1968 VARSITY MEN’S SOCCER TEAM
This year’s recipient of the Team of Distinction award, is the 1968 HHS soccer team (1969 graduating year), which is still considered one of the finest in WNY history, dominating as much as any team before or since! Coach Gerry Gentner, who developed a team full of All-Star quality talent, only to be joined by Hugo Faul, an AFS student hosted by the Stetler family, who was a member of a German Olympic development team, completed the roster! Outscoring their opponents 75-6 and allowing only one goal from scrimmage all season, the 1968 team went 18-0, winning both league and Section VI championships. After the season end, they placed 6 players on the Division I (out of 11 players) 1st team All Star selection team. The team members only wished that the state championships, which began a few years later, had been available for them.
Soon after the season began, Coach Gentner was drafted into the Army and a young coach, Jim Henneberg (who is also being inducted this year) took over for the remainder of the season. This team was complete from defense to forwards, led in scoring by Ed Atwill (also being inducted this year) and Faul, the defense relied on Rick Bley, Bill Webster, Jim Bates (Co-Captain), Jim Gilmour, and when called upon to make the big save, goalie, Jim McRobert (Co-Captain).
