SECTION VI STATE SCHOLAR ATHLETE CHAMPIONS

***** Iroquois and Medina named as 2002-2003 State Schools of Dintinction *****

For a complete listing of all Scholar Athlete Teams go to the state website or just click here

In addition Section VI had 5 teams that qualified as a State Champion Runner-Up:

Portville, 2nd in Boys Soccer, GPA 95.876; Portville, 2nd in Girls Soccer, GPA 97.696, Albion, 3rd in Girls Soccer, GPA 97.425; Frontier, 2nd in Girls Volleyball, GPA 96.094; Roy-Hart, 3rd in Girls Volleyball, GPA 95.753.

Members of the Clarence High School Girls Field Hockey Team were recently honored for earning the New York State Scholar Athlete State Championship in their sport. The 24-member team posted a composite average of 95.957 percent, the highest in field hockey this year and the fourth highest field hockey average in the program's 12-year history.

Walter Eaton, Assistant Director of the NYSPHSAA presented the team with their award and banner at a ceremony held January 15. "Sports emphasizes good work habits, responsibility, time management, and the importance of participating in extracurricular activities. These are all attributes that make athletes better students," Eaton said. There are 767 schools that participate in the Scholar/Athlete program, according to Eaton. "Section VI dominates the program and Clarence is among the best in Section VI," pointing out that Clarence has won 10 championships in the last 12 years.

"Competition for the banner is very keen," noted Eaton. This year 138 field hockey teams posted a composite average of 90 percent or higher. He explained it is necessary to carry the average out three decimals points because sometimes the difference between a winner and the runner-up might only be one thousandth of a point. The team is coached by Michele Buono.

The Hamburg Boys’ Varsity Soccer Team was awarded the 2002 Scholar Athlete State Championship. The Scholar Athlete Team of ten players had a composite average of 96.25. The players earning this award were Dan Pelgrin, Peter Hines, A.J. Schwartz, Shivam Mital, Ben Elliott, Casey Derkacz, Mike LaValley, Sean Conners, Matt Kent and Bill Sipprell. This award was the first for a Hamburg Soccer Team and the team’s grade point average was the second highest for a soccer team in New York State since the inception of the program. As in all Scholar Athlete Teams, many of these students will be receiving academic scholarships due to their efforts. The team takes great pride in this honor as the Hamburg Central School District continues to stress the importance of the student athlete.

The NYSPHSAA completed its 12th sports season recognizing the academic achievement of student athletes. For the first time in the school's history Lancaster has topped the State scholar team list with the 2002 Varsity Football team. The cumulative average of 95.368 ranked #1 amongst all football teams in NYS.

In a brief ceremony on January 14th, Assistant Director Walter Eaton presented the championship banner to a gathering of team members, staff, Board of Education members & administration.

AND TO ALL SECTION VI SCHOLAR ATHLETE TEAMS!!

Congratulations To The

Section VI Winter State Scholar/Athlete Champions 2002-03

Section VI had two teams that achieved the State Scholar/Athlete Championship for Winter Sports!

Frontier Boys Bowling - State Champion with a team GPA of 94.007

Hamburg Girls Gymnastics - State Champion with a team GPA of 97.657

The Frontier Boys Bowling Team was named the New York State Scholar Athlete Team Champion for the 2003 season with a composite average of 93.06. The team assembled for a picture with the state banner. It is the third state championship for Frontier High School. A formal recognition of the team took  place June 12, 2003, at the Annual Athletic Recognition Assembly at the high school.

Congratulations to the Hamburg High School Girls’ Gymnastics’ team. For the third time in four years they have been awarded the title of New York State Scholar Athlete Champion. Out of 21 members of the team, 15 girls had a GPA of 90 or better. The top eight members made up the Scholar athlete Team with a combined average of 97.65, with the top average of 99.2 from eighth grader Rosalind Konikoff. Other members of the Scholar Athlete Team include: Alexandra Hoffner – 98.2, Jill Fennell – 98.0, Lindsay Antonik – 97.8, Allysa Jankowski – 97.4, Lauren Brechtel – 97.3, and Brittany Hall – 95.7. These averages were from the first quarter during the competition season fall 2002.

Congratulations to the Section VI 

Spring State Scholar/Athlete Champions 2002-03

Section VI had three teams that achieved the State Scholar/Athlete Championship for Winter Sports!

Section VI had three teams that achieved the State Scholar/Athlete Championship for Spring Sports!

Pioneer Golf (fall team) - State Champion with a team GPA of 97.047

Medina Boys Lacrosse - State Champion with a team GPA of 95.657

Cattaraugus/ Little Valley Softball

The Cattaraugus/ Little Valley Varsity Softball team was awarded the Scholar Athlete State Championship at the Sports Banquet on Tuesday, June 10. This year’s team had 12 members who earned that honor and the team average was 96.03, the highest of all softball teams in New York State who qualified as Scholar Athlete teams. Bob Dinse, Executive Secretary of Section 6 presented a certificate and a banner to Mr. Joe Crandall, Coach Tim Retchless, and the team in recognition of their accomplishment. The 2003 Varsity Softball team members are: seniors Katie Lincoln, Aliza Rutledge, Katie Hutchison, Catharine Hebdon, Jess Smith; juniors Heather Smith, Katie Bedell, Melissa Ponczkowski, Hillary Wild, Emily Clark; and sophomores Lindsey Feuz, Emily Sinn, and Catherine Farrington. 

Pioneer Golf Team - Top Scholar Athletes

For Third Straight Year

They say the third time’s a charm. If that’s true, then the Pioneer High School golf team must be leading a charmed life. For the third straight year, the golf team has won the New York State Scholar-Athlete award for that sport. The team posted an academic average of 97.047 percent. Pioneer’s golf coach is Max Payne. "Winning this prestigious award the first time was a great honor," said Pioneer athletic director James Graczyk. "Three consecutive years represents an extraordinary effort by student-athletes, teachers, coaches, administrators and parents. Everyone in the Pioneer community can take pride in this honor." The Fall 2002 Pioneer golf team was recognized at the year-end Sports Recognition Night on June 10 at Pioneer High School. The team consisted of: Kevin Conroy, Kyle Holts, Seth Jerge, Brennan Payne, Justin Roblee, Thomas Walker, Josh Watkins, Kyle Armstrong, Adam Bennett, Phillip Biggie, Tyler Ferington, Brent Hopkins, Mike Masich, Aaron Meyer, Brandon Phetteplace, Leigh Redden, David Van Splunder, Grant Claypool, and Jeremy Haudricourt. 

Medina Boys Lacrosse

The Medina High School Boys Lacrosse Team, coached by Eric Valley and assisted by Coach Phillips, received the State Scholar Athlete Award this spring. They also achieved this distinction in 2001. Medina competed with teams from across Western New York and the Southern Tier and finished in third place. The Administration is very proud of the commitment the players make to their sport and their studies. Medina CSD was also one of three schools across the state named a New York State Public High School Athletic Association School of Distinction. The Names that qualified for Medina Scholar athlete Lacrosse team are as follows: Mohammad Abidi, Andrew Beach, Chris Crandall, Nate Hartway, Noah Lacy, Mike Maryjanowski, Sean Moriarity, Evan Morien, Albert Osborne, Matt Root, Brandon Scholes

Congratulations to Cattaraugus/Little Valley, Pioneer, Medina and Hamburg

And All Section VI Scholar/Athlete Teams!

A complete listing of all results is posted on the state website http://www.nysphsaa.org