By STEVE HARRISON
If the fall high school sports season is any indication of how the rest of the year is going to go, the area is in for an amazing treat of local athletes! Several area teams are making a loud noise in Section V for a title in their respectful sports.
In high school football, many schools are seeing a decrease in the participation. But they are able to adjust and overcome.
Take for instance the Canisteo-Greenwood Redskins. When newly appointed head coach Steve Donlon took over the program a few years ago he had a sideline full of kids. Now, in his third year, they have had numbers drop and have converted the program to 8-Man football. With 8-man, the field is narrowed but at the end of the day it is FOOTBALL. You still play the game with every rule associated with 11-man football.
Did you know that Canisteo-Greenwood is currently the number one team in the state? Yes that little school nestled in the Canisteo Valley is holding their own among some of the larger schools in New York for the top spot.
They recently took on the #2 team in the state the Bolivar-Richburg Wolverines and came away with a 36-6 victory. Canisteo is led by the speedy and straight ahead, roll-you-over running back senior Keegan Foote. Are they an all run team? Not at all. Junior QB Collin Cox continues to grow and understand the offense. His strong arm is shows why he is under center for the Redskins. The Redskins are 7-0 and will travel for their final regular season game against Mynderse Academy this Friday October 21st at 7 p.m.
Lets take a quick look at soccer as both boys and girls begin sectional play this week. It is the greatest time of the fall season: WIN OR GO HOME! On the boys side the Hornell Red Raiders have secured the number 1 seed with a record of 13-1.
Hornell is loaded with talent this year and you can pick anyone on the team, starters or bench players, to talk about. Junior Red Raider Jack Emo became Hornell’s single season scoring leader with 22 goals and 7 assists on the year. This all comes from one of the most dedicated players I have seen in recent years on the turf. If you don’t see the young man on the soccer field you can bet he is in the weight room or training on a patch of grass someplace.
Is Jack the only one scoring? Not at all. Senior Sean Rose has 10 goals and most impressive 14 assists which puts Sean in the top 5 in Section V this year. Everyone knows that goals get you the glory etc., but for Sean it’s all about the “W.” It is a team sport in his eyes and he gains just as much from an assist as a goal.
On the defensive side of the ball you have Wyatt Argentieri. I’m not sure if you can call him a defender as he has the lights out speed. He can handle the ball on the end of his foot with the best of any striker in the league. Recently, I witnessed Wyatt take a ball against one of the strongest teams in B1.
Argentari doesn’t job back to his defensive position after the whistle blows: The young man all out sprints back to his original roster spot, ready for the next action to come his way. Hornell’s next game is Saturday the 22nd against the winner of Geneva and Batavia.
Let’s turn to the girls side of the soccer field. Canisteo-Greenwood is currently 14-2 and the #5 seed in the loaded Class C1 bracket. Canisteo won the Steuben County Championship last week with a win over Addison 2-1 in overtime.
Kylie Williamson is leading the way for C-G with 9 goals and 3 assists on the season. C-G will be facing off at home Wednesday playing host to Bishop Kearney/Chesterton Academy.
Less than 6 miles up the road is home to the Red Raiders of Hornell who have had great success over the past few years as the program continues to reload year after year. Hornell is 13-3 with two of the losses coming from league rival Bath-Haverling. If Hornell, currently the #2 seed, continues the season to the championship game they face Bath coach Mike Wilkinson. You can be sure both teams will have a solid game plan in place.
The Raiders are currently paced by senior Ireland Harrison with 26 goals and 2 assists on the season with missing a few games due to injury. Senior defender Maddy Moore who is the face and voice of that solid back line of defense. Hornell with the #2 seed got a first round bye and will take to the turf on Friday the 21st against the winner of Dansville/Wellsville at 6 p.m.
Do you think the sports stop there? Not a chance. Two area volleyball teams are currently having their greatest success in school history.
Take for instance the Arkport-Canaseraga Wolves are 15-3 on the season and currently ranked #1 in Section V D3 and the top spot in Steuben County respectively.
The Wolves have one more regular season match left hosting Addison this Wednesday oct 19th at 7 p.m. as they look to stay at the number one spot in D3.
Just a little south on State Route 36 you find the Canisteo Greenwood volleyball team who quietly have amassed a 13-2 record on the season and currently the #2 seed in class C2 with 2 games remaining in the regular season. C-G is currently in second place behind Arkport-Canaseraga for the Steuben County top spot.
