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Lady Lancers reach #1 rank in the state with balance and teamwork

By Howard B. Owens

Elba may be ranked number one in the state now but it's not something they think much about, said Coach Tom Redband after Friday's home victory over Pembroke 46-45.

"It's a fun thing for the fans and it's a nice thing to read about but it's not something we talk about or, you know, fixate on," Redband said. "You know we want to be as good as we can in the end; whatever that might be. We don't get into whether we're number one state or winning sectionals or winning states.

"It's just the personality of the team because of their work ethic."

And winning is a whole team effort, Redband said. The best example this year is Wednesday's road win over Avon 60-33 with no player on the team hitting double digits in scoring.

"We ended up winning by 27," Redband said. "I think that's pretty rare. I can't remember the last time we lost by 27 when the top two scorers on the other team had five points. I think that's just a testament to the girls developing and being ready at all times no matter what they did last game. You know, the next girl up when somebody is not at their best or injured or we need a little boost."

Elba, a Class D team, is 15-0 on the season now and among the reasons it's ranked number one in the state is five of those wins came against Class B teams and all but one of those other wins against Class C teams. The team has scored at least 60 points 12 times.

Friday night's win -- which Elba almost let slip away -- was another example of distributed offense with Brynn Walczak scoring 12 points, Leah Bezon with 11, Lauryn Engle, 9, Taylor Augello, 6, and Maddie Muehlig, 5. Engle hit three of her four three-point attempts.

Here's how Redband breaks down his team:

"Leah Bezon has been on the team for four years now. She's only a sophomore. She keeps developing and she has a humongous upside. She's our captain.

"Brynn Walzcak has been on the team two, three years. Maddie Mulehig three years, Taylor Augello, it's her second year starting and she's really come on this year. She worked really hard in the offseason to develop her game.

"Maddie Howard who is a senior, she'll be back soon. She was injured a couple of weeks ago. She'll be back soon. She's a great, great assist person, very unselfish looking to defend and assist. 

"Then we have shooters like Adriana Long and Dakota Brinkman and Lauryn Engle, who at any point could hit three or four threes in a game.

"Kelly Mickey is a ferocious defender and then Izzy Riner who can kind of do it all.

"We're really not a top-heavy team."

Leah Bezon

Taylor Augello

Maddie Muehlig

Maddie Muehlig

Taylor Augello

Leah Bezon

Brynn Walczak

Byron-Bergen, Elba rivalry game raises money for Ronald McDonald House

By Howard B. Owens

Press release:

On Friday, Jan. 18, the JV and varsity boys basketball teams from Byron-Bergen and Elba faced off in their traditional “Battle of Route 262” games, but this year they had their sights set higher than just a victory on the basketball court. Much higher.

In response to two of their classmates receiving cancer diagnoses, the players wanted to raise money for organizations that have helped those individuals and their families. The Ronald McDonald House Charities of Rochester and Cure Childhood Cancer Association received equal shares of the evening’s donations.

“Games with Elba bring in a large local crowd,” said Varsity Boys Basketball Head Coach Roxanne Noeth. “We thought that it would be a good chance to raise money and awareness for the cause – and the crowd really was amazing.”

In the weeks leading up to the game, the Byron-Bergen boys’ basketball teams gathered donations from friends, family, and community members and organizations. But, the Bees weren’t the only ones on the fundraising offensive. Elba, a partner District with Byron-Bergen for several sports including soccer and gymnastics, also collected donations for the V Foundation for Cancer Research.

“These students face off as opponents in basketball, but in another season they may be playing side-by-side,” said Elba Athletic Director Karen Cusmano. “The districts are less than 10 miles apart. We belong to a larger community and I’m proud that both teams are stepping up to support this important cause.”

The Elba players also joined the Byron-Bergen players in the half-court shot challenge sponsored by Jimmy Z’s of Brockport. Jimmy Z’s donated $20 for every half-court basket. The crowd exploded in applause as two Byron-Bergen players and one Elba player sunk the shot.

Both teams played hard with Elba’s JV and varsity teams edging out the bees. However, the biggest score of the evening was the $5,459 raised in support of the two charitable organizations. However, the final count still is not in.

Jimmy Z’s pledged to donate 20 percent of all sales from customers who mention Byron-Bergen’s fundraiser on Monday, Jan. 21, but due to inclement weather, the final fundraising effort is rescheduled to 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday, Jan. 28.

In a tweet, the Ronald McDonald House responded to the fundraiser announcement, “Thank you so much! This is a big help for our families.”

Contact: Rich Hannan, Byron-Bergen athletic director (585) 494-1220, ext: 2003; Contact: Pat McGee Byron-Bergen Jr./Sr. high School principal (585) 494-1220, ext: 2401.

“Our sports teams have a strong tradition of raising money for charitable organizations,” said Byron-Bergen Athletic Director Rich Hannan. “It’s an amazing accomplishment for high school students to organize fundraising on this scale, but it is also an amazing show of solidarity for their classmates and their families. It says, "We’ve got your back.’Once a Bee. Always a Bee.” 

Pictured: (l-r) (back row) Corden Zimmerman, Varsity Coach Roxanne Noeth, Lucas Stucchio, Daren Barron, Jerrod Amesbury, Josh Hohn, Jonathan Hahn, Travis Lambert, Tony DiQuattro, Rick Hubbard, Kevin Smith, Alex Brumsted, Mitch Gonyea, Bryce Yockel, Chad Green, Nicholas Baubie, JV Coach Chris Chapman; (front row) Nicolas Walters, Joey Damick, Caleb Carlson, David Brumsted, Anthony Chapman, Gianni Ferrara, Ryan Muscarella, Alex Donnelly, Alex Heatherman.  

Industry leaders tout PBA-FOX TV deal, equipment specification changes

By Mike Pettinella

Reports from the 2019 Bowling Proprietors Association of America Summit in New Orleans, La., last week – a three-day event that I had the good fortune to attend -- painted an optimistic and evolving picture of the sport’s current and future state of affairs.

Executives from the BPAA, United States Bowling Congress, Professional Bowlers Association, Go Bowling!, Strike Ten Entertainment and the International Bowling Campus in Arlington, Texas, presented an industry update to the 250 or so proprietors/managers and representatives of affiliate organizations who gathered at the New Orleans Marriott on Canal Street.

Recent developments, such as a new PBA contract with FOX Sports that features more live telecasts and an increase in collegiate and high school bowling, give the powers-that-be reasons to feel encouraged about “the future for the sport.”

Chad Murphy, USBC executive director, reported the completion of a nationwide initiative for local associations to become “merged associations” – bringing men, women and youth together under one local umbrella. The result is that there are now 1,100 merged associations and another 500 affiliate (limited) associations in the U.S.

Beyond that, Murphy said, 343 local and state association directors and managers have attended USBC Leadership Training classes in Arlington and at other selected sites (paid for by the USBC) and that these classes will continue in 2019.

Genesee Region USBC board members Tom Fluker, Gary Kuchler and John Wood are among those who have taken the course and all said the information provided has helped them in their local roles.

The USBC has been conducting extensive research into bowling balls, lane conditions and lane surfaces in recent years, and are taking steps to even the playing field, so to speak.

Murphy said changes to bowling ball specifications (the cleaning of a ball, pending elimination of balance or weight holes and the rate of oil absorption) and to lane certification requirements are planned.

As of Aug. 1, 2019, bowlers will not be able to clean balls with any liquid substance during competition (unless there are marks from the pinsetter), and as of Aug. 1, 2020, balance holes will be eliminated.

This means that any holes in the ball (up to five will be allowed) must be used for gripping purposes on every delivery. Additionally, no-thumb bowlers will have to mark the intended grip center of the ball.

The USBC also is implementing a new standard for the rate that balls absorb oil, with the baseline set at a maximum of 2 minutes, 15 seconds.

“We have tested more than 1,200 bowling balls,” Murphy said, “and found that bowlers are starting deeper inside on the lane and moving more often, which deteriorates the lane condition quicker.”

He said that the amount of oil being put on lanes has increased dramatically over the years (in response to balls that hook more and more), which warrants a “universal system to measure oil absorption.”

On the subject of lane certification, Murphy said that data collection continues and will result in the USBC certifying all centers for 2018-19 regardless of whether they are 100 percent compliant. For 2019-20, USBC is extending the study but all centers must have proper inspections and three signatures will be required for certification.

Other highlights from the New Orleans summit:

-- Bowlers across the nation in 2018 donated more than $1.4 million to the sport’s primary charity -- Bowlers to Veterans Link.

-- BPAA membership gained 193 new members this year and saw 300 proprietors and managers graduate from the BPAA “Bowling University” course.

-- The Professional Women’s Bowling Association had 150 members in 2018 and tournament entries were up by 10 percent over 2017. Nearly $1 million in prize money is being offered this year and seven tournament finals will be televised live.

-- Tom Clark, CEO and commissioner of the Go Bowling! Professional Bowlers Association, reported that the PBA has signed a multi-year contract with FOX Sports, including a provision to add the USBC Masters and U.S Open to the network’s sports schedule.

FOX Sports will televise the U.S. Open live on FOX from 2020 through 2022 and the USBC Masters live on FS1 from 2019 through 2022.

-- Gary Brown, IBC Youth managing director, reported that there are now 221 colleges (with 3,825 members) with bowling programs and that high school bowling saw a 6 percent increase in bowlers last year.

Brown noted that IBC Youth offers coaching seminars, USA leagues and tournaments, Pepsi Youth Championships, the bowling.com youth open and Junior Gold – resulting in opportunities for thousands of youth bowlers and more than $800,000 in scholarships.

SLOCUM FAMILY SHINES AT GRUSBC ADULT-JUNIOR

Perry's Matt Slocum bowled with his daughter and son at the 2019 Genesee Region USBC Adult-Junior Tournament at Rose Garden Bowl in Bergen and both of them went home smiling.

Slocum and Allie Faryna posted 1,390 to take first place and he and Gavin Slocum registered 1,342 for second place in the 12-and-Under Division. As a result, Allie's scholarship account is $220 richer and Gavin's increased by $180.

Two other duos cashed in that division of the Jan. 11-13 tournament -- Albion's Reid Cole (adult) and Kyle Brett, 1,341, for $140, and Mount Morris' Chad (adult) and Dominic LaPiana, 1,301, $100.

In the 13-and-Over Division, Jerry Menzie Jr. teamed with his little sister, Jillian, for a remarkable 1,575 score to take the $240 first place prize.

Other cashers were Dave DiSalvo (adult) and Trent Willis of Mount Morris, 1,493, $210; Paul Baney (adult) and Gavin Baney of Holley, 1,416, $180; Dan Santini (adult) and Alexis Patterson of Mount Morris, 1,394, $150, and Tom Fluker (adult) and Tony Sprague of Batavia, 1,361, $120.

Adults were entitled to their prize money unless they opted to have it placed in the youth's scholarship account through USBC SMART.

The tournament drew 44 teams.

NEWS  & NOTES FROM THE GENESEE REGION

-- With help from her bowling friends, Byron-Bergen High School junior Jillian Menzie spearheaded yet another tremendous fund drive in support of the Arc of Genesee Orleans.

Menzie, along with Megan Jarkiewicz, collected more than $3,900 in donations (cash and gift certificates) from the Bergen-area community through the Arc Bowl-A-Thon at Rose Garden Bowl.

It is a tradition started over 40 years ago by her grandmother, the late Ellen Menzie, a longtime youth bowling coach and director.

All told, the Bergen youth bowlers raised $4,266.40, with John Gabalski, Evan Phillips and Landon Kent also contributing by getting pledges. Without a doubt, a superb effort by all!

-- The team of Amanda Swartz, Rob Carter and Kenny Maurer combined for a 2,611 no-tap score with handicap to take the top prize of $600 at the 7th annual Scott Whittier Memorial Tournament at Oak Orchard Bowl in Albion.

More than $1,100 was raised for the Albion Alumni Association to support graduating seniors and youth scholarships. Sixty-five teams competed.

Batavia teams placed second and third – John Wolff, Ron Lawrence and Marshall Merle, 2,522, $300; and Josh Elliott, Mike Lambert and Matt Balduf, 2,513, $240. Martin Beadle, Rob Brown and Jim Stymus of Albion were fourth with 2,495, good for $195.

-- Bowlers, friends and businesses donated $2,800 as a result of the Jim Pursel Benefit Tournament at Mancuso Bowling Center.

Forty-three teams entered the event, which was held to assist Pursel with expenses incurred after he suffered serious injuries in a fall at work.

The Batavia-based team of Jeremy Vallance, Eric Kraus, Jerry Harding, Tom Baker placed first with a 3,398 no-tap with handicap score.

-- The final two qualifying squads of the 41st annual Mount Morris Pepsi Open scratch singles tournament will take place on Feb. 10 since they were cancelled last Sunday due to a winter storm.

Squad times are 10 a.m. and 1 p.m., with the entry fee at $70. A last chance one-game squad for bowlers who didn’t make a squad cut is set for 4 p.m., prior to the eliminator finals.

To enter, call Mount Morris Lanes at 585-658-2540.

-- The next 60-and-Over scratch singles tour event is scheduled for this Sunday at Parkview Bowl in Rochester with squads at 10 a.m. (sold out) and 12:30 p.m.

To see if openings remain on the second squad, contact Kevin Martin at 355-7590.

Curtis Foss logs two more 800 series; Tackentien posts 300 in Portageville

By Mike Pettinella

When you're averaging 245 in one league and 238 in another, 700 series just don't cut it. For Medina's Curtis Foss, reaching the 800 mark for three games is where it's at.

Foss recently posted his sixth and seventh 800 series in the past 24 months -- 267-277-258--802 in the Friday Mixers League on Jan. 4 and 266-279-258--803 in the Sneezy's Monday Night League on Jan. 14, both at Oak Orchard Bowl in Albion.

The high-revving 31-year-old right-hander also has seven 300 games over the past two years.

Speaking of perfect games, Nathan Tackentien of Arcade recorded his second 300 in as many weeks, the latest coming last Monday in league play at Letchworth Pines in Portageville.

For a list of high scores from leagues in the Genesee Region, click on the Pin Points tab at the top of this page.

Mike Pettinella's next Pin Points column is scheduled for this Thursday.

Alexander remains in three-way tie for GR League lead with win over Notre Dame

By Howard B. Owens

For the seventh time in 13 games this season, the Alexander Trojans topped 60 points en route to their 10th win, beating Notre Dame at Notre Dame, 63-52.

Chris McClinic led the Trojans with 24 points, hitting a pair of three-point baskets along the way, and senior captain Ryan Davis scored 13 points.

"At the beginning, we were able to attack their two-three zone," said Trojan Coach Wayne Hanley. "We were able to get through it pretty quick and made them change things up. I thought Notre Dame did a good job shooting but we did a good job on the boards."

With eight wins against Genesee Region competition (10-3 overall), Alexander is tied for the league lead with Lyndonville and Elba. 

The Trojans lost a home game to Elba on Wednesday, 61-45, and have also lost to Greece-Odyssey, 91-54, and to Cal-Mum, 73-63.

"The kids are playing really well," Hanley said. "We faced some tough competition. Greece-Odyssey, then we played Cal-Mum, and that helped us prepare for the GR itself. The GR is very tough this year. We’ve played some tough games but we’ve been focused every game so I think that has really helped us out."

For Notre Dame, now 6-8, Spencer Misiti scored 16 points, Gabe Macdonald scored 12, and Zachary Cocking scored 11.

Thank you to Coach Hanley for participating in a video interview. Unfortunately, the audio did not come out well enought to use with this video.

UPDATED: WNY Rebels annual AAU Basketball Tryouts at Notre Dame next two Sundays

By Billie Owens

UPDATED Jan. 19: WNY Rebels annual AAU Basketball Tryouts for boys and girls will be held on Sunday Jan. 27 and Sunday Feb. 10 at Norte Dame High School gymnasium. Cost is $10 per player. (Jan. 20 tryouts are cancelled due to the snowstorm.)

The school is located at 73 Union St. in the City of Batavia. Questions? Contact Otis Thomas via email at  otisthomas33@yahoo.com

The schedule both days will be as follows:

Fifth / Sixth Grade Girls -- 8 to 9 a.m.

Fifth / Sixth Grade Boys -- 9 to 10 a.m.

Seventh / Eighth Grade Girls -- 10 to 11 a.m.

Seventh / Eighth Grade Boys -- 11 a.m. to 12 p.m.

Ninth / 10th Grade Girls -- 12 to 1 p.m.

11th / 12th Grade Boys -- 1 to 2 p.m.

Ninth / 10th Grade Boys -- 6:30 to 7:30 p.m.

Saturday a good day for Batavia Alpine Ski team

By Howard B. Owens

Photos and article submitted by Coach Matt Holman.

It was a good day for ski racing on Saturday, cold with an overcast sky and no wind. A packed-powder race course turned slippery in the afternoon slalom and tested each racer's ability and the sharpness of their skis.

It was a good day for the Batavia Varsity skiers as they turned in some of the best runs of their season and careers. Led by Junior Aubrey Towner, who finished 13th, followed by Sophomore Lily Whiting, who finished 18th in the morning single-run Giant Slalom race. The afternoon brought a two-run slalom race in which Towner finished 12th and Whiting finished 14th, both career bests. The first time Batavia has had a pair of girls in the top 15 finishers in many years.

Zach Wagner also finished 12th in the slalom on the boys' side, a career best for the sophomore, 26th place finish in GS.

The Modified Team continues to improve with Lily Wagner taking the top team spot in GS. Ethan Bradley was Batavia's top slalom skier with Ben Stone finishing one spot behind.

The teams will next compete on Wednesday at Swain in a two-run GS race.

Team Picture: L to R: Ben Stone, Aubrey Towner, Lily Whiting, Lily Wagner, Ethan Bradley, Zach Wagner, Coach Matt Holman, Assistant Coach Bill Bradley

Zach Wagner

Aubrey Towner

Lily Whiting

Elliott's 781, perfect games by Gallo, Wagner help Toyota team set association high series mark

By Mike Pettinella

About six weeks after breaking one Genesee Region USBC record, the Toyota of Batavia team eclipsed another one in league bowling action this past Thursday.

Sparked by 300 games by left-handers Jason Gallo and Rich Wagner, the quintet registered 3,580 for its three-game series in the Toyota of Batavia league at Mancuso Bowling Center to break the existing record by eight pins.

The previous mark was 3,572 by the Terry Hills Restaurant team on Feb. 25, 1986 at Mancuso's.

On Nov. 29 of last year, the Toyota team posted a 1,271 game, which broke the Terry Hills' record of 1,220. Members of that Terry Hills team were Joe Trigilio, Fred Gravanda, Don Buckley, Jerry Martino and John Gravante.

While Gallo and Wagner added to their 300 game totals en route to 763 and 756 series, respectively, righty Josh Elliott led the way with a 781 series -- 244-279-258.

Nathan Cordes added 280-269--740 while Leon Hurd rolled 540 to round out the scoring.

For more high scores around the Genesee Region for the week ending Jan. 12, click on the Pin Points tab at the top of this page.

Defense, Stefaniak's 21 power Batavia to 47-29 win over visiting Greece Olympia

By Mike Pettinella

On a night of subpar shooting, the host Batavia High Lady Devils rode their tenacious pressure defense to a 47-29 victory over Greece Olympia in Monroe County Division 4 varsity girls’ basketball action.

Batavia, 10-1, made just seven of 43 attempts from the field in the first half, but held a 20-16 lead thanks to a swarming zone defense and full-court press that created numerous turnovers and forced Olympia into taking difficult shots.

Olympia led 10-7 after the first quarter as Batavia went 2-for-20 and went up 14-7 after Batavia missed its first nine shots of the second quarter.

But things quickly turned Batavia’s way as a three-pointer by senior guard Ryann Stefaniak ignited a 13-0 run that put the Lady Devils up 20-14. A layup by junior forward Emma Krolczyk, two free throws by senior forward Jenae Colkey, two more baskets by Stefaniak and a steal and layup by sophomore guard Mackenzie Reigle completed the burst.

Batavia broke it open in the third quarter, outscoring the Lady Spartans, 12-2, behind Krolczyk’s eight points, to take a 32-18 lead.

Stefaniak tallied nine of her game-high 21 points in the fourth quarter as Batavia pulled away. She also had four rebounds, three blocks and three steals.

Krolczyk finished with 12 points while Byrn Wormley had four points, four assists and two steals; Colkey had five rebounds and three steals, and Reigle had four steals and three assists to go with her four points.

For the game, Batavia was 19-for-70 from the field and 5-for-17 from the free throw line.

Junior guard Janelle Miller and senior center Leah Stewart each had eight points for Olympia, 3-8.

The Lady Devils play two games on the road next week – Tuesday at Brighton and Friday at Pittsford Sutherland.

BB varsity athletes achieve 100-percent Scholar-Athlete Team awards

By Billie Owens

Submitted photos and press release:

The Byron-Bergen Senior High School proudly announces that every fall varsity Byron-Bergen sport team achieved the New York State Public High School Athletic Association (NYSPHSAA) Scholar-Athlete Team award.

The fall sports teams are cheerleading, boys cross-country, girls cross-country, football, gymnastics, boys soccer, girls soccer and girls volleyball.

“Here at Byron-Bergen we are always proud of our student athletes and their accomplishments,” said Byron-Bergen Athletic Director Rich Hannan. “This fall we are especially proud that all of our fall teams made the NYS Scholar-Athlete Team award.

"As Athletic Director, I am extremely blessed to work with such great student athletes and coaches. This particular recognition is a great testament to the student athletes and what it takes to perform at a high level. In and out of the classroom, our kids are getting it done!”

The Scholar-Athlete program recognizes athletes for their academic success. NYSPHSAA Scholar-Athlete Team awards go to teams whose average GPA of 75 percent of the athletic team equals 90 or above.

Scholar-Athlete Team award recipients, with Byron-Bergen HS students named below photos:

Cheerleading (a multi-school team)

  • Sarah Sue Streeter

Cross-country -- Boys

  • Joshua Fleming
  • Zachary Hannan
  • Travis Lambert
  • Colby Leggo
  • John Mercovich
  • Caleb Sharpe
  • Corden Zimmerman

Cross-country -- Girls

  • Rachel Best
  • Camryn Brookhart
  • Dayanara Caballero
  • Siomara Caballero
  • Emma Goodman
  • Sara Goodman
  • Annaliese Hersom
  • Cambria Kinkelaar
  • Alaura Rehwaldt
  • Grace Shepard
  • Emma Smith

Football (a multi-school team)

  • Alexander Dean
  • Anthony DiQuattro
  • Andrew Parnapy

Gymnastics (a multi-school team)

  • Victoria Rogoyski
  • Emily Salmonds

Soccer – Boys

  • Nicholas Baubie
  • Ryan Cooper
  • Adam Drake
  • Kyle Foeller
  • Rick Hubbard
  • William Johnson
  • Hunter Leach
  • Sabastian Pawlukewicz
  • Wade Thompson
  • Nathan Zwerka

Soccer -- Girls

  • Julianna Amesbury
  • Lydia Campbell
  • Zoey Chambry
  • Elizabeth Donnelly
  • Veronica Duell
  • Kelsey Fuller
  • Eden Goff
  • Hope Hersom
  • Melissa MacCowan
  • Jillian Menzie
  • Chloe Shuskey

Volleyball -- Girls

  • Justine Bloom
  • Hannah Catalino
  • Madison Farnsworth
  • Sara Fraser
  • Amaya Gunther
  • Janae Meister
  • Alexandra Vurraro
  • Annabella Vurraro

Preparations underway for Cougar Classic Scholarship Scramble July 22

By Billie Owens

Submitted photos and press release:

The Alumni Affairs Office at Genesee Community College is spending the snowy season thinking about warmer days and golf!

Under the direction of Cougar Classic Scholarship Scramble Honorary Chairperson Wesley Bedford, GCC Class of 2006, plans for the event are well underway.

Registration is now open for the fourth annual Cougar Classic Scholarship Scramble scheduled for Monday, July 22, at the Stafford Country Club, 8873 Morganville Road (Route 237) in Stafford.

The Cougar Classic Scholarship Scramble allows up to 36 foursomes for the 18-hole event at the esteemed Stafford Country Club.

Sign-in starts 11:30 a.m. with lunch available, and golfers tee off in "shotgun" style at 12:30 p.m. Registration is $125 per golfer and includes 18 holes of golf, a golf cart, all beer and nonalcoholic beverages during play, lunch and dinner with a cash bar, and much more!

To join the event for dinner only is $25. Most importantly, all proceeds go directly to the GCC student scholarship program, making higher education possible for deserving students in our community.

The registration deadline for golfers is June 28. Contact Assistant Director of Alumni Affairs Jennifer Wakefield at (585) 343-0055, ext. 6265, or via email at jgwakefield@genesee.edu. The golfer registration form is also available online here.

Additional opportunities to sponsor GCC scholarships are available at a number of levels ranging from $100 to $3,000. Sponsorships for golf games, including a putting contest, longest drive, closest to the pin, and beat the pro and other in-kind support efforts are also being accepted.

A sponsorship sign-up form with all donation details is available here and should be sent to Jennifer Wakefield at jgwakefield@genesee.edu to reserve a sponsorship level.

(Photos from 2018 Cougar Classic Scholarship Scramble.)

Batavia's results from Giant Slalom Race at Swain Resort

By Howard B. Owens

Photos and article from BHS Coach Matt Holeman:

It was a cold, blustery snow globe kind of night for a ski race at Swain Resort for a two-run Giant Slalom Race. 

The Batavia Girls Team took fourth place with the top finishers of Lily Whiting (18th), Aubrey Towner (20th) and Tessa Cerefin (23rd) overall. Aubrey improved by almost 4 seconds on her second run that moved her up three places in the second-run standings.

Zach Wagner took 19th place overall for the boys, improving on his second run by a second moving him up six places in the second-run standings.

The Modified Team took fifth place with Ethan Bradley, Lily Wagner and Ben Stone as the top finishers.

The next race is a double race (both Slalom and Giant Slalom) on Saturday, Jan. 12, also at Swain.

Top photo, Zach Wagner; bottom, Lily Whiting.

Gray Jr. captures Scratch Memorial; several tournaments on tap in January

By Mike Pettinella

The ability to come through in the clutch is the mark of a champion. Kevin Gray Jr. of Warsaw has that ability.

Gray, 37, once again showed that he is among the elite Western New York tournament bowlers by rallying past fellow left-hander Rich Wagner of Batavia, 226-187, on Sunday to capture the 65th annual Genesee Region USBC Scratch Memorial at Livingston Lanes in Geneseo.

The two-day tournament was held in Geneseo due to a fire that has temporarily closed Perry Bowling Center (see below).

The Scratch Memorial championship game was a rematch of last February’s decisive battle at the GRUSBC Masters, which saw Gray defeat Wagner, 213-204, also at Livingston Lanes.

This time around, Gray trailed by 16 pins in the sixth frame but came up with four strikes in frames seven through 10 to close out Wagner.

The win was worth $650 for the University of Rochester medical access center employee, while the 36-year-old Wagner, a corrections officer, took home $350.

“This feels good,” Gray said. “The field was strong, and you had to stay focused at all times if you wanted to advance.”

Gray earned the No. 1 seed in the five-person stepladder finals with a 1,750 eight-game total (four qualifying round games and four semifinal round games) – one pin more than Wagner’s 1,749.

Bowling on the same pair with Wagner in the semifinals, Gray prevailed by rolling a strike on his fill ball in the 10th frame.

“That was a tough match where we both struggled on that pair (lanes 15-16),” Gray said, referring to the fact that he shot 174 and Wagner 179.

By grabbing the top seed, Gray was able to wait in the wings to see who would emerge in the stepladder finals.

In the first match, Batavia lefty and pro shop owner Brian Green edged right-hander Nathan Tackentien of Arcade, 216-215, and in the second match, Green ousted two-time defending champion and high-revving righty Scott Culp of Honeoye Falls, 218-216.

Green then faced Wagner and held a lead into the 10th frame before dropping a 192-181 decision.

For his third-place finish, Green won $260, while Culp pocketed $215 and Tackentien earned $160. The 21-year-old Tackentien, another emerging "power player," rolled a 300 game in the last game of the semifinals to reach the stepladder round.

Other cashers were Brian Weber of Perry ($130), Bob Santini of Mount Morris ($120), Matt Slocum of Perry ($110), Matt Balduf of Batavia ($100), Brett Van Duser of Perry ($100), Ryan Smith of Perry ($100), Mike Pettinella of Batavia ($85), Brady Weber of Perry ($85) and Jeff Wolinski of Perry ($85).

Gray now has won two GRUSBC Scratch Memorials (the first came in 2016) as well as the GRUSBC Masters, and scratch tournaments in Bradford, Pa.; Medina, and Erie, Pa.

Wagner was the high qualifier with a 919 four-game total and Gray was second at 898. Both averaged 218 for the tournament, which was contested on two challenge oil patterns – a 40-foot pattern in the qualifying round and a 45-foot pattern in the semifinals and finals.

Fifty-six bowlers entered.

The next Genesee Region USBC scratch tournament is set for Feb. 9-10 – the Masters at Scopano’s Lanes in Oakfield.

GRUSBC Scratch Memorial finalists -- Kevin Gray Jr., left; Rich Wagner, Brian Green, Scott Culp and Nathan Tackentien.

THREE LEAGUES RELOCATE FOLLOWING PERRY FIRE

A trio of Perry Bowling Center leagues have found new homes for the remainder of the 2018-19 season in wake of a New Year’s Eve fire at the Covington Street two-story building that houses the eight-lane establishment.

The Monday and Thursday night leagues have relocated to Letchworth Pines in Portageville and Livingston Lanes in Geneseo, respectively, while the Wednesday afternoon ladies league has switched to Mount Morris Lanes.

Unfortunately, the Friday night league and the youth program are being cut short by the electrical fire that started in a wall of one of the two upstairs apartments. Fortunately, flames did not spread to the bowling lanes and pinsetters, and owner Brett Van Duser hopes to be up and running sometime this spring.

Damage – the apartments were destroyed -- is estimated at $200,000-plus.

The Van Dusers have owned and operated the business for 16 years, and bowling has been part of the Perry community since 1940.

PBA HALL OF FAME INDUCTS FOUR NEW MEMBERS

Tour standouts Mika Koivuniemi of Finland and Patrick Allen of South Salem, N.Y. have made it to the Professional Bowlers Association Hall of Fame.

Koivuniemi and Allen were inducted on Jan. 5 at the International Bowling Museum and Hall of Fame in Arlington, Texas, along with Jim Doty, respected bowling center general manager, and Bob Johnson, longtime bowling writer and editor.

“Major Mika,” as he is known, won 14 PBA tournaments, including the 2000 USBC Masters, the 2001 U.S. Open and the 2011 PBA Tournament of Champions. The latter featured a first prize of $250,000.

He now lives in the United Arab Emirates where he coaches the UAE national bowling team.

Allen is a 13-time PBA Tour title winner and 2004-05 Chris Schenkel PBA Player of the Year. During that season, he finished in the top five in all four PBA majors – placing second in the USBC Masters and U.S. Open, fifth in the PBA Tournament of Champions and winning the PBA World Championship.

At the ceremony, he thanked PBA Hall of Famer Doug Kent of Newark, who served as Allen’s presenter.

 “Doug was responsible for two careers: his own and mine,” Allen said. “He told me I had to learn the technical side of the sport, and then he taught me.”

Doty is general manager of Royal Pin Leisure centers, the Indianapolis chain that includes long-time PBA host Woodland Bowl. Under his leadership, Woodland Bowl has hosted PBA events over a span of 20 years, including the U.S. Open, PBA Touring Players Championship, USBC Masters, PBA World Championship, PBA Tournament of Champions and PBA League Elias Cup finals among other events.

Woodland Bowl is the only center to host all five PBA major Championships.

Johnson is an award-winning writer and has served as editor of four national bowling magazines, including Bowlers Journal International.  He is a recipient of both the International Bowling Media Association’s Luby Hall of Fame Award and the Mid-America Bowling Writers Golden Quill Award.

He and his wife, Michelle, exhibited their love of the game and generosity by purchasing a commemorative brick for the sidewalk outside the IGM/HF, wrote a check to a breast cancer charity and donated the cost of his Hall of Fame ring to the Bowlers to Veterans Link.

SEVERAL TOURNAMENTS SCHEDULED IN JANUARY

-- Rose Garden Bowl in Bergen is the setting for the fifth annual GRUSBC Adult-Junior Doubles Tournament this Friday through Sunday.

Squad times for the handicap tournament are set for 7 p.m. Friday, noon and 3 p.m. Saturday and noon and 3 p.m. Sunday (the last squad on Sunday is full).

Genesee Region youth bowlers will be paired with adults in two divisions – 12 & under and 13 & over.  Entry fee is $45 per team and at least one in five teams will cash.

To enter, contact Tom Fluker at 585-284-2637.

-- Oak Orchard Bowl in Albion is hosting its seventh annual Scott Whittier Memorial three-person handicap no-tap tournament this Saturday, with squads at 1, 3, 5:30 and 7:30 p.m. The entry fee is $60 per team and one in six teams will cash.

Proceeds from the event, which includes squad drawings, will go to the Scott Whittier Scholarship Foundation.

To enter, call Oak Orchard Bowl at 585-589-6900 after 6 p.m.

-- Mancuso Bowling Center in Batavia is hosting a four-person handicap no-tap tournament on Sunday to benefit Batavia bowler Jim Pursel Jr. Squad times are 1:30 and 4 p.m.

One in eight teams will cash, with the winning team receiving $700 (as long as 48 teams are entered). Entry fee is $120 per team.

Part of the entry fee will go to help pay medical expenses for Pursel, who was seriously injured in a work accident on Dec. 7.

To enter, contact Mike Johnson at 585-297-6040 or Mark Brown at 716-474-7960.

-- The 41st annual Mount Morris Pepsi Open scratch singles tournament will take place Jan. 18-20 at Mount Morris Lanes.

First place is guaranteed at $1,500, and one in five is guaranteed to cash. The entry fee is $70 (with a $50 re-entry fee).

Squad times are 7 and 9:30 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 18; 11:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 19, and 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. on Sunday, Jan. 20. A last chance one-game squad for bowlers who didn’t make a squad cut is set for 4 p.m. on Sunday, prior to the eliminator finals.

The tourney has a 55-and-over incentive and is open to youth bowlers with any money winnings going to their SMART scholarship account.

To enter, call Mount Morris Lanes at 585-658-2540.

-- Legion Lanes in Le Roy is hosting the Help-R-Heroes four-person handicap no-tap tournament on Jan. 25-27, with squad times at 7 p.m. on Friday, and noon and 3 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.

First place, based on 40 entries, is $1,000, and the entry fee is $100 per team.  One in six teams will cash.

A chicken BBQ will be offered on Saturday night and an all-you-can-eat breakfast will be featured on Sunday (both at $10 per person).

To enter, call Scott O’Neill at 585-409-0459.

BHS girls roll past Spencerport to raise their record to 9-1

By Mike Pettinella

The Batavia High varsity girls’ basketball team, coming off a dramatic victory over Wellsville last Friday in the finals of the Batavia Rotary Club Tournament, has tacked on two more Monroe County League victories this week -- a 54-44 win over host Greece Arcadia on Monday and a 64-33 triumph over visiting Spencerport last night.

Three Batavia starters scored in doubles figures with Ryann Stefaniak and Emma Krolczyk leading the way with 16 points apiece while Mackenzie Reigle tallied 14.

The Lady Devils were in control throughout en route to their ninth win in 10 contests.

On Monday, Batavia led by only three after three periods but used a 19-12 fourth quarter to beat Arcadia.

Stefaniak scored 16, Reigle 11 and Krolczyk 10 while Bryn Wormley and Meghan Houseknecht each added eight points.

Batavia’s next game is Friday night at home against Greece Olympia, 3-7. Olympia lost to Spencerport, 46-40, on Dec. 28.

Notre Dame’s second half comeback secures win over Oakfield 45-37

By Steve Ognibene

Last evening the Genesee region girls basketball rivals, Notre Dame Fighting Irish versus the Oakfield Hornets kept the crowd cheering on both sides for an entertaining evening contest at Notre Dame High School.

Both teams battled the ball through four quarters to a close four-point game after Oakfield scored with 16 seconds left on the clock trailing 41-37. A technical was called against the hornets and foul shots benefited the Irish favor in the remaining seconds to finish on top 45-37.

Oakfield’s Coach Jeff Schlagenhauf’s postgame summary:

“We talked about getting off to a good start in their gym, it’s a tough place to play but great environment for high school basketball. Defensively we stuck to what we wanted with our game plan.

"It all came together in that early part of the game, knowing full well that they would make adjustments. Coach McCulley does a great job with his kids. We were able to weather that storm going into halftime with the lead. But we talked in the locker room, they were going to keep coming, it’s their gym, they’re a good ball club and that’s what they did.

"They really kind of took it to us in the second half a little bit of the standpoint of taking us out of what we wanted us to do. Couple things changed for us after halftime -- offensively we stopped running our plays and could not get the drops. They got a couple easier baskets that did not happen for them in the first half.

"I think that was a little bit of the momentum shift that happened for us not being able to score and they took that lead, four, five points and kind of hung there the rest of the game."

Notre Dame’s Coach Tom McCulley postgame summary:

After the first quarter being down by 10, we talked about not panicking and do what we can do, were a good team. Oakfield obviously came out with more energy than we did and they got up big, but we got players that can do good things out on the court offensively and defensively and by that we had to dig in, get some stops. 

"Oakfield was getting some easy buckets back in transition on us and we were not getting back very well in the beginning half. Once we started getting back and getting into a half court man to man coverage, they didn’t get so many good looks at the basket and we were able to claw back into it.

"We have some young players that are in new roles this year that have never been in before. When you play a quality team like Oakfield, sometimes you got to get your feet wet, you have to get in the rhythm of the game before you start to feel comfortable and that’s what exactly happened.

"We were able to weather the storm in the first half, Amelia and Sara got comfortable in the game and were the ones that were open. Oakfield was doubling Callie and Stevie when they were in the paint and Sara and Amelia knocked off some huge shots in the third quarter and that got us up and gave us a spark and we never really gave it back.”

Notre Dame Callie McCulley had 12 points, 12 rebounds and eight blocks. Amelia McCulley added 12 points and Stevie Wilcox 10 points. Oakfield-Alabama Kelsey Shlagenauf had 15 points, Shelby Carson 10 points.

Photos by Thomas Ognibene. To view or purchase click here.

Photos: Batavia Ski Team results from Swain

By Steve Ognibene

Results from Batavia Ski team’s first meet at Swain Ski Resort, Swain, from this past Saturday.

Slalom:

Boys Varsity Zach Wagner finished 16th overall -- time 44.22

Girls Varsity Aubrey Towner finished 15th overall 47.44, Lily Whiting finished 16th overall -- 47.65, Tessa Cerefin, DNF

Batavia Modified members Ethan Bradley (17) 1:08.34, Lily Wagner and Ben Stone both DSQ

Giant Slalom:

Batavia Girls finished fourth overall, team time 5:28.80

Lily Whiting (17) 1:45.90, Aubrey Towner 1:49.16 (18), Tessa Cerefin (19) 1:53.74

Batavia Boys individual finish Zach Wagner, 26th overall 1:42.83

Batavia Modified team – No team score

Individual results:

Lily Wagner 2:50.49, Ben Stone 3:07.22, Ethan Bradley first run 1:25.74, DSQ

If your interested to join Ski Team contact Coach Matt Holman at Batavia High School or email him at mholman@bataviacsd.org

To view or purchase photos, click here.

Bruce Kraus 300, Cadieux Jr. 299 at Scopano's in Oakfield

By Mike Pettinella

The County Line Stone Wednesday night league at Scopano's Lanes in Oakfield produced a pair of honor scores this week as right-handers Bruce Kraus and Dean Cadieux Jr. spun 300 and 299 games, respectively.

Kraus, a Corfu resident and longtime bowler, caught fire in the middle of his three game set -- finishing with 17 strikes in a row for a 687 series. His games were 202-185-300.

"I was struggling and then I hurt my forearm in the middle of the second game," said Kraus, who has seven other USBC-certified 300 games to his credit. "So I strapped a wrist support around my arm, changed my release to just a little flip, and the ball walked right into the pocket."

He used an old Brunswick Karma ball for his perfect game.

Kraus, 68, has fought his way through serious illness and injuries in recent years, including shoulder surgery two years ago and torn biceps muscle at the end of last season.

Cadieux, 49, just missed 300 as he was thwarted by a solid 10-pin on the 12th ball. The Oakfield resident finished with a 751 series, which took top honors for the night.

In the Toyota of Batavia Thursday night league at Mancuso Bowling Center, lefty Rich Wagner rolled 290-258-246--794 to raise his association-high average to 246.

Three others had 700-plus series -- Steve Krna (749), Mike Lambert (742) and Geoff Harloff (734).

For a list of high scores, click on the Pin Points tab at the top of this page. Mike Pettinella's next Pin Points column is scheduled for this Thursday.

Houseknecht rises to the occasion as Batavia girls capture Rotary basketball tourney; Wormley named MVP

By Mike Pettinella

ROTARY CLUB CHAMPIONS: The Batavia High School Varsity Girls Basketball Team with Rotary Club Tournament trophy, from left, Bella Houseknecht, Kennedy Kolb, Meghan Houseknecht, Ryann Stefaniak, Emma Krolczyk, Jenae Colkey, Bryn Wormley, Mackenzie Reigle, Tess Barone and Haylee Thornley.

It was only fitting that senior Meghan Houseknecht dropped in the winning basket in Batavia High’s exciting 59-57 victory over Wellsville in tonight’s championship game of 30th annual Rotary Club Tournament at Genesee Community College.

Houseknecht was a freshman in the Lady Devils’ basketball program in January of 2016 when her father, well-known Batavia businessman Michael Houseknecht, died at the much-too-young age of 38.

With her mother, sister, grandparents, relatives and friends looking on during the closing moments of a hard-fought battle, Houseknecht, a 6-foot center, gathered in a pass from tourney MVP sophomore guard Bryn Wormley and laid the ball over the rim and through the hoop with :06 on the clock.

When teammate Kennedy Kolb broke up Wellsville’s last attempt to tie the game, Batavia had escaped with its seventh win in eight outings this season.

Batavia Coach Marty Hein relished taking the Rotary Club trophy but said he was doubly proud of the way his squad handled the adversity of losing three starters, including their top scorer, senior guard Ryann Stefaniak, who departed with her fifth foul at the 5:12 mark of the final quarter.

“Looking on the bench, we had a lead, I’m thinking we need defense,” Hein said. “ 'OK, Tess (Barone) go in'; Tess plays hardnosed defense and she did a nice job for us to finish the game. And Kennedy Kolb came through.

“I would have rather had Ryann and Kenzie (Reigle) in the game but it turned out that it was a nice win where everyone contributed down the line.”

He also spoke of the way Wormley has stepped up her game this season – “she’s blossoming and it’s fun to watch,” he said – and called Houseknecht’s late heroics “just rewards.”

“Remembering three years ago, it (her father’s passing) was heartbreaking,” he said. “Meg’s an awesome girl; I love her to death and it’s kind of fitting that she makes the shot to win the game.”

The game was close throughout as the teams were never separated by more than seven points.

Wellsville, now 7-2, was up by seven with two minutes left in the third quarter before Batavia ended the period on an 11-1 run with key hoops by Wormley, Reigle and Stefaniak.

Batavia grabbed its biggest lead, 48-43, on a basket by Wormley to open the fourth-quarter scoring, but Wellsville, which kept Batavia off balance with accurate long-distance shooting, pulled ahead 51-50 with 3:45 to play on a three-point shot by senior guard Taylor Adams.

Wellsville made it 53-50 on a pair of free throws by senior guard Jana Whitehouse, but Wormley responded with a three-pointer at the 2:55 mark to tie it at 53-53.

After a free throw by Wellsville’s freshman guard Marley Adams, Batavia scored four straight on a driving layup by sophomore guard Reigle and two foul shots by Wormley to take a 57-54 edge with 1:06 to play.

A pair of free throws by Adams on separate trips down the floor pulled Wellsville within a point and a free throw by senior guard Quincy Buckley with 15 seconds left made it 57-57.

Batavia inbounded the ball, with senior forward Jenae Colkey managing to escape pressure to get the ball to Wormley, who drove down the left side of the lane before lobbing it in to Houseknecht for the decisive bucket.

“The play was to get the ball to Bryn because she was the facilitator at the point in the game – the person who could either make the right pass or get into position to score,” Hein said.

Houseknecht said she was able to get free underneath by virtue of a screen from Kolb and was able to complete the play.

“When I cut through I saw I had a mismatch as the girl was shorter, and Bryn made a good pass to me,” she said. “I knew when I got the ball that I had to shoot it (right away), and fortunately it went in.”

Ironically, the basket was Houseknecht’s only two points of the game and touched off a wild celebration from the Batavia fans.

“All week we were super-excited to play in the tournament and then after winning on Wednesday (against Caledonia-Mumford) to play in the championship game,” Houseknecht said.

Stefaniak led the Batavia scoring with 19 points – five of them in the closing seconds of the first half to pull her team within two at 29-27 at intermission.

Wormley tallied 16 while Reigle and junior forward Emma Krolczyk, who both fouled out in the game’s closing minute, added 13 and nine points, respectively.

For Wellsville, Buckley led the way with 17 – including four three-point baskets -- and junior center Regan Marsh added 13. All told, Wellsville sank eight three-pointers.

We knew that they were an outside shooting team, we were worried more about Winehouse – and Buckley was popping them,” Hein said. “We knew what we were up against … We didn’t close out soon enough – they were popping.”

Stefaniak, Adams and Buckley made the all-tournament team along with Notre Dame’s Callie McCulley (ND defeated Cal-Mum in the consolation game) while Reigle earned the Sportsmanship Award.

 Photos by Thomas Ognibene. To view or purchase photos, click here.

Genesee Softball hosts All Skills Clinic this February, must register by Jan. 26

By Billie Owens

Photo of Shiori Ubukata making a play during this past softball season. (Photo courtesy of Genesee Athletics.)

The Genesee Softball Team is hosting their annual All Skills Clinic each Sunday throughout the month of February.

The clinic, taking place inside the Richard C. Call Arena, runs from 8 - 11:15 a.m. each Sunday in February. Pitchers and Catchers check in starts at 7:15 a.m. on Feb. 3rd while Hitters and Fielders check in starts at 8:30 a.m. Pitchers and Catchers clinics will run from 8 -9 a.m. with All Skills running from 9:15 - 11:15 a.m.

The cost of the clinic is $150 for both sessions. Pitchers and Catchers cost $50 with All Skills costing $120. Sign up with Batavia Girls Fastpitch Softball and receive $25 off the registration fee. Cash or checks are made payable to Genesee Softball. Players must be registered by Jan. 26.

The clinic is run by the Genesee Softball Coaching Staff and team and is designed for players ages 8 and up. The instruction will include a number of different drills and skill developing stations including pitching, catching, hitting, fielding, etc.

For more information, contact softball Head Coach Taylor Mauer at (585) 813-4327 or email tnmauer@genesee.edu. Registration forms are available online here.

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