Gowanda/Pine Valley junior Carter Capozzi was named to the Class D First Team at quarterback and the league’s co-Offensive Player of the Year.
OBSERVER Photo by Matt Spielman
A dominant, perfect regular season has garnered Clymer/Sherman/Panama several of the Section VI Class D league’s postseason awards.
Wolfpack senior quarterback Tate Catanese was named the league’s Player of the Year after throwing for 2,383 yards and 34 touchdowns against just 10 interceptions. Catanese was also second on C/S/P in rushing with 590 yards and a team-high 13 touchdowns.
Wolfpack senior wide receiver Carter Brink was named a league co-Offensive Player of the Year after catching 51 passes for 905 yards and a program single-season record 19 touchdowns. Defensively, Brink was in on 30 tackles, including five for a loss, and intercepted three passes.
C/S/P senior linebacker Collin Ryan was named a league co-Defensive Player of the Year after he was in on 132 tackles, including 21 for a loss. Ryan also had two sacks, forced a fumble and recovered a fumble.
The Wolfpack’s Ty Harper was named the league’s Coach of the Year after a 6-2 regular season that included a 5-0 mark in league play. C/S/P went on to win the New York State Public High School Athletic Association Class D title after rolling through the Section VI championship game, Far West Regional and West Semifinal.
Gowanda/Pine Valley’s Camryn Slade (33) was selected as co-Defensive Player of the Year and named to the First Team at linebacker.
OBSERVER Photo by Matt Spielman
In addition to Catanese, Brink and Ryan, the Wolfpack placed five players on the league First Team. Senior offensive lineman Andrew Spiesman and senior tight end Alex Barmore were named to the First-Team Offense, while senior defensive lineman Kolten Rhoades and senior defensive backs Bryce Hinsdale and Dalton Richter were named to the First-Team Defense.
Gowanda/Pine Valley players shared two of the league’s honors and a third took an honor all to himself.
Panthers junior quarterback Carter Capozzi shared the league co-Offensive Player of the Year honor with Brink. Capozzi threw for 1,996 yards and 27 touchdowns while also rushing for 174 yards.
Gowanda/Pine Valley junior linebacker Camryn Slade shared the league co-Defensive Player of the Year honor with Ryan. Slade was in on 126 tackles, including 20 for a loss, had five sacks, intercepted a pass, forced four fumbles and recovered four fumbles.
Panthers senior Mason Wilson was named the league’s Lineman of the Year for his work on both sides of the ball for Gowanda/Pine Valley.
Gowanda/Pine Valley’s Mason Shaw (51) was named the Class D Defensive Lineman of the Year.
OBSERVER Photo by Matt Spielman
Two other Gowanda/Pine Valley players were named to the First Team. Senior wide receiver Brayden Smith was named to the First-Team Offense and junior linebacker Winter Mentley-Peters was named to the First-Team Defense.
Franklinville/Ellicottville placed three players on the First-Team Offense and two on the First-Team Defense. Senior running back Billy Slavinski, sophomore lineman Mason Blecha and senior wide receiver Bretton Blecha represented the Titans on offense, while senior linebackers Collin Mooney and Isaac Towne represented the Titans on defense.
Randolph also placed five players on the First Teams. Senior running back Connor Braley, senior offensive lineman Nate Hahn and senior tight end Baker Huntington were named on offense, while junior linebacker Kevin McElwain and senior defensive back Domanik Clark were named on defense for the Cardinals.
Wilson and Cattaraugus-Little Valley each had one player named to the First-Team Defense. Junior linebacker Brock Lepsch represented the Lakemen and senior defensive back DJ Szata represented the Timberwolves.
Cattaraugus-Little Valley earned the league’s Sportsmanship Award, represented individually by junior Grady Merrill.
The league’s All-Academic Team was Szata, Rhoades, Mason Blecha, Smith, McElwain and Wilson senior Hamza Merrick.
FIRST-TEAM OFFENSE
Tate Catanese Senior QB Clymer/Sherman/Panama
Carter Capozzi Junior QB Gowanda/Pine Valley
Connor Braley Senior RB Randolph
Billy Slavinski Senior RB Franklinville/Ellicottville
Mason Blecha Sophomore OL Franklinville/Ellicottville
Andrew Spiesman Senior OL Clymer/Sherman/Panama
Nate Hahn Senior OL Randolph
Alex Barmore Senior TE Clymer/Sherman/Panama
Baker Huntington Senior TE Randolph
Carter Brink Senior WR Clymer/Sherman/Panama
Brayden Smith Senior WR Gowanda/Pine Valley
Bretton Blecha Senior WR Franklinville/Ellicottville
FIRST-TEAM DEFENSE
Mason Wilson Senior DL Gowanda/Pine Valley
Kolten Rhoades Senior DL Clymer/Sherman/Panama
Collin Ryan Senior LB Clymer/Sherman/Panama
Collin Mooney Senior LB Franklinville/Ellicottville
Camryn Slade Junior LB Gowanda/Pine Valley
Winter Mentley-Peters Junior Linebacker Gowanda/Pine Valley
Kevin McElwain Junior LB Randolph
Isaac Towne Senior LB Franklinville/Ellicottville
Brock Lepsch Junior LB Wilson
Bryce Hinsdale Senior DB Clymer/Sherman/Panama
DJ Szata Senior DB Cattaraugus-Little Valley
Domanik Clark Senior DB Randolph
Dalton Richter Senior DB Clymer/Sherman/Panama
SECOND-TEAM OFFENSE
Jaxon Morrison Junior QB Randolph
Travis Owens Senior RB Clymer/Sherman/Panama
Michael Ruble Junior RB Wilson
Dalen Stevens Sophomore OL Gowanda/Pine Valley
David Malone Senior OL Randolph
Izaias Dowdy Junior OL Randolph
Blayne Rumaihi Senior OL Clymer/Sherman/Panama
Troy Chambers Junior OL Clymer/Sherman/Panama
Grady Byroads Junior OL Franklinville/Ellicottville
Shea Smith Senior OL Franklinville/Ellicottville
Matt Redlecki Junior OL Clymer/Sherman/Panama
Matthew Spittler Senior TE Franklinville/Ellicottville
Winter Rivera Senior WR Gowanda/Pine Valley
Josiah Lenahan Senior WR Cattaraugus-Little Valley
Ryan Hough Junior WR Wilson
SECOND-TEAM DEFENSE
Hamsa Merrick Senior DL Wilson
Carter Conley Sophomore DL Randolph
Grady Merrill Junior DL Cattaraugus-Little Valley
Jayden Fish Sophomore DL Gowanda/Pine Valley
Shamus George Junior LB Wilson
Noah Fuller Senior LB Cattaraugus-Little Valley
Bryan Gomez Sophomore LB Clymer/Sherman/Panama
Dylan Swanson Junior LB Cattaraugus-Little Valley
Trelin Warrior Junior DB Gowanda/Pine Valley
Gannon Callahan Senior DB Franklinville/Ellicottville
Carter Smith Senior DB Franklinville/Ellicottville
HONORABLE MENTION
Cattaraugus-Little Valley: Devan Otto (Jr.), Chase Marshall (Sr.), Brice Corbin (Jr.)
Clymer/Sherman/Panama: Jordan Mescall (Sr.), Kameron Einink (Jr.), Sawyer Whitney (Fresh.)
Franklinville/Ellicottville: Landon Giles (Jr.), Caden Bish (Sr.), Owen Doherty (Sr.)
Gowanda/Pine Valley: Kyan Austin (Jr.), Cameron Howard (Soph.)
Randolph: Allen Root (Sr.), Hunter Foster (Jr.)
Wilson: Vic Cusatis (Jr.), Brady Seeley (Jr.), Michael Jeffords (Sr.), Josiah Lawrence (Jr.)