Earlier this week, the pair were named first-team all-state in their respective classes by the New York State Sportswriters Association.

Lewis, a Southwestern junior, was the only local girl to receive all-state recognition after she finished fourth overall in the Class C race at last month’s New York State Public High School Athletic Association Championships, hosted by Queensbury High School. That finish came on the heels of Lewis finishing first in Class C at the Section VI Championships at Elma Meadows Golf Course and first overall in the girls race at the Chautauqua-Cattaraugus Athletic Association Championships, hosted by Bemus Point Golf Club.

Verbosky, a Maple Grove senior, was named to the Class D first team after taking fifth overall at Queensbury High School. Verbosky was also first in Class D at Elma Meadows and first among the boys at Bemus Point GC.

Joining Verbosky on the Class D all-state team were eight fellow Section VI boys runners. West Valley junior Noah Klahn and Allegany-Limestone junior Nolan Wilczewski were named to the second team; Franklinville/Ellicottville senior Grant Cornell was named to the third team; West Valley senior Derik Schoepflin and Maple Grove senior Ty Kraft were named to the fourth team; Clymer/Sherman/Panama eighth-grader Christopher Phelps was named to the fifth team; and Barker junior Peyton Wagner and Maple Grove senior Jacob Lewis were named honorable mention.

OBSERVER File Photo by Matt Spielman Maple Grove’s Ethan Verbosky was named to the Class D first team by the New York State Sportswriters Association.

Cornell was 29th in Class D at states, third in Class D at sectionals and fifth among the boys at CCAAs; Kraft was 22nd in Class D at states, fifth in Class D at sectionals and seventh among the boys at CCAAs; Phelps was 45th in Class D at states, seventh in Class D at sectionals and eighth among the boys at CCAAs; and Lewis was 38th in Class D at states, sixth in Class D at sectionals and 11th among the boys at CCAAs.

Several other Western New York boys runners found themselves on all-state teams.

In Class A: Lancaster senior Carson Zuba, second team; St. Joe’s sophomore Weston Peirick, honorable mention; and St. Joe’s senior Anthony Scarozza, honorable mention. In Class B: City Honors junior Henry Peterson, first team; Timon junior Padraig Hart, second team; Kenmore East sophomore Sam Clark, fifth team; Hamburg freshman Jacob Mason, sixth team; Canisius junior Aidan Rivera, honorable mention; and Timon sophomore Brett Jakuminiak, honorable mention. In Class C: Alden senior Caleb Feider, first team; East Aurora sophomore Jonah Sebolt, first team; East Aurora sophomore Max Fraser, first team; Alden senior Evan Feider, second team; Alden senior Gae Feider, third team; East Aurora sophomore Noah Faherty, third team; East Aurora senior Luke Wright, fourth team; and East Aurora sophomore Anthony Czekanski, honorable mention.

While Lewis was the only local girl honored, several other Western New York runners received recognition.

In Class A: Williamsville North senior Melia Kupchanko, first team; Lancaster freshman Charlotte Winnicki, fifth team; and Frontier sophomore Payton Fisher, sixth team. In Class B: Nardin senior Anna Wurst, sixth team. In Class C: East Aurora junior Reiley Pierce, fourth team; Newfane eighth-grader Eden Hillman, fourth team; East Aurora senior Kailyn Houghton, fifth team; and Springville junior Elke Melnik, honorable mention. In Class D: West Valley senior Olivia Harmony, fourth team.