By: Dave Ricci
When asked about the prospects of the 2011 season coach Gary Tocke smiled and simply said, “If I wasn’t excited I wouldn’t be here.”
As Tocke leads the Kenmore West Blue Devils boys varsity volleyball team into the season he knows there are plenty of question facing his young team. But he believes they can find the answers together.
Graduating 10 of 13 kids will indeed create plenty of questions. But the legendary Ken-Ton coach is certainly savvy enough to know how to dissect a new season and what to tell his boys to get them off on the right foot.
“I tell everybody, never sell us short. Everybody is undefeated (in camp).” Tocke said with a wink. “That’s what I told them. I said you’re gonna have to work hard because the level is going to be different than what you are accustomed to. So you’re going to have to put forth the effort. You’re going to have to just play with a lot of intensity. And if they do, then we’ll see what happens. But I always tell them I’ll tell you how we did in the season in November (at our banquet).”
Ben Bowler and Alex Keller are the two key departures from the Blue Devils roster.
Keller was an extremely intense and athletic young man who could seemingly play just about anywhere.
Bowler, meanwhile, was a four-year starter and was one of the best setters the program ever had.
Though a kid like Bowler comes along once every 10 years, if your lucky, the Blue Devils know it’s about looking to the future and making the most of the talent in camp.
Leading the way will be Tocke’s three senior returnees, Tim Kelly (outside hitter), Scott Lachut (right side) and Tyler Appenheimer. Kelly and Lachut are expected to see a considerable amount of playing time.
“I think Scotty Lachut and Tim Kelly can possibly take us a to a pretty good level,” said Tocke.
“They’re both sound players. They have limitations to a point, but they have a lot of other qualities that make them better than average. They’re the ones that have to sort of lead us down the road and bring the younger kids up.”
Knowing that he and Lachut will most likely be the voices of leadership on the floor Tim Kelly said that thought the team is young in varsity years, he feels the continuity built through years of friendship will help them succeed.
“Everyone works hard everyday,” said Kelly. “We all come in. We all get ready together and we just try our best.”
Junior Alex Schwagler, up from junior varsity, is one of several players that are in the mix to win the job of starting setter. Schwagler is looking to rebound after an injury cut his JV season short last year.
Showing posts with label wny high school sports news. Show all posts
Showing posts with label wny high school sports news. Show all posts
Monday, September 12, 2011
Wednesday, August 31, 2011
Going gets tough for JFK Lady Bears
By: Jennifer Orr
When the going gets tough, the team needs to get tough, too. At least that’s the way the JFK Lady Bears varsity soccer team sees things as a group in a highly challenging division.
And so, for the Lady Bears, practice has been a big part of their day-to-day activities. Two solid hours of practice and a half hour of conditioning everyday have become part of the norm for every member on the team.
“Practice, conditioning, skill work,” said coach Rich Mattison, who has taught physical education classes to 14 of the 20 girls on the team since they were in third grade. “I always emphasize that they have to practice the way they expect to play.”
Many of the Lady Bears have played soccer together for years, which can be highly beneficial for the team. Mattison called attention to a new kind of spirit within the team – a new attitude, he says.
“The attitude is different in this year’s team. They’re coming in this year expecting to win more than they have in the past. They want to do it, they know they can do it, they’ve been working hard,” he explained. Among this season’s top players are seniors Emily McGee and Krysta Wiess. McGee, a forward, is probably one of the fastest kids in the state according to Mattison, who added that she is a top prospect for college track teams. Wiess, also a forward, is known for her agility and exceptional ball handling skills among her coaches and teammates.
Other leading players on this year’s roster include senior midfielders Sarah Kapanek and Erin Kraus, and sophomore defensemen Ashley Wieczorek,Katelyn Sikora. Between the team rookies and veterans, there is the right amount of everything – equal parts experience and enthusiasm.
Mattison has one prediction for JFK’s season opener at Lackawanna High School on Wednesday, Sept. 7, which is “to come out hard, play hard, and win the game.”
And as for Mattison’s thoughts on his players, many of whom he has known since their elementary school days: “It’s nice to be coaching at a varsity level with a bunch of girls who are not only good players, but also good people.”
When the going gets tough, the team needs to get tough, too. At least that’s the way the JFK Lady Bears varsity soccer team sees things as a group in a highly challenging division.
And so, for the Lady Bears, practice has been a big part of their day-to-day activities. Two solid hours of practice and a half hour of conditioning everyday have become part of the norm for every member on the team.
“Practice, conditioning, skill work,” said coach Rich Mattison, who has taught physical education classes to 14 of the 20 girls on the team since they were in third grade. “I always emphasize that they have to practice the way they expect to play.”
Many of the Lady Bears have played soccer together for years, which can be highly beneficial for the team. Mattison called attention to a new kind of spirit within the team – a new attitude, he says.
“The attitude is different in this year’s team. They’re coming in this year expecting to win more than they have in the past. They want to do it, they know they can do it, they’ve been working hard,” he explained. Among this season’s top players are seniors Emily McGee and Krysta Wiess. McGee, a forward, is probably one of the fastest kids in the state according to Mattison, who added that she is a top prospect for college track teams. Wiess, also a forward, is known for her agility and exceptional ball handling skills among her coaches and teammates.
Other leading players on this year’s roster include senior midfielders Sarah Kapanek and Erin Kraus, and sophomore defensemen Ashley Wieczorek,Katelyn Sikora. Between the team rookies and veterans, there is the right amount of everything – equal parts experience and enthusiasm.
Mattison has one prediction for JFK’s season opener at Lackawanna High School on Wednesday, Sept. 7, which is “to come out hard, play hard, and win the game.”
And as for Mattison’s thoughts on his players, many of whom he has known since their elementary school days: “It’s nice to be coaching at a varsity level with a bunch of girls who are not only good players, but also good people.”
Tuesday, July 12, 2011
Dominating year for Nichols High School
by Dave Ricci, Metro Source
You couldn’t have drawn up a better season if you were given the rights to the movie.
The Nichols Vikings girls varsity lacrosse team entered the 2011 season on a mission.
A second place finish in the Mid-West League in 2010 just wasn’t good enough. They were determined to do better.
Their resolve paid off as the Vikings walked away this season as Mid-West Schoolgirl champions, a title they won during the playoff tournament that was played May 21-22 at Nichols.
The Vikings, who earned the programs very first title since Mid-West League was formed in 1982, sealed the title by defeating Western Reserve 9-3 on May 22.
The Vikings were ranked No.3 in the field of 12 teams.
Along with skilled players, the Vikings had tremendous leadership, as coaches Danielle Vallas and Beth Stone credited the seniors as the key factor that got them over the hump this time out.
Setting the tone were seniors Lauren Basil and Marissa Faso. Basil was named to the All-Metro first team, while Faso was presented with the Metro Leadership Award for her work on and off the athletic field.
The rest of the Vikings certainly weren’t short-changed on post season hardware.
Basil and Spring Sanders were named to the U.S. Lax, WNY chapter, All-American team.
Goalie Julia DiTondo and senior Tori Salmon were tabbed as US Lacrosse Academic All-Americans.
Basil, Sanders and Emily Janiga were named All-Mid-West first teamers, while Julia DiTondo, Faso and Salmon were named to the second team.
Janiga, DiTondo, Sanders and Basil were also selected to first team All-WNY.
Janiga was the Vikings leading scorer and formed a deadly 1-2 offensive punch with junior Kristen Winter.
DiTondo was simply sparkling in net all season and Sanders was as good of a lock-down defender as anyone in the state.
Freshman Madison Sansone was outstanding all year, as well. Sansone played with the poise of an upper-classman.
She never seemed to be in over her head and was always calm and collected whenever her coaches imparted advice.
Sansone has world of promise.
The Vikings bid goodbye to Basil, Faso, Salmon, Sanders, Njideka Noble, Haley McNamara and Nicolette Winder.
Winter, Janiga, DiTondo, Sansone, Shelby Wilde and Elizabeth Benedict are returnees the Vikings will lean on next year.
You couldn’t have drawn up a better season if you were given the rights to the movie.
The Nichols Vikings girls varsity lacrosse team entered the 2011 season on a mission.
A second place finish in the Mid-West League in 2010 just wasn’t good enough. They were determined to do better.
Their resolve paid off as the Vikings walked away this season as Mid-West Schoolgirl champions, a title they won during the playoff tournament that was played May 21-22 at Nichols.
The Vikings, who earned the programs very first title since Mid-West League was formed in 1982, sealed the title by defeating Western Reserve 9-3 on May 22.
The Vikings were ranked No.3 in the field of 12 teams.
Along with skilled players, the Vikings had tremendous leadership, as coaches Danielle Vallas and Beth Stone credited the seniors as the key factor that got them over the hump this time out.
Setting the tone were seniors Lauren Basil and Marissa Faso. Basil was named to the All-Metro first team, while Faso was presented with the Metro Leadership Award for her work on and off the athletic field.
The rest of the Vikings certainly weren’t short-changed on post season hardware.
Basil and Spring Sanders were named to the U.S. Lax, WNY chapter, All-American team.
Goalie Julia DiTondo and senior Tori Salmon were tabbed as US Lacrosse Academic All-Americans.
Basil, Sanders and Emily Janiga were named All-Mid-West first teamers, while Julia DiTondo, Faso and Salmon were named to the second team.
Janiga, DiTondo, Sanders and Basil were also selected to first team All-WNY.
Janiga was the Vikings leading scorer and formed a deadly 1-2 offensive punch with junior Kristen Winter.
DiTondo was simply sparkling in net all season and Sanders was as good of a lock-down defender as anyone in the state.
Freshman Madison Sansone was outstanding all year, as well. Sansone played with the poise of an upper-classman.
She never seemed to be in over her head and was always calm and collected whenever her coaches imparted advice.
Sansone has world of promise.
The Vikings bid goodbye to Basil, Faso, Salmon, Sanders, Njideka Noble, Haley McNamara and Nicolette Winder.
Winter, Janiga, DiTondo, Sansone, Shelby Wilde and Elizabeth Benedict are returnees the Vikings will lean on next year.
Friday, July 8, 2011
Niagara-Orleans softball all-stars unveiled
League champion Albion had a trio of players named to the annual All-Niagara-Orleans League first team, as selected by the league’s coaches.
The Purple Eagles, who claimed their third consecutive league crown with a 12-2 record, were represented by senior first baseman Emalee Soule, junior pitcher Jen Knaak and junior second baseman Tia Prentice.
Soule hit .298 with 17 RBIs, Knaak hit .358 with 13 RBis and Prentice hit .315 with 10 RBIs. Knaak also struck out 97 and had a 1.69 ERA in the circle.
Royalton-Hartland and Wilson, which tied for second place with a identical 10-4 marks, each had two representatives on the first team. Senior pitcher Amanda Werth and freshman catcher Sam Brown are from Roy-Hart, while senior infielder Elise Jancef, a repeat selection, and sophomore pitcher Lindsey Bryer are from Wilson.
Werth, a five-time, first-team selection and a Niagara University signee, hit .560 with an on-base percentage of .656 and 21 RBIs. Brown hit .410 with 15 RBIs. Jancef, a repeat selection, hit .604 with 11 extra-base hits, including four home runs, and 19 RBIs. Bryer hit .542 with 11 doubles and 14 RBIs.
Medina senior pitcher Alishia Foss is also a repeat selection. This spring she hit .358 with 19 runs scored and 13 RBIs. She struck out 73 batters in the circle.
Barker senior pitcher Jessica Hillman, Akron sophomore pitcher Alexis Kidder, Newfane sophomore catcher Jordan Beutel and CSAT sophomore infielder Michelle Maloney round out the first team.
Hillman hit .389 with nine extra-base hits, KIdder hit .413 with eight extra-base hits and 11 RBIs, Beutel hit .306 with 10 RBIs and Maloney hit .509 with a .655 slugging percentage.
Second-team selections included: Sarah Papponetti (Albion, sophomore), Katie Donnelly (Albion, senior), Chelsey Jamieson (Roy-Hart, senior), Jillian Smith (Roy-Hart, senior), Stormie Kruger (Medina, sophomore), Mallorie Gagnon (Wilson, sophomore), Jamie Curry (Wilson, sophomore), Alex Denny (Barker, junior), Olivia Denny (Barker, freshman), Hayley Klumpp (Akron, sophomore) and Katie Shaw (Newfane, sophomore).
Honorable-mention selections included: Ali O’Hearn (Albion, sophomore), Brianna Walker (Roy-Hart, sophomore), Olivia Kelkenberg (Roy-Hart, sophomore), Jen Russell (Roy-Hart, senior), Molly Murphy (Roy-Hart, junior), Megan Corrieri (Roy-Hart, senior), Deseree Hughes (Medina, senior), Emma Fish (Medina, sophomore), Jaime Cogar (Newfane, senior), Shannon Shaw (Newfane, senior), Jamie Kerwin (Newfane, sophomore), Destiny Metzler (Barker, junior), Stephanie Pyra (Barker, junior), Kierstyn Sturmer (Akron, junior), Ashley Popp (Akron, senior), Ashley Wyder (Akron, senior), Samantha Dugo (CSAT, sophomore), Danielle Wright (CSAT, senior) and Kailey Schultz (Wilson, junior).
The Purple Eagles, who claimed their third consecutive league crown with a 12-2 record, were represented by senior first baseman Emalee Soule, junior pitcher Jen Knaak and junior second baseman Tia Prentice.
Soule hit .298 with 17 RBIs, Knaak hit .358 with 13 RBis and Prentice hit .315 with 10 RBIs. Knaak also struck out 97 and had a 1.69 ERA in the circle.
Royalton-Hartland and Wilson, which tied for second place with a identical 10-4 marks, each had two representatives on the first team. Senior pitcher Amanda Werth and freshman catcher Sam Brown are from Roy-Hart, while senior infielder Elise Jancef, a repeat selection, and sophomore pitcher Lindsey Bryer are from Wilson.
Werth, a five-time, first-team selection and a Niagara University signee, hit .560 with an on-base percentage of .656 and 21 RBIs. Brown hit .410 with 15 RBIs. Jancef, a repeat selection, hit .604 with 11 extra-base hits, including four home runs, and 19 RBIs. Bryer hit .542 with 11 doubles and 14 RBIs.
Medina senior pitcher Alishia Foss is also a repeat selection. This spring she hit .358 with 19 runs scored and 13 RBIs. She struck out 73 batters in the circle.
Barker senior pitcher Jessica Hillman, Akron sophomore pitcher Alexis Kidder, Newfane sophomore catcher Jordan Beutel and CSAT sophomore infielder Michelle Maloney round out the first team.
Hillman hit .389 with nine extra-base hits, KIdder hit .413 with eight extra-base hits and 11 RBIs, Beutel hit .306 with 10 RBIs and Maloney hit .509 with a .655 slugging percentage.
Second-team selections included: Sarah Papponetti (Albion, sophomore), Katie Donnelly (Albion, senior), Chelsey Jamieson (Roy-Hart, senior), Jillian Smith (Roy-Hart, senior), Stormie Kruger (Medina, sophomore), Mallorie Gagnon (Wilson, sophomore), Jamie Curry (Wilson, sophomore), Alex Denny (Barker, junior), Olivia Denny (Barker, freshman), Hayley Klumpp (Akron, sophomore) and Katie Shaw (Newfane, sophomore).
Honorable-mention selections included: Ali O’Hearn (Albion, sophomore), Brianna Walker (Roy-Hart, sophomore), Olivia Kelkenberg (Roy-Hart, sophomore), Jen Russell (Roy-Hart, senior), Molly Murphy (Roy-Hart, junior), Megan Corrieri (Roy-Hart, senior), Deseree Hughes (Medina, senior), Emma Fish (Medina, sophomore), Jaime Cogar (Newfane, senior), Shannon Shaw (Newfane, senior), Jamie Kerwin (Newfane, sophomore), Destiny Metzler (Barker, junior), Stephanie Pyra (Barker, junior), Kierstyn Sturmer (Akron, junior), Ashley Popp (Akron, senior), Ashley Wyder (Akron, senior), Samantha Dugo (CSAT, sophomore), Danielle Wright (CSAT, senior) and Kailey Schultz (Wilson, junior).
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