Gowanda Small Town Times

Photo courtesy of Gowanda boys lacrosse team. Gowanda’s Winter Rivera poses after passing the 100-goal mark in his high school career.

Friday, May 12, found the Varsity boys lacrosse team and the Varsity softball team on the road while the Varsity girls lacrosse team was at home at Hillis Field. The Gowanda softball team was at Randolph for the biggest game of the regular season. Going into the game, Gowanda had 2 losses in CCAA East 1 and Randolph had one loss. That single loss had been to Gowanda. So this game was for the top spot in the division. This is becoming a regular situation for these two teams.

It was Senior Night for Randolph and things started out tight. The two teams exchanged single runs in the first inning and the score stood at 1-1 all the way into the 4th. Gowanda was again unable to score in the top of the inning. Then, in the bottom of the inning, Gowanda defensive glitches allowed Randolph to pile up five runs taking the score to 6-1. Gowanda managed a single run in the 5th inning. The score was 6-2 when Randolph was up in the bottom of the 6th inning. They padded their total with a pair of runs moving the score to 8-2. Again shutout in the final inning Gowanda took the loss. Leading the Gowanda scoring were Corina John (1 run & a double), Gao:Wisa:S “Wassy” Stevens (1 run) and Addison Kota (a double and an RBI). Also prominent on the offense were Ella Luther (2 hits), Holland Browning (1 hit) and Jada Geiger (1 RBI). Addison Kota pitched for Gowanda giving up 3 hits and 5 walks against 9 strikeouts.

May 12 took the Gowanda Varsity boys lacrosse team to Medina. Another hard fought battle for the boys, they were down 12-6 at halftime on the way to a 20-11 loss. It did not come without a highlight moment, though. On his 3rd goal of the night, Winter Rivera reached the 100-goal mark for his Varsity career. Rivera ended up with 6 goals and 2 assists on the night. Also featured in the Gowanda attack was Ha’tsihgahdo:d Stevens (3 goals, 4 assists). Nakotah Jackson and Nate Warrior had goal each.

The Gowanda Varsity girls lacrosse was home versus Hamburg on the 12th. The powerful Hamburg team dominated keeping things at the Gowanda end of the field for most of the game. It was 11-0 at halftime with a final score of 18-1. With the Gowanda girls getting pushed around for most of the game shots on goal were hard to come by. Gowanda’s only goal of the game came with 13:05 left in the 2nd half. As she was falling towards the goal, Ke’ya Stevens managed to shovel the ball into the net just before she hit the ground.

Photo: Gowanda’s Blake Herman (#27) scores for the second time against Allegany-Limestone. This came in the 2nd inning of the May 11 home game.

On May 11, Gowanda Varsity sports action was limited to the baseball team. They played a home game versus Allegany-Limestone. This would be another contest ended early by the 10-run rule.

Gowanda got off to a quick start grabbing a 3-0 lead after the 1st inning. In the bottom of the 2nd inning, the 1st four Gowanda batter were walked. They added 3 runs to their total in the inning including one scored on a wild pitch. By the end of the 3rd inning Gowanda was up 7-0. With the Gowanda defense continuing to stand strong, they were ready to add to their total in the bottom of the inning. Gowanda started out with a Alex Pacucinski walk. After registering one out, Tyler Smith, Cole Herman, Carter Capozzi and Logan Ruff hit consecutive singles scoring three runs in the process. Heading into the 5th inning Gowanda had a 10-0 lead. The first Allegany-Limestone batter in the inning singled. Past that, three straight fly outs ended the game.

Leading the Gowanda attack were Cole Herman (2 runs) and Blake Herman (2 runs & a triple). Logan Ruff had a run, a double and an RBI in the game. Tyler Smith, Brayden Smith and Alex Pachucinski each contributed a run and an RBI. Rounding out the scoring with one run each were John Ondus and Drew Shull. In support, Carter Capozzi had 2 RBIs. At pitcher, Cole Herman registered 5 strikeouts and a walk in the shutout.

The Gowanda Central School District has announced the names of the fourth through eighth grade earning honor roll status for the third quarter marking period of the 2022-2023 academic year.

Gowanda Elementary School

High Honor (95% and up) Fourth grade: Avery Birchnall, Aubrie Eddy, Mason Gernatt, Alexis Hojnacki, Stella Reid (not pictured), Averi Thompson, and Liam VanAernam.

Honor Roll (90.0 – 94.9%) Fourth grade: Avi Braley, Alessandra Castellano, Onnah Galati, Jaxon Gernatt, Lincoln Gier, Jag Gill, Kira Haight, Tenley Howard, Simon Huff, Savannah Maloney, Halia Rivera, Emmett Schindler, Colton Shull, Raelynn Taber, Kendra Tomczak, Alayna Tussing, Daphne Twoguns, Korvan Walker, Jeremiah Weber, and Madelyn Wurst.

Merit Roll (85.0 – 89.9%) Fourth grade: Rinoa Bolen, Izabella Dubiel, Aubrey Hedges, Elvera Golden, JoRiah John, Luke Jones, Ryland Lemke, Elena Marvin, Ashlyn Ortel, Lilah Reid, Payton Rindfleisch, Loki Satterfield, Holden Steeprock, Matthew Wheat, Zada Woods, and Luna Zubler.

Gowanda Middle School

High Honor Roll (95-100) Fifth grade: Dominik Griffo and Scarlett John.

Sixth grade: Nathan Adams, Alexandra Barnes, Alayna Fish, Lilly Gaskins, Colton Gernatt, Elliott Graham, Kaitlyn Kelly, Casen Lemke, and Dane Taber.

Seventh grade: Jackson Cook, Colton Davis, Isabella Gill, Alexander Hammond, Tristin Luther, Bella Maines, Dakotah Martin, Tauni Ondus, Addisyn Phair, Caroline Schindler, Jocelyn Schuster, Taylor Tussing, Gavin Whitcher, and Rylee Yasurek.

Eighth grade: Molly Bettker, Robert Dalimonte, Isabella DeGoiler, Nathan Hooper, Drew Kota, McKoy Luce, Malayna Pawlak, Savannah Smith, Cree Vogtli, and Jeffrey Whipple, Jr.

Honor Roll (90-94.99) Fifth grade: Tyler Bettker, Grace Carson, Derrick Chmielewski, Mayson Chmielewski, Gabriel Cortes, Sophia DeGolier, Delilah Goodemote, Evelyn John, Rowen Liskow, Anyistin MacLeod, Arian Rice, Sophee Seneca, Gia Stafford, Elise Stevens, Isaiah Weber, Wyatt Dean, and MacKenzie York.

Sixth grade: Isabella Bailey, KC Blasdell, Madison Bortel, Memphis Clark, Raelyn Diebel, Clayburn Gates, Patrick Kennedy, Aiden Ovitt, Alister Parker, Felix Parks, Alivia Richter, Morgan Ruff, Carter Scott, Bailey Shields, Claryce Stevens, Skylar Toczek, Jeremiah Tonello, Emily Valentine, Jackson Vecchio, Madden Wallschlaeger, and Andrew Young. Jr.

Seventh grade: Zoe Bartlett, Grant Berry, Sophia Birtchnall, Sophia Bobseine, Envy Cross, Serena Darling, Sierra Darling, Aiden Geiger, Daniel Hawley, Jr., Leona Henhawk, Ainsley Horth, Jarek Howard, Logan Kehr, Madlin Root, Chester Schlegel V., Leah Shultz, and Karlah-Jane Walker.

Eighth grade: Kyan Austin, Corrine Burch, Zachary Hojnacki, Richard Kuras, Jenna Luther, Eliza Pound, Aubrey Smuda, and Tayleigh Williams.

Merit Roll (85-89.99) Fifth grade: Cael Austin, Clarae Beaver, Owen Bodekor, MaKenyan Brooks, Pierce Cross, Noah Mullen, Wilberto Negron-Ortiz, Jr., Zayley Nephew, Chloe Shull, and Shaaylyn Williams.

Sixth grade: Colten Bennett, Hayley Brunn,, Tessa Bylbie, Thomas Douglas, III, Dylan Estes, David Gagliardo, Cameron Gearman, Autumn Goode, Christopher Hojnacki, Ella Jimerson, Irelynn Lauer, Ryan Marvin, Jaelyn Mason, Hayleigh Miller, Wyatt Miller, Lila Pfaffenbach, Lindsay Robertson, Isabella Shomper, Tobie Smigiel, Gabriel Snyder, Madison Viau, Jonah Wampler, McKenzie Waniak, and Gadeo:nosta Wisniewski.

Seventh grade: Aidan Carroll, Harley Emery, Adriana Fish, Aiden Folvarcik, Mary Gangi, Logan Goddard, Jaxon Hagan, Amerie Hardin, Diana Kuhs, Kaylin Lee, Raelin Smith, Drezden Spire, Kane Stafford, Donald Stevens, Jr., Kaela VanNote, Alexis Viau, and Mychal Williams.

Eighth grade: Mallory Berndt, Jayden Fish, Emmarie Gillen, Simone Kramer, Maleina Moses, Amelia Pickering, Kiernan Quinn, and Nicholas Smuda.

Photo: Gowanda’s Winter Rivera (#20) fires a low shot up the middle to open the scoring against Newfane. He would score often in this May 10, Senior Night, game.

As the Spring sports season begins to wind down, three Gowanda teams celebrated Senior Night on May 10. Senior Night for each team recognizes the Senior Class members of the team before their last home game of the regular season.

At Gowanda’s Lady Panther Park the Gowanda Varsity softball team hosted Pine Valley on the 10th. Gowanda got off to a slow start in the game falling behind 2-1 in the 1st inning. After two innings of scoreless play, Gowanda pulled together a 3-run 4th inning to take the lead, 4-2. The Gowanda advantage ballooned to 9-2 in the 5th inning. Pine Valley was limited to a single 6th inning run for the 9-3 final. Leading the way for Gowanda was Gao:Wisa:S “Wassy” Stevens with two hits, including a double, and two RBIs. Jada Geiger and Lily Bobseine both contributed a run, a double and an RBI. Also credited with RBIs were Holland Browning (1 run, 2 RBIs) and Kailyn Farner (1 run, 1 RBI). Rounding out the Gowanda scoring with single runs were Addison Kota, Hailey Christopher and Alhanna Gabel.

Meanwhile, both of the Gowanda Varsity lacrosse teams had games at Hillis Field. The Gowanda boys lacrosse team hosted a winless Newfane team. In a very one-sided event, Gowanda ran up a 23-0 win. That started 40 seconds into the game with Winter Rivera launching the ball into the goal. Rivera also closed out the 1st quarter scoring with 46 seconds left in the period to put Gowanda up 8-0. It was 17-0 by halftime. In the shutout, Gowanda goalies Faolan Quinn and Alanson Stafford had an easy night. They faced just two shots each on the night. Winter Rivera led all scorers with 10 goals and 3 assists. Scoring two goals each were Nakotah Jackson (2 goals, 6 assists), Ethan Steep rock (2 goals, 2 assists), Jessup Stevens (2 goals) and Seneka Jackson (2 goals). Getting extra playing time due to the one-sided score, five other players scored single goals in the game. They were Ha’tsihgahdo:d Stevens, Benjamin Krajewski, Christopher Burger, Hodaweo:je Wisniewski and goalie, Faolan Quinn.

The Gowanda Varsity girls lacrosse team played before the boys took the field hosting Eden. It was a very strange game where the 1st half and 2nd half couldn’t have been more different. Gowanda took the early lead as Aurora Stevens scored 3 minutes and 48 seconds into the game. Ke’ya Stevens scored two minutes later and Gowanda had a 2-0 lead. After an Eden score, Ke’ya Stevens gave a two goal lead back to Gowanda. Midway through the 1st half, a penalty was called on the Gowanda goalie. That gave the ball to Eden with the goalie moved to corner of the field as play resumed. In what amounted to an empty net goal Eden closed the score to 3-2. Several minutes later Gowanda’s Karice John came racing up the middle, launching the ball into the net. The score was disallowed on an offsides call. Eden tied the game at 3 with 8:25 still left in the half. Two minutes after that, Aurora Stevens put Gowanda back in front 4-3. Just when it was starting to look like Gowanda might go into halftime with a lead, Eden scored with 19 seconds still on the clock.

In the 2nd half Eden went from looking very disorganized to being super efficient. They expanded their lead to 11-4 in the first ten minutes of the 2nd half. After a Ke’ya Stevens score for Gowanda interrupted that streak, Eden added another three unanswered goals making the final 5-14. Ke’ya Stevens ended up with 3 goals and an assist while Aurora Stevens totaled 2 goals and an assist. Cadence Luther was credited with 2 assists. Gowanda goalie faced 24 shots on the night, the bulk of those coming in the 2nd half.

May 10 was a big day for the Senior Class members of Gowanda Spring sports teams. Three teams held Senior Night ceremonies before their final home games of the season including softball, girls lacrosse and boys lacrosse. Below are group photos of the Seniors foe each team.

Softball Seniors - (left to right) Gao:Wisa:S “Wassy” Stevens (#17), Jada Geiger (#1), Kailyn Farner (#11), Starla Smith (#25), Lani Farley (#7) and Lily Bobseine (#33).

Girls Lacrosse seniors - (front, left to right) Ke’ya Stevens (#12), Abril Corrales (#25) and Gabrielle Whipple (#1) (back, left to right) Shelby Weston (#7), Emma Schindler (#28) and Aurora Stevens (#32).

Boys Lacrosse Seniors - (from left to right) Benjamin Krajewski (#5), Kallan John (#32), Jordan Smith (#17) and Ruben Rivera IV (#14).