by Jeff | Feb 17, 2023
Came to Bennett as a freshman in 1978 and “hit the ground running”, literally. Kisha became a sprinter in the 1979 champion girls track squad, running the 1OOm, 200m and 400m relay. The 1979 relay team was all-high, all WNY, winning the section VI championship. The relay team advanced to the state meet at West Point where they finished 5th in NY State with a time of 48.5 sec. In her sophomore year, Kisha was all-high in the 200m (26.2 sec.), 400m relay (50.2 sec.) and a new event for her, the long jump(16’1 O”). As a junior, Kisha earned all-highs # 5,6,7,and 8, in the 1 00m(11 .48 sec.), 200m (26.2 sec.), 400m relay(51.1 sec.) and the long jump, with a city record distance of 1 7’5″. In her senior year, Kisha continued piling up all- high # 9, 10, 11 and 1 2, adding yet another event, the 11 Om high hurdles, in a city record of 14.9 sec. The other all-high events in 1982 were the 1 00m, 400m relay and long jump. Kisha returned to the NYS meet at Cornell U. in the 11 Om high hurdles, finishing 4th in NYS. Kisha also finished in the top 5 in WNY in five different events in 1982.
Career summary, 12 all-highs in five different events, all WNY twice, two appearances in state meets, city records in the 400m relay, long jump and 11 Om high hurdles. Oh yes, and a track scholarship to the University of Hawaii.
by Jeff | Feb 17, 2023
Kris was a rare athlete for any era of sports. A four year athlete in all three of her sports, she played volleyball in the fall, basketball in the winter and softball in the spring.
That translates to being on a team every day for the entire four years of her high school career. For her efforts Kris was chosen “female athlete of the year” in 1982. The softball teams she played on had a combined record of 32 wins and 12 losses. The four basketball squads had a combined record of 25 wins, 17 losses. Her specialty was volleyball, where her teams had a combined record of 43 wins and 5 losses. The Lady Tigers captured the city volleyball titles in 1980 and 1981. kris twice was chosen team “MVP” of her volleyball team, including the 1981 team that finished undefeated with a 12 win, 0 loss record.
After high school Kris attended Florida State and South Carolina Universities, before finishing her BA and MA degrees in Education at Buffalo State College. Today Kris is in her 16th year as a teacher in the Buffalo Public Schools. The mother of two sons and one daughter, Kris enjoys her time assisting in coaching volleyball.
by Jeff | Feb 17, 2023
Victor Sorrento was All High as a catcher in 1981-82 when he played for the Bennett High baseball team. For both of those years Bennett won the prestigious Cornell Cup, symbolic of being the best high school city team. He was also the team captain in 1982. In hockey competition among the high schools Sorrento was 1st team 3 years in a row; playing for an undefeated team that scored an amazing 76 points in 14 games. Sorrento noted that most of the kids in his neighborhood went to Bennett. He has always talked about how much he and his fellow students loved Bennett High School. He noted that the Bennett teachers were outstanding and would do anything for you.
After suffering several serious bouts with cancer Sorrento noted that he was given treatments that saved his life. He has been a correction officer for New York state for many years. His children are Dominic 15 and Victoria 17. He is also engaged to Stephanie who will be his future wife.
by Jeff | Feb 17, 2023
Carla was the consummate scholar / athlete, the kind every coach would want on his or her team. A four year volleyball player, Carla was a team captain and team MVP twice. The Lady Tigers won one city championship and two second place finishes during this time. Bennett’s cumulative record during Carla’s tenure was 43 wins and 5 losses.
Carla was even more successful in swimming, her strongest sport. Carla was an All-High swimmer in at least one event all four of her years on the squad, with the Tigers winning two Syracuse Cup championships during that time. Carla finished with six school swimming records and two city records in the 100 yard Individual Medley and the 200 yard Freestyle Relay.
Carla didn’t waste her spring seasons either. She played three years of varsity tennis, with the Tigers winning the Dr Bapst city championship all three of those years. Carla was an All-High first doubles player.
Carla earned a Rochester National Scholarship to the University of Rochester. There she was the only freshman to start on the U. of R. volleyball team. Carla later received a BS degree in Computer Science from S.U.N.Y. Buffalo, and an MA degree from Clark University in Massachusetts. She is presently employed by Avocent Corporation as their Mid West Sales Director.
Carla and her husband, Michael Bankovich, reside in Cleveland, OH, and have three daughters, Francesca 16, Arianna 12, and Nina age 8.
