Thanksgiving is special to several local teams

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 17-1 overall record for the year the Mustangs went 6-0 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.