Modified Sports

Welcome to the Kenmore West Modified Sports Column, where you can find information about the modified sports teams our school offers. 

For this edition of the newspaper, we decided to check up on most of our modified teams and ask how they’re doing so far this season. We interviewed Captains and team members of each team, who told us their thoughts and opinions. To get an outside perspective on how the teams are doing, we took some notes on one game for every team. Take a look at your favorite teams and their players!

Modified Girls Soccer - 10/4 

Score: 2-2

The defense has been playing really well, with plenty of great passes.The game started off with a goal from East, but we quickly tied up the score with a great kick from Delaney Kenerson. Halfway through the first half, the team switched Samarra Grant for Ally Foglia in the goalie position, which paid off. Defense was really working hard this game, with Co-Captain Isabella DeValentino leading the charge. 

In the second half, seventh grader Eden Daumen scored a goal, putting us in the lead by one. Both Samarra Grant and Ally Foglia blocked most of the attempted shots by East, keeping West in the lead. To finish up the game, East scored one last goal, tying the score.

After the game, we did a quick interview with the Co-Captains, Isabella Devalentino and Callie Wiemer who were very excited to tell us about the team.

Caroline: How is the team doing so far? 

Isabella: Pretty good. We’re all working together really well.

Caroline: How are the new players?

Callie: Really great, they're passing and working with us, which is what we need.

Quinn: Do you have any concerns about the team? 

Isabella: We can always be communicating more, making active decisions, stuff like that.

Caroline: What are your hopes for the rest of the year?

Callie: We win some games and do well.

Modified Girls Volleyball - 10/6 

Score: 5 - 0

During the first set, the score was 25-6. Avery Brach was on a roll, which really put the team ahead, getting the team to 25 points in no time. While CSAT was putting up a good fight, the girls easily scored, leading into the second set.

During the second set, Arianna Burgess and Olivia Brorzac were serving up a storm, motivating the team and scoring left and right. 

West fumbled a little in the third set, but pulled through and just made it, by only two points. There was a lot of encouragement and teamwork from the girls, who were working very hard. So many 7th grade girls played so well and really helped the team pull through.

 During the fourth set, Ally Foglia and Jillian Aronica were working together to get the ball over the net, scoring plenty of points for West. 

With four sets over and only one left, the girls were still going strong. In the final set, Lily Rout really stood out, making multiple great serves and saves and leading the team to an easy victory.

Before the game started we talked with team member Avery Brach about the team, who was enthusiastic about sharing.

Quinn: So, how is the team doing so far? 

Avery: The score is 3 - 1 right now, and we’re doing well. We’re developing and becoming a very good team. Everyone gets along and enjoys the sport.

Quinn: How well would you say the team is working together?

Avery: The new players have improved a ton recently, and have been doing well. We all get along great.

Quinn: What are your hopes for the rest of the year?

Avery: I hope that we win more, and that we learn and grow.

Boys Modified Football - 10/11

Score: 28-0 by Halftime

The Blue Devils started the first quarter tied 0-0 with Lockport, working hard to score. Luckily, by the end of the first quarter, Oak Htut, the Co-Captain, scored their first touchdown. 

Starting the second quarter, another touchdown was scored by the team, putting them even farther ahead of Lockport. Oak Htut was on a roll, helping to score another touchdown with little struggle. Jeffery Huber played quarterback, throwing multiple complete passes and helping score a touchdown later on in the game. 

Five West players were injured during the game, but they all got back up and continued to play hard. Oak scored another touchdown in the second half of the game with ease, putting the team even farther ahead. 

Lockport almost scored a touchdown in the last few minutes, but the amazing defense prevented them from gaining any more yards.

West won the game easily, really displaying the teamwork and communication that the modified team has.

Luckily, we managed to catch two of the three Captains, Oak Htut and Carter Winarski, after the game was over, and they had plenty to say.

Caroline: How is the team doing so far? 

Oak: We are doing pretty good. The score is 3-2, and we’re hoping to win next week against Grand Island.

Caroline: How well do you think the team is working together?

Oak: They're working pretty well, and the younger kids are working really hard.

Quinn: What are your hopes for the rest of the season?

Carter: We have one week left, and we want to make it count. We hope to win against Grand Island, since we haven’t won against them in 3 years.

Boys Modified Volleyball - 10/24

Score: 3-2

NOTE: West and East have a combined Boys Modified Volleyball team

West had won the first set but the next two were won by Lockport. Ryker Hake and Mack Spitler were setting really well and helped us to win a few points. Remo Rose also helped us gain more points and win the fourth set. During the fifth set again, Remo Rose was playing really well setting the ball. We kept gaining points but so did lockport so we were tying and losing and tying again but then we made a comeback to help us win. In the end we were able to win the game. Their communication and overall cooperation and spirit throughout the game were probably the highlights of the game. They all come from different schools in the district (East, Franklin, West and Hoover) and despite this, their teamwork was phenomenal.

Before the game, we had a quick chat with Mack Spitler, one of the team members, who told us some insightful things about how the team is going.

Caroline: How is the team doing so far? 

Mack: I think that we are doing pretty well so far, but there are some things we need to work on. 

Caroline: How well do you think the team is working together?

Mack: We need to try a little harder, and the team needs to be working together more, but other than that we’re doing alright.

Caroline: Do you have any concerns about the team? 

Mack: No, we just need to be nicer to our teammates.

Caroline: So, what are your hopes for the rest of the year?

Mack: Just that we go undefeated the rest of the season, really.

Boys Modified Soccer

While we weren’t able to watch the soccer team play, we had the opportunity to speak with one of the team members about their season. Here’s what he had to say:

Quinn: How is the team doing so far? 

Easton: Pretty good. Definitely much better than last year.

Caroline: Do you have any concerns about the team? 

Easton: No real concerns, we just want to do as best as we can.

Quinn: What are your hopes for the rest of the year?

Easton: To finish the season with a win and do as good as we can.

Every Modified team did great this season, and we hope the students and staff continue to support our players as they grow throughout their careers as Kenmore West athletes.