by Linsey | Jul 23, 2019
A graduate of Cortland State, Jim came to Hamburg in 1964. Upon his arrival, Jim coached Boys’ Varsity Basketball and was asked to take over for Coach Gentner, who was drafted into the Army, to coach the Boys’ Varsity Soccer Team. He responded by leading the squad to a perfect 18-0 season and a Section VI championship! In his 50 Varsity sports seasons, Jim recorded 47 winning seasons and cumulative record of 622-207, a .750 winning percentage! Henneberg’s Varsity Boys’ basketball teams posted a 64-32 record over 5 seasons and reach the Section VI championship game in 1968. His Boy’s Tennis teams compiled a 160-74 match record and in 4 years of coaching the Girl’s tennis team, at least one team member qualified for the NYS finals each year. In his tenure as the Varsity Golf coach, his teams posted a remarkable match record of 112-2, earning 10 division championships, 5 ECIC championships, highlighted with Kris Cappuzzo becoming Hamburg’s first, and only New York State golf champion. In 13 years as Girls’ Varsity Basketball coach, he led the Lady Bulldogs to three consecutive division championships, eight Section VI semifinals and compiled a record of 207-78. While his winning percentage speaks for itself, Jim’s greatest contribution to Hamburg athletics was his innate ability to motivate his athletes positively, and make them realize their potential as individuals long after their playing days were through. Simply put, he changed lives!
by Linsey | Jul 23, 2019
There were not enough sports seasons for Bill Zoeller, to exhibit his multiple talents! Bill scored a total of 1,324 points, also setting the record for the most points in a season (669) in basketball, and selected WNY- 2nd team, leading the Bulldogs to the Section VI finals for the 1989-90 season. Zoeller won over 50 matches, playing 1st singles for the tennis team, and he was also a top player on HHS golf teams which lost only one match in his final four years (47-1)! During his senior season, Bill was team captain for all three sports that he competed and earned Director’s Key in Tennis and Basketball. In his spare time he was a top-notch junior league baseball player and won many local and regional titles in AAU track during the summer. Some of his favorite HHS memories are breaking the school scoring record in basketball, playing in the Section VI finals against LaSalle at UB, and earning 13 varsity letters in his high school career.
by Linsey | Jul 23, 2019
Ward was a tenacious football player who played both offensive guard and linebacker for the purple and white. In 1982, Ward was co-captain, leading the bulldogs to a Top Ten ranking in WNY, where he collected several post-season honors. Ward was named to the 2nd team All-State and 1st team All WNY as a linebacker, and was also named as a finalist for the Connolly Cup, which is awarded annually to the most outstanding football player of the year of WNY. Besides football, Ward was a catcher, playing 3 years of varsity baseball, and wrestled at 177 lbs. Ward was also an outstanding student, finishing in the Top Ten academically. Ward went on to play linebacker at Cornell, where he was honorable mention All-Ivy League in 1985, and named 1st team- All-Ivy League in 1986. Ward graduated from Cornell with a degree in Chemical Engineering, and works as a chemical services supervisor for U.S. Magnesium.
by Linsey | Jul 23, 2019
Eddie is Hamburg’s only first team All-Western New York basketball player in the modern formation of the ECIC, averaging over 25 points per game in his senior season. Besides being a great shooter, he also holds the individual assist record at Hamburg. Eddie was also a 2-time All-Western New York choice in soccer, and was the team’s leading goal scorer on their undefeated Section VI 1968 championship team that is also being honored this evening. A member of the National Honor Society, Eddie received an Amos Alonzo Stagg scholarship as well as athletic scholarship offers from several schools, before attending and graduating from Hartwick College. Some of his favorite HHS sports memories are: Scoring the winning goal against Amherst to maintain an undefeated season; Scoring 26 points against Lackawanna while being guarded by Ron Jaworski.
by Linsey | Jul 23, 2019
Mick was a three sport athlete at Hamburg, competing in Football, Basketball and Track. As a senior he was awarded the Art Howe Award and was Captain of the 1968 Hamburg football team. He was selected 1st Team All-WNY and 2nd Team All-State in Football his senior year, which was quite a feat, since back then there were only 11 players named to the All-WNY team! In basketball, Mick lettered two years and as a junior played in “The Aud” as a part of one of Hamburg’s best basketball teams ever. He started on the basketball team as a senior and “rebounded” for fellow 2012 enshrine Ed Atwill. Mick was interestingly both a high jumper and a shot putter in the spring. Mick joined his brother Bob (HHS ’68) at Cornell, with Mick an offensive lineman and Bob a defensive back. As a junior Mick blocked for Ed Marinaro as Cornell won the Ivy League Championship and cracked the national rankings before losing to Dartmouth on national TV. Mick went on to work in D.C. as the President of the American Chamber of Commerce Executives.
