Class of ’26: WNY ATHs

<!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Best of the Best</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1241972"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-67ea913ecc3ae"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Bonta could have made the list as a top RB or LB in this class. He was named to every team in Section VI (All WNY, All State, All League, etc...) and came close to winning the Connolly Cup in his first season as a full time RB. Chase ran for almost 2,000 yards and 20+ touchdowns while also recording his second straight 100+ tackle season at LB. He possesses solid speed and closes his runs with aggression.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Dominic Gonzalez","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2026","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"6'0u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_weight":"150","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_weight":"field_65b288425ecf6","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"2411","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Jamestown","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-67ea913ecc4f2"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Gonzalez had a breakout season as a junior. He started the season as Jamestown's backup QB but throughout the season, he showed his versatility running the ball and as a defensive back. By year's end, he would end up being the Red &amp; Green's starting QB and led them to the Sectional title game. How his senior year will play out is yet to be seen but Dominic can play a variety of positions.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1249378"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-67ea913ecc577"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Gerstung came into his junior year off of a torn ACL and while his statistics were down from 2023, he still showed a lot of explosion from his breaks. Isaiah possesses soft hands as a receiver and runs extremely well. He is fast and does not avoid contact. As a DB, he has good intuition and fluid hips. His ball hawking skills are very good and he should have a monster year as a senior.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Rising the Ranks</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1339489' first='Daymario' last='Young'] made his varsity debut in 2024 for Williamsville North and showed off his quick burst, good technique and looks to be the Spartans #1 shutdown corner in 2025.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1743178' first='Ryan' last='Hough'] &amp; [player_tooltip player_id='1743184' first='Winter' last='Mentley-Peters'] are two small school products whose talents do get overlooked but they are essential in all three aspects of the game. Hough, from Wilson, is a prototypical X WR with good body control and a big frame while Peters, from Gowanda, is more of a slender, shifty player.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Players to Watch</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1566923' first='Jacek' last='Sawicki'] from Pioneer was a player I had as a potential breakout candidate but other players ended up filling that void at RB/DB. The doors will be open again as the Panthers will have a relatively young team so Sawicki should be a player that is counted on for Pioneer to get back to prominence.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='814985' first='Jherek' last='Breske'] from Orchard Park earned many post season accolades as a sophomore and was a do-it-all kind of player but there wasn't any film I have seen on him as a junior. From what I saw on HUDL, he is also an accomplished Lacrosse player so that may be where his future lies. But if he is on the football field for his senior campaign, he will be a player to know.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->