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New York’s best

Fredonia’s Morris named to Class C all-state first-team defense

OBSERVER File Photo Fredonia senior Elizabeth Morris was named to the Class C all-state first-team defense and earned the Defensive Player of the Year honors in Section VI Class C.

After a second season of crowning state champions, girls flag football continues to get the recognition it deserves and on Tuesday the New York State Sportswriters Association added to that by releasing its first-ever all-state teams for the sport.

A pair of local girls received those honors with Fredonia senior Elizabeth Morris being named to the Class C first-team defense and Jamestown senior Kaylee Leeper was named to the Class A fourth-team defense. Leeper reeled in three interceptions and a pick-6 for the Red & Green defense.

Morris added the first-team selection to her Section VI Class C Defensive Player of the Year award after leading the Fredonia defense to a Class C South title while only giving up six points in league play. Morris led the Hillbillies with 80 flag pulls, 49 of which were for a loss with 38 sacks. She also defended seven passes and returned her only interception for a touchdown.

Joining Morris on the Section VI Class C first-team defense is Fredonia eighth-grader Nora Polhamus at safety with seven interceptions, three pick-6s and 21 passes defended on top of 30 flag pulls. Fredonia senior cornerback Brianna Whitfield also earned a spot on the first-team defense with 29 passes defended, six interceptions and another three pick-6s on top of 42 flag pulls.

Fredonia had another three girls named to the Section VI Class C first-team offense with freshman quarterback Sophia Utegg leading the way with 36 total touchdowns including 26 through the air with nine interceptions. Utegg threw 82 for 157 with 1,090 passing yards and then on the ground she accumulated 664 yards on 119 attempts with 12 touchdowns.

OBSERVER File Photo Fredonia freshman Sophia Utegg was named to the Section VI Class C first-team offense at quarterback.

Utegg’s top target, sophomore Madelyn Polhamus, was named a first-team wide receiver with 19 total touchdowns with 17 through the air catching 28 passes for 520 yards. Fredonia also had senior running back Natalia DiPalma named to the first-team offense with 12 total touchdowns, including 11 on the ground amassing 1,137 yards on 146 attempts.

The Section VI Class C Offensive Player of the Year, Pioneer sophomore Ellie Edwards, was also named co-Class C Player of the Year in the state with her junior teammate Jayden Leederman.

Section VI Class C included five honorable mentions in Silver Creek/Forestville’s Josie Daniels, Abbey Cook and Iris Muck, then Southwestern/Frewsburg’s Mallory Atwater and Rozlyn Haglund.

The Class A all-state Player of the Year is Half Hollow Hills junior Samantha Heyman and in Class B a pair of athletes also shared the distinction with Tappan Zee senior Eve Girardi and Sayville senior Olivia Moynihan.

OBSERVER File Photo Fredonia’s Nora Polhamus named to the Section VI Class C first-team defense.

OBSERVER File Photo Fredonia’s Natalia DiPalma was named to the first-team offense.

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