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
Lieutenant Colonel Jason (JP) Pieri was born and raised in Hamburg, NY. He attended school under his original last name, Brinser, before changing his last name to Pieri in honor of his stepfather. After graduating, he attended Saint Bonaventure University. He graduated in 1999 with a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism and Mass Communications and was commissioned into the United States Army.
He served as a Tank Platoon Leader in the 4th Battalion, 64th Armor in Bosnia-Herzegovina from 2000 through 2001. He then served as a Tank Company Executive Officer for the 2nd Battalion, 72nd Armor at Camp Casey, Republic of Korea.
In 2005, Jason joined the 1st Squadron, 91st Cavalry in Schweinfurt, Germany, as part of the storied 173rd Airborne Brigade. He commanded C Troop in Kunar Province, Afghanistan from 2007 to 2008, where they earned the honor of congressional delegation visits for outstanding combat performance.
In 2011, Jason was one of two Army officers selected to attend the Marine Corps’ School of Advanced Warfighting. After graduating, Jason served as a campaign planner for ISAF Joint Command in Kabul, Afghanistan.
Jason joined the 4th Squadron, 9th Cavalry, serving as Squadron Operations Officer. He was selected as the Operations Officer for 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, where he completed the Army’s first Armored Brigade Combat Team rotation to the Republic of Korea since the Korean War in the 1950s. Jason then joined the 1st Cavalry Division in 2016 as the Operations Officer (G3).
In 2016, Jason was selected to command the 2nd Battalion, 13th Infantry, from 2017 to 2019. He was selected as the Fort Jackson Operations Officer (G3) from 2019 to 2021. Jason led the Army’s COVID-19 mitigation efforts, enabling Fort Jackson to become the first installation in the Department of Defense to successfully complete their mission during COVID. Jason retired in 2021 but continued service as an Army civilian. He is currently the Chief of Plans and Operations for Fort Jackson’s garrison.
Jason holds two master’s degrees from the Marine Corps Command and Staff College and School of Advanced Warfighting. His most notable awards include the Legion of Merit, Bronze Star Medal, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Unit Award, and Combat Action Badge. He is a graduate of the Army’s Airborne School.
Jason and his wife Erin have been happily married for 22 years and have two daughters, Ellie (21) and Emma (18), and a son, Jared (13).
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
Gurf Morlix has been inducted into the Buffalo Music Hall of Fame, the Austin Music Hall of Fame and was named Instrumentalist of the Year by the Americana Association. He has produced records for scores of Americana icons such as Lucinda Williams, Ray Wylie Hubbard, Blaze Foley, Mary Gauthier, Slaid Cleaves, Robert Earl Keen and more. He has produced 15 solo albums which have received global critical acclaim.
Visiting planet Gurf has always been an enlightening experience. After all, this Gurf Morlix fellow – Lackawanna born, Texas honed – has provided us with countless indelible musical moments in the last 50-plus years: his exemplary guitar playing, the many albums that he assumed the role of producer for, his instrumental accompaniment to artists ranging from Blaze Foley to Warren Zevon, – Gurf has a singular worldview and can be both harrowing and heartening, often at the same time.
