18 WNY football players named to All-State first teams

Adam Gorski
·3 min read

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) — Eighteen Western New York high school football players were named to All-State first teams for their respective classifications.

Among the honorees were Connolly Cup winner Ja’Meer Thomas of Bennett, as well as standout St. Francis offensive lineman Marcus Harrison, who is committed to Georgia. Clarence boasted the most All-State team selections among local schools with six.

Here’s the full list of Western New York players to make an All-State team for the 2023 season. You can view each complete All-State team here.

Class AA

First team: E’Ryan Lawrence (RB, Bennett), Ja’Meer Thomas (OE, Bennett), Marcus Harrison (OL, St. Francis)
Second team: Terrence Pendergrass (RB, St. Francis), Jazier Fluker (DL, Bennett), Kahmari Cook (LB, Bennett), Jahyden Clark (DB, Canisius)
Third team: Landon Welka (QB, St. Francis), Elijah Kimble (RB, Canisius), Jeremiah Neely (OE, St. Francis), Patrick Sullivan (DL, Canisius), Hunter Jantzi (LB, Canisius)
Fifth team: Delshon Taylor (OL, Bennett)
Sixth team: Brady Ciano (QB, Orchard Park)
Honorable mentions: Vincent Zimmerman (QB, Canisius), Carson Bane (RB, Jamestown), Jack Eskridge (RB, Canisius), Jack Ciano (OE, Orchard Park), Aiden Devereaux (Line, Jamestown), Rome Valle (Line, St. Francis), Aaron Roseboro (DB, Bennett), Kynan Ulanga II (DB, St. Francis), Jherek Breske (PK,P, Orchard Park), Cannon Converse (PK/P, Lancaster), Justin Moeller (PK/P, Orchard Park)

Class A

First team: Hezekiah Mercado (OL, Kenmore West), Hayden Arrison (LB, Clarence)
Second team: Shey Williams (OE, Lockport), Cory Cummins (OE, Clarence), Lucas Lombardo (LB, Starpoint)
Third team: Tristan Grimball (LB, Lockport)
Fourth team: Bryce Tubin (QB, Clarence), Joe Richardson (RB, Starpoint), Jake Mattoon (OL, Clarence)
Fifth team: Rocco Panepinto (QB, Sweet Home), Tray Thompson (DB, Lockport), Jeff Long (DB, Clarence)
Sixth team: David Van Horn (RB, Clarence), Cam Whittaker (OL, West Seneca West), Brendan Griffey (PK, West Seneca West)
Honorable mentions: Brandon Liggans (QB, McKinley), Nigel McDuffie (RB, McKinley), Steve Butler (OE, Sweet Home), Patrick Wind (OE, Clarence), Jake Stickney (Line, Starpoint), Lucas Stiglmeier (Line, Lockport), Michael Sole (DB, Grand Island), Evan Pickering (PK/P, Grand Island)

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Class B

First team: Noah Willoughby (QB, South Park), Antwan Ceaser (RB, Health Sciences), Montrice Webster (DL, Health Sciences), Sam Ikegwuonu (DL, Lackawanna)
Second team: Trevor Barry (RB, Iroquois), Nate Blair (OE, Iroquois)
Third team: Isaiah Hill (RB, Maryvale), Luke Matheis (OL, Pioneer), Bryan Edstorm (LB, Iroquois), Kaviohn Pitts (CB, Health Sciences)
Fourth team: Justus Kleitz (QB, Iroquois), Tyler Pagano (OE, Depew), Sheldon Cunningham (OL, Health Sciences), James McNeil (AP, Bishop Timon), Matthew Prusiecki (DB, Maryvale)
Fifth team: Layne Jaworowicz (RB, Alden)
Sixth team: Alex Chukhaneko (OL, Tonawanda)
Honorable mentions: Gavin Schwab (QB, Pioneer), Brayden Tryon (RB, Maryvale), Josh Neeley (OE, Williamsville South), Keenan Banks (Line, Maryvale), Jermaine Parsons (Line, Cheektowaga), Nick Skutnik (PK/P, Iroquois), Gabe Kempf (PK/P, Pioneer)

Class C

First team: Nate Snow (QB, Newfane), Kaedon Holcomb (RB, Portville/Cuba-Rushford), Warrick Kyler (OL, Salamanca), Roosevelt Mitchell (OL, Medina), Zachary Trietly (LB, Salamanca)
Second team: Sam Atzrott (RB, Fredonia), Christian Moss (RB, Medina), Ben Dickinson (OE, Newfane), Lucus Brown (OE, Salamanca), Jameson Walsh (DL, Southwestern), Cory Holleran (CB, Salamanca), Brody Fry (LB, Medina)
Third team: Coy Patterson (QB, Akron), Jameson Quinn (OE, Fredonia), Owen Rush (OL, Fredonia), Jaxson Ross (AP, Salamanca), Tavio Hoose (DL, Southwestern), Dan Aquilina (LB, Roy-Hart/Barker)
Honorable mentions: Nik Manroe (Line, Portville/Cuba-Rushford), Cole Callard (PK/P, Medina)

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Class D

First team: Tate Catanese (QB, CSP), Jack Mahar (RB, Wilson), Bryce Hinsdale (OE, CSP), Grant Lictus (OL, CSP)
Second team: Alex Barmore (OE, CSP), Isaiah Ploetz (OL, Franklinville/Ellicottville), Hunter Smith (AP, Franklinville/Ellicottville), Collin Ryan (LB, CSP)
Honorable mentions: Quentin Center (OE, Gowanda/Pine Valley), Maverick Adams (Line, Randolph), Devin Johnson (Line, CSP)

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Adam Gorski is a Buffalo native who joined the News 4 team in 2022. You can find more of his work here.

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