Aquinas senior captains Mike Messina (21), left, and Chris Bostick hoist the 2010 Class A championship trophy after the state final.
Aquinas’ second appearance in the Class AA high school football final in three years allows us to reflect on the team’s success of the past decade and the players who have made it happen.
Since we ranked the top five Aquinas teams during the last decade, let’s also look at our choices for the top 22 players during this period, including kicker Eric Terhaar (Class of 2011):
Aquinas players gather for a team photo after beating Saratoga Springs 44-19 to win the State Class AA title.
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Aquinas’ Earnest Edwards looks for running room after a catch.
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Aquinas players gather for a team photo after beating Saratoga Springs 44-19 to win the State Class AA title.
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Aquinas quarterback Jake Zembiec (12) looks to block after receiver Earnest Edwards reversed direction after a catch. Aquinas beat Saratoga Springs 44-19 to win the State Class AA title.
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Aquinas’ Jamir Jones holds up the championship plaque after beating Saratoga Springs 44-19 to win State Class AA title.
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Aquinas receiver Earnest Edwards (9) scores a touchdown on a long pass against Saratoga Springs. Edwards scored 4 TDs in a 44-19 win.
The end looked a lot like the high school football season opener for Aquinas.
Highlights and touchdowns by Earnest Edwards. Video game passing statistics for quarterback Jake Zembiec. A defense so strong, the opposing offense did not get on the scoreboard until the fourth quarter.
Only this time, when the Section V champions left Syracuse University’s Carrier Dome Sunday night, they left with a second state championship in three years.
Aquinas left no doubt in the first half of the Class AA final and went on to defeat a high-scoring Saratoga Springs team 44-19 to finish the season with a 13-0 record.
“It’s an honor to have it in my senior year, knowing that they cut us off last year,” Edwards said. “It’s whatever (now), we got it in our last year.”
Edwards and Zembiec, who along with Aquinas senior linebacker Jamir Jones showcased that they are Football Bowl Subdivision college prospects, did not leave Syracuse with state playoff records, but the “Zembiec to Edwards Show” must be one of the all-time top performances in this round.
Edwards was named the Most Valuable Player of the Game, after he scored four touchdowns, three on throws from Zembiec. The senior receiver who tight-roped down the sideline for one of his scores and wiggled past Saratoga defenders during another pass play, finished with 286 yards on five receptions.
“He’s a big-time player obviously,” Zembiec said. “He’s got some pretty scary talent, so when he’s hot and he’s feeling it, he’s dangerous. You saw that today, on the biggest stage of the season.
“Hopefully, he picks up a few more (college athletic scholarship) offers, he’s really an underrated player. He’s been huge for us this season.”
“I don’t think it’s just this place,” Aquinas coach Chris Battaglia said. “If we get Earnest the ball in space, you see what he can do. Last week (versus Liverpool during the state semifinals), we had some issues with getting him the ball in space.
“It got hard, but come on, that kid is unbelievable. He and Jake? People are right. I have great players. My job is to stay out of the way and let them play. That’s what I try to do, I don’t try to overcoach them, I let them play.”
Zembiec, named the game’s most outstanding offensive back, threw for 462 yards on 18 of 23 passing. James Franklin, Zembiec’s future coach at Penn State, was at the Dome to see it, including the touchdown strikes of 75 and 53 yards to Edwards, who turned a slant into another 60-yard score.
“Our kids played hard. We got beat,” Saratoga Springs coach Terry Jones said. “You know, if you are going to lose a football game, that’s what you want. You don’t want to make mistakes and walk off the field and say ‘If we only did this or done that.’
The state record for passing yards in a game is believed to be 581, during the 2013 Class D final. Josh Feyerbend of Unatego in Section IV (Binghamton region) also had a record seven touchdown passes in the game.
“We got beat today by a great football team, one of the best football teams I’ve seen in New York state.”
There is a list of Section V records, and Zembiec’s name will be at the top in some categories.
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Aquinas quarterback Jake Zembiec goes deep for a touchdown pass to Earnest Edwards. Zembiec threw for 462 yards and 4 touchdowns as they beat Saratoga Springs to win the State Class AA title.
Zembiec finished with a section career record 76 touchdown passes in four seasons, including one cut short because of a broken wrist on his left, non-throwing hand. His 6,375 passing yards is another career record.
The 37 touchdown passes and 3,007 yards in 13 games are single-season records in Section V.
The defensive statistics for Aquinas in the state final were tilted somewhat, as the Blue Streaks scored all of their touchdowns in the final 7:07, as substitutes began to see action. One of those scores didn’t count against the Aquinas defense, a blocked punt returned for a touchdown by Saratoga (11-1).
Aquinas senior defensive back Shemar Hayes snatched away a pass thrown into the end zone by quarterback Brian Williams early in the second quarter. The Blue Streaks already trailed 21-0.
The Aquinas defense did score, and it was Edwards at defensive back who did it, as he beat a teammate to a fumble in the end zone in the first quarter.
Aquinas led 7-0 after two plays from scrimmage, a 5-yard pass to Jones and the 75-yard connection for a touchdown between Zembiec and Edwards.
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Aquinas’ Jamir Jones holds up the championship plaque after beating Saratoga Springs 44-19 to win State Class AA title.
Saratoga Springs punted the ball back to Aquinas and then stopped the Section V champions on downs at the Blue Streaks’ 11. But on third-and-3 at the Saratoga Springs 18, Williams watched a handoff plop to the turf. There was a scramble, and Edwards was the one who got control of the ball in the end zone.
Saratoga Springs punted after three more plays on offense. Zembiec then put the ball into the air for Edwards for a touchdown on first-and-10 at the Aquinas 40. The score was 21-0 with 2:22 remaining in the first quarter.
T.J. Scanlon’s 1-yard touchdown run, a 9-yard scoring reception by Tyler Olbrich and a 26-yard field goal by Collin Cup helped balloon the score to 44-0 after three quarters.
“It’s always good to go out on top,” Jones said. “Sophomore year, it was a great feeling but this one is way better.”
This was a much more satisfying way for Aquinas to finish a season, compared to how 2014 came to a close after the Little Irish defeated Pittsford in a Section V first round playoff game.
Zembiec’s eligibility was called into question, the New York State Public High School Athletic Association and Section V said he should not have played in the postseason and a judge ruled in favor of the sanctioning bodies. Aquinas forfeited its playoff win and was out of the sectionals.
“It motivated us to win for them, running through the locker room there was a sign with all of the seniors’ names that were kicked out (of the postseason),” Jones said. “It just reminded us that we had to do it for them.”
The Little Irish (13-0) built a 44-0 lead through three quarters and defeated Saratoga Springs of Section II 44-19 in Syracuse University’s Carrier Dome on Sunday. Senior quarterback Jake Zembiec passed for 462 yards and four touchdowns and senior Earnest Edwards scored four touchdowns, including three receiving, while catching five passes for 286 yards in the romp. Zembiec is graduating from high school early and will enroll at Penn State in January.
Aquinas won its second state crown in three seasons and seventh since 1998. The seven titles are a state record.
Jamir Jones holds up the championship plaque after beating Saratoga Springs 44-19 to win State Class AA title.
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Aquinas receiver Earnest Edwards (9) scores a touchdown on a long pass against Saratoga Springs. Edwards scored 4 TDs in a 44-19 win.
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Aquinas quarterback Jake Zembiec (12) looks to block after receiver Earnest Edwards reversed direction after a catch in Sunday’s title game.
I don’t think there’s any doubt that had Aquinas Institute’s 2014 season not been sacked so unfortunately for unwittingly using an ineligible player in the playoffs, we’d be witnessing the San Francisco 49ers of local schoolboy football.
The Little Irish captured their second state title in a span of three seasons on Sunday to close out the Jake Zembiec Era, and by dispatching of Saratoga Springs of the Albany region by the score of 44-19 made it easy on historians to place this Aquinas club in the pantheon of best teams ever.
What a show that was. In the process, Aquinas showed us how motivation can turn into determination can turn into celebration. They showed us what it truly means to be a team. To be a family.
A year ago, sectional and state sanctioning bodies determined that Zembiec should not have been allowed to play in a first-round playoff win over Pittsford. While the community debated the interpretation of confusing return-to-play rules after an injury, a judge ultimately decided the Little Irish must forfeit.
Those most affected were the seniors, whose high school careers were ended, not on the field, but in a courtroom. But they were not forgotten.
“It motivated us to win for them,’’ linebacker Jamir Jones told my colleague James Johnson. “Running through the locker room there was a sign with all the seniors’ names on it that were kicked out (of the postseason last year). It just reminded us that we had to do it for them.’’
Running through the locker room there was a sign with all the seniors’ names on it that were kicked out (of the postseason last year). It just reminded us that we had to do it for them.
Jamir Jones
They did it incredibly well and added an exclamation point in running their record to 13-0 against a Saratoga Springs team that was no pushover, having entered the game 11-0 and regularly running up 40-point scores themselves.
It’s absolutely correct that coach Chris Battaglia, in his 10th season, had talent to work with. So did Bill Walsh and Bill Belichick and Marv Levy.
Aquinas’ roster of 26 seniors includes at least five that will be playing top-tier Division I college football next fall. They include Zembiec (Penn State), Jones (Notre Dame), wide receiver Earnest Edwards (undecided), linebacker Taylor Riggins (Syracuse) and lineman/long snapper Conrad Brake (walk-on invitation to Pittsburgh).
But if talent meant automatic victory, the Buffalo Bills would be 11-0 instead of 5-6. It takes a special coach and staff to push the right buttons, keep players focused.
“People are right, I do have great players,’’ Battaglia said. “My job is to stay out of the way and let them play.’’
Boy did he let them. On the second play of the game Sunday, Zembiec launched a perfect 75-yard touchdown strike to Edwards. It was the beginning of a maroon-and-white colored tidal wave that didn’t stop until Aquinas led 44-0 after three quarters.
Zembiec would finish with three touchdown passes to Edwards, who added a fourth on defense. Jones had 10 tackles and a sack.
We now look forward to watching Zembiec at Penn State where he’ll attempt to return that once proud program to prominence. How happy do you think Nittany Lions coach James Franklin, in attendance at the Carrier Dome, was watching his prize recruit throw for 462 yards and four scores overall on the biggest stage of the season?
The 6-3, 210-pound Zembiec ended his prep career as the Section V leader in career touchdowns with 76 and yardage with 6,375, and, mind you, his junior season was shortened by that broken left wrist. His 37 TDs and 3,030 yards as a senior are single-season Section V marks. He truly was a generational player.
As for the longstanding private vs. public debate, you can bet that public school superintendents will seize upon Aquinas’ latest championship — and by a lopsided score — and use it for their argument to ban private schools and their ability to attract students regardless of geographic bounds from postseason play.
But just for the record, two of the Little Irish’s closest games, against Hilton (by seven points) and Rush-Henrietta (by three points), came in the sectional round against public schools, which speaks well for Section V. And don’t forget Aquinas survived Liverpool of Section III, 17-16, thanks to a blocked extra point.
Before the private vs. public rhetoric resumes, I sure hope the adults out there can let Aquinas enjoy the moment for just a bit.
These players — these kids — achieved their goal of an undefeated state championship season, the seniors doing that for a second time. I wouldn’t care if Jim Kelly was the quarterback, that’s an astounding accomplishment and worthy of our applause. They represented themselves with class and did our city proud.
Bottom line: Battaglia and his program have put Rochester on the scholastic football map, the Little Irish cracking USA Today’s Super 25 national rankings. College scouts that come see Aquinas play in the future may just spot your son on the other team or rate him higher by how he performs against the best. Remember that before you vote to kick them out of the post-season.
About 120-140 seniors attend the annual Section V Football Recruiting Night.
Football recruiting: College coaches are looking for players.
High school seniors and their families are looking for schools and teams.
Irondequoit assistant football coach George Giordano hopes to bring as many of those people together Monday night during the Section V Football Recruiting Night at RIT Inn and Conference Center at 5257 West Henrietta Road. Admission and participation are free.
The mingle between college coaches, high school seniors, their relatives and high school coaches goes from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. A total of 30 college coaches at the junior college, Division II and III levels are expected to attend, according to Giordano.
Athletes are asked to bring copies of their current academic transcripts, highlight discs and links to highlight footage.
Rayshawn Boswell scored 31 points to help lead Monroe to a 95-86 victory over University Prep at the Eastridge Tip Off tournament on Saturday.
Boswell recorded back-to-back 30 point games and was named the MVP of the Eastridge Tip Off tournament for Monroe (2-1).
Chris Gibson earned All-tournament honors for Monroe.
Monroe
Rayshawn Boswell 31, Daquan Brown-Junious 6, Anthony Colon 7, Danny Colon 0, Carlee Ellis 4, Chris Gibson 17, Tyquil Glastow 10, Tyrece Harper 20, Hakeem Sanchez 0, Chris Williams 0.
University Prep
James Barnes 4, Isaiah Brinkley 17, Quillan Leach-Alexander 6, Jakhi Lucas 9, Jeenathan Williams 36, Kory Wyatt 14.
3-Point Goals – Monroe (Rayshawn Boswell 4, Anthony Colon 1, Chris Gibson 3, Tyrece Harper 3), University Prep (Isaiah Brinkley 2, Quillan Leach-Alexander 1, Jakhi Lucas 2).
Non-league
Livonia 63, Geneva 51
Ricky Allen scored all 17 of his points in the first half to lead Livonia (1-1).
Derek DeMartinis scored nine of his 11 points in the fourth quarter for the Bulldogs. DeMartinis went 5-for-5 from the free-throw line down the stretch to seal the victory.
Jon Mohnkern added 13 points and eight rebounds for the Bulldogs.
Livonia
Rick Allen 17, Derek DeMartinis 11, Christian Dulaney 0, Ron Loomis 0, Barrett Lowe 0, Maddux Minton 2, Jon Mohnkern 13, CJ Richardson 8, Brandon Semmel 4, Reid VanScoter 8.
Derek Wampole totaled 27 points and 15 rebounds and Austin Milliman had 11 points and six rebounds for Dansville (2-0).
NE/NW College Prep 74, Eastridge 62
NE/NW College Prep
Tysheen Brock 0, Robert Brooks 8, Sherman Graham 18, Jakiy Lee 0, Robert Lovelace 3, Torrence Phillips 26, Tyshawn Ratcliffe 4, Ben Russ 9, Noah Tavolino 0, Daiquon Turner 6.
Eastridge
Jerry Bradley 0, Rey Cain-Oriol 9, Dusean Chambers 7, Shakel Lawton 17, Alex Rivera 6, Robbie Salisbury 6, Kyndal Taggart 14, Kavon Tayler 13.
3-Point Goals – NE/NW College Prep (Robert Brooks 2, Sherman Graham 2, Torrence Phillips 3), Eastridge (Dusean Chambers 1, Alex Rivera 2, Kyndal Taggart 2, Kavon Tayler 1).
Torrence Phillips scored 26 points and added 4 assists and 4 steals and Sherman Graham was named to the Eastridge Tipoff all-tournament team and finished with 18 points, 4 assists and 4 steals for NE/NW Prep (1-2).
Tyshawn Ratcliffe grabbed 11 rebounds for the Panthers.
Fairport 67, Jamesville-Dewitt-III 57
Fairport
Ryan Algier 12, Wanya Bruce 2, Stephen Gabel 8, TJ Hendricks 0, Jordan Holmes 0, Cam Keeley 8, Matthew Keenan 18, Nick Lapp 3, Dan Masino 14, Matt Muncey 2.
Jamesville-Dewitt
Jai Benson 2, Buddy Boeheim 0, Jim Boeheim 23, Matt Carlin 12, Darvin Lovette 8, Rahmell Smith 12.
3-Point Goals – Fairport (Stephen Gabel 2, Cam Keeley 2, Matthew Keenan 1, Nick Lapp 1, Dan Masino 1), Jamesville-Dewitt (Jim Boeheim 1, Matt Carlin 2, Rahmell Smith 1).
Dan Masino had 14 points, 7 assists and 6 rebounds and Matt Keenan was named the Player of the Showcase, scoring 18 points to lead Fairport (2-0).
Matt Muncey added seven rebounds for the Red Raiders.
Wilson 60, Palmyra-Macedon 58
Wilson
Isaiah Benjamin 6, Donovan Campbell 18, Robert Davis 15, Earl English 13, Keavaughn Harris-Hill 0, Tabu McKenzie 8, Patrick Phillips 0.
3-Point Goals – Wilson (Donovan Campbell 2, Robert Davis 1, Earl English 1), Palmyra-Macedon (Brandon Hawkins 2, Hunter VanDeVelde 3).
Donovan Campbell recorded a double-double with 18 points and 10 rebounds to lead Wilson (3-0).
Pembroke 56, Akron-VI27
Akron Central
Gates Abrams 12, Lee Abrams 0, Weylon Abrams 5, Ryan Akin 0, Jake Burns 0, Owen Hill 4, Derek Holtz 2, Elias Johnson 0, Austin Lodd 4.
Pembroke
Ryan Cansdale 6, Alex Detwiler 0, Dakota Dieter 8, Sam Lang 0, Kilian Lewis 1, Kyle Ludwig 18, Reid Miano 1, Kobe Price 7, Danny Pritchett 0, Zach Staebell 0, Zach VonKramer 15.
3-Point Goals – Akron Central (Gates Abrams 2, Weylon Abrams 1), Pembroke (Kyle Ludwig 4, Kobe Price 2).
Kyle Ludwig led all scorers with 18 points and added five rebounds for Pembroke (3-0).
Zach VonCramer had five rebounds to go with his 15 points for the Dragons.
Ryan Cansdale tallied seven assists and six rebounds for Pembroke.
Victor 56, Newark 44
Newark
Nathan Beard 9, Taylor Clements 11, Ben Cowles 4, Nick Greco 2, Jose Santell 10, Brian Sharp 4, Nick Synesael 4.
Victor
Clay Bleier 13, Jacob DiSanto 12, Brandon Fink 3, Connor Keenan 0, Michael Novitsky 15, Kyle O’Dea 0, Sam Palomaki 11, Jackson Parker 2.
3-Point Goals – Newark (Nathan Beard 1, Jose Santell 2), Victor (Clay Bleier 2, Jacob DiSanto 2).
Michael Novitsky scored 15 points for Victor (2-1).
Thomas Babcock 7, Jacob Bailey 0, Sean Campbell 8, Nigel Cobbs 7, Jack Devendorf 11, Gary Immesoete 0, Mac Immesoete 3, Dakota Koyler 0, Nate Lalone 0, Cooper Markko 0, Alex Steurrys 5, Edwin Wynn 7.
Scott Laforte had 11 points and seven rebounds and Zach Wade recorded 14 points and four assists for Canandaigua (2-1).
Laforte made the Spencerport all-tournament team for the Braves.
Webster Schroeder 61, Spencerport 37
Webster Schroeder
Matt Ambalavanar 8, Connor Bissaillon 0, Will Bjarnar 0, Nick Brewer 14, Clay Dwyer 0, Brandan Gartland 27, Justin Graham 0, Jared Griffin 4, Karise Leonard 0, Chris McKrell 4, Evan Merkey 2, Caleb Punter 0, Andy Rye 2, Josh Simons 0.
Spencerport
David DeBellis 1, Ryan Donovan 6, Spenser Doty 0, John Feeney 0, Bernie Garwig 0, Ryan Gentile 2, Charlie Huff 3, Trevor James 2, JJ Johnson 8, Leon Mosley 0, Zekiah Owens 15, Michael Sero 0.
Brockport’s Mitchell Henshaw, left, skates with the puck away from Irondequoit’s Michael Coholan during regular season game played at SUNY Brockport on Tuesday, December 8, 2015. Brockport beat Irondequoit in overtime 4-3 as Henshaw topped 100 career points.
Name: Mitchell Henshaw.
School: Brockport
Class/age: Senior/17.
Sport: Hockey.
Family: Parents, Susan and Paul; brother, Brandon, 20; brother, Tyler, 13.
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Mitchell Henshaw.
Academics: 90 average.
Last week: Henshaw went past the 100 point-mark in Section V hockey during a 4-3 win over Irondequoit. A center, Henshaw has 38 goals and 64 assists over three-plus seasons. His brother Brandon, the 2012-13 Democrat and Chronicle All-Greater Rochester Player of the Year, also topped 100 points during his high school career.
Brockport, the defending Section V Class B champion, is 3-0 before its next game against Gates Chili, 1 p.m. Saturday at The College at Brockport. Blue Devils coach Greg Stahl has 99 wins as a high school coach.
About me: Wears No. 4. “I was a big Vincent Lecavalier fan, when he was with Tampa Bay. … Six feet, 180 pounds. … Also plays with the Rochester Junior Amerks 18-under AAA travel team. … A catcher with Brockport’s varsity baseball team. … “I’ve grown my hair out every year for hockey since the seventh-grade. It’s keeping with tradition.” Why not a beard? “I get a little stubble and that’s it.” … Enjoys fishing and hunting. Shot his first buck about three weeks ago during the opening day of shotgun season. He once caught a King Salmon that weighed about 30 pounds. … Also enjoys playing golf. His best score (nine holes) is 41 at Brockport Golf Club. “I’m not a great golfer, I just think it’s fun.”
Last week: Scored 20 or more points in her first four varsity games, including 26 in a loss to Brighton. She averages 24.6 points a game.
The Inventors (3-1) play home games against Northstar Academy and Finney Dec. 15 and 16, before a break during the holidays and a matchup at Churchville-Chili on Dec. 29.
About me: Wears No. 23. “My favorite player is LeBron (James).” … 5 feet-4 inches tall … Plans to join the outdoor track and field team at Edison next spring. … Also plays for a Reaves Stewart Basketball Alliances AAU team. … “Of course there’s more guys than girls playing this sport. Where I go, there’s nothing but guys. That’s how I learned how to play. Most of the time girls don’t think they can do what guys can, but I’m here to show them that they can.” … “When I was younger, four and five, I used to watch my dad and my uncles play basketball, outside or wherever we were. They still play to this day. I would practice and practice until I got good enough to be a part of a team.” …. Favorite television show is Law and Order: SVU. … “I like to sing.” Her favorite singer is Meghan Trainor.
Mendon’s Erin Lyons (20), left, and Sutherland’s Caitlin Ryan battle for a rebound during the 2010 Rainbow Classic.
A rivalry within a town does not appear to be the best time to highlight a community.
Then again, the Mendon versus Sutherland high school girls and boys basketball games have turned into a shining moment for Pittsford.
Sutherland and Mendon meet twice a season, with the first matchups taking place at University of Rochester as part of the Rainbow Classic for the benefit of Golisano Children’s Hospital.
An estimated $368,000 has been raised after 14 Rainbow Classics as of Sept. 9, according to Pittsford athletic director Scott Barker, who hopes to reach $400,000 after this year’s game. Fundraising continues during related events until the spring.
The 15th Rainbow Classic inside the U of R’s Palestra is Dec. 18. The varsity girls game is 6 p.m., followed by the varsity boys game. Mendon’s boys team is coached Robert Nally, the younger brother of Sutherland boys coach John Nally.
Admission is $10, and that covers both games. Sell-outs are common, as 1,600 tickets are sold.
JAMESJ@GANNETT.COM
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Mendon’s Michael Shadders (right) blocks Knights’ Cam Pincus shot during the 2011 Rainbow Classic.
Two groups of high school boys basketball coaches in Section V were asked to rank the top 10 large and small school teams as the season picks up steam.
Where does Greece Athena fall? The Trojans won last season’s Section V Class A1 title, advanced to the state finals and lost all of its starting lineup to graduation, with the exception of Anthony Lamb, the 2015 Democrat and Chronicle All-Greater Rochester Player of the Year.
Which school will emerge as the team to beat in Class AA? Aquinas was an undefeated sectional champion, but four starters are gone from that team. Does this mean a change or two at the top?
Check back our website Thursday night to also see how coaches rank the top Class B, C and D teams in Section V.
JAMESJ@GANNETT.COM
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Greece Athena advanced to the Class A state tournament final last season.
Jared Skrotzki won the 200 individual medley (3:02.56) and 100 freestyle (1:09.11) for Gananda.
Non-league
Harley-Allendale Columbia 57, Wheatland-Chili 30
Robert Gelb placed first in the 200 IM (2:32.23) and 500 freestyle (6:12.32) for H-AC.
Victor 105, Marcus Whitman 78
Tommy Shanahan won the 100 freestyle (52.09) and 100 backstroke (1:01.54) for Victor.
Eastridge 58, North Rose-Wolcott/Red Creek 47
Josh Decker won the 500 freestyle (6:32.39) for Eastridge.
Palmyra-Macedon 96, Greece 73
Andrew McEwen won the 50 freestyle (24.29) and the 100 freestyle (54.51) for P-M.
Lucas Jones won the 200 freestyle (1:58.78) and the 500 freestyle (5:22.69) for Greece.
Hockey
Section V
Canandaigua 4, Pittsford 2
Alex Burley scored two power-play goals, including the game-winner in the third period for Canandaigua.
Joe Post added a goal and two assists for the Braves and Jake Brennessel made 40 saves for the Braves.
Webster Thomas 1, Fairport 0
Pierce Currie scored the game-winner on the power play assisted by Hector Vargas in the first period for Thomas (5-0).
Dalton Jerzak had 25 saves in the shutout for the Titans.
Wrestling
Monroe County
Webster Schroeder 51, Irondequoit 21
99: RJ Beh (I) f.; 106: Charlie Alessi (W) d. Joe Bianchi (I) 6-0; 113: Zach Hannel (W) f.; 120: Luke Lupisella (W) d. Ron Lanza (I) 7-5; 126: Mike Butler (I) f.; 132: Skylar Holt (W) u.d. Chris Butler (I) 5-4; 138: Heiko Ronndman (W) d. Tyre Peace (I) 6-4; 145: Alex Salvaggio (W) p. Mike Rizzo (I) 2:20; 152: Austin Salvaggio (W) p. Troy Callens (I) 3:22; 160: Phil Debonedetto (W) p. Karl Aliten (I) 5:43; 170: Miguel Valdez (I) d. Chris Pellngrro (W) 7-2; 182: Nick Dewrin (W) f.; 195: Nick Rambise (W) d. Nick Serce (I) 5-3; 220: Noah Siesto (W) p. Sal Amico (I) 2:46; 285: Cam Rohr (I) p. Josh Bertrum (W) 1:45.
RCAC
McQuaid 36, Wilson 24
120: Brandon Perrone (M) d.; 126: Van Tran (M) f.; 132: Luis Casada (W) p. Mack Williamson (M) 4:24; 138: Matt Blejwas (M) f.; 145: Jonathan Rogers (W) p. Vinh Tran (M) 5:20; 160: Ian Campbell (M) p. Jordan Cottrell (W) :57; 195: Cole Campbell (M) f.; 220: Jason Cunningham (M) p. Lamon Ragland (W) :21; 285: Gerald Cook (W) p. Josiah Redman (M) 1:46.
Lamb, a senior at Greece Athena who gave a verbal commitment to play at the University of Vermont in September, is the lone starter back with a Trojans team that reached the Class A state tournament final.
That means opponents should have an easier time focusing their defenses on Lamb, a 6-foot-6 senior forward, who averaged 20 points and 13 rebounds last season. Lamb is the lone proven scorer back with the Trojans (2-0).
No more penetrations of defenses by three-time AGR point guard Jay Sarkis to work off. The threat of shooter Zac DiSalvo, who scored 1,000 points at the varsity level, is also gone.
How will Lamb handle the extra attention? How will Athena coach Jim Johnson, whose teams have won 409 games in 30 years, handle teams trying to take away or at least slow down Lamb?
Here are four other things to watch in Section V boys basketball this season:
2. How far does Fairport go? The Red Raiders, Class AA sectional finalists in 2015, were the choice for No. 1 in the Democrat and Chronicle‘s first Large Schools Coaches Poll of the season.
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Fairport’s Dan Masino returns for Fairport.
That doesn’t exactly send this season’s sectional champion trophy to Fairport. There is a long regular season to play out, but there are reasons to be excited about this team.
Start with junior Dan Masino, who was deemed one of the area’s top 15 players last season after he averaged 15.5 points, 7 rebounds and 4 assists. He’s back, presumably stronger and wiser, for what will be an already heady player’s third varsity season.
Matthew Keenan, a 6-3 senior guard, has been around and productive, too. Masino and Keenan have already played in two sectional finals, and certainly want a different result.
Unselfish play and a deep rotation were two reasons that Aquinas became an undefeated sectional champion and went on to the state final four.
Jalen Pickett, a 6-3 junior guard, is the only starter back. Does the approach to win games change at Aquinas? Even if the answer is no, does it mean this team wins at the rate of sectional title contender?
The good news for Aquinas is that new starters like 5-10 senior guard Earnest Edwards, 6-5 senior forward Jamir Jones and 6-6 junior forward Jason Hawkes played significant minutes in 2014-15.
4. “Old” crew of Cougars: A group of coaches voted North Rose-Wolcott No. 1 among the small schools, after the Cougars in the Wayne County league jumped out to a 5-0 start.
Garrett Hoyt, a 6-3 senior, 6-0 senior Connor Pendleton, 6-2 senior Luke Gerstner and 6-3 junior guard Tyler Norris all are back in this year’s starting lineup for the Cougars, a sectional finalist last season in Class B2.
This is the fourth varsity season for Hoyt, and third for Pendleton and Norris, who was a starter as a freshman. Elijah Durham, a 6-1 senior, was the first forward off the bench last season. Six of the top seven players in the team’s rotation are seniors.
5. What type of juice does Edison have?:Inventors senior guard Raliek Redd felt snubbed after he was not voted on to last season’s AGR team. Edison coach Jacob Scott agreed.
Redd, who averaged 20 points and five assists for a 12-8 team last season, is motivated. The arrival of 6-5 senior Donte Crumpler from Charlotte and junior guard Marique Simkin should be strong boosts to the Edison lineup.
Will it be enough to boost Edison further in the sectional tournament?
JAMESJ@GANNETT.COM
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Edison’s Raliek Redd, right, averaged 20 points and five assists last year.
Also received votes: Leadership Academy, Early College, Avon, Livonia, Dundee, Elba, Newark, Geneseo, Wellsville, Naples, Mount Morris, Genesee Valley.
The very top of the season’s first Section 5 Boys Swimming Coaches Poll has a familiar look.
Pittsford again gathered all first-place votes and is followed by another undefeated team, rival Fairport.. One of Pittsford’s three victories came against No. 3 Brockport on Dec. 10.
Brockport is winless, but clearly coaches took into the consideration that the Blue Devils’ three dual meets were against Honeoye Falls-Lima in the season-opener, Fairport and Pittsford.
Pittsford senior Arthur Fan, a member of the 2015 Democrat and Chronicle All-Greater Rochester Boys Swimming Team, was named swimmer of the meet at last season’s Class A sectionals and the Monroe County Swimmer of the Year.
Ian Paddock never really began to do the math until people began arriving at his family’s home Wednesday.
His father, Brad Paddock, impacted the lives of many — especially in the world of wrestling, where it was said he would open his family’s home to anyone who loved the sport. Brad Paddock, 50, died Tuesday after multiple diseases caused organ failure over the course of about three weeks at Strong Memorial Hospital in Rochester.
There has been an overwhelming amount of support — and plenty of phone calls, too — to the grieving Paddock family in Warsaw, Wyoming County.
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Brad Paddock, shown here congratulating former Warsaw wrestler Ryan Coveny during the 2014 SuperSectionals, is remembered as an "incredible mentor,” a motivator and someone with integrity by friend Robert Hirsch.
“It’s been non-stop support,” Ian Paddock, 25, said. “People are still coming, still calling.
“It shows you how much he meant to everyone. You don’t realize it at the time, but I’m glad to see how much he meant to everyone.”
It’s been non-stop support. People are still coming, still calling … It shows you how much he meant to everyone. You don’t realize it at the time, but I’m glad to see how much he meant to everyone.
Ian Paddock, 25
The Paddock family will have calling hours Saturday and Sunday, 2 to 4 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m. each day, at Robinson and Hackemer Funeral Home in Warsaw. The funeral service is 1 p.m. Monday in Warsaw, at Valley Chapel Free Methodist Church.
Ian Paddock, a three-time high school state wrestling champion who once was Section V’s all-time wins leader, is one of nine children of Brad and Jeanie Paddock, ranging in age from 16 to 30 years old. Brad Paddock, who owned and operated a business that offered breeding services for livestock and dairy supplies, also is survived by two grandchildren.
“He’s an incredible mentor,” former Warsaw wrestling coach Robert Hirsch said. “He listens well. He speaks well. You talk about motivation — he’s one of the greats.
“I’m a pretty optimistic person. I’ve never taken something as hard as I’ve taken this. Brad and I would get together, and we just hanged. Our talks could go on for hours. A good man of God. He raised his family and lived with a biblical integrity.”
Hirsch, an assistant coach at Alfred State and Hornell High, taught eight of the nine Paddock children in classrooms and coached all of the wrestlers in the family.
He listens well. He speaks well. You talk about motivation — he’s one of the greats.
Robert Hirsch, former Warsaw wrestling coach
“That guy never seemed to stop,” Hirsch said.
A former wrestler at Perry, Brad Paddock became an assistant coach at Warsaw during the mid-1990s and began a wrestling club known as Team X that included wrestlers who went on to become All-Americans and state champions.
“Before Paul (the oldest of the six Paddock brothers) and I were on the varsity there was a pretty good heavyweight named Dave Leitton,” Ian Paddock said. “He would go and work with him everyday.”
Ian Paddock, who won 267 high school matches at Warsaw and was a national champion, remembers being introduced to wrestling at an early age. The sport had a grip on him, as he willingly and routinely wrestled in two age divisions at two youth tournaments on weekends.
“He would support us anyway that he could,” Ian Paddock said. “You are talking about driving to different tournaments every Saturday and Sunday, entry fees and hotel rooms.
“The more we put into it, the more he was going to put into it.”
Team X began as informal practices on Sundays at the Paddock family home. The original group of 10 would travel to tournaments, and the club became a magnet for some of the best wrestlers in the state.
“Anyone who wanted to work could come,” Ian Paddock said. “We had people fly in right before states to work out. My dad never charged anyone, and he paid people to come to do clinics.”
Avon athletic director and wrestling coach Andy Englert said that not many people know that Brad Paddock went to Russia to study the sport of wrestling.
He’s a hero and the world needs more of them. Hopefully, his story will inspire more people to step up.
Robert Hirsch
“He established that in his kids, to aim high,” Englert said. “That’s why they’ve reached levels that they have.”
The Livingston County News reported that 50 Team X wrestlers earned top-six finishes at the high school state championships, including 20 champions, and 30 earned All-America honors.
“Look at what his sons accomplished in the sport,” Section V wrestling executive committee member Frank Marotta said. “One went to Edinboro (Paul). One went to Ohio State (Ian) and one is at Iowa (Burke).”
It is Brad Paddock’s willingness to also aid wrestlers not named Paddock, sometimes by opening his wallet or finding his checkbook, why dozens of people have and will make their way to the Paddock home or reach out to the family.
“He’s a hero and the world needs more of them,” Hirsch said. “Hopefully, his story will inspire more people to step up.”
172 Lb division – Jack Freischlag of Wayne defeated Justin Harter of Greece at Spencerport High School.
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120 Lb division – Top, Rush-Henrietta’s Austin Kassel defeated Nick Yankloski of Wayne at Spencerport High School.
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182 Lb division – Top, all American Kevin Parker of Shenendehowa defeated Mike Daskavitz of Lockport at Spencerport High School.
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285 Lb division – Cameron Rohr of Irondequoit defeated Mason Mastrangelo of Lancaster at Spencerport High School.
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99 Lb division – Top, Aiden Rabideau of Clarence defeated Mike Lopresti of Spencerport at Spencerport High School.
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113 Lb division – Matthew Caccamise of Wayne defeated Tyler Mitchell of Spencerport at Spencerport High School.
When former Spencerport wrestling coach Bill Jacoutot invited Rush-Henrietta to the Teike-Bernabi Wrestling Tournament years ago, the Royal Comets were less than world-beaters, not exactly contenders to win the event.
“He told me if you want to get better, you have to have competition,” R-H wrestling coach Mickey Marlowe said.
“You have to come here (these days), there are teams from all over the state.”
More than 20 years later, the Royal Comets are history-makers.
Rush-Henrietta finished on top of the Teike-Bernabi tournament team standings for the first time Wednesday night with 329 points in the 50th edition of the event, 10.5 more than three-time defending champion Shenendehowa, a power from Section II or Albany-region.
“It’s definitely an honor to be a part of the 50 teams (that have won,” R-H 195-pound wrestler Jesse Trout said. “I don’t think that we’ve won this tournament before. To be able to say that I was part of the team to do it, that is pretty big.
“It’s a very prestigious tournament. To be able to say that your team won the Spencerport Teike-Bernabi Tournament, that’s a pretty big deal around here.”
Rush-Henrietta’s Austin Kassel at 120 pounds,152-pounder Justin Klein and Trout won their weight classes. Klein’s 4-2 victory over Tristan Almeter of Iroquois in Section VI or Buffalo-region, made him a three-time champion at this tournament.
“I’m really happy and proud of my team,” Klein said. “Last year, we lost a lot of guys (to graduation), so I don’t think we expected to prove that we are good.
“I wasn’t going to get my hopes up, because Shenendehowa is a good team. So is Spencerport. We led in Day 1 and we were still doing well (Wednesday). It was back and forth between us and Shenendehowa.”
Spencerport placed third, after Kyle Pittman defeated Shenendehowa’s Anthony DiNallo, 5-4 in the 160 final. The 182 final was not as competitive. National High School Coaches Association and Flowrestling All-American Kevin Parker of Shenendehowa pinned Lockport’s Mike Daskavitz in 3:28. Parker pinned five opponents in a total of 4:59.
Irondequoit 285-pound senior Cameron Rohr, who finished third last year during his debut at the state championships, was named one of the tournament’s most outstanding wrestlers. Rohr put a end to his weight division’s final when he pinned Lancaster’s Mason Mastrangelo in 54 seconds.
A two-time Democrat and Chronicle All-Greater Rochester Football lineman, Rohr won the Monroe County league championship last week, after finishing second the previous two years. He is 17-0 this season.
“‘I’ve wrestled since the second grade,” Rohr said. “I wrestle good kids all of the time.”
In other words, Rohr was nowhere near rattled while in the spotlight.
The Royal Comets handled themselves well, too.
“I’ve been coming here probably longer than anyone in this building,” Marlowe said. “We’ve been around awhile, coming to this thing for a long time. You know, we’ve had years where we were happy to get a top-five.
“I was kind of surprised. They just wrestled really hard. Three seniors showed up in the finals and locked it up. That was a good feeling.”
Sean Riley, a senior with the Pittsford boys swimming team, set a Monroe County league diving record with his score Tuesday night.
Riley had a score of 379.20 after his six dives at Pittsford Mendon during a dual meet versus Hilton, the highest in the state so far. Webster’s Marc Carlton set the old league record at 363.05 in 2000, and went on to win the state title. Riley’s score also is a pool record at Mendon.
Riley was a National Interscholastic Swimming Coaches Association All-American after the 2014-15 season. During the most recent college commitment period in November, he signed a letter of intent to attend and dive at the University of Louisville.
Riley, a co-captain at Pittsford this season, finished seventh in last year’s 11-dive event during the state championships. He qualified for this year’s state meet Dec. 19 at the Shenendehowa Invitational, where he finished in first place, and he set a pool record at Canandaigua earlier this season.
JAMESJ@Gannett.com
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Pittsford’s Sean Riley, shown here at Brockport, set Monroe County league and a Mendon pool record Jan. 5.
Bishop Kearney’s Todd LaRocca,(12), throwing to Justin Davis during the Class D state semifinals at Cicero-North Syracuse, also ran for nine touchdowns this past season,
Footballs fly around now more than ever at high school football games, and that means a quarterback’s arm is in on a lot of plays.
Bishop Kearney had one of the best quarterbacks in the state, according to the New York State Sportswriters Association.
A total of 14 players from Class B, C and D schools in Section V were designated first-team offense or defense, including Todd LaRocca, a senior at Bishop Kearney.
LaRocca, listed at 6-3 and 190 pounds, threw for 2,448 yards with 30 touchdowns as Bishop Kearney advanced to the state semifinals. The Kings, with coach Eddie Long, won the team’s first Section V championship since 1989. LaRocca, Most Valuable Player of the sectional final, is one of seven Class D first-team all-state selections in Section V.
Bishop Kearney running back Dahmir Ross, a junior, Red Jacket senior running back Sean Sheets and Caledonia-Mumford senior placekicker Josh Rides are on the Class D first-team offense with LaRocca. Clyde-Savannah’s Jarrod Faniel and Avon’s Josh Lutz, seniors who excelled at linebacker positions, are first-team selections with Avon defensive back Zack Loomis, who scored seven touchdowns in a game during the 2015 regular season.
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Batavia senior linebacker Dominick Mogavero (40) was named first-team all-state for the second consecutive season.
Batavia senior linebacker Dominick Mogavero, for the second consecutive year, and Livonia senior offensive lineman Kirk Kornbau were named first-team all-state in Class B. Mogavero, also Batavia’s leading ballcarrier with 15 touchdowns and 1,127 yards, swooped in to make 125 tackles with five sacks, while Batavia repeated as Section V champions.
A pair of East Rochester/Gananda teammates are on the Class C first-team offense and three members of the state semifinalist Bath Rams are on the first-team defense. Cameron Cleveland ran for 2,095 yards and 26 touchdowns during East Rochester/Gananda’s drive to the sectional final, while senior offensive lineman Hayden Ricci helped make room.
Patrick Brewer and Michael Rice, included on the all-state team as defensive backs, helped Bath to its best season since 2000, along with senior defensive lineman Jacob Cupp, a senior listed at 5 foot-10 inches and 250 pounds.
JAMESJ@Gannett.com
New York State Sportswriters Association
Section V All-state Football players
Class B, C, and D
Class B first team: OL Kirk Kornbau (Livonia) senior; LB Dominick Mogavero (Batavia) senior; Second: QB Greg Mruczek (Batavia) senior; LB Tyler Crouch (Hornell) senior; Third: QB Tanner Irwin (Penn Yan) senior, LB Nick Kallio (Livonia) senior; LB Ethan Perham (Livonia) senior.
Class B Player of the Year: QB/DEJake Schaffner, Cazenovia-III, senior.
Class C first team: RB Cameron Cleveland (East Rochester/Gananda) junior; OL Hayden Ricci (East Rochester/Gananda) senior; DL Jacob Cupp (Bath) senior; DB Patrick Brewer (Bath) senior; DB Michael Rice (Bath) senior); Second: OE Jake Taggert (Bath) junior; OL Matt Machuga (Bath) senior; DL Alex Brothers (East Rochester/Gananda) senior. Third: DL Shawn Morris (Lyons/Sodus) senior.
Class C Player of the Year: QB/LBTony Silvanic, (Chenango Forks-IV) senior.
Class D first team: QB Todd LaRocca (Bishop Kearney) senior; RB Dahmir Pross (Bishop Kearney) junior; RB Sean Sheets (Red Jacket) senior; PK Josh Roides (Caledonia-Mumford) senior; LB Jarrod Faniel (Clyde-Savannah) senior; LB Josh Lutz (Avon) senior; DB Zack Loomis (Avon) senior. Second: OE Justin Davis (Bishop Kearney) senior; LB Josh Jackson (Bishop Kearney) senior; DB Devin Jensen (Dundee) senior.
Class D Player of the Year: RB/DBJesse Manuel (Tioga-IV) senior.
Honeoye Falls-Lima’s Tommy Eastman shown here against Irondequoit, scored 49 points in a game that went into overtime earlier this season.
Name: Tommy Eastman.
School: Honeoye Falls-Lima
Class/age: Senior/17.
Sport/position: Basketball/guard.
Family: Parents, Kathy and Mike; brother Sean Terrill, 23; brother, Jack, 16.
Academic average: 96.
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Honeoye Falls-Lima basketball guard/forward Tommy Eastman
Last week: Already known as one of the most versatile scorers in the Monroe County league before the season, the fourth-year varsity member averaged 29.7 points over a four-game span. He finished with a school-record 49 points during an overtime win at HF-L against Monroe.
The Cougars (6-3) were on a four-game winning streak before falling 55-48 to Irondequoit Wednesday. Eastman’s 26 points included five 3-pointers. His season average is 25.
About me: Joined the HF-L varsity as a freshman. … 6 foot-3 inches, 190 pounds. … He plans to study physics and play at a Division II or III college. “I’m still making that decision, as to where.” … Also played soccer and ran with the cross country team at HF-L … “I’ll be an assistant coach for the Unified Basketball team (at HF-L). I actually did that last year. It was a lot of fun. I’ve always been really into basketball and like helping others know about it.” .. His favorite players are Indiana Pacers forward Paul George and Larry Bird. … Member of HF-L’s Student Against Destructive Decisions group and National Honor Society. … “I hunt and fish. This year, I shot a really nice eight-point buck (with a bow and arrow).
Family: Parents, Martina and Alan; brother, Mike Walker, 30; sister, Jenna Walker, 27; sister, Bethany, 24; brother, Max, 21.
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Brighton basketball guard Brooke Wolff
Academics: 3.5 GPA.
Last week: Three-sport standout averages 19.3 points a game, the top scoring average for the Brighton Barons. She scored a personal-best 36 points against Wilson and then 22 in a matchup against Webster Schroeder. Wolff’s 23 points Tuesday helped Brighton top Pittsford Mendon, 50-46.
About me: Played varsity softball since the eighth-grade. She is a shortstop who was named to the 2015 Democrat and Chronicle All-Greater Rochester Team and plans to play at Geneseo. “I’m thinking about education as a major.” … She wrapped up four varsity soccer seasons as a defender last fall. … Spent two years with the Western New York Lakers AAU basketball team. … Member of Brighton’s DECA business-related club. “I’m a morning show anchor (on the school’s television circuit). We do announcements.” … “I’m an aunt. (Maddy, eight months) is cute. I’ll feed her. I’ve changed her, but I try to stay away from that.” … New Year’s resolution: “For basketball, I’d like to get to a sectional final and win. “
