On Monday night, Westfield honored two athletes from the 2023 season and gave the recognition to another two athletes to make First Team All-State several years ago.

“It’s a pretty neat thing to have the school dig into the past and go back and recognize all the people getting these honors,” Westfield head coach Nolan Swanson stated. “I think we’ve found everybody, but we may not have.”

Waiting the longest to have his all-state honor raised in the Westfield gymnasium is Ryan Vandevelde who received the award in 1998 as a catcher for the Wolverines. Then, more recently, Jonathan Wilson was honored as an infielder on the 2016 baseball team.

“It means a lot to the school and the teams we were on,” Wilson said about the honor. “It gives these kids something to strive for, something to look forward to and shows the teams can produce something really awesome.”

Ryan Vandevelde, left, shakes hands with Westfield athletic director Neil Huber as the two hold Wilson’s First-Team All-State banner that will hang in the Westfield gymnasium, before Monday’s game against Brocton. OBSERVER Photo by Christian Storms

Both Vandevelde and Wilson were able to attend the game and receive a warm welcome from the Westfield crowd, recognizing them as a part of the athletics history at Westfield.

“This school and this town has such an impact on me,” Wilson added. “I’ve gone away through college and some job opportunities, but ultimately this is the spot I want to be. So I made an effort to come back here and it’s great to share it with the community.”

While Vandevelde and Wilson finally received their honors in the gymnasium, for the second year in a row, Dellow was a part of the ceremony to finish off her illustrious career in the circle for Westfield. For the second straight season, Dellow was named to the First Team All-State as a pitcher for the Wolverines in Class D.

Currently in her freshman year at George Mason University where she will play NCAA Division I softball in the spring, Dellow became the first Westfield athlete to make First Team All-State twice.

The final person to be honored joins his brother in the rafters as Carson Swanson made it consecutive seasons a Swanson was a member of First Team All-State in Class D basketball.

Westfield's Haleigh Dellow, left, shakes hands with Westfield athletic director Neil Huber while Westfield softball coach Shawn Gnadzinski holds Dellow's First Team All-State banner. OBSERVER Photo by Christian Storms

Swanson earned the honor in just his sophomore year and now in his junior season with the Wolverines is currently the No. 2 scorer in all of Section VI.

“It’s an endless amount of work,” an emotional Nolan Swanson said about now having both his sons receive First Team All-State honors. “For me to always be his coach it might be a little old, you might think, for a kid. The way we get along… it’s a good bond.”

Then, after the banner ceremonies, Swanson showed off on the court why his name will forever be hanging in the Westfield gymnasium.

“Just to see a kid work the way he does,” Nolan added. “The endless amount of time that it takes to be able to do what he does, to be rewarded for that is what it’s all about. People are seeing the things he can do are special and same with the others awarded.”

Westfield put a ribbon on the night with a huge 82-37 victory over Brocton in Chautauqua-Cattaraugus Athletic Association Division 2 West action.

Westfield junior Carson Swanson, left, holds his First Team All-State banner with his father and Westfield head coach Nolan Swanson. OBSERVER Photo by Christian Storms

It was a complete team effort by Westfield, but Swanson put a huge stamp on the game, scoring 28 points, dishing 12 assists, grabbing eight rebounds and collecting eight steals.

Westfield (9-1, 3-0) also received a big performance from Zach Maguire with 22 points, eight boards and two blocks; Chris Vacanti scored 15 points with four blocks; and Aaron Fuller grabbed nine rebounds, and had five assists and three steals.

Brocton (5-6, 1-4) was led by Nate Miller and Michael Garcia with 10 points each.

BROCTON (37)

Gustafson 2 0 4, Gatto 1 0 2, Miller 3 1 10, Garcia 4 0 10, McIntyre 4 0 9, Laurito 0 0 0, Weisner 0 2 2, St. George 0 0 0, Cruz 0 0 0. Totals 14 3 37.

Westfield's Carson Swanson dishes a pass during Monday's CCAA D2 West game against Brocton. OBSERVER Photo by Christian Storms

WESTFIELD (82)

Russo 0 0 0, Lawrence 2 0 4, Whitesell 2 0 4, Maguire 10 1 22, Swanson 12 1 28, Vacanti 6 0 15, Stellhorn 0 0 0, Schuster 0 0 0, Wood 0 0 0, Fuller 3 3 9. Totals 35 5 82.

3-point goals–Miller 3, Garcia 2, McIntyre, Maguire, Swanson 3, Vacanti 3.

Brocton 3 0 16 18 — 37

Westfield 30 17 20 15 — 82

Westfield's Carson Swanson goes up for a dunk in the first half against Brocton on Monday. OBSERVER photo by Christian Storms