by Jeff | Feb 17, 2023
David Knight was on the Bennett High swimming team from 1991-1994. He was also a member of the school’s tennis team from 1991-1993. During his sophomore year (1992) at Bennett he was undefeated against other schools in the 100 yard breast stroke. He set a new record for the 100 yard breast stroke in the time of 104.90. During the same year he was the city champion and finished 1st in the breast stroke in the all High City Championships; the same year he was all High. In 1993 he again broke the Bennett High breast stroke record with a time of 104.84. That year he missed participating in the state meet in the time trial by one second. In 1994 he was also All High in the Individual Medley.
Knight said, “I was extremely honored to receive a letter notifying me that I was going to be inducted into the Bennett High School Hall of Fame. When I was participating in swimming and tennis it never crossed my mind that I might someday receive this honor. I was just trying to do my best and help help my team mates win. Once again I would like to thank the Bennett Hall of Fame members for my induction. It is an honor I will treasure forever.
by Jeff | Feb 17, 2023
Kristy Zimmerman Swigart was All High in soccer in 1994 and1995 (her junior and senior years) at Bennett. She was also an outstanding bowler and reached the finals of the state championships in the Queens tournament in New York City. She was salutatorian of her senior class, was voted the most unique student in her senior class and received a full collegiate scholarship to the NYU Tisch School of the Arts. Since 2005 Kristy has been working for Associated Builders and Contractors. She is the Education Coordinator in New York state for setting up craft training classes.
Kristy has been married to her husband Cliff for seven years. She has a 17 year old daughter Sydney who is a McKinley High graduate and a five year old daughter Ellie who is in the Olmsted Gifted & Talented program. Being a very busy lady she loves spending time with her family camping and going to local parks.
In 20l5 she was diagnosed with Hodgkins Lymphoma. After six months of chemotherapy she was cancer free. She said, “I was blessed to have had such great support from my family and friends. In my spare time I also like playing trivia having cookouts, and going to festivals.
She related that she wanted to get Sydney involved in sports. However, Sydney wasn’t interested and is a very creative and artsy person.
Kristy hopes to get Ellie involved in sports. She feels that Ellie will enjoy the competition and the long lasting many friendships she will make.
‘I feel so honored to receive the prestigious Hall of Fame award from Bennett High School,” Kristy said. I would personally like to thank each member of the Bennett High SchoolHall of Fame for considering me for this wonderful award that I will always treasure.”
by Jeff | Feb 17, 2023
Making a difference in the community and the lives of children is what Kenya Hobbs does every day in his position as Community Engagement Specialist with Buffalo Promise Neighborhood. In his career at Bennett, Kenya was a leader both on and off the athletic fields.
He was the Co-captain of both the Track & Field and Cross Country teams, and he was the Senior Class President in 1990.
Kenya was a prolific distance runner. He participated in Track and Cross Country for three years and accumulated seven “all-high” recognitions from 1988 through 1990. In Track, he excelled in the one mile, two mile, and the one mile relay. His 1989 Cross Country team did not just stop at winning the Columbia Cup, but they historically went on to win the WNY Section 6 Class B Team Championship and become the first City of Buffalo Public School team to go to the NYS Cross Country Championships.
Not to be out-done in Track, the 1988 team was the Empire of America Relay Carnival (Small Schools) Team Champion, and the 1989 Empire of America 3200 Relay Team Champion.
The Bennett High School Alumni Association is pleased to have Kenya as an active member of the Board of Directors. As a devout Bennett Alumnus, Kenya works to better the “feeder” schools (Highgate Heights Elementary and Westminister Community Charter School) that will populate Bennett for years to come. The work that Kenya Hobbs does in our community is “transformational”, and the Bennett Sports Hall of Fame Committee is pleased to have him in the Class of 2013.
