John came to Bennett from Buffalo School #63 in the fall of 1953. Sensing the spirited winning tradition of athletics at Bennett, he soon joined the baseball and basketball teams.
Showing his baseball versatility as both an infielder and a pitcher, Decarolis starred on three consecutive Cornell Cup baseball championship teams from 1955-57. In his junior year, DeCarolis hurled a five hitter at Offermann Stadium, striking out six batters along the way, as Bennett defeated Grover Cleveland 5-2 to finish undefeated. It was his fourth win of his junior year as a pitcher, and helped pace the Tigers to the crown in the city championship game. /ls a senior in 1957, performing at second base and as a pitcher, DeCarolis was a key component as the Bennett baseball team again finished undefeated. By winning over Riverside 3-2, the Tigers completed the “hat trick” of three straight baseball championships.
For his stellar infield play and timely hitting, he was named first team All-High after his senior year as a second baseman.
Decarolis played three years of basketball at Bennett He was a heady guard on the 1 957 Tiger team that won the Yale Cup championship, emblematic of city supremacy on the hardwood.
Following graduation from Bennett, DeCarolis went on to Cortland State and lettered as a baseball and soccer player. After a career of more than 30 years as a Physical Education teacher and coach in the Kenmore School system, he retired in 1996. He now resides on Grand Island.