Tom Cechini

Tom Cechini

Class of 1956

Sport(s): Basketball | Football | Track

Year Inducted: 2016

Tom Cechini participated in football, basketball, and track at Bennett. He played full back and was second team All High in his senior year in both the Buffalo News and Courier Express. He was also the team captain in both 1955 and 1956. In addition to football he was second team All High in the 220 hurdles in track. For good measure he added summer baseball and rowing to his repertoire. After graduation from Bennett he was granted a full scholarship to Division III Alfred University and played 60 minutes of every game he participated in under legendary Alfred coach Alex Yunevich. On offense he played in the backfield and as a wide receiver. On defense he played as a defensive end. He also held the school record for many years in track in the 110 high hurdles Perhaps, Cechini’s greatest accomplishment was being named All American by Look Magazine as a first team All East end in Division III.

A freak accident while he was hunting after college (a shot in the knee) terminated his college athletic career. Being an avid skier in high school Cechini adapted his skiing style to accommodate his stiff right knee. His wife Marlene, son Tom, and 3 grand children are all exceptional skiers. For many years Cechini was a financial planner.