The message came through clearly at the end of a DWI drill staged for Oakfield-Alabama seniors on Friday -- nobody wants to be at a scene like this one -- one where a drunken driver has been involved in an accident, taking the life of a young person.
Firefighter Chad Hilchey said they affect everybody. He's come home crying from responding to fatal accidents.
O-A Superintendent John Fisgus told the seniors on the morning of their prom night that he wants them to have fun at their prom but he also wants them to make it home safely. He said all of the people involved in the drill -- Oakfield Fire, Alabama Fire, Mercy Flight, the Sheriff's Office, and the coroner -- were there because they cared about the students. Fisgus called them his family and said while he wanted them to have fun tonight, it was a night he didn't look forward to. None of the teachers and administrators do. It's a night they know they won't sleep, worried about getting a call they don't want to get.
Caitlin Ryan tossed a complete-game shutout over Lyrons for Oakfield-Alabama on Monday, leading the Hornets to an 11-0 win in the Class C1 softball quarterfinal.
Ryan surrendered four hits, and K'd 10 batters. She was also 2-3 at the plate with a double, a home run and two RBIs.
Emma Moeller was 2-2 with a double and three RBIs
Sade Bush, 2-4 with an RBI
Jess Sosnowski, 2-3 with a triple and an RBI
Piper Hyde, 2-4
Kara Tobolski, Allie Williams, Raine Denny, Rylee Denny, Ayva Matla, Cara Williams and Allison Harkness all had hits
"I'm really proud of how my team battled against a good Lyons team today," said Coach Jeff Schlagenhauf. "We hit the ball well and put a ton of balls in play. We hit up and down the lineup today which is always a good sign this time of year. "
Next up in the semifinals for #4 seed O-A is #1 seed Bloomfield on Thursday. Time and location are TBA.
Submitted photo of (from left to right) Top row: Daniel Hoffman, Phinehas Kelley, Annora Karcher, Annie Erion, Anna Kent, Keira Sidari, Tori Davis, Rose Reisdorf, Addison Winters, Caleb Henning Middle row: Josh Pritchett, Damon Reich, Wyatt Fisher, Robert Hoffman, McKenzie Dosh, Macey D’Amico, Sarah Pritchett, Liliana Bellamy, Rowan Kelley Bottom row: Nevada Newton, Sebastian Countermine, Lockerbie Newton, Connor Dervin, Anna Pritchett, Nina Kent, Reilly Davis
Press Release:
The GLOW YMCA Riptide Swim Team out of Batavia had a very successful regular season. 26 members met the age group qualification standards for the NYS YMCA State Swimming Championship.
The meet will be held from March 15 - 17 at the Nassau Aquatic Center on Long Island. The ages of the swimmers range from 7 to 17 and attend local school districts including Batavia, Byron-Bergen, Le Roy, Oakfield-Alabama, St. Joseph’s School, and Pembroke.
The team will compete in 58 individual events and 10 relays. The team is coached by Jen Pritchett, Andrew Fisher, and Emily Hirsch.
Caitlin Ryan going to the hoop, Ryan scored 20 points in the Hornets win. Photo by Steve Ognibene
Oakfield-Alabama, coming in as the #3 seed, beat #14 seed Geneseo to open Class C1 sectional play on Tuesday 67-53.
Ryan Caitlin scored 20 points to lead the Hornets. Alea Groff scored 19, and Jess Sosnowski scored nine.
The Hornets jumped to a 22-11 lead in the first quarter and led at the half 38-22. Then Geneseo pulled to within five points in the third quarter but O-A held tight in the final quarter for the win.
Pembroke beat Red Creek, 56-40. Seneca Calderon scored 15 points and had five rebounds. Elle Peterson scored 11 points. Peyton Liss and Reagan Schneider each scored eight points.
Byron-Bergen beat Holley 50-27
Pavilion beat South Seneca 51-47
In Boys Basketball: Batavia lost to Geneva 55-40. Casey Mazur scored 13 points, and Carter Mullen scored nine points.
Braedyn Chambry hit a free throw to set a new Byron-Bergen scoring record. Photo by Jennifer DiQuattro
Byron Bergen's Braedyn Chambry hit a free-throw on Thursday on his way to a 28-point game and 63 to 49 over Oakfield-Alabama to break his school's career scoring record.
Chambry surpassed the previous record of 1,063 points set by Brandon Burke in 2017. Chambry finished the game, with games left in the season to keep building his new record, with 1,078 points.
“Braedyn is old school,” said Varsity Boys Basketball Head Coach Roxanne Noeth. “100% of his buckets come from inside the paint. Nothing flashy, just hard work and persistence around the rim.”
“If someone is going to break Brandon’s record, I’m glad it is Braedyn,” said Joann Burke, mother of Brandon Burke.
For the Bees, Colin Martin added 12 points, and Cody Carlson scored 10.
For O-A, Gavin Armbrewster scored 17, Aedyn Groth, 15, and Jack Cianfrinni, 10.
Photo by Jennifer DiQuattro
Photo by Jennifer DiQuattro
Photo by Jennifer DiQuattro
Senior cheerleader Hanna Loewke gave a solo performance at half-time. Photo by Jennifer DiQuattro
Byron-Bergen seniors Brendan Pimm, Brodie Baubie, Braedyn Chambry, Colin Martin and Carter Prinzi with coach Coach Roxanne Noeth. Photo by Jennifer DiQuattro
Elba trailed Oakfield-Alabama through more than three-quarters of Girls Basketball on Friday, and one point falling behind by 13 points, only to come roaring back in the fourth quarter with 21 points to secure a 44 to 39 win.
Sydney Reilly scored 19 points for the Lancers, and Lydia Ross scored 14. Mariah Ognibene scored seven.
Looking for the rebound. Two Genesee County teams battle it out at Alexander High School. Photo by Steve Ognibene
Oakfield was held scoreless in the fourth quarter on Tuesday night, but was so dominant earlier in the game, including scoring 18 points in the third quarter, that they were able to hold onto a big lead and beat Alexander 39-29 in Girls Basketball.
Caitlin Ryan scored 13 points for the Hornets and Alea Geoff scored eight.
Batavia 54, Franklin 21. Anna Varland scored 16 points. Julia Clark scored eight, and Addy O'Donnell scored eight. Isabella Walsh scored five points and had seven rebounds, six steals, and four blocked shots.
Notre Dame beat Attica, 56-27. Leading the Lady Irish was Sofia Falleti with 17 points, 3 steals and 6 blocks. Emma Sisson recorded a double-double with 15 points, 11 rebounds, and 3 steals. Gianna Falleti contributed 8 points, 3 steals and 5 rebounds.
Pembroke beat Lyndonville 55-46. Reagan Schneider had 18 points and 13 rebounds. Peyton Liss, 13 points. Jayden Hootman, 11 points and seven steals. Morgan Coniber, 10 points and 10 rebounds. Onolee Easterbrook, eight steals.
In Boys Basketball, Le Roy beat Batavia 65-51. Merritt Holly scored 21 points. Jake Higgins, 13 points. Jean Agosto, nine points and 13 rebounds. No stats were provided for Batavia.
Alexander's Dylan Pohl goes up for two of his 16 points in the Trojans' victory over Oakfield-Alabama. Photos by Deb Reilly,
Alexander coasted past Oakfield-Alabama, 52-35, at Genesee Community College tonight and into the finals of the 42nd annual Batavia Lions Club Pete Arras Memorial Basketball Tournament’s Small School bracket.
The Trojans, 5-2, will face Notre Dame at 6:30 p.m. Friday for the championship. ND defeated Elba in the other Small School game.
Junior Dylan Pohl scored seven of his 16 points in the first quarter as Alexander raced out to an 18-2 lead. Senior Trenton Woods tallied eight of his 16 in the second half for the Trojans.
Six other players scored for Coach Jalen Smith's squad, while Avery Watterson led O-A with 16 points.
The Hornets will square off against Elba in the consolation game at 4:45 p.m. Friday.
Photos by Deb Reilly.
Senior guard Trenton Woods looks for a teammate as O-A's Jack Cianfrini' defends. Woods scored 16 points in the victory.
Oakfield-Alabama's Avery Watterson attracts three defenders. Watterson paced the Hornets with 16.
Gavin Armbrewster dribbles past Woods for the Hornets.
The Byron-Bergen Bees, behind a balanced attack, turned back Oakfield-Alabama, 65-48, on Wednesday night in a Genesee Region boys’ basketball contest at O-A.
Six players got into the scoring column in the opening half as the visitors jumped out to a 32-15 advantage.
In the second half, Braedyn Chambry scored 14 of his game-high 20 points to keep B-B comfortably on top.
Brandon Pimm and Colin Martin tallied 11 apiece and Brody Baubie added 10 and Craig DiQuattro six for the winners. For the Hornets, Brendan Wescott and Avery Watterson scored 17 and 13, respectively.
Avery Watterson moving downcourt. Photo by Steve Ognibene
Oakfield lost by two points in closing seconds to Kendall on Friday in a Genesee Regional matchup at the Hornet's Nest, Oakfield.
Kendall stunned the squad opening up the quarter, scoring ten straight to lead 16-11 after the opening quarter.
The Hornets battled back halfway through the second to come within four. Oakfield's Kyler Harkness scored a bucket and got fouled to give momentum and maintain a four-point lead at the half, 29-25.
Both teams exchanged game leads in the third, and then Brent Mancuso scored a buzzer-beater to end the third, 48-45 Hornets.
In the fourth quarter, the lead increased by eight to 58-50, and the Hornets were looking to get away with the game but got into foul trouble. Kendall chipped away with two plays that positioned them with a two-point lead with 18 seconds left in game regulation.
Cara Williams, grade 11, performs "She Used to Be Mine" from Waitress. Photo by Howard Owens.
The Oakfield-Alabama Music Department presented its annual Cabaret night before a packed house in the school's auditorium.
The night's theme was 'Leave your troubles outside, with dozens of students performing solo or in ensembles.
Shane Coast, grade 9, performs Weird Al Yankovic's "I Love Rocky Road," a parody of "I Love Rock and Roll" by Joan Jett. Photo by Howard Owens.
Photo by Howard Owens.
Emily Gould, grade 9, performs "A Million Dreams" from The Greatest Showman. Photo by Howard Owens.
Kaylle Merkel, 9th, Allison Wiliams, 9th, Teagan Falk, 10th, Emily Szplyman, 10th, Jessica Sosnowski, 11th, Cara Williams, 11, and Rachael Wight, 12 (order from the program not necessarily the order on stage), perform "Vienna" by Billy Joel. Photo by Howard Owens.
Amora Mabon, 10th grade, performs "Don't Rain on My Parade" from Funny Girl. Photo by Howard Owens.
Jay Antinore had 240 yards passing for Notre Dame on Saturday to help lead the Fighting Irish to a 20-14 win over Oakfield-Alabama in the Class D Section V quarterfinal.
Antinore completed 11 passes in 15 attempts and connected on TD passes to Jaden Sherwood and Chase Antinore, which was 79 yards in the fourth quarter for the game-winner.
On the ground, Antinore gained 33 yards on 10 carries. He scored one touchdown on the ground.
Chase Antinore had three receptions for 110 yards, and Sherwood had four catches for 73 yards.
On defense, Gabe Castro had 13 tackles, and Scotty McWilliams had 9 1/2.
Senior LB Ashton Bezon - 10 tackles, two forced fumbles, one blocked point-after attempt
Junior WR Jack Cianfrini - 15-Yard Receiving TD
Aggie head coach Tyler Winter said, "With everything this team has had to endure this season, I couldn't be more proud of the way they fought to the very last minute. You could write a book on the adversity they were dealt this fall. They handled themselves with class and integrity amidst it all. The sting of defeat hurts right now, but they will be better young men in the long haul because of it all."
Notre Dame, seeded #5, next faces #1 seed York/Pavilion, time and date to be determined.
Oakfield-Alabama lost Tuesday to Williamson 4-1 in the Class C1 semifinal in Girls Soccer.
The Hornets entered the game as the #3 seed against #2 Williamson.
There is one local team left in the Girls Soccer Sectionals, Byron-Bergen, who will play for the C2 championship on Friday at 7:30 p.m. at Gates-Chili against Keshequa.
The Oakfield Alabama CSD today announced an amendment to its policy for serving meals for children served under the National School Lunch Program and School Breakfast Program for the 2023-2024 school year, which would allow for all children at all schools/sites to be served meals at no charge.
For additional information, please contact the following person:
Mary Della Penna, Food Service Director, Oakfield Alabama Central School District at 7001 Lewiston St. Road Oakfield, calling 585-948-5211 ext. 4234, or by email at MDellapenna@oahornets.org.
Michael and Megan Nixon, parents of Capt. Tyler Austin Nixon, 27, with the flag from his coffin near the end of a funeral service on Saturday at St. Cecilia Cemetery in Oakfield. Photo by Howard Owens.
Capt. Tyler A. Nixon, U.S. Army
Tyler Austin Nixon, 27, a graduate of Oakfield-Alabama High School, was honored with a Mass of Christian Burial at Resurrection Roman Catholic Church on Saturday morning, followed by burial with military honors at St. Cecilia Cemetery in Oakfield.
Nixon, a highly regarded captain in the U.S. Army, died unexpectedly on Sept. 23. He was found unresponsive in his quarters at Joint Base San Antonio, Fort Sam Houston, where he was attending Medical Service Corps training in the Captains Career Course.
His death remains under investigation by the Army, and an Army spokesman said no further information will be released until the investigation is completed.
The Batavian did not seek comment from his parents, Michael and Megan Nixon, but in a military memorial service in San Antonio on Oct. 3, Nixon was praised by a former and his most recent commander as an outstanding human being and an officer who was a credit to the U.S. military.
Col. Thomas Collette, a former commander, spoke of first meeting Nixon when the colonel took command of the 421st Medical Battalion.
"As you can see, Tyler was a big guy with an even bigger smile. He introduced himself brimming with enthusiasm for his new role as the S3 (Operations and Training Officer),” Collette said. "I couldn't have been more pleased to have an officer so deeply committed to this position. Even in our first conversation, it became abundantly clear that Captain Nixon was an officer filled with a passion for operations and unafraid of a challenge.”
In the ensuing months, Collette said, Nixon took on increasingly complex and demanding duties that "pushed him well beyond his prior experiences. These challenges might have overwhelmed the lesser officer, but Tyler remained resolute and dedicated to professional growth and leadership development."
Collette observed Nixon as the officer in charge of the Expert Field Medical Badge competition, which would take place in Europe.
"What stood out most about Tyler in these duties was his thirst for knowledge and self-improvement," Collette said. "He valued and actively incorporated feedback from others, firmly believing he could learn from anyone. This desire to learn and grow forged strong bonds across the battalion."
Collette said Nixon displayed a "relaxed confidence and unwavering positivity" and that he was "the first to bring levity to intense situations."
He said, "We will forever remember him first for his cheerfulness, his quiet, unshakable confidence, his natural gift for uplifting others when they fell down, and his spirit that refused to quit."
Nixon graduated from Canisius College, where he attended the Reserve Officer Training Corp, and was thus commissioned as a second lieutenant upon graduation in 2018. At Canisius, Nixon played rugby, a sport he continued to enjoy while in the Army.
Major Gray (his first name isn't mentioned during the service) remembered Nixon for many of the same traits recalled by Collette.
He said he didn't really get to know Nixon until after they were deployed to Italy.
"During the drive to Vicenza, I learned about Tyler's love for his family, his dogs, motorcycles, lifting weights and rugby," Gray recalled. "We talked about the wonderful traveling opportunities that being stationed in Europe had to offer and how we looked forward to seeing new things and going into new places. While we were there, I learned that Tyler was an incredibly hard worker starting early and finishing late almost every day."
He said Nixon was "good-natured and easygoing" and that he could "connect with anyone."
He also recalled a story that illustrated both Nixon's love of sports and his dedication to seeing the mission through, even if it was a recreational activity.
"He literally gave up an entire weekend to umpire a softball tournament when he was told that they would have to cancel if they didn't get the volunteers they needed," Gray said. "So in the days leading up to that, he studied and learned how to umpire even though I'm pretty sure he had never played softball before, so he could umpire the game. Leading up to that time, he had to learn all the hand gestures and get all the calls down. And while he was umpiring, pretty much everyone was talking about how great he was doing and how he was the best umpire out of all the ones that they had, and that every future tournament that they were doing, they wanted him to come. That really is a testament to who he was as a person."
Besides his parents, who currently reside in San Antonio, Capt. Nixon is survived by his brother Jacob, sister Alison, and niece Coram, along with his grandparents Dale and Elaine Tucker and Michael and Kathy Nixon.
Funeral arrangements were handled by Burdett-Sanford Funeral Home in Oakfield.
The Batavian wishes to thank the Nixon family for providing us the opportunity, the honor and the privilege of covering his memorial service on Saturday.
Besides the photos with this story, you can view 49 more photos in a slideshow by clicking here. And scroll down to the bottom of this post for a video of the Oct. 3 service in San Antonio.
Notre Dame took a five-set match from Oakfield-Alabama in Girls Volleyball on Monday.
The games were scored:
25-18
19-25
25-17
25-27
15-9
Stats for the Irish: Kaitlin Kratz had nine kills, Loretta Sorochty, 26 assists, one kill, one block, three aces and five digs, CJ Campagna, six kills, four blocks, two aces and two digs.
For the Hornets, Jessica Sosnowski. three aces, 10 digs and 17 assists, Cara Williams, two aces, five kills, 19 digs and one assist, Sayde Bush, four aces, fiver kills and 15 digs.
"We've got a young team still trying to find their way," said OAE Head Coach Tyler Winter. "A lot of guys are playing competitive minutes of football, and it's a new experience. The loss hurts, but the goal remains the same. If we can persevere and build upon the positives, our best football is still in front of us."
UPDATE with Notre Dame's stats:
Jay Antinore, 8-12 passing for 80 yards, seven carries for 51 yards and a TD.
George Woodruff, 62 yards rushing on 23 carries, one TD. On defense, he had 8 1/2 tackles.
Gabe Castro scored a TD on three carries for two yards. On defense, he had eight tackles.
Jaden Sherwood had two receptions for 25 yards and a TD.
