ESG - Roundup
Western edges out another medal count
by MATT KRUEGER Reporter

Williamsville's Miranda Podlas helped the Western Region women's scholastic tennis team to a bronze medal at the Empire State Games. Photo by Marc A. Deley Purchase color photos at www.BeeNews.com

If the Empire State Games gave out a ring to the director for the region totaling the most medals, Western Director Lou Reuter would have one for the thumb this year.

Western won the medal count for the fifth year in a row and ninth in the past 11. But Western didn't run away with it like it has in years past.

Western totaled 242 medals to edge out host Hudson Valley's 237. In fact, Hudson Valley led the medal count for the first three days of competition.

Last year, Western totaled 294 medals to blow out runner-up Long Island (134).

Western grabbed 96 gold medals, falling behind Hudson Valley by one. Western led the count in silver (72) and bronze (74). Hudson Valley was second in both categories with 71 silver and 69 bronze.

Western will look to continue its dominance at the 2008 Empire State Games in Binghamton, which hosted the Games in 2000 and 2004.

Here's a look at how some of the Western athletes fared:

Archery

Cheektowaga's Jennifer Fabiszewski brought home the silver medal in the scholastic women's competition with 2,137 points. Ricky Fabiszewski placed fifth in the scholastic men's competition with 2,082 points.

Williamsville's Roy Lindberg finished eighth in the open men's all-around competition with 1,809 points.

Cycling

Williamsville's Tracy Marinello just missed two medals, as she placed fourth in the open women's 10-mile time trial and fifth in the 55-mile road race. She also finished eighth in the 20-mile criterium.

Shooting

Kenmore's Jimmie Perrin and Williamsville's Robert Belko teamed up to capture the open men's three-position rifle team gold medal with a score of 2,215. Belko also won a bronze in the three-position individual event, while Perrin finished fourth.

In the air rifle competition, Perrin and Belko placed fourth in the team competition. Perrin took fifth in the individual event, while Belko was 10th.

Amherst's Denise Volker won a silver medal in the open women's trap event.

Williamsville's Barry Maloney captured gold in the open men's trap team event with Rochester's Robert Kalwas and Buffalo's James O'Brien.

East Aurora's Angelica Feldman teamed up with Alden's Robert Rimbeck to place fourth in the scholastic men's three-position rifle team event and took seventh in the individual competition.

Clarence's Kevin Konitsch teamed with Alden's David Nuwer to finish fifth in the air rifle prone team competition and placed eighth in the individual event.

Soccer

The open men's team, which features Williamsville's Al Franjoine, Amherst's Brian Knapp and Matt Stuczynski, Clarence's Mark Konitsch and Tonawanda's Bob Shuttleworth and Nicholas Wheeler, won the bronze medal with a 4-1 victory over New York City. The team went 3-1 in the tournament.

The scholastic men's team, which featured Depew's Kamil Cislak, Williamsville's Jonathan Hughes, John Piaggione and Jordan Zaprowski and Snyder's Ryan Walter, won the bronze medal with a 5-1 win over Central.

The scholastic women's team, which featured Williamsville's Jenny Griffin, won the bronze medal with a 3-0 victory over Central.

Swimming

Amherst's James Losi won four medals in the open men's division. He took gold in the 400-meter and 800-meter freestyle relays, and silver in the 200 and 400 free.

Williamsville's Janelle Monroe won five medals in the open women's division. She took gold in the 400 and 800 free relays and bronze in the 100 fly, 200 back and 400 medley relay.

Kenmore's Daniel Carver won gold in the open men's 400 and 800 free relays and silver in the 100 free.

Williamsville's Sarah Morris won a bronze medal in the open women's 400 medley relay.

Amherst's Paige Gutowski won gold in the scholastic women's 200 individual medley and 200 breaststroke, silver in the 100 breast and bronze in the 400 medley relay.

Clarence's Alec Pokornowski won bronze in the scholastic men's 800 free.

Tennis The scholastic men's team, featuring Williamsville's Boris Borvcanin,

Orchard Park's Anthony Mazariegos and Lancaster's Anthony Nitkowski, won the silver medal.

The scholastic women's team, featuring Williamsville's Miranda Podlas and Amherst's Monica Vieth won the bronze medal.

Wrestling

Clarence's Joshua Feiler won the scholastic men's bronze medal in the 59-kilogram freestyle event.

East Aurora's Nicholas Czapla won gold at 75 kilos in the scholastic men's Greco-Roman and silver in the freestyle.

East Aurora's Arthur Garvey won the scholastic men's Greco Roman gold at 125 kilos.

e-mail: mkrueger@beenews.com

Empire State	Games Medal Count
Region
Wester n
Hudson Valley
Long Island
New York City
Adirondack
Central
Gold
96
97
53
58
44
35
	Silver
	72
	71
	61
	50
	49
	34
	Bronze
	74
	69
	61
	54
	58
	48
	Total
	242
	237
	175
	162
	151
	117