by Linsey | Jul 24, 2019
This year’s Team of Distinction is Hamburg High School’s 1962, 1963 and 1964 Boy’s Cross Country Teams. These teams were undefeated Division I Champions over three autumn seasons, compiling an impressive dual meet log of 32-0. This was a new record for the Erie County Interscholastic Conference founded in 1954-1955. These ECIC Championships were Hamburg’s 5th, 6th and 7th titles since 1954. The cross country teams during these years faced great competition at the start of their season. Strong competition in the Buffalo State Invitational brought teams from Section V, Section VI and beyond. The 1962 team finished in 2nd Place, 2 points behind the winning team. “Best showing ever out of 33 teams,” Coach Foster stated. The 1963 squad duplicated the 2nd Place finish against 31 teams. In 1964 the entries increased to 40 teams with Hamburg finishing in 2nd Place again. Definitely a signal of things to come. After the ECIC dual meet season ended, the ECIC Divisional Meets were held at Chestnut Ridge Park at the Casino. The championship races were run on a challenging course starting downhill into the meadow, running uphill to the toboggan chutes, along the roadway at the Casino to Benning Loop. Runners retraced the route back to the finish line. In Division I, “The 1962 Team ran in a “pack” to finish with a :12 second spread between runners 1-5 … Excellent work!” was Coach Foster’s reply after winning the championship. Ralph Kelly and Ray Sprickman made the ECIC All-Star Team to lead the squad. The 1963 Team also captured the Division I Championship, but encountered hazards! The prolonged, exceptionally dry autumn left training surfaces hard as rock causing more than eight runners to suffer leg, shin, ankle and broken bone injuries. ‘The squad achieved greatly because of team depth,” stated Foster. Thomas Hoffman, team captain, led this tenacious team while gaining ECIC All-Star status. The teams grew in size, talent and experience. The 1964 Team rolled onward to capture the ECIC 1962 Division I Championship for a third consecutive year, conquering teams, race courses and titles. The Bulldog’s placed Chris Hart, Edd Webster and Bruce Cook on the ECIC All-Star Team.
Foster’s teams grew in size. The 1959 Team had 27 runners. The 1962, 1963 and 1964 teams had 33, 47 and 49 runners respectively. This makes a total of 129 runners for Foster’s last three seasons.
Sectional Championships were the gold standard. Since 1950 to 1959 Hamburg had won 8 Sectional Championships. The 1962 Team lost a pre-season scrimmage to Kenmore East, defending Class MA Champion. The Hamburg harriers returned the favor and defeated Kenmore at Chestnut Ridge to capture Hamburg’s first Class AAA Championship. Leg, ankle, shin and bone injuries prevented the 1963 Harriers from defending yet finished in 3rd Place. The 1964 Bulldogs returned with great desire and won the Class AAA Championship, 10th Hamburg Sectional title and 5th Place at the State Meet in Baldwinsville, NY. “Best team exceeding 1962 Team, Best team in WNY, a top team in New York State.” – J. Foster
by Linsey | Jul 24, 2019
1st row: C. Kaney, K Sargent 2nd row: W Tuttle, A. Heath, C. Wetsell, D, Rydholm, A. Sweeney, M. Benenati, K Manhardt, T Sargent, I Evans, L. Bauer 3rd row; T. (Manager), B. Schreiber (Manager), S. Rust,” Schuh, K Nicosia, K Dossinger, J. Kuhn, L. Reynolds, J. Foley, J. Spear, N. Sargent, A. Vara, K Bocian, Coach Martin Snyder Absent: D. Espinosa, C. Waggoner
1st row: M. Benenati, B. Vara, D. Rydholm 2nd row: T Sargent, A. Sweeney, N. Sargent,A. Vara, J. Foley, L Reynolds, K Man-hardt 3rd row: C Ansuini, K Doster, L. Adornetto, K Maghran, L. Bauer, M Kos-a-an, A Heath, J. Furgala, E. Deisig Row 4: Coach Snyder, W Tuttle, B. Szydlowski, S. Rust, K McCLain, K Nicosia, J. Kuhn, K Dossinger,J. Schuh Absent: D. Espinosa, K Lawrence, T. Jusko (manager)
Team of Distinction: Hamburg High School’s 1994 and 1995 Girls Varsity Tennis Teams. They were undefeated Division II Champions both years, with a 20-0 record over the two seasons. The ’95 Division Championship was their 4th in 5 years, with a 45-4 record in division matches. The winning continued into the late 90’s, with 5 members of the ’94 and ’95 teams advancing to the State Championships in 6 successive seasons. Margaret Benenati, along with doubles partner Kelly Sargent, just missed a trip to States in ’94. Benenati made it to States in singles in ’95 after finishing 2nd at ECIC’s and 3rd at Sectionals. 1994 Team members Andrea Sweeney and Nicole Sargent won the ECIC Doubles Championship that year. They went on to place 2nd in the Section VI Championships, advancing to States. They again qualified for States in 1995, and in 1996 advanced to States for the 3rd consecutive time. Sargent went to States 4 times while playing tennis at Hamburg High School. Nicole and Tricia Sargent were Section VI and ECIC doubles champions in 1997, advancing to States that year. Tricia and Jill Adornetto won the Section VI Doubles Championships, were ECIC finalists and advanced to States in 1998. Several of the girls from the ’94 and ’95 teams went on to play tennis at the collegiate level. In looking back, Coach Marty Snyder said, “Hamburg High School has a long history of having quality tennis teams, but what set the team apart during the ’94 and ’95 seasons, along with their accomplishments, was their camaraderie and shared unity of purpose. In a largely individual sport, rarely do a group of players, each bringing their own unique talents, skills and attributes to the team, come together to form such a cohesive unit”. What also made the team special was their collective ‘refuse to lose’ approach that they brought into each match, along with their ‘we’re not going to lose – you’re going to have to beat us’ attitude. These players wanted to do well – expected to do well – and gave their personal best in every match. They supported one another, took pride in the success of their team and thereby brought out the best in each other. Although they played with intensity, the players clearly showed a love of the game and had fun together on and off the court. It really made those years enjoyable and memorable for everyone who had the privilege of being a part of it.” The team was moved into Division I for the next 5 years where their win-loss record was 41-9. During that time, they had two 1st place and three 2nd place finishes.
by Linsey | Jul 24, 2019
8-0! After 40 years it’s still the way that teammates greet one another, whether on email or when getting together for reunions. “The most talented team I ever coached,” remarked Head Coach Dick Van Valkenburgh, who along with Defense Coordinator, Gene Seidleck, and lead by Co-captains, Gary Beckett and Tom Hansen, enjoyed the first undefeated football season since 1959, and the last Hamburg football team to complete a perfect season. This team had all the characteristics of a successful team: speed, endurance, dedication, commitment, and the will to outlast all opponents.
According to team records, the 1974 team was rated #3 in WNY and #11 in New York State! They outscored their opponents 217 (27 PPG) to 39 (4.9 PPG). On offense, Quarterback Dennis Courtney ran the option offense majestically, distributing the ball to running backs Mike Wilson (10 yards per carry), Tom Kalke (5.6 yards per carry), and Phil Warner (5.4 yards per carry). While Courtney only threw the ball 28 times all season, 4 of those passes went for touchdowns, 3 of them going to Andy Fleming. On defense, the team had four players selected Division II 1st team All Stars: Al Galac, Rick Peters, Larry Petzing, and linebacker Doug Boyd, who was an All-State selection.
One of the remarkable facts of this team according to Coach Van Valkenburgh was that “the skill level was so good that we were able to split the team into strictly offense and defense,” with 21 of the 22 positions being played by a different person, in other words, only 1 player played both on offense and defense, which is unheard of in high school football. In total, eight players on offense and defense were chosen as All-Stars, four 1st team on offense and defense. Talking with team members they all lament that there wasn’t a playoff back in 1974 or this team ‘would have gone to 9-0 at Ralph Wilson Stadium!
by Linsey | Jul 23, 2019
The Hamburg High School girls swimming and diving team dominated Section VI during the mid-eighties. The Lady Bullfrogs won 54 consecutive dual meets from October 1983 through October 1988. The Sectional Champion teams of 1985, 1986 and 1987 were the culmination of a tradition of excellence that began in the late seventies. The girls won nine ECIC Divisional titles beginning in 1978 and six ECIC Meet Championships beginning in 1980. The HHS Class of 1988 was undefeated from their first modified swim meet to the final varsity meet in 1987.
After 25 years and despite numerous improvements in swimming training and technique, six individual records still remain. Cherie Benz, Sarah Mumbach, and Trish Griffin hold two school records each. Three relays also remain: 400 freestyle school (Penny Davis, Cherie Benz, Sarah Mumbach, Colleen Bugman), 200 medley school (Colleen Bugman, Sarah Mumbach, Cherie Benz, Julie Andreef) and 400 freestyle pool (Lauren Makeyanko, Sally Haws, Cherie Benz, Penny Davis).
Row 1: Melinda LaPaglia, Jenny David, Sara Hughey, Jessica Hughey, Beth Krawczyk. Row 2: Shelly Kummer, Cherie Benz, Kelly McNaney, Vicki Piniewski, Jeanne Golebiewski. Row 3: Coach William Malican, Wendy Howe, Emily Leach, Allyson Cook, Kris Almond, Trish Griffin, Kris Hornberger, Kris Mirasola, Sue Ford, Coach Dave Evans, Colleen Bugman. Row 4: Lauren Makeyenko, Sally Haws, Katie Shanks, Captain Lillian Michalko, Bridget Lalley, Cheryl Vanderzell. Missing: Penny Davis, Karoline Henry, Captain Lisa McNaney.
by Linsey | Jul 23, 2019
Head Coach: Bill Rodiek Assistant Coach: Lloyd Jayne Team Captain: Allan Quinby
The Class of 1949-1950 Football team is arguable the most dominant team to ever wear the purple and white! This group of athletes, led by Wall of Fame Coach Bill Rodiek, completed a perfect 7-0 season in the fall of 1949, and were Northern Erie County Conference champions. What was remarkable about this season is the dominance that Hamburg demonstrated over their opponents, outscoring them 243-21, and posting 4 shutouts. That’s an average of 34 to 3 per game! Lead by Captain Allan Quinby, this team had two future Hamburg Wall of Famers, Pete Vann and Bob Leberman, playing on this team. To make their story even more legendary, it was the members of this class that won the New York State Sectional championships in football, basketball, baseball and track – the four major sports in 1950. The unprecedented feat of winning the Section VI “Grand Slam” was a first in state history. The legend of this accomplishment is still proudly remembered by the former teammates and their classmates.
