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Fred Vollmar

Fred Vollmar

by | Feb 17, 2023

Fred Vollmar graduated from Bennett in 1954. Prior to his stellar athletic career at Bennett, he displayed his potential as an all around athlete, by winning championships as a member of School # 63 athletic teams. When he matriculated to Bennett, he soon established himself as a consistent performer on the gridiron, hardwood, and baseball diamond. Fred lettered in all three of the major sports during his Tiger’s career. Vollmar played on two championship teams at Bennett, and came within a whisker of winning a third. In 1952, he helped the Tigers capture the football Harvard Cup, with a pulsating 7-6 win over Hutchinson on Thanksgiving Day at All-High Stadium. With a huge crowd cheering wildly, he showed remarkable poise, grit, and determination while quarterbacking Bennett to victory. Coach Fred Braun was the beneficiary of Vollmar’s talents in the two other sports he coached, namely, basketball and baseball. In 1954, “Fritz” Vollmar’s senior year, Bennett won its first Yale Cup since 1944. Vollmar made key steals in a closely contested 70-67 win at rival Kensington, sparking Bennett to clinch the Cup. To cap a remarkable career, the diminutive 5’8″ scrapper helped lead Bennett to the championship final in baseball, where they were edged out by Riverside, 9-8, for the Cornell Cup.Vollmar was named first team All-High, designating him as the premier catcher in Cornell Cup competition for 1954. It was only fitting that Vollmar became a United States Marine upon his graduation from his beloved Bennett. He showed early on that he had the guts and guile to become one of the few and the proud. Fred was also inducted into the “Harvard Cup” Hall Of Fame . Fred Vollmar is currently retired and lives in Amherst.

Gary Jackson

Gary Jackson

by | Feb 17, 2023

Gary Jackson graduated from Bennett in 1972, after a sterling athletic career in football, basketball and baseball. On the football field, Gary made first team All-High as a quick anticipating defensive back. He stood out on offense as well, guiding the Tiger fortunes as a gritty quarterback for Coach Berkman’s gridiron forces.

In basketball, Jackson’s guard skills were a key in running the Bennett offense. He was an excellent playmaker, and used those gifts to interest recruiters at LeMoyne College of Syracuse. After his playing days at Bennett, he matriculated to LeMoyne and had a productive career there, being named Captain in his senior year. Jackson played baseball for Bennett in the spring, and was named 1st Team All-High in 1972, after his superb career as an outfielder for the Tigers. In his senior year he threw out seven runners with his strong, accurate arm; two at home, four at second and one at third. In addition, he batted a sparkling .538, cashing in 21 hits in 11 games.

Not only did Gary Jackson star in sports, but he also belonged to a very unique club that saw him cited for never having been absent or tardy during his 13 years in the Buffalo Public Schools.

After graduating from LeMoyne with a degree in Sociology, Gary has spent a long career helping others, as he works with developmentally disabled adults.

Gerald Berkman

Gerald Berkman

by | Feb 17, 2023

Jerry came to Bennett in 1964 replacing a legend, Elmer Rosenthal. Jerry taught physical education and health, and kept busy coaching three sports a year. In the fall season, Jerry coached cross country, was an assistant football coach and head football coach from 1971 until his retirement.

In the winter season, Jerry coached either boys basketball, girls basketball, swimming or bowling. The spring season saw Jerry coach track and field or baseball. Jerry experienced championship teams in football(1 ), track and field(3), but his biggest success came in baseball. Jerry guided Tiger teams to Cornell Cups in ’74,’76,’81,’82 and ’85, not a big surprise since Jerry himself signed a pro baseball contract with the Philadelphia Phillies right out of Burgard HS. Jerry’s career was defined with the high moral and ethical standards he set for his athletes, and the sense of humor he brought to work everyday.

Best wishes for a long happy retirement in Leesburg, Florida, where Jerry still plays softball today.

Gerald Schweibel

Gerald Schweibel

by | Feb 17, 2023

Jerry Schweibel starred for Bennett in three sports in the late 1940’s and early 1950’s. On the Bennett track team, Schweibel lettered all 4 years at Bennett, running the 100 yard dash and the sprint relays. He finished first or second each year for Bennett in the 1 00, and as a senior, made first team All-High on the 880 yard relay team.


As a football player, Schweibel started from his sophomore year through his senior year at running back and in the defensive backfield. He played in the most famous football game in Bennett history, the 1948 game against Kensington, played before 50,988 fans at Civic Stadium.


A 3 year letterman in basketball, Schweibel led the way as Bennett upset the famous Emerson team that featured college standouts, Jim Home of UB, and Harvey Austin of Purdue, as well as Nazeer Aljuanni. They had won 31 consecutive Yale Cup games until Bennett pulled off the shocking upset. During his outstanding athletic Career, Schweibel also played Classic League softball against such famous teams as Fort Wayne Zollners, Bell Aircraft, as well as the “King and His Court,” starring the legendary Eddie Feigner. Schweibel also ran track for the Downtown “Y” in several international meets.


Jerry is retired, and currently resides with his wife in Williamsville.

Jack Scherer

Jack Scherer

by | Feb 17, 2023

Jack Scherer was a member if the class of 1948 at Bennett, and spent an additional year as a post graduate in 1949, a common practice during that era. During his athletic career at Bennett in the late 1940’s, Scherer was a 3 sport standout in track, football and basketball. He was a first team All-High twice in track, when he anchored the championship Tiger 880 yard relay teams in 1 948 and 1949. As anchor of this speedy group, Scherer was outstanding. He was also a force in the 220 yard dash, finishing second in the All-High meet three consecutive years. Jack was a major point score for the Tiger track team throughout his career on the cinders.

On the football field in 1948, Jack showed his triple threat versatility, as he ran, threw and punted for the Tigers. He was the swiftest halfback for Coach Fred Braun’s successful gridiron teams of the late 1 940’s. Jack played in the famous Bennett-Kensington football game at Civic Stadium that had a record crowd of 50,988 on October 21, 1948. During the 1948 football season, Scherer’s strength and breakaway speed were valuable assets for the Tigers, as he piled up big yardage from his halfback position. Jack also starred in basketball for Bennett, and was one of the leading scorers on the hardwood for many of the Tigers’ conquests during his junior and senior years.


After his career at Bennett, Jack was drafted into the United States Army. Upon completion of his military services he enrolled at Syracuse University, where he spent 3 years. He transferred to UB and received his B.S. in Accounting, and then completed a Master’s Degree in Library Science from Geneseo State.

He currently resides in Lancaster with his wife, Joyce.