by Jeff | Feb 17, 2023
Roberts’ resume in his cross country and track career at Bennett is punctuated with team championships, individual records ,All-Highs, All-WNY and even a state championship. Rob was an All-High cross country runner for 3 years, Section VI, Class “B” individual champion once, and individual N.Y.State Class “B” Champion in 1 989. Rob led Bennett’s Cross Country team to the 1 ranking in W.N.Y. in 1989, unprecidented for a city school in cross country.
The story in track is very much the same. Three undefeated “Scalp & Blade” championship squads. Rob was a three time All-High in the 1600 meter run, setting a league record of 4:20 sec., as well as a member of the All-High 1600 meter and 3200 meter relay teams. In the sunner of 1989, Rob was the Empire State Games 1500 meter champion of the scholastic division.
NOTE – unfortunately, although a fairly recent graduate, we couldn’t trace Rob beyond college in Rochester, N.Y. Our committee would welcome any information about Rob’s whereabouts since he left college.
by Jeff | Feb 17, 2023
Ross Nwachukwu was a four year starter at first singles at Bennett from 1987-1990. Built more like a linebacker than a typical tennis player, Ross featured a power game. Ross’ career record at Bennett was 50 wins and 2 losses. Ross lost one match in his freshman year and one in his sophomore year. Ross participated in the Section VI Tournament all four years, qualifying for the NYSPHSAA (state) tournament in his junior and senior seasons. In 1989 Ross became the first player in WNY tennis history to win a medal in state competition, winning the silver medal at Future Stars Academy in Rochester. Ross was recognized as a high school All-American after both his junior and senior years in high school.
After high school Ross earned a full tennis scholarship to Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa. There Ross accumulated 180 wins, an all time record for Drake University. Ross later became assistant coach at Drake, and later head coach of Division I Kansas.
Ross played professional tennis “on and off’ for four years on the “satellite” tennis tour. His self-proclaimed highest achievement in tennis was victories over two top 100 ranked players in the world, Steven Campbell and Byron Black.
Ross holds four Buffalo MUNY tennis titles to his credit, and is currently a teaching professional at the Village Glen in Williamsville.
