Local Sports

New York invasion

Teams have been practicing the past two weeks in preparation for the 2026 Big 30 All-Star Charities Classic football game, set for 7 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 1 at Bradford Area High School's Parkway Field.

The Southwestern/Frewsburg coaching staff will be leading the New York team this year. Jake Burkholder is the head coach. Burkholder has 10 years of experience coaching at Southwestern, the past seven as the head coach. He was a Bill Walsh Diversity Internship candidate with the Philadelphia Eagles in both 2021 and 2023.

Burkholder's assistants are: Rob Collver, defensive coordinator; Terry Gray, assistant coach; Kevin Salisbury, offensive line coach; Trent Gray, quarterbacks and defensive backs coach; and Matthew Miles, another assistant coach.

Quarterbacks for the New York team will be Salamanca's Payton Bradley, Pioneer's Logan Marsh, Olean's Joe Mest and Gowanda's Carter Capozzi.

Bradley is 6-foot-5, 210 pounds and also plays safety. He plans to attend college to earn a degree in physical education and become a teacher/coach. Bradley's favorite football memory was catching the game-winning touchdown pass his sophomore year against LeRoy in the Far West Regional to send the Warriors to the state semifinals.

Marsh is 5-foot-7, 130 pounds and also plays safety. He plans to become a heavy-equipment operator.

Mest is 6-foot-3, 185 pounds and also plays safety. He plans to attend college to pursue a degree in business. Mest wants to play in the Big 30 Game because "it has always been an inspiration of his to represent his state and school, and to follow in his uncle's and brother's footsteps."

Capozzi is 6-foot-4, 185 pounds. He will attend Alfred State to play football and study finance. Capozzi was an all-state quarterback his junior and senior years with the Panthers. His best football memory was throwing the game-winning touchdown with 1 second remaining to beat Randolph.

Running backs for the New York team include: Portville's Demetrious Valencio Young, Olean's Domonick Hirliman, Portville's Jake Zeigler, Cattaraugus-Little Valley's Dylan Swanson, Gowanda's Winter Mentley-Peters, Franklinville's Landon Learn and Cattaraugus-Little Valley's Quinn Janora.

Valencio Young is 5-foot-10, 185 pounds and also plays defensive end. He would like to be a K9 trooper for the New York State Police and/or a SWAT Team member. Valencio Young wants to play in the Big 30 Game to "have a great time, make friends and absolutely tear up the field."

Hirliman is 5-foot-8, 155 pounds and also plays cornerback. He plans to attend college to get a degree in physical education. Hirliman wants to play in the Big 30 Game because it has been his dream since he watched his older brother and cousin play in it.

Weatherley is 5-foot-6, 150 pounds and also plays defensive end.

Zeigler is 6-foot-2, 190 pounds and also plays defensive end. He plans to attend college to major in exercise science before becoming a physician's assistant or New York State trooper.

Swanson is 5-foot-11, 200 pounds and also plays middle linebacker. He plans on going into the work force as a diesel mechanic. "Ever since I was little playing for a youth league in Bradford, I wanted to play on the Owls' field one last time like I did in the championship game all of those years ago."

Mentley-Peters is 5-foot-9, 175 pounds and also plays linebacker. He will attend Alfred State College to pursue a career in athletic training while playing football. Mentley-Peters was an all-state running back and league Defensive Player of the Year.

Learn is 5-foot-11, 185 pounds and also plays outside linebacker. He plans to go to college and major in physical education. Learn wants to play in the Big 30 Game because "it's a huge opportunity not many people get, and he feels he can't pass up this offer."

Janora is 6-foot-2, 185 pounds and also plays outside linebacker, safety and defensive end.

The New York team's wide receivers include: Bolivar-Richburg's Kingston Loucks, Olean's Mykel Rivera, Gowanda's Lukas Barrett, Randolph's Gavin Larson, Olean's Kaine DeGolier, Franklinville's Tristen Hennard and Allegany-Limestone's Christopher Forney.

Loucks is 6-foot-1, 175 pounds and also plays safety. He plans to attend Molloy University to play football and basketball while majoring in sports management. Loucks' best memory while playing football was "making the best one-handed catch of his life and going to the sectional playoffs in the same season."

Rivera is 6-foot-3, 195 pounds and also plays linebacker. He plans to attend college to study sports management while playing basketball. Rivera's best football memory was a 97-yard touchdown against Albion.

Barrett is 5-foot-8, 150 pounds and also plays safety. He wants to play in the Big 30 Game for "one last chance to play his favorite game growing up."

Larson is 5-foot-11, 140 pounds and also plays cornerback. He wants to continue his football career in college while majoring in criminal justice. Larson had previous family members play in the Big 30 Game so he wants to be a part of it as well.

DeGolier is 6-foot, 175 pounds and also plays outside linebacker. He plans to attend Alfred State College for heavy-equipment operation.

Hennard is 5-foot-10, 150 pounds and also plays safety. His best memory playing football was youth football in the mud doing Oklahoma drills.

Forney is 5-foot-7, 150 pounds and also plays cornerback.

Randolph's Reagan Smith is the fullback for the New York team.

Smith is 5-foot-11, 170 pounds and also plays outside linebacker. He plans to attend college and major in welding. Smith's best football memory was playing at Highmark Stadium.

Tight ends for the New York team are: Cuba-Rushford's Adam Roe, Pioneer's Stryker Kahle, Cattaraugus-Little Valley's Grady Merrill, Southwestern's George Marshall and Frewsburg's Henry Eckert.

Roe is 6-foot-3, 205 pounds and also plays safety. He plans to attend St. Bonaventure University and major in finance.

Kahle is 6-foot-1, 165 pounds and also plays outside linebacker. He plans to enroll in college to study sports management. Kahle lists his hobbies as working out, MMA and golf.

Merrill is 6-foot-4, 195 pounds and also plays defensive end. He plans to attend the University at Buffalo to earn a degree in civil engineering. The Big 30 Game "will be his last hurrah and playing will be a tribute to everyone who has gotten me there."

Marshall is 6-foot, 200 pounds and also plays linebacker. He wants to attend college to major in mechanical engineering. Marshall's best memory playing football was making it to Highmark Stadium for his last ever high school game.

Eckert is 6-foot, 190 pounds and also plays linebacker.

Offensive linemen for the New York team include: Pioneer's Justin Maul, Gowanda's Jayden John, Olean's Calvin Williams, Cattaraugus-Little Valley's Devan Otto, Ellicottville's Nolan Murphy, Olean's Mike Ellman, Southwestern's Carson Couchenour, Portville's Ian Chamberlain, Ellicottville's Grady Byroads, Portville's Ty Kosinski, Pioneer's Dylan Doty, Southwestern's Calvin Salisbury, Cuba-Rushford's Landon Hendryx, Cattaraugus-Little Valley's Bryce Corbin and Genesee Valley's Riley Rogers.

Maul is a 6-foot-1, 190-pound guard, who also plays defensive end. He plans to attend SUNY Geneseo to earn a bachelor's degree in biology. Maul wants to play in the Big 30 Game because "it raises money for charity and provides players with a unique experience."

John is a 5-foot-10, 250-pound guard, who also plays defensive tackle. He plans to attend college for general arts while also wrestling. He wants to play in the Big 30 Game "to be able to put on the pads one more time to knock someone around before he moves on with his life."

Williams is a 5-foot-11, 240-pound left tackle, who also plays defensive tackle. He plans to attend Alfred State College for a culinary degree. Williams lists the Walter J. Reisner Award as one of his biggest honors.

Otto is a 6-foot-2, 265-pound tackle, who also plays defensive tackle. He plans to attend St. Bonaventure University to become a flight nurse in the U.S. Air Force. Otto's best memory playing football was almost getting a pick-6 on his first-ever interception.

Murphy is a 6-foot-1, 215-pound guard, who also plays defensive end. He plans to attend Alfred State College to major in autobody collision repair. Murphy's favorite memory playing football was playing at Highmark Stadium as a junior.

Ellman is a 5-foot-8, 190-pound center. He plans to become a United States Marine. Ellman's top honors include Most Improved Wrestler and Most Committed Husky captain.

Couchenour is a 6-foot, 220-pound center, who also plays defensive end. He plans to attend college to become a teacher and coach. Couchenour lists his hobbies as football, basketball and going to the races.

Chamberlain is a 6-foot-1, 285-pound tackle, who also plays defensive tackle. He plans to attend college and play a sport. After that, he would like to become a firefighter and EMT.

Byroads is a 6-foot-2, 230-pound guard, who also plays defensive line. He will attend Alfred State College for construction trades and continue to play football while volunteering for the fire department. Byroads' best memory playing football was an interception against Randolph to help send his team to Highmark Stadium.

Kosinski is a 5-foot-11, 250-pound guard/center, who also plays defensive tackle. He plans to get a job in heavy-equipment operation. Kosinski wanted to play in the Big 30 Game from a young age, because "he thought it would be neat getting seniors from New York and Pennsylvania to play one more game against each other."

Doty is a 6-foot-1, 225-pound guard, who also plays defensive end. He plans to get a job in the welding industry. Doty's best memory while playing football was the friendship/brotherhood with Coach Duprey.

Salisbury is a 6-foot-1, 300-pound lineman, who also plays defensive tackle. He plans to attend SUNY Brockport to major in accounting while playing football. Salisbury's favorite football team is the San Francisco 49ers and favorite player is Jason Kelce.

Hendryx is 5-foot-10, 200 pounds and also plays defensive end.

Corbin is 6-foot, 255 pounds and also plays defensive tackle.

Rogers is 5-foot-7, 235 pounds and also plays defensive tackle.

Pine Valley's Camryn Slade will play middle linebacker. He is 6-foot, 220 pounds and plans to attend college to play football while graduating with a degree in criminal justice. The Section VI Class D Defensive Player of the Year and a first-team all-state performer in 2024 wants to play in the Big 30 Game because he will be coming back from an injury and wants to prove he still has it. His favorite NFL player is Mike Alstott.

Portville's 5-foot-9, 145-pound Conner Roulo will be the New York kicker. He wants to continue his welding career at Ohio Technical College.