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Batavia HS

Mr. Batavia presents check to Crossroads House

By Howard B. Owens

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Joe Marchese, on the right, winner of Mr. Batavia 2018, presented a $2,200 check yesterday to Crossroads House, his chosen charity for the annual fundraiser at Batavia High School. Accepting the check are Jeff Allen, director of the Crossroads House, and Peg Patterson-Case, director of development.

Photo submitted by Lisa Robinson.

Photos: Batavia softball program Bat-a-thon

By Steve Ognibene

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On Saturday March 24th the Batavia girls softball program held a Bat-a-thon called "Strike Out Cancer." The event raised more than $3,000 by all three teams in the program, from Modified-JV-Varsity.

The players did a tremendous job getting sponsors and each player was given the opportunity to hit 20 pitches in the batting cage.

For each ball hit, the girls raised money for the softball program and Genesee Cancer Assistance (GCA). GCA Board Member Nickie Fazio was on hand for the event.

"The girls did a great job with this wonderful event and I couldn't be more proud of them," Nickie Fazio said. "It is so nice to be able to contribute to our community."

"Thank you to everyone for their generous support," said Coach Jim Fazio.

Photos and story submitted by BHS softball team.

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Mr. Batavia at BHS tonight nearly sold out

By Howard B. Owens

There are only 150 tickets left for Mr. Batavia at Batavia High School tonight.

Tickets can be purchased at the school, located at 260 State St. in the City of Batavia.

Doors open at 6 p.m. for the annual competition of Batavia HS seniors, which helps raise money for local charities. 

Police will provide security support for 'March for Our Lives' at Batavia HS

By Howard B. Owens

Students at Batavia High School will participate in a nationwide high school student protest tomorrow called March for Our Lives in response to mass shootings on school campuses, most notably the murder of 17 students Feb. 14 in Parkland, Fla.

Students will stand outside the school for 17 minutes starting at 10 a.m. in honor of the 17 students killed in Parkland.

The school district is allowing the protest to go forward and has requested Batavia PD station a police officer at the school to ensure the safety of the students, Chief Shawn Heubusch told WBTA this morning.

"We’re there to support the school district in any need that they have," Heubusch said. "They’ve given them (the students) a chance to participate in this national walkout and we support them in any way we can. As far as it being right or wrong, I don’t have an opinion on that. I just want to make sure that the children remain safe."

Senior Sydney Atchinson has taken a leadership role in organizing the local protest and invited local media to cover it.

Joan Elizabeth Seamans, who recently dropped out of the Democratic primary for the NY-27 race, also sent out a press release notifying area media that the protest would be taking place at several WNY high schools and that it will be coupled with a voter registration drive, encouraging students who will be 18 by Nov. 6 to register to vote.

“I am very proud of our youth here in WNY and throughout the country who are ready to use their voices to fight for change. They have demonstrated a fierceness we haven’t seen in decades" said Seamans, founder of YVYV NY (Your Voice Your Vote NY). "It will be interesting to see how this new and energized voting block uses their passion to influence legislation."

Seamans said the event has been organized by Women's March Youth EMPOWER, an affiliate of the Women’s March.

Heubusch also discussed the issue of school resource officers in Batavia City Schools.

The discussions, he said, have been ongoing for many years, not just since the Feb. 14 shooting.

"We certainly hope we will eventually be able to supply a school resource officer to the district," Heubusch said. "Currently we are prevented from doing that by some fiscal limitations for not only the city but as well as the school district. Part of that ongoing discussion is to develop ways to be able to pay for these positions if they do come to fruition.

"We support the idea of having a school resource officer in our district, if not more than one. It’s just a matter of getting down to the brass tacks of paying for that position and funding it long term."

Who will be the next Mr. Batavia? Find out March 23rd

By Steve Ognibene

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Batavia High School's sixth annual Mr. Batavia contest is Friday, March 23rd, at 7 p.m. in the school auditorium. Contestants have been in rehearsals for weeks for the annual event.

Here are this year's contestants and their charities of choice: 

  • Nicholas Neid – Salvation Army
  • Chase Monachino – Catholic Charities
  • Brandon Buck – Batavia VA
  • Valentino Zinni – Volunteers for Animals
  • Jon Liciaga – Anna’s Wish
  • Cameron Hardy – Genesee Cancer Assistance
  • Nate Loria – Habitat for Humanity
  • John Kindig – Alzheimer’s Association of WNY
  • Julio Vazquez – Michael Napoleon Foundation
  • Joe Marchese – Crossroads House
  • Evan Bellavia – Lifetime Care, Home Healthcare and Hospice
  • Anand Patel -- Golisano's Children's Hospital 

Previous winners are: Jon Currier (2017), Ross Chua (2016), Jordan Fluker (2015), Spencer Hubbard (2014), Lee Johnson (2013).

A total of $4,646 was raised last year and split among the top three winners.
 
"Every year we have raised more and we hope to surpass this amount again," said advisor Lisa Robinson.
 
Categories are group dance, talent, swim walk, lip sync, tux walk and question to answer and local Batavia members from the community will be judges.
 
Sponsors: Charles Men Shop, Reed Eye; shirts in the picture from Extreme Streetwear. Hosts: Paige Wasilewski, Lauren Leone and Michal (Mikey) Lullo.
 
Tickets are available starting next Monday, March 19th: $7 for adults and $5 for students at Batavia High School; also available during school lunches and at the door the day of the event. Get your tickets early as they sold out last year.

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BHS musical production - Into The Woods

By Steve Ognibene

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Interview with BHS Drama Director Caryn Wood.

"Into the Woods" is a musical comedy written by Stephen Sondheim, (from Wikipedia). This show takes many well-known Grimm Brothers fairy tales and combines them in an interwoven masterpiece.

The blissful serenity quickly unravels however, as the result of a giant run amok in the kingdom. Sondheim is known for his difficult yet emotionally charged music and lyrics; the cast has worked tremendously hard to bring this challenging story to life.

There are 50+ students in the cast, crew, and orchestra combined with 30+ adult directors and staff and volunteers.

Auditions were held back in November. Casting is always a difficult process because we want to make sure you have considered all of the options. People think you can just choose the person who sings the best, but in reality, you have to take many things into consideration when casting a high school production.

You not only have to consider how well a certain individual will handle the difficult music, but also what their characterization abilities are, and how will that person plays off another person. Casting a show is like writing a composition, it's a process that Musical Director Dan Grillo and I take very seriously.

One of the best things about "Into the Woods" and also a big reason why we chose this show has to do with it being an ensemble cast. There aren’t one or two specific leads, but rather a group of people whom the audience follows as the story unfolds.

These characters include The Baker and his wife, played by senior Evan Bellavia and junior Eryn Dunn; you see their relationship on display and their need to undo a curse put on them by a witch -- a key role played by senior Madison Hoerbelt. Others include Cinderella, played by senior Madeline Keenan; Jack, played by junior Sam Rigerman; Jack's Mothe,r played by senior Parise Ricks; and Little Red Riding Hood, played by freshman Kathryn Fitzpatrick.

There are many other recognizable characters as well including Rapunzel, the Wicked Stepmother and Cinderella's stepsisters. We've also added Grimm fairytale characters like the Three Little Pigs, Rumpelstiltskin, the Princess and the Frog, Hansel and Gretel.

Overall, the cast really embraced this show and dug right in working on the difficult music when we started rehearsals back in December. There are great themes woven throughout the show also; sometimes what you wish for the most, doesn't turn out as planned; the love of family and despite their faults, and many others.

One of my favorite moments is when the Baker's Wife realizes that her humble marriage to the Baker is more important than all her fantasies during the song "Moments in the Woods."

With all of the characters there is more to them than meets the eye. A line from the show about this says, "witches can be right, giants can be good."

Watching all of the characters evolve through the plot turns and twists may not be portend the traditional "storybook" happily-ever-after ending you might expect. Yet, in the end everything is tidied up.

Two shows remain this weekend: tonight at 7:30 p.m. and tomorrow at 2 p.m.  Tickets can be purchased at the door or Roxy’s Music Store in Batavia.

To view or purchase photos click here.

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Batavia loses a close game in final minutes to HFL 45-40

By Steve Ognibene

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A tightly matched game #6 seed Batavia Lady Devils came out playing with heart and soul to the end versus #3 seed Honeoye Falls Lima last evening at Penfield High School. 

Batavia came out flat down by five points but Freshman Kenzie Reigle helped drive them to a 9-9 after the first quarter.

Second quarter Batavia went up on top leading by as much as four points 17-13 but HFL came to tie it before junior Jenae Colkey sunk a two-pointer to give Batavia a lead at the half 19-17.

Batavia came out of the locker increasing the lead by five points 23-18 but Freshman Hannah Selke hit four three-pointers in the quarter to help HFL carry a big lead 30-25 going into the fourth.

Batavia and HFL both exchanged fouls, lead changes and tied the game 36-36 until under two minutes left where Batavia came up short losing 45-40. 

HFL will play #1 seed Aquinas Friday at Blue Cross Arena in Rochester.

To view or purchase photos click here.

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Scoreless 2nd quarter for Blue Devils foreshadows upset loss to HFL

By Howard B. Owens

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The #3 seed in Class A2, the Batavia Blue Devils, was up Saturday in a Section V playoff game played in Batavia, by the #6 seed, Honeoye Falls-Lima, 48-41.

While Batavia jumped out to a 17-7 first quarter lead, behind the hot hand of Tee Sean Ayala, who scored 13 of his 20 points in the first eight minutes, HFL seemed to have figured out how to slow Ayala down. HFL held Ayala to seven points the rest of the way.

Worse, the Blue Devils didn't score at all in the second quarter and were held to 10 points in the fourth quarter -- a quarter in which HFL seemed to find it impossible to miss a shot, scoring 17 points.

Naz Pratt scored nine points for the Blue Devils and Antwan Odom scored six.

Top scorer for HFL was Garret Ruff with 13.

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Investigators looking into allegations that student made threats of violence at BOCES

By Howard B. Owens

A BOCES student is suspected of making threats of violence at the Batavia campus and he is currently undergoing a mental health evaluation in Buffalo.

The name of the student is not being released and he has not been charged, though Chief Deputy Jerome Brewster said that if there is sufficient evidence for charges against the youth, he will be charged.

Brewster said local law enforcement takes these kinds of threats seriously and will act on them when they come to the attention of local officials.

"We're still trying to pin down what he said and to whom," Brewster said. "If anyone is going to make such threats about something they're going to do at a school, they are going to get arrested."

Superintendent Chris Daily confirmed he was made aware of the threats and notified local law enforcement.

"We look into any kind of threat and work with local law enforcement to make sure it is not credible, and if it is we act accordingly," Daily said. "We take any threat very seriously. The safety of our students is of utmost importance."

It's unclear if the student made verbal threats or if he had written anything down. Brewster said investigators are still looking into it. 

Daily said he was only aware of statements the student reportedly made at BOCES.

Brewster characterized the threats, based on information available so far, as vague threats to hurt students with no reference as to how he would do it.

The youth is somebody with prior criminal charges.

Batavia PD was notified of the alleged threats and has offered to assist in the investigation, Chief Shawn Heubusch said.

It's important, Brewster said, for parents, teachers, fellow students, and others who come in contact with somebody making threats against schools to notify authorities.

"Unfortunately, we live in a day and age when the rule is, if you see something, say something," Brewster said. "Police can't act on anything if they don't know about it."

Photos: Batavia Cheer Squad takes second place in competition

By Steve Ognibene

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Eastridge High School held its annual "Battle on the Ridge" cheer competition this past Saturday in Rochester. The Batavia Varsity squad finished second place in its division. 

Judges score on difficulty and execution in the following catagories: Jumps, pyramid, stunts, tumbling and cheer.

This Saturday Rochester Institute of Technology hosts the Section V competition. 

For more photos to view or purchase click here.

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Batavia Track wins back to back sectional titles

By Steve Ognibene

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Batavia High School Indoor Track Team won the boys and girls Section V -- Class C Titles last night at Rochester Institute of Technology, Rochester.

This makes 31 sectional titles for the batavia track team and back-to-back indoor titles in the last two years.

Seniors Anthony Ray won both shot put and weight throw. Eric Davis won the 55 hurdles, Kiaya Franklin won the 300 and took third in the 600m. Kaitlin Ange took third in weight throw.

Juniors Emily Caccamise won the 1500m race walk, Briana Bromley won the 3000meters. Evan Bartz came in third in weight throw. Elizabeth Cohen took second in the pole vault and third in the 55 hurdles. Jalesa Smith took third in the long jump.

For more results click here: http://live.yentiming.com/#/results/meet/364

Photos submitted by Donna Tourville-Kabel.

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Mark Your Calendar: BHS Production Club to perform musical fairytale 'Into the Woods' March 2-4

By Billie Owens

Information from Music Theatre International and Batavia High School:

"Into the Woods" is an epic fairytale about wishes, family and the choices we make. It will be performed by the Batavia High School Production Club next month.

Book author James Lapine and Stephen Sondheim, who wrote the music and lyrics, take favorite storybook characters created by The Brothers Grimm and bring them together for a timeless, yet relevant, piece...and a rare modern classic. The Tony Award-winning book and score are both enchanting and touching.

The story follows a Baker and his wife, who wish to have a child; Cinderella, who wishes to attend the King's Festival; and Jack, who wishes his cow would give milk. When the Baker and his wife learn that they cannot have a child because of a Witch's curse, the two set off on a journey to break the curse. Everyone's wish is granted, but the consequences of their actions return to haunt them later with disastrous results.

One of Sondheim's most popular works, "Into the Woods" is a musically sophisticated show with the opportunity to feature actors adept at dark comedy. Designers will especially enjoy highlighting the fantastical elements of this magical word.

The production was originally directed on Broadway by author Lapine and Jonathan Tunick created the orchestrations.

The BHS performances are 7:30 p.m. Friday, March 2 and Saturday, March 3, with a matinee performance at 2 p.m. on Sunday, March 4.

Tickets at the door are $10 for adults; $8 for students and seniors. Presale tickets are $8 for adults and $6 students and seniors. They are available at the high school's main office, 260 State St. in the City of Batavia.

Photos: Boys Basketball - Batavia 51, Greece Odyssey 48

By Steve Ognibene

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Steven Gilebarto (pictured above) led the Blue Devils in the second half with 16 points to help his team win 51-48 over Greece Odyssey in their final regular season game last night at Batavia High School.

Senior point guard Naziyhar Pratt had five rebounds and three assists. Junior Antwan Odom had 13 points and 10 rebounds.

Odyssey's DJ Billings and Jaden Hartsford both tallied 13 points on the night.

Batavia gets a first-round bye in the Section V Tournament and will play Saturday, Feb. 24th, time T.B.A. at home versus the winner of Honeoye Falls Lima and Vertus game.

For more photos, click here.

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Blue Devils get 73-55 win over C-SAT

By Howard B. Owens

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Mason McFollins and Antwan Odom scored 19 points each to lead Batavia High School to a 73-55 victory at home Wednesday night over Charter School for Applied Technologies, a Section VI team.

Steve Gilebarto scored 16 points and Jonathan Liciaga scored 11.

McFollins hit five three-point shots.

For C-SAT, Jayden Galleage scored 24 points.

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Batavia HS Alpin Ski results for Tuesday

By Howard B. Owens

From Coach Matt Holman:

Alpine Ski Results for Tuesday, January 23rd, 2018 at Swain Resort:

Deep ruts and warm temperatures dominated conversation of athletes and spectators as the Southern Tier Race League completed a two-run slalom race on Wheels Run. Despite the conditions, it was a much faster-paced race completed in just 1 hour and 40 minutes.
 
Top finishers for the Batavia Boys were Brandon Bradley (15th), Alec Wagner (18th) and Matt Grover (25th).
 
The girls also had top 20 finishers in Aubrey Towner (18th) and Lily Whiting (19th).
 
The next race is Thursday, January 25th at Swain.

Alpine Ski results for Tuesday

By Howard B. Owens

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Photo and info from Coach Matt Holman. Photo: Aubrey Towner.

Alpine Ski Results for Tuesday at Swain Resort:

There was snow falling all night for a two-run Giant Slalom Race at Swain Resort on Tuesday night. (The resort is also located in Swain, a hamlet in Livingston County.) The loose soft powder pushed together to form big ruts as the hard base was exposed just inside the race line.

The Boys Batavia Alpine Ski Team finished fifth out of eight teams in the Southern Tier Race League. Top finishers included Brandon Bradley (15th), Alec Wagner (24th), Zack Wagner (28th), Matt Grover (31st) and Ryan Bowen (36th).

The Girls team competed individually (no team time), the top finisher was Aubrey Towner (21st).

The next race will be a slalom race Thursday.

Batavia Alpin Sky Team results for Swain Resort meet

By Howard B. Owens

Submitted by coach Matt Holman:

Alpine Ski Results for Wednesday, January 10, 2018, at Swain Resort.

It was a warm night for ski racing at Swain on Wednesday, the snow was soft but the course did hold up as the field of 96 racers completed a two-run Slalom Race on Wheels Run.

The Boys Batavia Alpine Ski Team finished 4th out of 8 teams in the Southern Tier Race League.  Top finishers included Alec Wagner (13th), Zack Wagner (23rd), Jack Keenan (27th) and Ryan Bowen (28th).  

The Girls Team competed individually (no team time), the top finishers were Aubrey Towner (16th) and Lily Whiting (17th).

The Boys team returns to full strength on Saturday, January 13th at Swain. When we release the hounds on a double race (both GS and Slalom).

Fighting Irish shut out Batavia in crosstown hockey match

By James Burns

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Batavia High School Ice Blue Devils played Notre Dame Fighting Irish in a crosstown game tonight.

A packed arena was there to witness Notre Dame's total domination of Batavia HS. Notre Dame scored in the first few minutes of the first period and continued scoring until the end of regulation.

Batavia HS had a few shots on goal and at the end of the first period was able to control the puck for a few minutes. Outside of that, they did not offer much resistance to Notre Dame.

Final score, Blue Devils 0 Fighting Irish 10.

After the game players form both teams posed for pictures together for their parents. Hockey aside, the players from both teams are all friends and neighbors. 

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Notre Dame and Cal-Mum set to play for Rotary championship tonight at GCC

By Howard B. Owens

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It will be Notre Dame and Cal-Mum facing off tonight in the championship match of the Batavia Rotary Club Girls Basketball Tournament.

After Batavia delivered an uninspired performance leading to a loss to the Red Raiders 43-40, the Lady Blue Devils will face Attica in the consolation game at 6 p.m.

NOTE: the games have been moved from Friday night to tonight because of the anticipated cold snap tomorrow.

The Lady Raiders will face a motivated Lady Irish team that had two of the squad's top players both in sync Wednesday night, with Callie McCulley scoring 22 points and Margaret Sutherland scoring 16 to help lead a dominating 64-42 win over Attica. Natalie Thornton added 13 points.

Attica was led by Taylor Gadd with 13 points and Kacey Pearce with 10.

Top scorer Wednesday night was Cal-Mum's Elyse Van Auken, who scored 24 points. Makenzie Wilson scored eight points.

For Batavia, Ryann Stefaniak scored 13 points, Bryn Wormley, eight, and Kenzie Reigle, seven.

Two Batavia players missed the game due to illness.

A newcomer to watch with Batavia is 5' 11" sophomore Emma Krolczyk, who scored six points. 

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To purchase prints of pictures, click here.

Batavia beats Notre Dame to take 2017 tournament title

By Howard B. Owens

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In what may be the last regular season meeting between Batavia and Notre Dame in boys basketball, the Blue Devils came out on top 68-45 to win The Peter Arras Memorial Basketball Tournament.

The tournament has commonly been known as the Lions Tournament, but the Lions Club of Batavia renamed it this year in memory of Pete Arras, a longtime Lions Club member and founder of the tournament.

The tournament is usually the one meeting each year between Batavia and Notre Dame, but next year, the tournament format will change to include eight teams, four each in Class A and B, and four teams in Class C and D, which is why Batavia and Notre Dame aren't likely to play each other again.

Last night, Mason McFollins scored 17 points, hitting five three-point shots. He was named tournament MVP. Steve Gilebarto and Antwan Odom scored 14 apiece.

For Notre Dame, Ryan Moffet scored 11 points and Keith Szczepanski scored eight.

Besides McFollins, the all-tournament team was Liam Ward, Albion, Colin O'Hallohan, Elba, Antwan Odem and Steve Gilebarto, Batavia, and Ryan Moffet, Notre Dame.

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A new feature of the tournament is a banner acknowledging all of the teams. The winning team signs the banner and will be able to display it in the school. Above, Nancy Arras, wife of Pete, signs the banner.

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To purchase prints, click here.

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