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Mary Evanco – Caryk

Mary Evanco – Caryk

by | Feb 17, 2023

Mary Evanco was a ground breaking athlete at Bennett H.S. who excelled in three sports during the pre-Title IX era of 1972 – 1976. This was quite an achievement for a time when there were no all girls interscholastic teams funded by the Board of Education in the Buffalo Public High Schools until her senior year.


Mary broke a barrier by becoming the first girl to make Bennett’s all male cross country team in her sophomore year. She was one of the top girl runners in the city and was the first and only girl to make All-High from Bennett in 1974 by finishing in 2nd place in the entire city among girls.

Mary also played two seasons of basketball. In her freshman year Mary was a contributing forward on an “unrecognized” team, with the only undefeated season in the school (12 – 0). In her senior year, she again played as a forward on the basketball team. This was part of the girls sports program, and she earned a varsity letter for basketball. This team went on to win the Buffalo City Championship against East H.S.

Mary also played volleyball for two seasons in the girls sports program. she led Bennett to an undefeated season and the League 1 championship for the City of Buffalo in December 1975. For that she earned another varsity letter and the Buffalo Evening News “Girl Athlete of the Week”. She began playing in junior high school at PS #22 and was on the winning team at several annual Erie County Tournaments, including years when Bennett had no team. She played on many “mens power teams” during high school with men who were at a collegiate or older level. Mary received a full academic/athletic scholarship to attend SUNY at Buffalo (the first year that SUNY schools offered women athletic scholarships). After college Mary continued to play and was a member of the bronze medal Western New York Empire State volleyball team in 1981 . Mary was awarded Bennett’s “Outstanding Female Athlete Award” in 1976.

Academically, Mary finished 11th in a class of over 500 students, and won numerous awards while at Bennett, including Bennett’s “Mathematics Award” at graduation. She was a member of the National Honor Society and a New York State Regents Scholarship winner.

After graduation from college, Mary continued long distance running, including road races and one full marathon.

Maurice Hairston

Maurice Hairston

by | Feb 17, 2023

“Reese” came to Bennett as a sophomore after graduating from Clinton Jr. H.S. Maurice’s exceptional basketball skills were soon apparent, and he became a starter on the Tiger varsity basketball squad as a sophomore. Maurice averaged 6.2 points per game on a young developing squad that finished the year with 8 wins and 7 losses. Maurice’s good shooting eye, tricky passing and floor generalship came to the fore in his junior year, his “breakout” season. Averaging 25.3 points per game, the flashy point guard made first team All-High. During his senior year of ’75 – ’76, Maurice was again a first team All-High selection, as well as a first team AII-WNY selection. Reese led the Tigers to a 1 0 win, 3 loss Yale Cup record, and a Section VI Class B title. He also led the Yale Cup series with a 29.5 ppg. average. Maurice once scored 55 points in a game at South Park, and finished his Yale Cup career with 1 ,1 1 7 points, a school record at that time. Maurice attended College of the Desert (CA.) Junior College, and later was the starting point guard for Gannon College in Erie, PA.

Eric Cutter

Eric Cutter

by | Feb 17, 2023

Eric, one of the most versatile athletes in Bennett H.S. history, was a three sport star in the mid 1970’s. Eric was a three time All-High performer in football, and was selected on both offense and defense. A “do everything” running back with great speed and quickness, Eric was a threat to score every time he touched the ball. Eric also was a “shut down” defensive back in the secondary.

Upon graduation, Coach J. Berkman declared, “He’s the best I’ve ever coached.”

In track, Eric was the All-High sprinter, turning in several 1 0.0 second 1 00 yard dash times on All High Stadium’s cinder track. The Tigers were Scalp & Blade champions all four years during Eric’s career, and Eric was the “Main Man.”

In basketball, Eric played three years of varsity ball. He was the starting point guard in his junior and senior seasons. Eric was special for his unselfish play and unending hustle.

Eric was an outstanding student in the classroom. With many schools to choose from, Eric attended Dartmouth University in Hanover, NH, on an academic scholarship. Eric played four years of varsity football at Dartmouth.

Coach Larry Veronica has one outstanding memory of Eric’s great career at Bennett that exemplifies the person Eric was. On his college application to Dartmouth, for the question “Race,” Eric responded, “Human.”

Eric resides in California today