Western New York Rising Stars: Class D

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>These are student-athletes with at least 2 more years of High School left that are on the rise and looking to make an impact in their team's success in Class D of Section VI</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- 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":1139997,"_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"[player_tooltip player_id='1246845' first='Carter' last='Capozzi']","_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":"6'4u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_weight":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_weight":"field_65b288425ecf6","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"2409","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Gowanda High School","_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_0_evaluation":"At 6'4, [player_tooltip player_id='1246845' first='Carter' last='Capozzi'] has the prototypical size to be a premier Quarterback. His 1,934 yards was #1 in Class D and his 24 passing touchdowns tied for best in all of Section VI. Carter has tremendous accuracy, especially when rolling out. This is a Quarterback who likes to takes shots downfield and many times resulted in touchdowns. Gowanda relied heavily on their passing attack and Capozzi took advantage of the opportunity, leading the Panthers to the playoffs which resulted in a 1st round loss but a 337 yard 4 touchdown performance from Capozzi kept them in the game. Capozzi has all the tools necessary to repeat his impressive Sophomore season.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_1_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_1_player_details_player_name":"[player_tooltip player_id='1344751' first='Brock' last='Lepsch']","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_1_player_details_graduating_class":"2026","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_1_player_details_height":"6'1u0022","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_1_player_details_weight":"","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_weight":"field_65b288425ecf6","player_evaluations_1_player_details_position":"2496","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_1_player_details_school":"Wilson High School","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_1_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_1_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_1_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"In his first year on Varsity, [player_tooltip player_id='1344751' first='Brock' last='Lepsch'] led the Lakemen in tackles with 75, while adding a sack and an interception. He has the versatility to play Middle Linebacker or Outside. He has great vision to attack the open holes against the run and dynamic hips to disrupt the pass with the speed to match. Lepsch is an electric defender that has all the tools to be Class D's best defender in 2024.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_2_player_details_selected_featured_image":1140002,"_player_evaluations_2_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_2_player_details_player_name":"[player_tooltip player_id='1743184' first='Winter' last='Mentley-Peters']","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_2_player_details_graduating_class":"2026","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_2_player_details_height":"5'9u0022","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_2_player_details_weight":"","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_weight":"field_65b288425ecf6","player_evaluations_2_player_details_position":"2410","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_2_player_details_school":"Gowanda High School","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_2_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_2_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_2_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"Winter was used sparingly on offense as a runner and slot receiver but when his number was called, he made the most of it. Such was the case in the playoffs when he caught 4 passes for 131 yards and a touchdown, all the while recording 8 tackles on defense. As a defender, he is small by defensive line standards but his 43 tackles (8 for loss) and 4 sacks helped out an otherwise suffering Panthers Defense. Mentley-Peters is quick off the ball and has tremendous hands. He has a shiftiness that makes him hard to tackle. As good as he was on defense, his future lies as a slot receiver. With Gowanda's #1 WR Quentin Centner graduating this year, the opportunities will be there for Winter in 2024.","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_3_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_3_player_details_player_name":"[player_tooltip player_id='1743105' first='Camryn' last='Slade']","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_3_player_details_graduating_class":"2026","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_3_player_details_height":"5'10u0022","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_3_player_details_weight":"174","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_weight":"field_65b288425ecf6","player_evaluations_3_player_details_position":"2496","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_3_player_details_school":"Gowanda High School","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_3_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_3_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_3_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"Gowanda did not run the ball much, but when they did it was Slade that led the team with 263 yards and 4 touchdowns. He is the quintessential hard nosed, north-south runner. A bulldozer that is tough to bring down, Slade also possess the vision needed to be a full time workhorse Running Back. Although he wasn't used a lot on offense, Cameron Slade was the Panthers starting Linebacker, leading the team in tackles with 72 (4 for loss). Slade can read and react very well and bring down opposing backs with his solid tackling technique.","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_4_player_details_selected_featured_image":1140007,"_player_evaluations_4_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_4_player_details_player_name":"[player_tooltip player_id='1333933' first='William' last='Wortkoetter']","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_4_player_details_graduating_class":"2026","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_4_player_details_height":"6'5u0022","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_4_player_details_weight":"","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_weight":"field_65b288425ecf6","player_evaluations_4_player_details_position":"2405","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_4_player_details_school":"Wilson High School","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_4_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_4_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_4_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"One of the better lineman prospects in Section VI, Wortkoetter is an aggressive, powerful linemen that consistently blocks downfield. After a dominating freshman season in 2022 where he started at Center, his Sophomore year looked to be even better as he was moved to his natural position of Left Tackle but an injury in the second game of the season cost him to miss most of the year. Originally thought to be out for the season, Wortkoetter came back in time for the Class D Championship game against #1 ranked Clyman/Sherman/Panama. Wilson lost but that will not to take away the bright future this young man has. He should garner much deserved collegiate attention as a Junior.","_player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_5_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_5_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_5_player_details_selected_featured_image":1140014,"_player_evaluations_5_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_5_player_details_player_name":"Hunter Foster","_player_evaluations_5_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_5_player_details_graduating_class":"2026","_player_evaluations_5_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_5_player_details_height":"6'0u0022","_player_evaluations_5_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_5_player_details_weight":"","_player_evaluations_5_player_details_weight":"field_65b288425ecf6","player_evaluations_5_player_details_position":"2405","_player_evaluations_5_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_5_player_details_school":"Randolph High School","_player_evaluations_5_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_5_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_5_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_5_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_5_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_5_evaluation":"Randolph struggled to win in 2023 but their running game was on point, with the help of starting Guard, Hunter Foster. The Cardinals ran for 2,380 yards and 31 touchdowns. Foster has good hand technique with a high motor. An excellent puller, he meets the defenders with aggression and blocks to the whistle on every play. Hunter has a good kick step when pass protecting. His Junior season in 2024 will show how well he has progressed and should give him some collegiate exposure.","_player_evaluations_5_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_6_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_6_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_6_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_6_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_6_player_details_player_name":"[player_tooltip player_id='1743178' first='Ryan' last='Hough']","_player_evaluations_6_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_6_player_details_graduating_class":"2026","_player_evaluations_6_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_6_player_details_height":"6'2u0022","_player_evaluations_6_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_6_player_details_weight":"","_player_evaluations_6_player_details_weight":"field_65b288425ecf6","player_evaluations_6_player_details_position":"2411","_player_evaluations_6_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_6_player_details_school":"Wilson High School","_player_evaluations_6_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_6_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_6_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_6_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_6_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_6_evaluation":"[player_tooltip player_id='1743178' first='Ryan' last='Hough'] proved to be an integral part of Wilson's success in 2023, leading the team in interceptions with 4 as a Safety. Hough is fast with great football instincts. He also contributed at receiver and returner. At 6'2, he has good height to be a #1 WR. Although the Lakemen were a predominately running football team, Ryan showed he can play receiver as good as anyone. Wilson's top 2 receiving targets are graduating this year, leaving the door open for [player_tooltip player_id='1743178' first='Ryan' last='Hough'] to lead the team in receiving, while still being their best defensive back.","_player_evaluations_6_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":7,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-659712f1ad237"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations":"","_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-659c0b02068a7"} /-->