Chautauqua Fusion Mega Bowl Winners Announced

The Chautauqua Fusion held its "Mega Bowl" on Sunday. Described as serious basketball competitions held within a fun, lighthearted carnival-style atmosphere, the Mega Bowl capped Fusion's Fall "Sunday Series" basketball clinic.

The nine-week clinic was designed to assist more than 40 local girls from Maple Grove, Forestville, Southwestern, Clymer, Sherman, Panama, Falconer and Cassadaga Valley with preparing for their upcoming school season. The clinic was led by Chris Dole, head Westfield girls varsity basketball coach and Fusion executive director; Bill Price, head Maple Grove girls varsity basketball coach and Fusion coach; Jesse Zenns, assistant Westfield girls varsity basketball coach and Fusion coach; and Mike Engdahl, Fusion coach.

In the skills competitions, Kelsey Wagner form Sherman won the varsity free throw competition and varsity 1-on-1 competition; Alexys Neckers from Clymer won the varsity rapid-fire shooting competition; Kiera Loberg from Panama won the junior varsity free throw competition and junior varsity rapid-fire shooting competition; and Aspen Van Arsdale from Forestville won the junior varsity 1-on-1 competition.

In the Mega Bowl Varsity Championship Game, Dole's White Team defeated Price's Orange Team 37-36. In the Mega Bowl Junior Varsity Championship Game, Engdahl's White Team defeated Coach Zenn's Orange team 25-20.

Several individual awards were also presented. Neckers received the Iron Woman award in the varsity division, and Ava Nyweide from Clymer received the Iron Woman award in the junior varsity division. Also, Lauren Pierce from Forestville was named Most Improved in the varsity division, and Alex Halstrom from Maple Grove was named Most Improved in the junior varsity division.

In addition, there were plenty of shenanigans throughout the evening as pop music from the 1970s played continuously. During halftime of the junior varsity game, the players competed in a G-rated version of Red Light, Green Light from Netflix's "Squid Game."

Olivia Klusek from Forestville won the game and received a prize package consisting of a Mega Bowl T-shirt, 144 plastic tiny green Army soldiers, and a gift card for $13.82 at a local retailer.

Furthermore, players received personalized introductions prior to their championship game, and many ran onto the court wearing sunglasses, hats, and other wacky accessories. Moreover, during the halftime of the varsity game, Engdahl wrestled a 7-foot inflatable bear, and, at the end of the event, the players were presented with a 6-foot trophy bearing a picture of Dole as "We Are the Champions" by Queen played.

"We wanted to create a fun, yet competitive, event to end our fall clinic," Engdahl said. "Based on the texts we have received from players and parents, we accomplished that goal. The coaches have enjoyed every minute of coaching these wonderful female athletes over the past nine weeks. We wish them the best of success during their upcoming school basketball season."