Gowanda Small Town Times

Dozens of students in ninth through 12th grade at Gowanda Central School District earned honor roll status for the third quarter marking period of the 2022-2023 academic year.

Gowanda High School

High Honor Roll (95 and higher)

Ninth grade: Marcus Gamble, Isabelle Graham, Addison Kota, Reda Robinson, Maddison Smith, and Helena Wallschlaeger.

10th grade: Molly Bowers, Holland Browning, Gracie Eddy, Jillian Gernatt, Tessa Kohn, Danielle Krajewski, Winter Rivera, Sydney Smith, Demetra Spire, William Szalay, and Conner Wilson.

11th grade: Aiden Ackley, Alivia Capozzi, Quentin Centner, Hailey Christopher, Alhanna Gabel, Mya Halftown, Aubrie Heron, Alaina Kaczmarczyk, Makayla Kuras, Chloe Luther, Ella Luther, Riley Olson, Madilyn Pawlak, Emily Pound, Autumn Pupo, Benjamin VanNote, and Christina Wilder.

12th grade: Mathias Arbeiter VI, Ethan Bachek, Aurora Bartlett, Lily Bobseine, Lily Bouch, Malarie Carroll, Cameron Clark, Abril Corrales Cascante, Emma Cross, Josalyn Degenfelder, Lani Farley, Logan Forthman, Jada Geiger, Kaitlyn Hastie, Cole Herman, Cianna Hidalgo, Julia Jefferlone, Kallan John, Hayden Kaus, Benjamin Krajewski, Samuel Latimore, Madison Luder, John Ondus, Alexander Pachucinski, Starla Smith, Shelby Weston, and Gabriella Whipple.

Honor Roll (90-94)

Ninth grade: Colin Barnes, Seth Geiger, Hayleigh Hooper, Darcy Kennedy, Noah Lauer, Elizabeth Malek, and Winter Mentley-Peters.

10th grade: Chase Bolen, Natalia Elliott, Caitlyn Gangi, Devan Giambrone, Alyssa Golden, Blake Herman, Benjamin Latimore, Lily Nuwer, Cheyanna Pasternack, Charlynn Ulmer, Natalee Vecchio, and Mason Wilson.

11th grade: Andrew Clark, Kaylee Corbin, Evan Fort, Layla Gamble, Kaitlyn Hender, Emma Lillie, Nikolas Ondus, Angelina Shaw, Daniel Stang, and Avery Wilson.

12th grade: Braydon Boler, Edoardo Comegna, David DiRienzo, Kailyn Farner, Summer Jones, Rosalee LeBeau, Lea Mohawk, Timothy Rasey, Ruben Rivera IV, Emma Schindler, Jeremiah Siulc, Hudson Smith, Star Stafford, Ke’ya Stevens, and Chloe White.

Merit Roll (85-89)

Ninth grade: Landen Ashley, Samantha Buthy, Damian Ceciliano, Nina Coulon, Brendin Diebel, Patricia Griffith, Xavier Holland, Audrina Huss, Corrina John, Sara Lillie, Christopher Muntz, Presten Shultz, and Lilah Smith.

10th grade: Jaylynn Elliott, Cole Gabel, Aiden Gray, Elizabeth Green, Kayte Harrington, Zayne Laskey, Ellarose LeBeau, Seneca Mohawk Jr., Connor Ribblett, Logan Ruff, Alyssa Ruzycki, Darrin Sherlock, Brayden Smith, and Landon White.

11th grade: Hayden Abraszek, Gracie Carpenter, Destiny Golden, Alexia Harvey, Michael Horth, Willow Mentley-Peters, Christian Merrill, and Riley Tighe.

12th grade: Nikolas Golabek, Mikai Jimerson-Ocasio, Malorie McComber, Gage Miller, Gabriel Purdy, Aurora Stevens, Hannah Szalay, and Kylie Wampler.

Springville

CAM P-TECH

Merit Roll: Daniel Humphrey.

Honor Roll: Santino Jefferlone and Cashis Montour.

Dunkirk WNY P-TECH

Honor Roll: Seamus Matwijow.

The following Jamestown Community College students from the Gowanda area received academic awards from the Jamestown Campus in May:

Gowanda: Danielle Fial (Benjamin Lockwood Persevering Student Award)

Perrysburg: Fox Birdtail (Roger C. Seager Presidential Scholarship)

May 19 was Senior Night for Gowanda Varsity baseball. Pictured are the Senior Class members of the Varsity baseball team. From left to right, Tyler Smith (#15), John Ondus (#7), Alex Pachucinski (#19), Drew Shull (#10), Andrew Barlow (#23) and Cole Herman (#22).

On Friday, May 19, the Spring Sports regular season ended with an elaborate Senior Night presentation for the Varsity Baseball team. That was the capper of a season that hit a high point the day before. After having just lost to Dunkirk 5-4 on May 16, those two teams met again on the 18th tied for the lead in CCAA Division 1 with 2 divisional losses each. This game for the Division 1 title was all anyone might have expected.

After holding Dunkirk scoreless in the top of the 1st inning, Gowanda’s leadoff batter, Blake Herman singled. He later scored on a Tyler Smith single giving Gowanda an early 1-0 lead. The game stayed tight through a scoreless 2nd inning. Things broke open in the 3rd inning. After the first Dunkirk batter was walked and the first out was recorded, Dunkirk jumped into the lead with a 2-run homer over the left field fence. Going to the bottom of the inning down by a run Gowanda returned the favor. Their first batter was thrown out at 1st base and the next, Alex Pachucinski, was walked. That was followed by a John Ondus 2-run home run, again over the left field fence, that put Gowanda back in front by a run. The teams traded single runs in the 5th inning after a scoreless 4th. The Gowanda run was scored by Tyler Smith who stole home on a passed ball. Dunkirk picked up another run in the 6th tying the game at 4 with Gowanda coming to bat in the bottom of the inning. Brayden Smith scored the go ahead run for Gowanda on an Ondus double. Then Pachucinski scored while Tyler Smith was being thrown out at 1st base. Ondus also scored in the inning as outfield miscues gave him the opportunity to steal home. With a 7-4 lead, Gowanda retired the first three Dunkirk batters in the 7th inning to close out the win.

The baseball team was back at home on May 19 to close out the regular season with a game against Hamburg. Senior Night ceremonies were held honoring the Seniors from both teams with Dunkirk going first. After all of the Dunkirk Seniors had been recognized, Gowanda brought all of the player from all of the high school baseball teams onto the field, spreading out along the base path from home to 3rd base. Coaches then moved out on the line from 3rd base to home. As each of the Gowanda Seniors was introduced, they walked along the bases being greeted by all of the other players, then coaches and finally meeting up with their parents at home base.

Once the game was underway, Gowanda held Hamburg scoreless for three innings while accumulating four runs on the way. Down 4-0 in the 4th inning, Hamburg went on a tear starting with their first batter, Nolan Smith, driving the ball over the right field fence for a solo home run putting Hamburg on the board. Hamburg then loaded the bases with a single and two walks. The next batter drove the ball into the right corner where the Gowanda right fielder just missed on a diving attempt to grab it. By the time the ball was recovered and sent back into play, four Hamburg runs had scored putting them up 5-4. In the bottom of the inning Gowanda answered with a pair of runs after their first three batters were walked. While Hamburg managed to pull back into a tie at 6 in the 6th inning, Gowanda again matched their production in the inning going back in front by one. There was a tense moment for Gowanda in the 7th inning with Nolan Smith back at bat. He slammed a shot into the farthest corner of centerfield. It went off the Gowanda fielder’s glove and over the fence. While at first it looked like a tying home run, the deflection over the fence placed Smith back on 2nd base by rule. There were no further Hamburg hits in the game. Gowanda closed out the regular season with a 7-6

In a festive end to the regular season, there was a post-game pizza party after the game. The sheet pizzas and soft drinks were set up for the teams to enjoy.

The Gowanda girls lacrosse team ended their regular season without a win on the 18th. They were at Frontier for another one-sided game. They were down 13-0 at halftime, eventually losing 20-1. The lone Gowanda goal was scored by Ke’ya Stevens. The usual goalie for the team, Nina Coulon, was replaced early giving Kiernan Quinn a first shot at the goalie position. She faced 28 shots making 10 saves in the debut.

Photo: Gowanda’s Ella Luther (#3) heads home to score the 1st run of a 9-run 3rd inning against Frewsburg. The May 17 game marked the opening of playoff season in Gowanda with a 15-1 softball win.

The 2023 Spring Sectionals started in Gowanda on May 17 as the Gowanda Varsity softball team hosted Frewsburg. Gowanda was a 7-seed despite a 2 loss record in divisional play while Frewsburg entered the playoffs as a 10-seed.

Both teams settled in through a scoreless 1st inning. Gowanda began a mini rally on two outs in the 2nd inning. Kailyn Farner and Lily Bobseine both singled to get things started. They both eventually scored as the base hits continued. Frewsburg finally got on the board with a single run in the 3rd inning thanks to an overthrow at 1st base. In the bottom of the inning, a Frewsburg overthrow at 1st base allowed Ella Luther to get on base as Gowanda mounted their biggest streak of the game. A string of nine hits, including three doubles, and two walks followed as Gowanda added nine runs to their tally. Frewsburg was unable to score for the rest of the game while Gowanda added 3 and 1 to their total in the 5th and 6th inning, respectively. Powering the Gowanda attack werte Ella Luther (2 runs, 4 RBIs, 1 double), Kailyn Farner (2 runs, 3 RBIs), Lily Bobseine (2 runs, 2 RBIs, 1 double), Emily Pound (2 runs), Gao:Wisa:S “Wassy” Stevens (1 run, 3 RBIs, 1 double), Jada Geiger (1 run, 1 RBI, 1 double) and Corinna John (1 run, 1 double). Scoring single runs were Cheyanna Pasternack, Holland Browning, Hailey Christopher and Aubrie Heron. Addison Kota had a double in the game, but made her biggest contribution from the pitchers mound. She tossed a 1-run 2-hitter walking two and striking out eight.

No other teams were active on the day.

Photo: Senior Class members of Gowanda’s boy & girls track teams. Girls (left to right) Lea Mohawk, Emma Cross and Crissa Scanlan. Boys (left to right) Edoardo Comegna, Braydon Boler, Tim Rasey, Ethan Bachek and Samuel Latimore.

May 16 was a busy day for Gowanda Varsity sports. It was Senior Night for the track teams with baseball and both lacrosse teams also having games.

Starting at the track Senior Night with Gowanda hosting Portville. It vas a very competitive day for the Gowanda boys track team who squeaked out a 2-point 65-63 win. Senior, Tim Rasey had a highlight day with two 1st Place finishes (100m, 12.2 and shot put, 34-3) plus a 2nd Place in the 200m (25.9) losing to Edoardo Comenga by a fraction of a second. Rasey was also on the 1st Place (12.3) 4×100m relay team with Sam Latimore, Aiden Ackley and Ethan Bachek. Those were all season best marks for Rasey. In addition to edging out Rasey for 1st Place in the 200m, Comega also took 2nd in the long jump (15-0). Also with a big day for the Gowanda boys was Mason Williams with a 1st (400m hurdles,1:08.3) and two 2nd Place finishes (110m hurdles, 19.5 and 3200m, 14:07.4). Rounding out the top performances for the boys on the day were Chase Bolen (1st, 1600m, 5:06.6 and 2nd, 800m, 2:19.9) and Aiden Ackley (1st, discus, 94-8.5).

The Gowanda girls track team came up short 58-77 despite 14 personal best performances. Among those personal best efforts were Alyssa Ruziicka (1st, long jump, 14-1 and 1st, triple jump, 30-9), Liz Malek (2nd, 100m hurdles, 19.0), Rhianna Woods (2nd, 100m, 13.5), Calie Hudson (2nd, 800m, 2:490.6) and Christina Wilder (2nd, discus, 64-2.5 and 2nd, shot put, 25-6.5). Crissa Scanlan took 1st Place in discus with a throw of 80’ 9”.

May 16 also found the Gowanda Varsity baseball team busy at Dunkirk. Going into the game, Dunkirk was in 2nd Place just one game behind Gowanda. Off to a quick start, Gowanda grabbed a 2-0 lead in the 1st inning. A 3-run 2nd inning put Dunkirk out in front 3-2. Through the next two innings, the score would move to 4-3 as the teams each scored single runs. Two scoreless innings followed. In the 7th inning, Gowanda managed to tie things at 4 in the top of the inning, but Dunkirk matched that production to grab a 5-4 win. That set up the May 18 rematch at Gowanda to be for the conference title. Top performances for Gowanda came from John Ondus (2 runs and a 1 triple) and Blake Herman (1 run, an RBI and a double).

Both Gowanda Varsity lacrosse teams were away. The boys were at Newfane for an easy win. In a game that was nearly a carbon copy of the meeting at Hillis Field, Gowanda came away with a 24-0 win. In a personal highlight moment, Gowanda’s Winter Rivera had one goal and 7 assists for 8 points putting him over 200 points in his Varsity career. Scoring multiple goals for Gowanda were Ethan Steep rock (6 goals, 3 assists), Ha’tsihgahdo:d Stevens (3 goals, 3 assists), Winter Mentley-Peters (2 goal, 1 assist), Kallan John (2 goals), Nakotah Jackson (2 goals) and Hodaweo:je’ Wisniewski (2 goals). Jordan Smith, Kaiden Spruce, Jaxstin Johns, Nate Warrior, Ruben Rivera IV and Cashis Montour all scored single goals in the game.

The Gowanda Varsity girls lacrosse team was at East Aurora. They fell into an 8-2 hole by halftime on the way to a 15-5 loss. Leading the Gowanda offense with 4 goals was Ke’ya Stevens. Cadence Luther scored the other Gowanda goal. Once again Gowanda goalie, Nina Coulon was bombarded in the net facing 27 shots and making 12 saves.