Originally published in the March 16 issue of the Orchard Park Press.

Ashley Griffin, a senior at Orchard Park High School and leading scorer for the girls varsity soccer team last fall, has committed to play at Daemen College.

“A lot went into the decision,” said Griffin, who chose Daemen over LeMoyne College in Syracuse. “I’m family-oriented. If I played at LeMoyne, my parents wouldn’t be able to go out and see me as much. Daemen is local and had a lot of opportunities for me.”

Ashley Griffin

Griffin, who will study to be a physician’s assistant, said she liked the programs at both Daemen and LeMoyne, but felt the support from her parents, grandmother, sister and brother was important.

“It was definitely my deciding factor,” said the oldest of Danielle and Brad Griffin’s three children.

Attending school locally will provide Griffin’s family the opportunity to attend games more easily, but it will also allow Griffin to stay close to her doctor.

Griffin suffers from Crohn’s Disease, a chronic disorder that causes inflammation of the digestive or gastrointestinal tract.

Griffin was diagnosed with the disease during her freshman year, but nine goals and three assists in her first year on the varsity squad as a sophomore suggested the disease would not have a major impact on her play.

But prior to her junior season, Griffin’s experienced complications when her medication stopped working effectively. As a result, she lost nearly 30 pounds.

“I wasn’t in shape,” Griffin said of the disease’s impact on her weight and strength. “I didn’t have the endurance and stamina I usually do.”

Griffin’s production on the soccer field suffered. She scored just four goals and two assists in her junior season.

Crohn’s Disease is not curable, but sufferers can experience periods of remission. Griffin’s medication was changed and her attention to her diet resulted in a strong senior season in the fall. She scored a team-high 12 goals to go with four assists in helping the Lady Quakers to their second straight berth in the sectional semifinal championship.

Griffin expressed an interest in becoming a surgeon, but feels the stress of a doctor’s schedule would not correspond well with her disease.

As a physician’s assistant, she would have a more manageable schedule while still taking part in surgeries, x-rays and post-surgery care.

“I (would) still do all the things I want to do as a doctor, but have a more structured life,” she said.

As far as playing soccer for the Wildcats, Griffin said a campus walk with one of the team’s captains provided comfort that she can contribute to the team.

Daemen is a member of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics. The Wildcats finished the 2011 season with 15-4 overall mark with an 11-1 record in the American Mideast Conference.

“I hope to bring dedication and motivation to program,” said Griffin, who will receive a partial athletic scholarship and a community scholarship. “From all the other experiences I’ve had, the teams have been like families so I’d like to keep that.”

Two three-sport Quakers frustrated by power of Clarence

Originally published on June 10, 2011 in the Orchard Park Press

When the Orchard Park baseball team lost to Clarence in the Section VI Class AA championship on June 1, it was the third straight season the Quakers were eliminated by the Red Devils and the second consecutive loss in the title game.

The loss was especially hard to take for two of the athletes.

A dejected Ryan Lindquist was forced to endure another post-season loss to Clarence when the OP baseball team fell in the sectional championship on June 1. A three-sport athlete, Lindquist earned seven varsity letters but no section titles, while losing to Clarence in six out of nine post-seasons.

Seniors Kyle Witkowski and Ryan Lindquist, who have both played three sports, each earned seven varsity letters but have won no sectional titles thanks to a handful of post-season losses to Clarence.

Both standouts, Witkowski and Lindquist are members of the varsity basketball and baseball teams. Witkowski was the starting quarterback for the football team and Lindquist was a starting midfielder on the soccer team.

In their respective fall sports, each had their seasons ended by Clarence in the sectional championship.
“It is extremely frustrating with all the chances I have had,” Witkowski said. “You would have thought we would have won one of them.”

Witkowski has been a member of the varsity baseball team for three seasons. In his sophomore season, he was on the mound when Clarence defeated the Quakers in extra innings to end Orchard Park’s run.

The Orchard Park football team narrowly lost to Clarence in the Class AA section championship at Ralph Wilson Stadium, 31-28. The Red Devils handed the 8-2 Quakers their only two losses of the season.

“Every time you play Clarence it seems like it’s the game everyone wants to show up,” Witkowski said of Orchard Park’s growing rivalry. “That’s the team you really want to beat.”

As members of the Orchard Park basketball team, Witkowski and Lindquist suffered an overtime loss to Clarence in the Class AA semifinal at Buffalo State that ended their junior season campaign.

“I can’t stand losing to them and I’ve never been able to beat them in the big game,” said Lindquist, who as a member of the soccer team was eliminated from the playoffs by Clarence the last two seasons, including a 2-1 loss in this past fall’s sectional championship. “They are always so strong. It’s demoralizing to lose time and time again.”

Lindquist, who has experience nine post-seasons, has been eliminated by Clarence six times. He said the rivalry with Clarence is frustrating, but helps the schools challenge each other.

“We’ve been pushing them hard the past few years and I think they responded in the past two,” he said. “Now they are pushing us and I have absolute faith in our athletic programs that we will respond to that in a positive way. It’s the back and forth that really creates a strong rivalry.”

Orchard Park teams advanced to six sectional championships this year. They lost all six. Four of the losses came to Clarence – in football, boys soccer, baseball and boys lacrosse.

Top 20 Orchard Park Sports Stories from 2011

Orchard Park soccer goalie Jordan DiLapo earned a spot on the FC Buffalo roster. At just 16 years of age, DiLapo was the team’s youngest player.

OPHS goalie earns chance to play among top players

Originally published on July 8, 2011

Jordan DiLapo

Jordan DiLapo has already shown that he can defend the high school soccer net, but now the Orchard Park teenager is showing off his skills while defending the goal of the FC Buffalo Blitzers in the National Premier Soccer League.

DiLapo, who will be a senior at Orchard Park High School this fall, has been the starting goalkeeper for the boys soccer team for two years. FC Buffalo head coach Dan Krzyzanowicz asked him to try out for his team, and DiLapo earned a spot on a roster that already featured two goalies.

DiLapo and Krzyzanowicz have been familiar with each other for years: both worked at various soccer camps. Krzyzanowicz has been the director of coaching for the Orchard Park Soccer Club since January 2010 and will begin his 10th season as the head men’s soccer coach at Medaille College this fall.

The FC Buffalo organization, formed by three local soccer enthusiasts, Scott Frauenhofer, Ryan Knapp and Nick Mendola, is dedicated to the growth of both soccer and community in the Western New York area through a commitment to the blue collar work ethic.

The team plays in the Northeast Keystone Conference of the National Premier Soccer League, a professionally operated league sanctioned by the United States Adult Soccer Association as an affiliate of the United States Soccer Federation, the ruling body for soccer in the U.S., and FIFA, the world’s ruling body for soccer. The FC Buffalo roster boasts top players from the University at Buffalo, Marist College and Cornell University, among others.

DiLapo, who will turn 17 in September, is the youngest player on the Blitzers. He made his mark when he debuted on June 10 in a contest against the New Jersey Blaze.

FC Buffalo won the game, 3-1, with the help of a momentum-stopping penalty kick save by DiLapo.

“I felt a lot of pressure,” DiLapo said of the penalty kick which took place with FC Buffalo leading by two goals with roughly 15 minutes left. “A goal would’ve given them a lot of momentum.”

DiLapo has started four more games since his first win.

On June 25, DiLapo held the Pocono Snow to no goals in a 0-0 tie, and on July 2 allowed just one goal in a 1-0 loss to the Reading Revolution.

He also saw 10 minutes of work in the Lord Bedlington Cup, a highly publicized friendly game between FC Buffalo and the Bedlington Terriers of England, a team whose popularity has grown since being sponsored by Buffalo billionaire Bob Rich.

FC Buffalo defeated Bedlington, 5-1, in the game that was played on Wednesday, June 29.

“It’s a phenomenal experience playing with the talent that was on the field,” said DiLapo, the son of Tristan and Debbie. “It showed the potential that Western New York (soccer) has. I’m so glad I got the time and the experience.”

The game drew an incredible 3,821 spectators at Buffalo’s Robert E. Rich All High Stadium, where FC Buffalo plays its home games.

“It’s the opportunity of a lifetime,” DiLapo said of the game. “It’s one of the biggest games I’ve been a part of and played in. We had a huge turnout and we performed.”

Top 20 Orchard Park Sports Stories from 2011

Laura Lukowski

Laura Lukowski
SUNY Fredonia soccer, Freshman
OPHS, Class of 2011

I want to visit: Italy
Dream job: Teacher
Last thing I read: Seventeen magazine
I can’t live without: iPod
This actress would play me in a movie: Beyonce
Hidden talent: I can beat box
Favorite animal: Dog
Favorite OP hangout: My house
Best advice received:
Always go beyond the impossible and never give up on your dreams. Go for them.

Ashley Griffin

Ashley Griffin is a senior at Orchard Park High School. She is a member of the girls soccer team and has blogged throughout the season to provide an inside look at the team. This is her fifth and final installment.

It’s hard to believe that this is the last season for some of the girls on the team. Some may never play again and others are following their passion and attempting to play in college.

Overall, we ended the season 11-5. In the beginning we had our first two losses, then lost twice against our rival Williamsville North, and unfortunately lost in the sectional semifinals against Kenmore West.
As a team, we agreed that it’s only sad, because we had to end, not because we lost.

Throughout the season our team definitely grew together on the field, as well as off of the field. We were able to make this season as fun as could and as often as we could.

I would like to thank our coaches, parents, and all of our fans for their support. Also, I would like to thank Mrs. Perla and Meg, our trainer for all of their help. Lastly, I would like to thank all of my teammates for their hard work and dedication. Everyone put their best effort forward and our success shows that.

I wish all of the seniors best of luck in their future endeavors and all of the juniors, sophomores, and freshmen the best of luck at winning next year’s championship.

We are ending this season with our team banquet by giving our senior speeches, awards, and acknowledgments.

I look forward to coming back to watch and support my younger sister and her teammates play next year and keep the love of the game going as much as my teammates and I did this year. I have had a great experience playing with all of the Orchard Park girls and I hope everyone else can have that experience also!

Madison Hornung

Madison Hornung
Junior, OPHS
Soccer, Track

I want to visit: Italy
Dream job: Elementary school teacher
Favorite movie character: Russell from Up
Favorite school subject: English
I can’t live without: My friends
Favorite meal: Mac and cheese
Favorite OP athlete: Melissa Vaughn
This actress would play me in a movie: Taylor Swift
Last thing I read:
The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
Best advice received: Always try my best no matter what and never give up

Jordan DiLapo

Jordan DiLapo is a senior at Orchard Park High School and in his third season as the starting goalkeeper for the Orchard Park varsity boys soccer team. He will blog throughout the season to provide an inside look at the team. This is his third installment.

So far, Orchard Park Boys Varsity Soccer has had a season full of ups and downs with season-making moments such as our HUGE first win over Clarence during homecoming week (and making Orchard Park soccer history- at least in all the years I’ve been playing). But this season has also seen its low moments, such as losing to both Clarence and Lancaster at home and Williamsville North away.

Right now the Orchard Park boys’ soccer team is 3rd in our league (which is the toughest league in our class) right behind Lancaster and Clarence.

We have grown as a team as we have shifted positions and formations trying to find what works best. Hopefully, we are better prepared to win the rest of our games. And in the final analysis, what really matters is how we perform in the playoffs. It’s like a clean sheet and everyone starts new with the winning teams moving forward.

However, we need to play smart and strong to win the last four league games, to put us in good position for the playoffs. This has to start with our game against Will North on Tuesday, Oct. 11 at 4:45 at home in the stadium (which is also our last home league game).

What makes this game especially important is that it is also our Senior Recognition Night, so what better way to celebrate our senior year of dedication and hard work than with another HUGE win!

So congratulations to our nine seniors who (in addition to myself) include: Brendan Allman, Joe Cipriani, Pat Fallon, Matt Mulvaney, Jordan Ott, Nick Pokoj, Alex Pollak, and Brian Stevens.

Come on boys, we can do this and win this game and all the rest! Let’s make our senior year the best soccer Orchard Park High School has ever seen!

Come out and help us celebrate our Senior Night and see some great Orchard Park soccer in the stadium on Tuesday, Oct. 11.

Ashley Griffin

Ashley Griffin is a senior at Orchard Park High School. She is a member of the girls soccer team and has been blogging throughout the season to provide an inside look at the team. This is her fourth installment.

We have been playing very well the past few weeks. We have only lost one game, as of right now, and have scored at least once in our games.

We played our rival Williamsville North and lost, 1-0. The girls were all very disappointed, but we knew we could have played a lot better. Instead of playing off of that loss in our next game, we were able to work hard and push to win. We have new girls scoring every game and new girls stepping up each game.

To play to our players’ strengths, Mr. Graffeo has switched our signature formation to a 3-4-3 which is three defenders, four mid-fielders and three forwards. This formation makes our team an offensive threat, but it also helps put numbers up on defense. Our defense has been very strong so far, as well as our two goalies.

Our team has been playing well together and we have been getting along off of the field. We recently had a team dinner where we were able to relax and not focus on soccer. We were able to finish this past week off with two wins against Lancaster and Frontier. We are hoping the intensity will carry into this week’s games since it is Homecoming week. Both of our games are on the turf which gives us confidence and a large advantage.

We are very thankful for our fans and the sports teams that support us. On Thursday, we have a game against Jamestown (7 p.m.) under the lights. We are dedicating it to our seniors and hoping everyone can come and watch!

Note: The team will host West Seneca West on Tuesday, September 27 at 4:45 p.m.

The OP girls soccer team fell to Williamsville North Thursday evening at home, 1-0, to move to 2-1 in ECIC I.

Ashley Griffin: No word yet if she'll star in the next Matrix film.

Thoughts on the game from junior midfielder Kiley Ransbury

On lack of offense:

“I want us to work better as a team, pass the ball better to each other and distribute the ball to the forwards. That way we can get some shots off from crosses.”

Using the game as a measuring stick for Class AA competition:

“It definitely gives us encouragement knowing we lost just 1-0. We’re definitely looking forward to playoffs and knowing that we can beat this team. We just need to work better as a team.”

On next game versus Will North:

“Next time we see them we’re definitely going to be ready to play our hardest. We definitely got frustrated and that comes with losing. We’re definitely going to be more calm and control the ball better.”

Jordan DiLapo

Jordan DiLapo is a senior at Orchard Park High School and in his third season as the starting goalkeeper for the Orchard Park varsity boys soccer team. He will blog throughout the season to provide an inside look at the team. This is his second installment.

Friday is a big game. Simply put; it is one that could determine the tone of the season.

The boys varsity soccer team will be playing Williamsville North away at 4:30 p.m. Eventhough it’s our second league game, this game is our first real test of our season as we will be feeling a lot of pressure to win to keep up our good standing in the league.

Our team had performed well last week. We had a great 3-0 win against Jamestown, a difficult 0-3 loss to St Joe’s (However. that didn’t reflect the closeness of the game), a harsh 0-1 loss to Sweet Home in a tough battle to the end, and a good 2-1 win against Wilson. However, those results don’t matter in our standings (besides Jamestown).

Going into the league, we have a 1-0 record so far. That is why the importance of the game against Will North is stressed. Another win against a competitive team and our mindset will hopefully be positive going forward, which helps toward a winning season. If we lose, we might not be able to gain the needed momentum to carry out the season. Sometimes it’s as simple as that.

My one fear – and the whole team agrees – is that with our recent tendency to get yellow cards, we may already be doomed if we don’t start playing smarter and keep our emotions in check on the field. So far three of our starters each have two yellows and another starter already has three. The rules are that when you receive three yellow cards, you’re out for the next game. After that, with every yellow card you receive, you not only leave the current game, but you are forced to sit out the next game and it continues for the whole season. Every yellow card acts like a red card after three yellows. Therefore, one starter has to sit out against Willy North and our other three starters are in danger; not only for today’s game, but FOR THE REST OF THE SEASON! They are key players in our lineup and will absolutely be needed for every game if we want to win.

We have two goals: Not to get any more cards, and most importantly, win! Wish us luck!

Hope to see you all at our next home game on Tuesday, September 20th at 4:45pm against Lancaster, another rival team that will put us to the test!

Chelsea Lepore

The Orchard Park girls soccer team will be holding a spaghetti dinner on Friday, Sept. 16 from 4 – 8 p.m.

The fundraiser will be held at the Orchard Park High School cafeteria.

Tickets:

Adults – $9
Students – $8
Kids under 12 – $5

I will be attending from 5:30-6:30 and featuring a slideshow of photos.

Come out and support the girls!

Ashley Griffin

Ashley Griffin is a senior at Orchard Park High School. She is a member of the girls soccer team and has been blogging throughout the season to provide an inside look at the team. This is her third installment.

These past couple of weeks the team has been through a lot. We have played in scrimmages, practiced, and took a road trip.

We started off with some pre-season scrimmages at the Orchard Park Soccer Complex. We had a good turnout with two wins and one loss. After we went to Abby Guzzino’s for some team-bonding around her pool while we ate some za (pizza), we had brownies and cupcakes to celebrate Jenna Alico’s birthday!

That week we practiced and worked on our formation, technique, and our forward runs. That weekend we all packed up and headed to Cohocton. Unfortunately, this year’s trip didn’t run as smooth as past years. The bus we were supposed to take didn’t have a working air conditioner, which left us sitting in ninety degree weather for 2 hours!

Soon enough our new bus came and our team just barely fit. As we drove through the beautiful countryside, we were able to look at the landscape and smell the wonderful scent of cow manure.

Finally we arrived and played our first game. Obviously, we made our trip over to Pizza Hut. The next morning we got up late, grabbed our twenty dollar bags that we stuffed with clothing (a tournament tradition of grabbing extra shirts), played, and headed home.

Overall, the weekend helped us accomplish what we were hoping it would. We were able to see what everyone’s strengths and weaknesses are and try to figure out where everyone fits.

Lately we have been working on our formation and our flow as a team. We played our first game at Jamestown and won 6-1 with six different goal scorers.

We hope to see a lot of our fans at our games and want to remind everyone about our spaghetti dinner fundraiser on Friday, September 16 from 4 – 8 pm. Hope to see everyone!

Morgan Lowry Sommers was among six Lady Quakers to score in Orchard Park's 6-1 win at Jamestown on Tuesday.

A decisive 6-1 road victory at Jamestown gave the Orchard Park girls soccer team its first win of the season on Tuesday, Sept. 6.

The win came on the heels of a pair of losses at the Cohocton Tournament on Friday, Sept. 2, and Saturday, Sept. 3.

“It’s definitely a great, positive way to start the season off,” senior forward Morgan Lowry Sommers said after the Jamestown win. “We had a great weekend with some great competition, and even though we lost, we picked up the intensity today and it paid off very well. I think it all showed us that if we work as a team and play smart soccer, we can be a very strong force.”

Despite playing without junior Cassidy Kozub, last year’s leading goal scorer who was out with an injured ankle, Orchard Park had six different players find the back of the net. Sommers, Ashley Griffin, Taylor Gorman, Kristen Young, Emma Saul and Kiley Ransbury each scored one goal.

“It was a great positive,” Sommers said of having six different goal scorers. “It was great to see everyone finally coming together and playing the way we played. We had some slow moments in the game, but when we played the way we were supposed to, the other team wasn’t able to control the ball like we could. We had some great combinations throughout the game. It’s great to see what working hard at practice does.”

Orchard Park is scheduled to host Clarence on Saturday, Sept. 10, at noon, and Williamsville North on Thursday, Sept. 15, at 4:45 p.m.

The Orchard Park boys soccer team scrimmaged the East Aurora Blue Devils Thursday night at the OP Stadium.

I was definitely interested in seeing the guys play as I don’t know many of the new players since so many players graduated from last year’s roster.

The Blue Devils scored three goals before OP got on the board on a fantastic cross field pass by Dillon Farrell. The junior launched a pass from midfield in front of the Orchard Park bench sending it over to the right side. Junior Brad Schurr netted the goal.

Here are some shots of the scrimmage:

Purchase photos from this gallery

Jordan DiLapo

Jordan DiLapo is a senior at Orchard Park High School and in his third season as the starting goalkeeper for the Orchard Park varsity boys soccer team. He will blog throughout the season to provide an inside look at the team. This is his first installment.

After last year’s defeat in the sectional finals to our rival Clarence, everyone has been looking forward to getting back on the field and winning the title that Orchard Park has long deserved. Finally, after bidding our farewells to the class of 2011 including key players such as Matt Hamister, Ryan Lindquist, Connor Vogan and the majority of our starting lineup, many current juniors and seniors now have the opportunity to claim a spot on the starting eleven and truly impact the team.

After doing many captain practices in the summer, often with the girls soccer team, and the grueling running during tryouts (including but not limited to 1-20s, Chicagos, Pyramids, Sectionals, and countless runs around the perimeter of the OP soccer complex), the teams are finally set.

Last Friday was the first Varsity practice and it went very well as the gaps open from last year have filled in very nicely. For now – myself, Joe Cipriani, Nick Pokoj and Ed Morawski will run our defense while Alex Pollak, Kurt Siegner and Bobby Mahany will run the midfield. As for our forwards, the position is left wide open with last year’s leading goal scorer Matt Hamister graduated. Former JV standouts including Tim Connelly and John Wellington have a lot of pressure to score goals and help the team this year.

Coach Dannecker has a lot of expectations to meet as every year we seem to get closer and closer to the sectional title. After all the practices though, it looks to be an optimistic season as Coach Dannecker is a great coach.

Now to JV, unfortunately this year we will be losing Coach Robida from the JV coaching staff. His addiction to sunflower seeds will be missed. However, we are very thankful to bring in Coach Janas as the new JV coach. With his sick flow coming out of his Adidas baseball cap, addiction to coffee and his knowledge of social studies (which is a status quo with all OP soccer coaches – Catalano, Bird, Robida, Graffeo, and Dannecker all are in the social studies department), he fits in very well. The JV team looks promising with Coach Janas in his debut season.

Our first scrimmage is with East Aurora this Thursday, September 1 at 7pm on the turf. Jamestown is our first league game on September 6 at 5pm at the OP soccer complex. Come out and support us! Go Quakers!

Ashley Griffin

Ashley Griffin will be a senior this fall at Orchard Park High School. She is a member of the girls soccer team and will blog throughout the season to provide an inside look at the team. This is her second installment.

Tryouts have come to a close and the official roster is set. This year we will have many returning players with a few new girls. Practices have been based on different playing strategies as well as positioning. Girls have been very upbeat, hard-working, and open-minded. Veteran players have been stepping up and helping newer players understand our unique way of playing. Many seniors have taken strong leadership roles on the team and are making big impacts.

This year there is a lot of high energy and positive thinking. Our team has so much personality there is never a dull moment at practice, but when it come to games we know it’s time to get serious.

With the talent we have we are confident we will have a good season. Our defense will be strong while being led by Chelsea Lepore and Christine Breindel. Our midfield will help set up plays and assist our forwards while being led by Morgan Sommers, Marybeth Cordier, and Kiley Ransbury.

Lastly, our forwards will finish hard while being led by myself and Cassidy Kozub. Many of our girls have been playing together for years and we mesh so well while playing. We have mainly been focusing on our formation as well as our playing rhythm.

Coach Graffeo and Coach Coppola have been using our practices wisely and focusing on the small things. No matter who is on the field, how much playing time they get, or how many times they touch the ball; every girl on our team is considered an asset to us. We all work our hardest and learn more with every touch we take.

I scheduled a day off my 9 to 5 job to cover some OPHS fall practices on Thursday, August 18.

The day started with a quick trip to football practice at the OPHS turf. I took some shots of linemen doing drills on the pads and the team’s three quarterbacks – David Crowley, Ben Holmes and Jeremiah Cormack – tossing balls to receivers.

Then I headed over to the Milestrip Soccer Complex where I caught the varsity and junior varsity players on a break. I conducted a few interviews including goalie Jordan DiLapo, Joe Cipriani and Josh Dannecker, the varsity coach. Dannecker has been working with both the varsity and junior varsity players as there as yet to be a JV coach named.

By the way, Joe Cipriani has some nice flow.

I drove back to OPHS and headed to the gym for a quick visit with Da Var Squad. The cheerleaders had finished things up, but went outside and I got a photo of them working on some stunts.

It was back to the turf to catch a brief scrimmage among the girls soccer players. Then I interviewed Cassidy Kozub, Christine Breindel and Coach Mike Graffeo. I picked up a quick tip by watching Graffeo explain to the players how to receive a sideline pass and move the ball upfield. Good stuff.

Then it was off to the offices of the Orchard Park Press to chat with editor (and brother), Rob Goller. We went to lunch and discussed my preview articles for next week’s issue. *Quick note: I freelance for the Orchard Park Press. OrchardParkSports.com is not affiliated with the paper.

I then headed back to the football field and got a few shots of some of the team’s captains and a nice chat with Ben Johnson.

On Thursday, August 25, I’ll be visiting with the girls and boys volleyball teams.

Here is my schedule to cover fall sports practices tomorrow:

Fall sports practice coverage schedule

9 am – 9:50 am – Football – Practice photos
10 am – 10:30 am – Boys soccer – Interviews during break in practices
10:30 am – 10:50 am – Boys soccer – Practice photos
11 am – 11:15 am – Da Var Squad (Cheerleading) – Practice photos
11:20 am – 12:00 pm – Girls soccer – Practice photos
12:00 pm – 12:15 pm – Girls soccer – Post-practice interviews
12:30 pm – 1:15 pm – lunch
1:30 pm – 2:00 pm – Football – Practice photos
2:00 pm – 2:30 pm – Captains photos and post-practice interviews
2:30 pm – disc golf or nap

I will cover volleyball practices on Thursday, August 25. I plan to get to girls tennis that day too.

Morgan Sommers

Morgan Sommers
OPHS, Class of 2012
Varsity soccer

Dream job: Nurse Practitioner
Favorite OP hangout: Soccer Fields
Favorite meal: Chicken Marcella
Favorite movie: Bridesmaids
Best concert: 3 Doors Down
I want to visit: Australia
Favorite OP athlete: Sarah “Mullet” Moore
Best advice received:
Better a patient man than a warrior, a man who controls his temper than one who takes a city
This person should run for President:
Ellen DeGeneres

Ashley Griffin

Ashley Griffin will be a senior this fall at Orchard Park High School. She is a member of the girls soccer team and will blog throughout the season to provide an inside look at the team. This is her first installment.

The year of the mullet has come to a close. It is now our senior year and the returning players are ready to go. We will miss Sarah “Mullet” Moore’s mullet, Laura Lukowski’s lemur call, Kayla Hartnett’s British commentating, and Amanda Reusch’s leadership.

For pre-season training we have had Coach Graffeo’s soccer camp as well as captains’ practices. Held twice a week the girls and boys teams joined to play full field scrimmages. We had great turnouts with freshmen, sophomores, juniors and seniors.

There are many talented freshmen ready to play, as well as a full squad of varsity players. This season, the varsity team is ready to have a fun, competitive and successful season. Tryouts start August 15th, we go to the Cohocton Showcase September 2nd and 3rd, and our first game is Wednesday, September 7th at Jamestown.

All of our players are hoping for a great season. We are looking to have fun and see many fans come out to support us. We all wish good luck to our fellow players who are off in college and hope they can come out to see some games.

Our first home game is Saturday, September 10th against Clarence at 10 a.m. We all hope to see you there!