by Jeff | Feb 17, 2023
Fred Gordon was All High in Cross Country for Bennett High School in 1 964 and 1 965, finishing 5th and 2nd, respectively, in those two years in the All High meet. The top five finishers in the All High Cross Country Championships were automatically declared All High by the association’s rules.
Gordon also starred in track and finished second in the mile run in the All High meet with an outstanding time of 4:36. Equally impressive is that Gordon also received a major letter in swimming. Gordon also achieved a major varsity letter in
swimming. He will always be remembered as one of Bennett’s most versatile athletes by achieving major letters in three different sports.
Gordon credits much of his success to teachers such as Yvonne Lewis, his computer math teacher, and coaches Byron Vickery, Nick Mogavero, Elmer Rosenthal, and Gary Berkman.
After high school Gordon trained with good friend Delbert Mullen. Mullen’s training methods led Gordon to a successful 30 year running career, which was highlighted by an incredible 2:25 time in the Boston Marathon in 1 978.
by Jeff | Feb 17, 2023
Dharta Harris graduated from Bennett in 1983. His career as a Bennett Tiger is legendary. A three sport standout in track, swimming, and cross country, he was a man for all seasons.
Dharta was a 4 year performer in track, gaining All High and All Western New York laurels in high hurdles, intermediate hurdles, and the long jump. His peak performances include a Section VI record 14.4 seconds in the high hurdles, a Section VI record 53.76 seconds in the 400 meter intermediate hurdles, and a school record 22′ 5 3/4″ in the long jump.
Harris displayed his talents in the pool, lettering all 4 years and achieving All High in 3 events. He set a city record in the 50 yard free style, churning to a time of 22.6 seconds. In the 60 yard freestyle, his city record time was a sparkling 28.0 seconds. To complete the triple, Dharta also set the Buffalo record of 51.2 seconds in the 100 yard freestyle.
Dharta lettered all 4 years in cross country, and was a starter on the Bennett team that won the 1983 Columbia Cup championship. Harris attended the University of Alabama on a full track scholarship after graduating from Bennett. As a member of the Crimson Tide track team, he became an outstanding intermediate hurdler. He finished as high as 5th in the Southeast Conference track meet.
As an Army military man, Dharta became a decathlon competitor, winning several championships.
by Jeff | Feb 17, 2023
Alan Bozer graduated from Bennett High School in 1971. During an outstanding athletic career at Bennett, Alan was named to the All High swim team during all 4 years of his aquatic participation.
In his freshman year at Bennett, he was crowned 200 yard freestyle champion by swimming a 2:07.2 in the event. Continuing into his sophomore season, Bozer improved upon his freshman year, by shaving several seconds off his 200 yard freestyle time. He won the All High meet in 1 :59.7
A first place finisher in 2 events during his junior year, Alan added the 400 yard freestyle to his growing list of championships. He was named king of the 400 in a time of 4:26.4 at the All High meet. He also annexed the 100 yard freestyle event, by splashing to a 53.4 time. In the culmination of a great Bennett career, Bozer’s achievements reached their peak in his senior year. He managed to break no less than 3 city records in 1971. Showing his versatility, Alan set the city records in the 200 freestyle (1 :55.6), the 400 freestyle (4:13. 7), and the 160 individual medley (1 :44.1 ). The individual medley includes the butterfly, back, breast, and freestyle strokes. During his glorious Tiger career, Alan Bozer broke Syracuse Cup records on 9 separate occasions. In addition to All High honors, he received the Fred Braun Award, as Bennett’s outstanding senior athlete in 1971.
Besides his swimming prowess, Bozer was a high academic achiever at Bennett, as well. He is a graduate of Harvard University, and was captain of the Crimson water polo team during his undergraduate days.
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.
