Compiling All-Greater Rochester high school teams a labor of love for our sportswriters

Dear D&C Subscribers --

A big thank-you to the three sportswriters serving Rochester Democrat and Chronicle and Canandaigua Daily Messenger high school sports fans -- James Johnson, Marquel Slaughter and Justin Ritzel.

Throughout the school year, they tell the stories of athletes and coaches and teams that inspire and delight their fans. Whether we are talking girls basketball or boys swimming, every high school sport in Section V is filled with competitors striving to do their best.

From seemingly time immemorial, many of those high school athletes are honored in our All-Greater Rochester team selections. Last week, the spring season AGR teams were revealed.James writes: Our lineup of Democrat and Chronicle All-Greater Rochester Teams has expanded.

Flag football, one of the newest sanctioned high school sports in the state, makes nine AGR spring teams. There are 22 players on the first AGR flag football team, including the Player of the Year, largely determined by a vote of coaches around Section V.

There is also expansion in two more AGR spring teams. Softball now has 12-player first and second teams as the sport continued to grow in popularity within the area. Boys tennis coordinators asked for a 12-player second team.

Just as parents and coaches and fans are proud of these talented athletes, we are proud of our three sportswriters for taking the time and care to monitor athletes' achievements and then help compile these AGR teams. Thank you, James, Marquel and Justin.

Each week, usually on Sunday evenings, we'll email you highlights of our reporting and videography created exclusively for our subscribers. And we'll share with you some "behind-the-scenes" tidbits on how such journalism comes to be.

Below are some other stories written only for our subscribers you may have missed this month.Thank you for your continuing support of local news in Rochester. We’re greatly appreciative.

Sincerely,