With a strong core of returning talent there is no reason why the Lockport Lions baseball team can’t make a run at the Niagara Frontier League title — and beyond. Coming off of a 2012 that saw the Lions post an impressive 12-2 mark in league, Lockport finished one game back of NFL champion Niagara Falls. Though the Lions fell a game shy of a league title, they had the satisfaction of handing the Wolverines their only loss in league play. Leading the way for Lockport will be captains Brad Wroblewski, a left-handed pitcher, righty hurler Chuck Sobieraski, who will also play first and third base, Dan Bronson, a catcher, and right-handed pitcher Noah Vandebosch. With all four captains in their...

Hard work plus talent and experience is usually a winning recipe. As the Wilson Lakemen baseball team moves into the new season they do so with a core of battle-tested veterans that are ready to make their mark in the Niagara-Orleans League. Leading the way for the Lakemen will be senior tri-captains Tayler Thilk, Mike Thompson and Chris Reid. All four-year varsity players will be the ones coach Mark Kurtz will count on to set the tone every day. Thompson, an all-league second team selection, will get the nod at shortstop or in the outfield, while Thilk (all-league honorable mention) will pitch and play center field. Reid, who lost part of last season to injury, is slated to be the ace of...

The stars came out one last time at Cheektowaga Central High School as the best basketball players in Western New York participated in the Cheektowaga Lions 15th Annual Senior High School Ladies Basketball Classic on March 23. The girls were separated into four teams for two games in one night, with an MVP selected from each team, along with a scholarship winner from their respective schools, which are awarded by the Cheektowaga Lions and Fr. Justin Council Knights of Columbus. “This is always fun,” said Frank Martin (Allegany-Limestone), who coached the Knights with Brian Baker (Wilson). “They’re kids that you coach against and read about. The Lions Club does a great job with this each year...

One step at a time, the Lockport Lions boys varsity lacrosse team is getting better and better. In his sixth year with the district, Lockport’s Scott Reddinger is feeling more and more comfortable with his players and team as he begins his fifth year as the program’s head coach. “My JV coach came on in the same year so this is really the first group that has come through with our philosophy, our mentality,” said Reddinger, who coached the girls team for one year prior to beginning with the boys. “What gets me excited about this group is they’ve been playing year-round for two or three years.” As the Lions look to take steps forward they will be led by a core of four returning seniors in Zach...

Don’t let fear keep you from succeeding is the message the Wilson Lakemen lacrosse team will take with it entering the 2013 season. “They’re not afraid to fail,” said Wilson coach Kris Brayley. “And that’s what I tell them our biggest opponent is going to be fear, not the guy lining up across from you. You’ve got to get over the fear of failure. And if you can do that you can make the progress, you can keep moving forward.” The Lakemen know a stiff challenge awaits them as they graduated eight seniors — three of whom were All-Class C, from a team that went 13-5 last season. Leading the way for Wilson this season will be tri-captains Tim Walch and seniors Zachary Mariani and Zach Magoon. Walch,...

The start of a new high school lacrosse season in Western New York means for the Metro Source newspapers first an array of previews from the many communities and schools that we cover and then getting out to see all of the talent from this area. Along the way, we’ll be taking notes and we hope you are too as the season culminates with what has became a successful and proud event for us, the All-Metro Boys and Girls Lacrosse Banquet, which honors the finest players and student-athletes in our area. Under the guidance of our editor, Matt Ondesko, and plenty of insight from myself and our crack staff of reporters and lacrosse gurus covering your communities, we’ll put together an all-star team...

They always say it’s hard to beat the same team three times in one season. That old adage proved painfully true for the Lockport Lions girls basketball team as they fell to Niagara-Wheatfield in a 50-47 stunner in the Section VI Class AA semifinals Feb. 29 at Kenmore West. Ranked No.2 in AA this season, the defending sectional champion Lions swept the Falcons during the regular season en route to claiming the Niagara Frontier League title. But the No. 6 Falcons, who upset No.3 Lancaster earlier in the week, weren’t intimidated. Falcons’ seniors Rachel Pawlak and Melissa Smith, arguably the best 1-2 guard punch in WNY, worked in perfect rhythm as neither girl was ready to see their career end....

Drew Hull can exit with peace of mind. On Feb. 23, Hull, a Roy-Hart senior, closed out his brilliant scholastic wrestling career as a New York state champion when he scored a 2-0 win over Frankie Garcia (Norwich) in the 145-pound division. Scoring the historic win at the Times-Union Center in Albany, Hull became the second Roy-Hart grappler to win a state championship. He joins two-time champion Lou Rosselli, who accomplished the feat in 1986 and again in 1988. “It’s really satisfying. It’s been like my major goal for a while,” Hull said. “I really wanted to win it and it was great to end this way.” Hull, who was the No.1 ranked wrestler in WNY at 145 all season long, capped off a spotless...

The Lockport High School boys basketball team ended in disappointing fashion as rival Clarence used a surge late in the fourth quarter to oust the Lions from the Class AA Section VI quarterfinals. But there was some consolation for Lockport. Nine of the 12 players on the roster — including all five starters, will be back next season looking to get back to Buffalo State College and beyond. “They can remember this and hopefully learn from it,” coach Dave Gilson said after a 65-54 loss at Clarence High School to end the season. The junior-heavy Lions finished the year at 13-7 overall and earned a No. 5 seed for the sectional playoffs with a late surge. Starting on Jan. 15, Lockport went...

(Kenmore)-It was quite simple really. Melissa Smith and Rachel Pawlak weren't ready to go home just yet. Smiling as they hugged during the post game celebration they knew the ride was still going. Pawlak (25 points) and Smith (18 points) gave exactly what you expect from seniors captains and a little bit more as No.6-seed Niagara-Wheatfield stunned No. 2 Lockport 50-47 in the Section VI Class AA semifinals that were played at the Kenmore West Athletic Complex on Friday. The victory sends the Falcons into the Class AA title game where they will play top-seed Jamestown on March 5  at NCCC, 8pm tipoff. Jamestown earned a trip to the championship when they rolled passed No.5...

Uniform turn-in day for the Cheektowaga Central girls basketball team has been delayed. The Warriors' run in the Class A-2 Section VI playoffs will continue as seventh-seeded Cheektowaga controlled second-half play on Saturday (Feb. 23) afternoon and posted a 51-38 win over No. 3 Starpoint in a quarterfinal game. "Basically they knew that if we lost, they were going to have to turn in their jerseys," Cheektowaga coach Lynnae Fenton said. "None of them were ready to do that. They were not giving me those jerseys today." Cheektowaga outscored the Spartans by a 24-9 count in the game's final 12 minutes. Andrea Montgomery scored 16 of her game-high 19 points in the second half to lead the Warriors'...

Marshall Taylor remembers his first season of varsity wrestling very well. He was a 135-pound eighth grader who more or less got his butt whooped day in and day out. But Taylor can now look back on those days with pride, and a smile, because he knows every battle in the practice room set him on the path to Albany. “If (coach Joe) Scapelliti didn’t put me on the varsity lineup, I don’t think I’d be where I am today because I just got the living snot beat out of me,” Taylor said with a grin. Taylor, a Lockport High School junior, is poised to write his name in Lions’ wrestling history this weekend as he competes in the NYSPHSAA state championships at the Times-Union Center in Albany. ...

When you’re talking about Moziah Townsend, heart is the buzzword that gets thrown around most often. And with good reason. There is no opponent too big or challenge too difficult that would make him back down. It’s just not Townsend’s way to take a step back to anyone. At 5-foot-10, Townsend, a junior who is in year two of his varsity basketball career at Lockport High School, may be a bit undersized to be guarding the giants of the Niagara Frontier League. But night after night, that’s exactly what Townsend has been doing. And he does it well. “He’s got such a work ethic that it doesn’t phase him. He wants those challenges,” said Lions coach Dave Gilson. “He gets upset if he’s not guarding...

A mid-season slump seems to be a thing of the past for the young Starpoint High School girls basketball team. Now that they’re on a roll, the Spartans are hoping to prove to be a dangerous team in the playoffs. “We keep trying to climb higher and higher and if we continue the way we’re playing right now, I think playoffs are going to look really good for us,” Starpoint coach Megan Rumschik said. After an impressive 5-1 start to the season, which included a championship at the Roy-Hart Tip-off tournament, the Spartans cooled off. They lost five of seven to fall back in the ECIC-II race, but have since rolled off three straight victories to get on track again. “We hit a little bit of...

Everything is working, no sense in making any changes now. The Lockport High School wrestling team keeps marching forward successfully as the Lions took second place overall at the Class AA Championships with 12 of their wrestlers making it to the state qualifiers Feb. 10 at UB. Led by Marshall Taylor (220) and Kirk Feeney (138), who both notched first place finishes, the Lions scored 193 team points. Clarence, with four first place winners, captured the team trophy with 234 points. “(This) was our best tournament of the year and that tells me we’re peaking at the perfect time,” said Lions coach Joe Scappaletti. “The kids have been focused all week and they’ve worked hard in the room and it...

When you’re talking about Moziah Townsend, heart is the buzzword that gets thrown around most often. And with good reason. There is no opponent too big or challenge too difficult that would make him back down. It’s just not Townsend’s way to take a step back to anyone. At 5-foot-10, Townsend, a junior who is in year two of his varsity basketball career at Lockport High School, may be a bit undersized to be guarding the giants of the Niagara Frontier League. But night after night, that’s exactly what Townsend has been doing. And he does it well. “He’s got such a work ethic that it doesn’t phase him. He wants those challenges,” said Lions coach Dave Gilson. “He gets upset if he’s not guarding...

There are teams and then there are families. There are players and then there are leaders. Emily Lasher is a leader in every sense of the word. A junior captain on the Wilson Lakewomen basketball team, Lasher isn’t just putting up dazzling numbers that have helped her team rocket to the top of the Niagara-Orleans League. She’s been the embodiment of a perfect teammate and what it means to be a family when you all put on the same uniform. “In a way, I always try to set an example for the younger girls because that’s how I am as a captain now,” she said. “I watched the older girls throughout my years and watched how they acted. I’ve taken note of what they’ve done and I’m doing that now. And...

Vincent Eberhart has a flare for the dramatic. Eberhart scored a pin fall win over Dan Millitello in the final match of the night as Lockport posted a heart-stopping 40-36 win over the Blue Devils at the Kenmore West Athletic Complex on Jan.23. It marked the first Niagara Frontier League title for the Lions since 1997 — the year Eberhart was born. “It was awesome,” Eberhart said. “It’s just good that our team accomplished what we wanted to. We haven’t had this (title) in a long time. I’m just happy for the whole team.” Lions coach Joe Scappaletti reminded Eberhart before his match of the confidence that he had in his wrestler getting it done at a big time. “One of the things I said to...

One point. Just one point. It’s the difference of one move or one counter. Drew Hull, a senior in his sixth season of varsity with the Roy-Hart Rams wrestling team, is on a mission. After falling to Tyler Button (Section III) by a 6-5 decision in the state title match last March, Hull is more focused than ever before to realize his dreams of being a state champion. “To be honest it hurt me mentally and physically for awhile because I just couldn’t believe that I got so far and lost,” Hull said as he reflected on that moments some 10 months later. “But the drive was always there because I don’t think at that point I was really thought to be (a contender) in the state finals...The part that...

It was a match that would go a long way in deciding who is going to win the girls bracket of the Niagara Frontier League and Lockport came out on top. It’s been a battle that has seen Lockport, Niagara Falls, North Tonawanda and Niagara-Wheatfield running neck-and-neck virtually all season long. But on Jan. 10, the Lady Lions scored a huge win over NT which, as of press time, gave them sole possession of first place in the NFL. “It was very big,” senior Brittany Wright said before the Lions Jan. 15 match against Kenmore East. “We all try to bowl our best every match, but that one was obviously a big one being tied for first place.” Their victory over Ken-East had the Lions standing at 9-1...

It’s one more step in the continuous journey to be the best. A first-place finish by Anthony Orefice at 120 pounds helped the Lockport Lions take fourth in the Lockport Wrestling Booster/Sunrise Optimist Tournament that was held at Lockport High School on Jan.12. With a total of five wrestlers finishing in the top three of their bracket, the Lions scored 139.5 team points, finishing behind only tournament champs Clarence (224), Fredonia (164.5) and Pittsford (147.5) in the 21-team event. “One of the things we’ve tried to do with our tournament is make it as strong as possible, and we’ve got some great teams that come,” Lockport coach Joe Scappaletti said. “To put our guys in the position where...

With a very young roster, the goal for the Starpoint High School boys swimming team is to keep improving every time it jumps into the pool. And so far, the Spartans have done just that. Despite having 20 of the 37 swimmers on the roster in ninth or 10th grade, the Spartans have shown an ability to compete with anyone on the schedule. “I have a really young team that keeps moving along,” Starpoint coach Tim Menges said. “Everyone’s improving and that’s what we want to see." The 27-man roster includes just two seniors and five juniors. But those guys have done their job in leading the younger swimmers. Senior A.J. Joslin is a standout in the backstroke among other events and classmate Bobby...

There’s no more flying under the radar for Sara Franco. She is front and center in the eyes of the opponents, and she is more than ready, willing and able to face the challenge of whatever comes her way. A junior in her second season of varsity with the Lockport Lions girls basketball team, Franco made an instant impact last year when she cracked the varsity roster. While her skill is without question, Franco clearly benefited from the Lions being built around All-Western New York First Team selections and 6-footers Marisa Guyton and Emma Sobieraski. So while opponents spent every waking moment trying to devise a defensive scheme to contain Sobieraski and/or Guyton, Franco drew little attention...

LOCKPORT _ Hard work-regardless of how much experience they have-has always been the hallmark of Lockport Lions basketball Nothing has changed. As the Lions hit the holiday break with a 2-1 record in the Niagara Frontier League, 3-2 overall, coach Dave Gilson said win or lose he has been extremely happy with his teams effort and the way they have supported each other. “They’re a good group,” he said. “They work hard and enjoy being together.” Leading the way for the Lions this season have been core returnees Moziah Townsend, Colin Dougherty and Ryan Lawrence. Dougherty is the Lions hard nosed point guard who makes the offense flow. While Townsend is the key man in the paint. Somewhat...

LOCKPORT - So far, so good, for Alexis Cheatham this season. Coming into the new season, Cheatham, a senior on the Lockport Lady Lions basketball team, knew that she would be assuming a much bigger role as the starting point guard. And she hasn’t let her team down yet. “I think she likes the role that she’s playing right now and I think she’s doing it pretty well,” Lions coach Bill Shaw said. “Is there a lot of room for improvement? Oh yeah. But it’s kinda of nice to have a kid who is scoring the way she’s scoring and the coach says there’s a lot of room for improvement. And I think that she realizes it too. That she can be better.” Cheatham doesn’t hesitate for a second to agree with her...

LOCKPORT - Last week’s Niagara Frontier League bowling report highlighted the battle that was raging between North Tonawanda and Niagara-Wheatfield for first place in both the girls and boys divisions. While NT and Wheatfield are still on top it’s far from a two horse race as the Lockport Lady Lions have made a strong move to secure a three-way tie with the Ladyjacks and Lady Falcons as all three clubs went into the holiday break with matching 5-1 records. Leading the way for Lockport has been the triple threat herself, senior Bridget Masiello, who leads the NFL in average (222.67), series (729) and high game (289). Interestingly enough the Lions did not place any other bowlers in the top-10,...

Starpoint girls hoops team makes early statement Talk about making a statement. The Starpoint girls varsity basketball team certainly knows how to get off on the right foot as it rolled off three consecutive wins to open the season. The hot start included taking the championship of the Roy-Hart Tournament that was played Nov.30 and Dec.1. “It was really a great way (to start) because I think the girls have really bought into my philosophy of defense first,” coach Megan Rumschik said prior to Monday’s win over Kenmore East. “That very first game against Eden, holding them to, I think it was 10 points at halftime. Holding a varsity team to that is a huge accomplishment, especially that first...

The Niagara team from Gleason’s School of Gymnastics Level 5 recently participated in their first meet at the Snowflake Invitational held in Williamsville in November. In the year old division, Glynis Curcione, a six grader at Wilson Middle School, placed first on vault, second on beam and third on floor, with an overall score of 34.025, which earned her third place....

After being hit hard by graduation, Iroquois High School girls field hockey coach Pete Tonsoline admittedly didn’t know what to expect out of the 2012 Chiefs. Suffice to say, he was extremely pleased with what he got. The Chiefs enjoyed an undefeated regular season — the first in Tonsoline’s 19 seasons as the head coach – and then capped it off with their first Section VI championship since 2007. “I never expected it — never, never expected it,” Tonsoline said. “These kids just kept getting better. They have a lot of fun together.” And that led to one of the greatest seasons in the history of the strong program. The Chiefs finished the year 17-1-2 and dominated schools of all sizes in 2012....

It’s a high school student’s dream — to sign on to play the sport they love at the collegiate level. For two Bishop Timon-St. Jude students, that dream became reality on Wednesday (Nov. 14). Seniors Jackson Brown and JD Recor signed their national letters of intent to play Division I lacrosse next year. Brown signed with Hobart College while Recor signed with Marist College. “I’m excited,” said Brown, who was selected to the All-Metro First Team last year after helping Timon to a repeat Monsignor Martin championship. “It’s a long ways away, but I’m excited to go. It’s nice to know that it’s done.” Brown said that there were a number of reasons why he chose Hobart, which is located in Geneva....