Gabe Kogler, Class of 1996

Gabe Kogler was a 3-sport athlete at Hamburg in football, basketball and baseball, playing games with great determination, heart and sportsmanship.  He learned these skills at a young age from his brothers, challenging each other at Highland Park for home run with brothers Roman and Gregory and Arnell coached them on the basketball court and the grid iron.  In basketball, Gabe was the catcher for both Roman and Gregory, and also learning from their father what it takes to play and be a champion.  When he was in 8^th grade, after the regular baseball season, Coach David Cunningham told Kogler that the varsity squad bullpen needed him to catch the warmup pitchers as they advanced in the playoffs.

In basketball, Gabe played power forward for Coach Cunningham and Coach Bob Orr.  Gabe’s determination in the point helped to advance their 1994 squad to compete against LaSalle for the league Championship at the Niagara Convention Center.

Football is where Gabe excelled though, making the JV squad as an 8^th grader and then playing Varsity as a freshman.  He was privileged to share the gridiron with both Roman and Gregory over the years.   Gabe played tight end, middle linebacker and all special teams.  Both his junior and senior year he was name All-WNY 1^st Team Middle Linebacker, Co-defensive Player of the Year WNY, All-New York State 1^st Team Middle Linebacker, Golden 50 New York State.  He was awarded the Shane Conlan Award for Best Linebacker in WNY in 1996 and picked to the Black and Blue Squad by Dick Gallagher.   During Gabe’s junior year, he helped the football team go undefeated that season with only 23 guys on the team.  Kogler and others never even came off the field!

Gabe earned a full scholarship to play tight end at the University of Buffalo.  Kogler excelled as a starter run-blocking tight end for three seasons with some nice catches as well.  As a senior, Kogler moved to Guard, helping their team to get their first win at the MAAC Conference that year, beating Bowling Green at home.  Kogler was voted Co-Captain by his teammates his senior year.

Gabe lives in Hawaii with his beautiful wife Danielle.  He helped coach the Big Boy League Youth Football.  Gabe works in private security and enjoys watching the Buffalo Bill, listening to baseball games on the radio and going to the beach.