Bradley, Crouse earn Salamanca’s Athlete of the Year awards

SALAMANCA — At Salamanca High School’s 2026 Moving Up Day, Payton Bradley and Makenzie Crouse were named the Athletes of the Year.

Bradley, earning the Lou Foy Male Athlete of the Year Award, was a three-sport athlete during his senior year at Salamanca, participating in football, basketball and baseball.

In football, he was a first-team Big 30 All-Star, first-team league all-star and was nominated by the Big 30 football committee for player of the year. On the hardwood, Bradley was a CCAA first-team All-Star and a Big 30 second-team All-Star, averaging a double-double for the entire season — the only player in the last decade of Salamanca basketball to do so. On the diamond, he led the baseball team with a .491 average and was recognized as the best defensive player in our league.

Crouse was awarded the Anita Oyler Female Athlete of the Year. A three-sport athlete, she participated in basketball, softball and volleyball during her senior year.

On the court, she averaged 8.0 points, 1.8 assists, 8.1 rebounds, 2.0 blocks and 2.0 steals per game. For her efforts, she reeled in a plethora of awards, including second-team CCAA Div. I All-Star, NYSPHSAA Winter Scholar Athlete, Big 30 Weekly Standout, Roger Weiss Showcase Sportsmanship Award, Big 30 Senior Classic All-Star, All-WNY Scholar Athlete Honorable Mention

As team captain, she led the Warriors to a sectional title last season, earning her 700th career rebound in the postseason.

She was a three-year member of the volleyball and softball team and was praised highly by her coaches who reflected on her strong leadership qualities.

Also, as a part of Moving Up Day, Charli Ross, Jesse Hill and Brendon Ghani earned the Roger Crandall Warrior Pride Awards.

Charli Ross (left), Jesse Hill (middle) and Brendon Ghani (right) were named Salamanca’s Roger Crandall Warrior Pride Award winners at Moving Up Day.

The award is presented annually to multi-sport male and female athletes who exhibit the highest degree of character and courage while competing in athletics.