trinity Parfinski of Barker in action during games last season.

Light on veteran experience and with new coaches at the helm Medina and Barker will both open the girls basketball season by competing in the Kendall Tournament on Thursday and Saturday.

Thursday’s opening round will have Barker vs. Holley at 6 p.m. followed by Medina vs. Kendall at 7:45 p.m. The consolation and championship games are scheduled for 2 and 4 p.m. Saturday.

The trio of seniors Lily Carpenter and Aleigha Mitchell and sophomore Iyla Lilleby provide the veteran experience for Medina which is coached by Connie Heschke.

The Mustangs underclassmen dominated lineup also includes juniors Stella Poler, Rylee VanNostrand, Dani Williams, Phallon Rivera, Hilda Santiago-Bautista, Tatyana Baity, Aries McMurray and sophomore Chloe Anelli.

“We have only two seniors so it is a young group but they are looking promising,” said Heschke. “The main thing now is getting them working together and get a team chemistry.”

Barker likewise has only two veteran returnees, seniors Trinity Parfinski and Alyssa Thompson.

The Lady Raiders are also looking to seniors Cloey Sanders and Hannah Fiacco and junior Mia Herman.

“It’s a really young team so it will be a building year for us,” said Coach Jim Bachman who guided the JV team last year.

Snapping a season opening three game losing streak, the Roy-Hart/Barker/Medina club hockey team defeated visiting West Seneca 9-2 on Sunday.

Andrew Vaeth opened the scoring in the first two minutes assisted by Lawson Wallworth (R-H). Later in the period, Dayton Ruppel (Akron) scored assisted by Joel Harris (Barker). Harris then added his own goal with an assist from Lucius Wagner (Medina). Ruppel then scored again to give RBM a 4-1 lead at the end of the period.

In the second period, Ruppel tallied his second unassisted goal of the game, followed by Harris with his second goal from Ryan Mettler (R-H). Harris followed that with an unassisted tally. Ruppel then scored his fourth goal of the game giving RBM a commanding 8-2 lead going into the final period.

Ruppel did the only scoring in the third period with assists from Harris and Wallworth.

RBM’s next game is Sunday at Leisure Rink against Orchard Park at 6 p.m.

Photos by Cheryl Wertman – All-State soccer squad honorees Kendall’s T’Mia Kichings, left, and Roy-Hart’s Kara Choate.

Two local players, Kendall senior T’Mia Kitchings and Roy-Hart senior Kara Choate, have earned spots on the All-State girls soccer squad.

Kitchings has been named to the Class C third team and Choate to the Class B fourth team.

Kitchings, who is a two-time Genesee Region League All-Star, had 11 goals and 2 assists on the season.

Choate, who has also been named to the All-Western New York second team, had 38 goals and 9 assists this season as she helped lead Roy-Hart to a second straight Niagara-Orleans League title and a first ever Section VI Class B2 championship. A three-time first team N-O All-League honoree she was also named N-O Player odf the Year.

Wilson sophomore Leia Cloy earned fifth team Class C All-State honors. A two-time first team N-O All-League honoree, she had 16 goals and 11 assists this season.

Byron-Bergen had two Class C All-State selections as Mia Gray was named to the first team and Brooke Jarkiewicz to the second team. Gray, who was named G-R Division I Player of the Year, had 27 goals and 17 assists this season.

Photos by Cheryl Wertman – Leading Kendall’s large contingent of veterans is Libby Snyder, at right, who earned Genesee Region League All-Star honors last season and at left, Kendall’s Alezya Brown drives against Holley’s Adriana Botello during contests last season.

Anchored by a large group of a dozen returnees, the Kendall girls basketball team is looking for a strong season in the Genesee Region League competition.

Seniors Libby Snyder, who earned G-R All-Star honors last season, and Alezya Brown, who was an Honorable Mention selection, head Kendall’s veteran contingent. Snyder scored 113 points and grabbed off 127 rebounds last season.

That veteran group also includes seniors T’Mia Kitchings, Julie Coble, Grace Levett, Grace Robinson, Kailie Regan, Julia Szczepanski, Sara Mattle, Marah Woodward, Emma Allen and junior Lauren Pilon.

“We’ve got depth and we’re huge,” said Coach Jeff Parizek. “We’ve got our top eight kids back so I’m looking to play 10 kids regularly. We have plenty of depth, good size and all of that experience is definitly a plus.”

The Lady Tigers will open the season by hosting the Kendall Tournament on December 2 and 4. The first night matchups will have Holley vs. Barker followed by Kendall vs. Medina. The Lady Eagles G-R opener will be at home on Dec. 10 against Pembroke.

Holley’s squad numbers only seven including seniors Adriana Botello, Tatum Gagne and Harleigh Andrews along with juniors Sara Kingdollar and Tia Hofforth and sophomore Sam Bates.

The Lady Hawks graduation losses included Halee Passarell and Hayley Skidmore.

Photo by Cheryl Wertman – Albion’s Abby Scanlan

Underclassmen will dominate the lineup for the Albion girls basketball team which will begin tuning up for the Niagara-Orleans League season by hosting Lyndonville in a non league contest on December 2.

The Purple Eagles return a quintet of veterans including seniors Abby Scanlan, Sydney Mulka and Aurora Serafin along with junior Olivia Krenning and sophomore Madison Hughson which will anchor the squad.

The Purple Eagles main  graduation loss was Honesty Little who earned second team N-O All-League honors.

“It will be a young team again,” said Coach Lucian Price. “We will really need our returning kids to step into bigger roles.”

Albion, which went 5-6 in N-O competition last season (7-8 overall), will open the league season at Newfane on January 4.

In between the Purple Eagles also have non league games scheduled at Byron-Bergen on Dec. 7, at home against Notre Dame on Dec. 9, at Elba on Dec. 18 and at home against Oakfield-Alabama on Dec. 20.

Contributed Photo – Lyndonville’s veteran group includes, from left, Gracie Johnson, Brynn Howell, Ella Lewis, Ashlee Stepounds and Lorelei Dillenbeck.

Anchored by a strong nucleus of six returnees, the Lyndonville girls basketball team is looking for a strong run during the upcoming Genesee Region League season.

The Lady Tigers veteran contingent includes seniors Ella Lewis, Gracie Johnson, Brynn Howell and Karlee Rounds along with junior Lorelei Dillenbeck and sophomore Ashlee Stephens.

Lewis averaged 12.7 points and earned G-R All-Star honors and Dillenbeck, who averaged 11.0 points, received Honorable Mention.

The Lady Tigers lineup is also bolstered by the addition of junior Haley Shaffer and freshman Addison Dillenbeck.

“They have a lot of heart and a lot of potential,” said Kate Draper who is co-coaching the team with Lee Dillenbeck. “They are working hard and they are hungry. I’m really excited about the season as they really have a lot of great potential.

The Lady Tigers will tune up for the December 10 G-R opener at Wheatland-Chili with non league contests at Albion on Dec. 2 and at home against Barker on Dec. 8.

Photos by Cheryl Wertman – Quarterback Xander Payne, left, and running back Noah Skinner and their Medina teammates captured by division and sectional titles and earned the Mustangs first ever berth in the state football playoffs.

On this Thanksgiving Day several local High school teams have much to be thankful for after enjoying very special fall sports seasons.

The Medina football team not only captured  two C North Division and Section VI Class C championships during this calendar year but also earned the Mustangs first ever berth to the state playoffs.

Compiling an 18-1 overall record for the year the Mustangs went 7-0 during the spring season which was a makeup for the Covid-19 Pandemic wiped out the fall 2020 campaign. The spring was capped off by a 21-13 win over Southwestern in the Class C title game at Vets Park.

Lyndonville’s Lorelei Dillenbeck, left, and Gracie Johnson helped the Lady Tigers capture the Genesee Region League Division II volleyball title.

Keeping the momentum, the Mustangs went 11-1 this fall repeating as C North champions with a 5-0 record and as Section VI Class C champs by scoring a snowy 58-6 win over Fredonia at Highmark Stadium. The Mustangs then made their historic state playoff debut dropping a narrow 26-24 decision to East Rochester/Gananda.

Roy-Hart enjoyed an outstanding trifecta Niagara-Orleans League title season.

The Rams repeated as both N-O boys and girls soccer champions. The boys went 9-1 and the girls 7-1.

The Rams had a strong postseason run advancing to the Section VI Class B2 finals where they dropped a 2-0 decision to Lackawawana.

The Lady Rams went on to capture the first sectional title in program history by tying Fredonia 1-1 in double overtime in the Class B2 final. The Lady Rams advanced to the Class B state qualifier game by besting Fredonia 4-2 in a shootout. The Lady Rams then lost 5-1 in the Section VI Class B state qualifier to B1 champ Lew-Port which went on to reach the state finals.

The Roy-Hart girls volleyball team captured their first N-O title since 2009 by compiling a perfect 10-0 record.

Roy-Hart also had the N-O’s Player of the Year in all three sports including Peter Martillotta (boys soccer), Kara Choate (girls soccer) and Samantha Albright (volleyball).

The Lyndonville volleyball team compiled a near perfect 7-1 record to capture the Genesee Region League Division II championship.

The Lady Tigers team balance was shown as they had four players earn spots on the G-R All-Star squad. Lorelei Dillenbeck, Haley Shaffer and Addison Dillenbeck all earned All-Star honors and Gracie Johnson was an Honorable Mention selection.

Led by this trio of Niagara-Orleans League Players of the Year. Roy-Hart captured the league boys and girls soccer and volleyball titles. From left are Samantha Albright, Peter Martillotta and Kara Choate.

Photos by Cheryl Wertman – Issac Pace, left, and Michael Marker , who scored wins at last season’s All-League meet, will lead Medina into the upcoming Niagara-Orleans boys swim season.

During last season’s most unusual Niagara-Orleans League swim campaign of “virtual” meets caused by Covid-19 restrictions, the Medina boys squad posted its best record in over 15 years as the Seahorses went 8-2 finishing in the runner-up spot behind undefeated (10-0) champion Roy-Hart.

Looking to keep the momentum, the Seahorses return a strong nucleus led by seniors Issac Pace, who won both the 50 Freestyle and 100 Breaststroke in the All-League meet competition, and Michael Marker, who won the 100 Butterfly and placed 4th in the 100 Backstroke.

The Seahorses other veterans include seniors Ben Griffin (4th in 100 Free and 200 Free), Jaxon Phillips (5th 200 Free and 6th Backstroke), Xander Payne (5th in 50 Free and 100 Free) and Cole Seefeldt (6th Breaststroke) along with juniors Mason Moreland (Individual Medley), Austin Tompkins (Butterfly, Breaststroke), Bryson Costich (Butterfly), Jackson Moreland (Backstroke) and sophomore Caiden Class (6th 500 Free).

“We’ve got a good group back so we’re hoping to contend,” said Coach Aaron Moessinger.

The Seahorses will prep for the December 14 N-O opener at Akron by hosting HAC on Dec. 2 (4:30 p.m.) and visiting Byron-Bergen on Dec. 7.

The accent is on youth for Medina girls squad

A quartet of veterans anchors the lineup for the Medina girls squad’s otherwise youthful lineup

Junior Maddy Satkowski, who placed 4th in both the 100 Free and 200 Free at last season’s All-League meet competition, heads that quartet which also includes senior Kaylee Lacey (500 Free), sophomore Madisynn Stanton (Backstroke) and freshman Sophia Goyette (100 Free).

“We’re very young so it will be a growing year for us,” said Coach Taylor Schaal.

The Seahorses key losses from last season’s 6-4 team include Brooklyn Brown (2nd Butterfly and 3rd IM), Amanda Woodruff (3rd 50 Free and 5th 100 Free), Corinne Hill (5th 500 Free) and Gracie Cogovan (5th Breaststroke).

Photo by Cheryl Wertman – Noah Poler

Having lost four starters to graduation, the Lyndonville boys basketball team faces a bit of a rebuilding task this season under new Coach CJ Knight.

Senior Noah Poler is the lone returning starter for the Tigers which also return seniors Trenton Muck and Mason Nicholson.

The Tigers are also counting on the trio of junior Ian Mank and seniors Roman Heinsler and Jack Whipple.

“We’re looking to play a hard pressure defense and off of that run a transition offense,” said Knight. “We’re looking to play everyone with a tenacious mindset.”

The Tigers graduation losses included starters Nathan Dillenbeck, Casey Winiecki, Russell Stephens and Anthony Moule.

Dillenbeck scored 278 points to finish his career with a school record 1,156 points. Stephens scored 178 points and grabbed off 140 rebounds.

Lyndonville will prep for the December 6 Genesee Region League home opener against Wheatland-Chili by visiting Akron in a non league contest on Dec. 1.

Breaking away from a 1-1 tie, St. Francis used a 3-1 second period scoring edge to key a 5-2 win over visiting Roy-Hart/Barker/Medina Sunday in a Western New York Club Hockey League game.

Ryan Mettler and Ethan Nicosia each scored a goal for RBM. Lucius Wagner, Gavin Heideman and Richard Keppler all had a hand in dishing out assists.

Now at 0-3, RBM will next host West Seneca at 2:40 p.m. Sunday at Lockport.

Photos by Cheryl Wertman – Andrew Uderitz, left, and Dayne Aina are among Albion’s veterans who will lead the Purple Eagles into the up coming Niagara-Orleans League wrestling season.

For Albion and their Niagara-Orleans League counterparts the 2020-21 wrestling season was a most unusual one to be sure as due to Covid-19 restrictions wrestling in Section VI became a spring sport.

And since Erie County teams (including Akron) were still unable to participate due to tighter restrictions in that county, the May-June season saw the remaining Niagara-Orleans League and Niagara Frontier League teams along with Starpoint combine for an informal league so teams could get in some 10 matches.

Now, providing no further Covid-19 problems arise, the N-O is preparing to begin a full regular season in mid December.

Albion will begin tuning up for the league campaign by hosting Alexander at 6 p.m. December 1. The Purple Eagles will also host Byron-Bergen on Dec. 8 and compete in the Byron-Bergen Tournament on Dec. 4 and the Lyndonville Tournament on Dec. 11 before beginning N-O competition at rival Medina on Dec. 15.

The Purple Eagles return a large contingent of veterans including seniors Dayne Aina, Angel Cruz, Robert Dysard, Alex Hafner, Ellwood Hafner, Jr. Morales, Cade Wolcott, Bryce Froman and Blake Stornelli along with juniors Andrew Uderitz and Bryden McMurray.

“We’ve got a good group of kids back,” said Coach Pat Uveino. “We have high hopes. We’ve got good experience as a lot of these guys have been with us a long time. The boys are excited so we’re looking to hit the ground running.”

Albion’s N-O home opener will be on Dec. 22 against Newfane. The remainder of the N-O schedule will have the Purple Eagles hosting Roy-Hart/Barker on January 5, visiing Akron on Jan. 12, hosting Wilson on Jan. 19 and then hosting the N-O All-League Tournament on Jan. 22.

Photos by Cheryl Wertman – All-Western New York honorees Peter Martillotta, left, and Zach Fike.

Contributed Photo – Caleb Suchow

Three Niagara-Orleans League players have been named to the All Western New York boys soccer small schools team.

The trio includes Medina senior goalie Zach Fike, Roy-Hart junior forward Peter Martillotta and Akron junior defender Caleb Suchow.

Fike, a repeat selection and a two-time first team N-O All-League honoree, made 154 saves and registered 8 shutouts. He finishes his career with a school record total of 27  shutouts.

Martillotta, the N-O Player of the Year and a two-time first team All-League honoree, had 21 goals and 10 assists as he helped lead Roy-Hart to a second straight league title.

Suchow had 3 goals and 1 assist as he anchored the Tigers defense.

Photos by Cheryl Wertman – Local Section V All Tournament honorees include, from left, Aleza Brown (Kendall), T’Mia Kitchings (Kendall) and Emma Brady (Holley).

Three local players have earned spots on the Section V girls soccer All-Tournament teams.

Holley sophomore Emma Brady has been named to the Class C1 All-Tournament team. She scored 11 goals and had 4 assists on the season.

Kendall seniors T’Mia Kitchings and Alezya Brown have both been named to the Class C2 All-Tournament team.

Kitchings had 11 goals and 2 assists and Brown 10 goals and 3 assists on the season.