During the month of April, 618 WNY students participated in a lively, month-long competition of trading through their participation in the Junior Achievement Virtual Stock Market Challenge. Students represented twenty schools from across WNY and competed to take top prize.

Prior to the JA Stock Market Challenge, JA provides their JA Take Stock in Your Future curriculum to introduce students to basic concepts about how the market works and the impact of current events. The curriculum also includes a series of self-guided extension activities for students to engage in deeper learning about the stock market and investing.

Wells Fargo is the Presenting sponsor of this unique and interactive JA learning experience, with one competition held earlier this school year and another session during this spring semester.

The competition was held online and allowed students to experience the real-life stock market in a simulated environment. Students chose to compete as individuals or as teams. Participants began with a $25,000 starting portfolio and were encouraged to make transactions throughout the month. Leaderboards were dynamic and shared weekly using the hashtag #JAWNYStockMarketChallenge.

At the close of competition, Junior Achievement of Western New York (JAWNY) is pleased to recognize our top three winners. Taking 1st place was Greta Nordwall from Jamestown High School, 2nd place Allison Wormley from Batavia High School, and 3rd place Maddison Dennis from Batavia High School.

Allison Wormley said, “It was a really great experience being able to see what the stock market was like and I loved having the opportunity to be a part of it.”

Maddison Dennis said, “I really enjoyed learning about the stock market and getting the chance to be involved, it really improved my understanding of the market. I definitely did not expect to win!”

Rounding out the Top 5 rankings are:

4th place: Connor Burkestone – Niagara Falls High School

5th place: Anna Baratta- Niagara Falls High School

Participating Schools:

Erie County: Alden High School, Amherst High School, East Aurora High School, Eden High School, Hamburg High School, Kenmore East High School, Pioneer High School, St. Francis High School

Niagara County: Lockport High School, Niagara Falls High School

Genesee County: Alexander High School, Batavia High School, LeRoy High School

Chautauqua County: Cassadaga Valley High School, Falconer High School, Jamestown High School

This program is not possible without support from our partners: Wells Fargo, Presenting Sponsor; additional support from: Delta Air Lines; HSBC Bank USA N.A.; The Lenna Foundation; Bryant & Stratton College; Bank on Buffalo; Tops Friendly Markets; Zgoda & Associates CPAs, PC; Perry’s Ice Cream; PwC; Reid/Crosby’s; Seneca Foods Foundation; Deloitte; Evans Bank; KPMG; Lawley; Linde LLC; Lippes Mathias LLP; National Fuel; Phillips Lytle LLP; SEFCU; West Herr Auto Group; WSF Industries, Inc; Assure Partners Buffalo; Financial Trust Federal Credit Union; Freed Maxick CPA’s; L&M Wealth Management; Lakelet Capital LLC; Northwest Bank; and TriMain Development LLC.

Proceeds from the JA Virtual Stock Market Challenge support Junior Achievement’s financial literacy, entrepreneurship, and career & work-readiness pathway programs for kindergarten-12 grade students. For more information about Junior Achievement programs, visit www.jawny.org.

Submitted game story and photos.

Emily Pietrzykowski was in control on the rubber against Pembroke, leading Alexander to the win allowing just one hit while walking three and striking out nine over seven innings. 

Pietrzykowski also led Alexander at the plate, going 2-4 with a home run, a double and four RBIs.

For Alexander, Madison Boyce went 2-3 with a double and three runs scored. 

Olivia Delelys and Lillian Szymkowiak each knocked a double, and Faith Goodenbury hit a triple with two RBIs for the Trojans.

Pembroke's Reagan Schneider broke up the no-hitter in the bottom of the fourth with a single to center, and Aleena Maynard took the loss pitching while collecting seven strikeouts on the day.

Alexander played solid defense and did not commit an error in the field in support of the shutout. 

Alexander's next game is Friday, when they host Oakfield-Alabama at 5 p.m.

The right-hander also struck out 11 while also surrendering only one walk over 5 innings. 

In her first two starts of the season, Boyce (2-0) has struck out 23 over 12 innings.

Emily Pietrzykowski led Alexander at the plate, going 2-for-3 with a home run, four RBIs, and three runs scored. 

Makenna Boyce also contributed, going 2-for-3 while scoring three runs for Alexander.  Madison Boyce added a double with two stolen bases on the day.

Holley’s Leigha Walker broke up the no-hitter with a bunt single in the first at-bat of the game. 

Alexander heads to Pembroke on Wednesday to take on the dragons at 5 p.m.

Submitted information.

Alexander Gage Wagner, a senior, notched his 100th in and took first place this weekend the Second Annual Robert Bradshaw Memorial Tournament in Canandaigua.

Wagner wrestled in the 152-pound weight class.

Submitted photos and information.

Alexander got one more shot at extending its football season this weekend in a state tournament quarterfinal game against Cambridge-Salem in Broadalbin and, in the cold, wind, and snow, found it tough sledding.

The game was close, but close isn't a win. The Trojans fell short in a 12-7 loss.

Cambridge-Salem is now 12-0 on the season, and Alexander finishes at 9-2.

Their only other loss came in the Class D sectional championship against Oakfield-Alabama/Elba last week.

Normally, a sectional championship loss would end a team's season but with only 11 sections in New York high school athletics, one section each year, on a rotating basis, is able to advance a second-place team to a quarterfinal game.  This year, that section is Section V.

Photos from Sunday's state quarterfinal football game between Cambridge-Salem and Alexander. Cambridge-Salem won, 12-7.

Weather delayed this weekend's Far West Regionals in football.

Tonight, Batavia plays Iroquois at Van Detta Stadium. Game time is 6 p.m.

Oakfield-Alabama/Elba plays Randolf at Brockport. Game time is 6 p.m.

Photos by Greg Brownell/Courtesy the Post-Star.

Top photo: Kaden Lyons​ on the carry.

Trent Woods with the ball.

Trent Woods.

Avon got off to a good start in their Class D Section V semifinal against Alexander on the Trojan's home field, marching 70 yards over nine minutes for a score to open the game.

But then the Trojans took over.

Alexander moved down the field on their first possession and scored on a 9-yard run by Kaden Lyons.

The defense held Avon on the next possession and then offense engineered another long drive capped by a 1-yard dive into the end zone by Ricky Townley.

Only 24 seconds later, the Trojan defense struck as Benny Merrill stripped an Avon receiver of the ball and returned the fumble 35 yards for a touchdown.

Tyler Marino had a pick-six 35 seconds later for a 50-yard return.

In the third quarter, the Braves intercepted a Trenton Woods pass and returned it 42 yards for a score.

In the fourth quarter, Tyler Marino scored on a 5-yard run

Then Townley intercepted an Avon pass. That led to a scoring drive that ended with Townley again scoring from a yard out. 

In the end, it was Alexander 43, Avon 13.

The Trojans had two 100-yard rushers against Avon.  Townley finished with 110 yards on 13 carries and Lyons ended up with 101 yards on 12 carries.  Woods was 3-6 passing for 58 yards.  Mason Bump, Benny Merrill, and Kaden Lyons all had receptions.

On defense, Dylan Pohl had two sacks. Jaden Snyder and Connor Thompson each recorded a sack, as well.  Mason Bump led the defense with eight tackles. Townley, Bump and Lyons and Cole Dean each had seven tackles.

Photos by Philip Casper. Top photo: RB Kaden Lyons - 24 

DB Ricky Townley - 5, DB Benny Merrill - 6, and LB Kaden Lyons -24, taking down the Avon Braves runner

WR Benny Merrill - 12

RB Mason Bump - 3

QB Trent Woods - 2

WR Christian Kissell - 1

The 9-0 Alexander Trojans

RB Kaden Lyons - 24

This time the victim was Clyde Savannah.

The Trojans won 33-0.  All the scoring took place in the first half.

Scoring: 

• Trent Woods hit Kaden Lyons in the flats for an 8-yard touchdown pass. 
• Woods completed a 20-yard pass to Benny Merrill.
• Ricky Townley scored on a three-yard run.
• Woods hit Cristian Kissell.
• Tyler Marino scored on a 16-yard run.

Defensively, the Trojans recorded their fifth shutout in the eight victories.  Kaden Lyons led the team with 9 tackles.  Ricky Townley had 8 tackles. Mason Bump had 6 tackles.  Cristian Kissell recorded a QB Sack. Kingston Woods had a fumble recovery.  Cole Dean also had a fumble recovery and 3 tackles. 

Tyler Marino started at QB for the Trojans and opened the scoring when he hit Benny Merrill on a 20-yard play-action pass down the middle.  

In the 2nd quarter, Marino found Merrill again on a 20-yard TD catch.

Marino then scored on defense with an interception, taking the ball 90-yards downfield for the TD. It was his second pick-six in two weeks. 

In the second half, the Trojans took the opening kickoff and on the first set of downs, Trenton Woods found Merrill on a 55-yard TD pass. Late in the third quarter, Woods scrambled in for a TD run from 4 yards out.

Behind a stout line of Cristian Kissell, Jaden Snyder, Connor Thompson, Dom Kwiatek, Cole Dean, and Dylan Pohl, running back Ricky Townley became the Trojan's first 100-yard rusher in a game this season, running for 114 yards on 16 carries.  Kaden Lyons gained 73 yards on seven carries.

Defensively, Mason Bump and Ricky Townley each had 6 tackles and Townley forced a fumble.

The Trojans are home next week against Cal-Mum.

Game report by Head Coach Tim Sawyer.

Alexander used a dominant first half to grab this victory against a tough Clyde-Savannah team that never quit trying. 

The Trojans won 34-0.

Alexander scored on its first four offensive possessions and then scored a pick-six defensive TD. 

Placekicker Dalton Selapak was 4 for 4 on the PATs.

The scoring opened on a nice drive by the Trojan offense that culminated with a 3-yard TD pass from QB Trent Woods to Flanker Mason Bump from 3 yards out.

On the 2nd drive, RB Ricky Townley scored on a 9-yard run.  He also scored the Trojans' third TD of the game a few minutes later on a 28-yard gallop. 

Townley ended his night with 5 carries for 66 yards.

On the fourth drive of the game, Fullback Kaden Lyons used his speed and toughness to break away for a 22-yard touchdown run.  He ended the night with 4 carries for 35 yards.

The final TD for the Trojans was a 70-yard interception return by Trenton Woods from his free safety spot.

First-year senior RB Brice Feldman had a good night running the ball with 4 carries for 36 yards.

Defensively, the Trojans picked up their first shutout of the season.  Led by Townley from Strong Safety with a whopping 12 tackles.  Christian Kissell had a QB sack. 

The Trojans have a bye in week 3. 

Photos by Philip Casper.

Top photo: Alexander’s Defensive line putting in work stopping the run.

RB Ricky Townley #5, Senior

QB Trent Woods #2, Junior, scrambling 

WR Christian Kissell #1, Senior

WR Christian Kissell #1, Senior