Lady Vikings win JV NFL title

Grand Island Dispatch, March 17, 2006

The Grand Island Vikings Girls JV Basketball team had another outstanding year as they clinched the 2005-06 championship in the Niagara Frontier League.

The team finished with a 16-2 overall and 13-1 league record. After losing the first game of the season to Sacred Heart, the Vikings recorded 16 consecutive victories before falling to Niagara-Wheatfield in the season final. Although the loss to the Falcons cut the team’s record streak, the disappointment was quickly replaced by joy over Grand Island’s NFL championship.

Despite the loss of three key players from last season, the returning 11 Vikings stepped up and filled those roles without skipping a beat. Point guard Catie Hilliard, a sophomore, led the team with 71 steals and finished second in scoring with 138 points. Another sophomore, Mallory Griffiths, was a fierce competitor at the center position, leading the team with 110 rebounds and 34 blocks.

The guard positions were filled with two returning players, sophomore Molly Hayes and eighth grader Kristen Wegrzyn, who both came through as major offensive threats. Wegrzyn was the team-leading scorer with 143 points. She also recorded a team high of 67 assists, while Hayes led the Vikings with three 3-point baskets.

Other returning guards and defensive standouts included sophomore Meaghan Hayes and eighth grader Jordan Dudish, who combined for 65 steals. Returning sophomores Alma Aponte, Jessica Oyer, Alex Peters and Nicole Stickl, and freshman Susan Pioli filled the forward positions.

Newcomers to the team included freshman LeAnna Kozlowski and seventh graders Brooke DeMarco, Jeannie Taylor and Danielle Wegrzyn. Although they received only limited playing time, the four will certainly make an impact next year.

Team captains Griffiths, Hayes and Pioli were the undisputed leaders of the 2005-06 JV Vikings. The three never stopped encouraging their fellow players and kept the team focused during practice and all games.

The JV Vikings will hold their end-of-the-season banquet on Wednesday, March 29, at Chef’s Restaurant in Buffalo.