by Dawn Kane | Oct 14, 2024
One of Jillian Ford’s fondest memories was also her first experience being a Bulldog; going to Glen Meadows Park on summer mornings to basketball practice with modified basketball coach, Mark Dziob (Coach Mark). This was just the start for Jill at Hamburg, as she went on to become a standout three-sport athlete in Lacrosse, Field Hockey and Basketball.
While she excelled in all three sports, Jill finished her high school career as one of the most decorated lacrosse players in Hamburg history. Jill was a midfielder, who was part of the program that won three consecutive Section VI Championships from (2012 -2014). She was named a First-Team US Lacrosse All-American, two-time First-Team ALL WNY and First-Team All-Metro Lacrosse player (2013, 2014), three-time First Team Division All-Star and represented the WNY/Rochester region on the top team for the #1 recruiting showcase in the US for women’s lacrosse in 2012 and 2013. Jillian finished her career amassing 200 career points (165 goals and 35 assists) as a four-year letter winner for the Hamburg girl’s lacrosse program. As a member of the girls’ basketball program, Jill was a two-time All-ECIC selection and also, part of the Section VI runner-up team that lost a heartbreaker to Grand Island in 2013. As in Lacrosse, Jill played midfield for the Field Hockey team, which demands a player to be part of the offensive and be able to react and race to defend the goal. Jill was a major contributor to the Section VI championship field hockey team in 2011.
Like many multi-sport athletes, one of the most difficult decisions is deciding what sport to continue to play in college. Despite the love of basketball, Jill took her talents to Niagara University receiving a Division I scholarship for the women’s lacrosse program. While majoring in criminal justice in the classroom, Jill also majored in a successful lacrosse campaign from 2015-2108. She was a four-year starter, named to the 2015 MAAC All-Rookie appearing in all 18 games making 17 starts and earned second team All-MAAC as a Junior in 2017. Jill etched her way into the Niagara University women’s lacrosse record books for Top Ten All-time in career draw controls (76) and caused turnovers (55).
Upon graduating with a criminal justice degree and two minors in forensic science and computer crime, Jill pursued a career in Law enforcement in Virginia. After 4 years in Virginia, made her way back to Buffalo to be closer to family and friends. Jill and her fiancé, Samantha Vermeulen currently reside in Fairport, NY with their two dogs.
by Dawn Kane | Oct 14, 2024
During her sports career as a Bulldog, Megan was involved in soccer, basketball and lacrosse. However, it was lacrosse that Megan found her passion and love for the game, playing Varsity all four years of high school.
As a freshman, Megan was a starter on the defense and garnered Division II First Team accolades. The following season, Coach Katy Ryan, Hamburg Alum and Wall of Famer, was hired as head coach. Megan recalls the hire as a pivotal moment in her lacrosse career, where she was provided high level skills, fundamentals and knowledge of the game, that would help propel her talent to the next level. Over the next three years, Megan would find tremendous success as a player and with her team, winning back-to-back Section VI Championships in 2012 and 2013, earning the accolades of a two-time First Team All-WNY selection and two-time US Lacrosse All-American (first in Hamburg girls lacrosse program history), recognition as an Under Armour Underclassmen All-American, member of the top WNY/Rochester National team that competed at the premiere women’s lacrosse recruiting showcase in the country, three-time ECIC Division Champion as a team as well as First Team All Division as a player (2012, 2013). Megan would top off her high school career earning the prestigious Tom Borrelli Award, given to the top female lacrosse player in Western New York. She finished her high school lacrosse career with 105 goals, 93 assists, 18 interceptions, 122 caused turnovers, 130 ground balls and 171 draw controls
After Hamburg, Megan earned a Division I scholarship to play for the women’s lacrosse program at the University of Albany. While playing for UAlbany, Megan had a solid career, shining bright in her Junior and Senior seasons as a starter for the Great Danes. During her collegiate career, UAlbany made the America East Championship each season. They were also selected as an At-Large Bid to the NCAA tournament in 2013-2014 and 2016-2017 seasons.
Megan graduated with a Bachelors in Informatics (concentration in Interactive User Experience) and a minor in Communications. Currently residing in Buffalo, Megan is working in IT with Excellus BCBS and assistant coaching at Daemen University (NY).
by Dawn Kane | Oct 14, 2024
Hamburg has a rich history of having some of the finest lacrosse players to ever play in the WNY region. Most notable are the Resetarits brothers for scoring goals or Chris Pieczonka for winning faceoffs, however, for Eric Chadderdon it was defending the goal. Eric began his journey with the Hamburg High School Varsity Lacrosse Team as an eighth grader in the 2007 season, quickly securing a starting role. Throughout his high school career, he played a crucial part in winning four NYS Section VI Championships. In 2010 and 2011, Eric earned the titles of All-American and Metro Defender of the Year. At 6’ 2” and 205 pounds, Eric was an imposing player who through his remarkable skills also landed him a spot on the ESPN Rise National Top 40 Team and the Under Armour All-American Team. For two consecutive years, he was recognized as the All-Western NY Section VI Defender and Defensive Team MVP. Additionally, Eric represented the Western Team in the Empire State Games, winning both gold and bronze medals, and was named the best defender of 2011 by lax.com, while Inside Lacrosse magazine ranked Chadderdon as the 24th best lacrosse recruit in the Class of 2011. Hamburg lacrosse Head Coach, Jerry Severino, said of Eric, “he was the best defenseman on the field from the time he took the field in 8th grade”.
Academically, Eric excelled as well, making the HHS honor roll throughout his high school years. He was included on the NY State All-Academic Team, recognized as a News 4 Scholar-Athlete, and inducted into the National Business Honor Society.
Besides lacrosse, Eric also played football at HHS and participated in alpine ski racing. Eric received a scholarship to play lacrosse at The Ohio State University for two years before transferring to LeMoyne College. While at LeMoyne, he achieved the pinnacle of college lacrosse by winning the 2016 National Lacrosse Championship, beating top-ranked Limestone College in the championship game in 2015. That year Eric was selected to the USILA All-American third-team.
Eric graduated with a BA in Communications and currently works as a Strategy Leader at Amazon Web Services. He resides in Newburyport, Massachusetts, with his wife, Chelsea, and they are expecting twin girls this Fall.
by Dawn Kane | Oct 14, 2024
Meghan grew up in the village of Hamburg and her passion for athletics started at a young age playing sports in the driveway with her two older brothers, Kevin & Sean. She started dance at the age of 3 and softball at the age of 6 through the Hamburg Junior Baseball league. At the age of 8, she started playing travel ice hockey for the Hamburg Hawks where she continued through her senior year of high school.
Her field hockey career began in 7th grade and she went on to excel, playing varsity from her sophomore year on. She was selected for the 2008 Empire State Team, representing WNY. Her varsity accolades include three-time First Team ECIC and two-time First Team All-WNY. She was named team captain in 2009 as well. She finished her career with 36 goals and 20 assists. One of Meghan’s favorite memories was scoring the game winning goal with seconds left in overtime against Orchard Park senior year to advance the team on to section semifinals. Her softball career continued through her senior year as well where she was the starting shortstop and team captain in 2010.
She also stood out in the classroom earning the Outstanding Scholastic Student Athlete Award for Hamburg High School 2009-2010 with a 98.5 GPA, one of her most proud honors, and graduated in the top 10 of her class.
After high school she received a scholarship to play Division II Field Hockey at Mercyhurst University where she went on to start all 73 games of her career. She made the All-PSAC 2nd team in 2013, ECAC Division II All-Star team in 2013 and was nominated for the Mercyhurst Senior Scholar-Athlete of the Year in 2014. She was chosen to play in the NFHCA Division II North/South Senior Game in 2013. Also served as team captain her junior and senior year.
After college, Meghan attended the Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences at the University at Buffalo where she received her MD. She completed a 4-year residency in combined internal medicine & pediatrics at UB and was named chief resident her 4th year. Meghan still resides in the Village of Hamburg, and she works as a board-certified internal medicine and pediatrics physician in primary care. She enjoys golf and continues to play adult league field hockey, softball and the occasional ice hockey tournament with her old teammates.
by Dawn Kane | Oct 14, 2024
When both of your parents are over 6 feet tall, it was a given fact that Blake McLimans, would grow to be one of the tallest athletics to ever participate in sports at Hamburg High School. The only question would be: what sport would he excel in, considering his late father, Jeff, was a standout pitcher and former Hamburg JV baseball coach? For Blake, who would grow to become 6’10” it would be three sports; as he was a 3-year varsity letterman in volleyball, basketball and baseball.
During his senior year (2007-08), he averaged 19.5 points, 11.0 rebounds, 4.7 blocked shots and 4.0 assists, and was named ECIC II player of the year leading the basketball team to its first divisional championship since 1990. Blake finished his basketball career at Hamburg as the all-time leader in blocked shots (208), fourth all-time in scoring (968) and fifth in rebounding (553). Also, during his senior year, Blake was named All-WNY- 2nd team in Volleyball and on the diamond, he was named All-WNY-honorable mention while co-captaining and leading the team to its first baseball sectional championship in school history. Trifecta! What a year! At the end of Blake’s high school career, he had the difficult decision to either play baseball at West Virginia University or take his chances going to prep school for a year to get recruited in basketball. The decision was made late in his senior year to attend Worcester Academy in Massachusetts and take his chances on the court. Because Blake was a three-sport star he didn’t participate in AAU basketball and therefore wasn’t on the radar of big-time Division I programs during basketball recruitment, so Worcester became a great decision. After just 3 weeks at prep school, he decided to commit to the University of Michigan to play basketball on a full scholarship, coached by Buffalo’s own John Beilein. During his time at Michigan, he helped the team to a BIG TEN championship in 2012 and was a member of the 2013 team which made it to the national championship game.
Blake graduated Michigan with a bachelor’s degree in Economics. Currently, Blake is the Vice President of Revenue at RFX and lives in Tampa, FL.
