by Jeff | Feb 17, 2023
Steve had an active athletic career while at Bennett, competing in Cross Country in the Fall of the year, Swimming in the Winter and Baseball in the Spring. Steve’s best performance was in baseball. A four year varsity player, he was a starting outfielder in his junior and senior seasons.
Steve achieved All-High and All-WNY honors in baseball in 1987 He was also an All-High swimmer in 1986 and ;87. The championship teams Steve played for include Columbia Cup Cross Country champs in 1986, and Cornell Cup baseball co-champs in 1985. Steve was captain and team MVP of his swimming squads that finished in third place three years in a row in Syracuse Cup competition, and captain of the 1986 Cross Country squad that finished a respectable 5th place in Section VI, Class B competition.
The popular Steve Samson was also voted as Class President in his senior year. Steve still resides and works in the WNY area.
by Jeff | Feb 17, 2023
Jennifer was a star performer in three sports while at Bennett. She competed four years in Cross Country, 1982 – 1985, three years of varsity swimming and four years of varsity girls track. To top it off, Jennifer was an All-High performer in all three sports. Additional career highlights include city track records in the 2 mile and 3,200m. relays,, Team accomplishments a Cross Country Columbia Cup championship in 1983, with second place finishes in 1984 and 1985. Her track teams were league champions in 1984 and 1985, with a second place finish in 1983. Her swimming squads finished in third place all three years. Despite devoting all this time to athletics, this well rounded student / athlete managed to finish her academic career as the number two student in the senior class of 1986.
After Bennett, Jennifer carried on her athletic career at SUNY Buffalo, running Cross Country, Indoor and Outdoor Track. Jenny was the team captain of the track team in her senior year at UB, and has since competed in many marathons in the Boston and New York City areas.
After college, Jenny devoted her life to cancer care, working as a nurse at the Roswell Cancer Institute. Upon completion of her PhD degree from the University of Pittsburgh, Jennifer is now the co-President and CEO of a Biotechnology Company in Manhattan. Jennifer now resides in Westfield, NJ, and is the proud mother of two children, Cailly 20 and Devin 16.
by Jeff | Feb 17, 2023
Jennifer was a rare gem among female athletes, having competed on four different sports teams during her tenure at Bennett H.S., achieving All-High status in two. During the fall sports season Jennifer participated in volleyball. she was the team “setter” for the city championship squad of 1982, and team Captain in her senior year of 1984. The winter sports season found Jennifer as a four year member of the swimming team, and was part of a city record setting 200 yard free relay team. She also qualified for the All-High swim meet all four years on the squad. During the spring sports season Jennifer ran track for three years, and played softball her senior year. In track, Jennifer achieved All-High status by anchoring the city record breaking 3,200m. relay team in 1984. Doing all this, Jennifer still was able to achieve the # 9 ranking in the senior class academically.
After high school, Jennifer earned her BA degree in Communications from SUNY Buffalo. She later received her MA degree in education and worked as a Special Education teacher for over 20 years. Not surprising, Jennifer became a very successful girls track coach in West Seneca. Her 10 year coaching career included many NY State meet qualifiers, and a Section VI championship track squad. Jennifer also coached high school girls volleyball for 5 years. Today, Jennifer and her family live in Kenmore, NY.
by Jeff | Feb 17, 2023
Carla was the consummate scholar / athlete, the kind every coach would want on his or her team. A four year volleyball player, Carla was a team captain and team MVP twice. The Lady Tigers won one city championship and two second place finishes during this time. Bennett’s cumulative record during Carla’s tenure was 43 wins and 5 losses.
Carla was even more successful in swimming, her strongest sport. Carla was an All-High swimmer in at least one event all four of her years on the squad, with the Tigers winning two Syracuse Cup championships during that time. Carla finished with six school swimming records and two city records in the 100 yard Individual Medley and the 200 yard Freestyle Relay.
Carla didn’t waste her spring seasons either. She played three years of varsity tennis, with the Tigers winning the Dr Bapst city championship all three of those years. Carla was an All-High first doubles player.
Carla earned a Rochester National Scholarship to the University of Rochester. There she was the only freshman to start on the U. of R. volleyball team. Carla later received a BS degree in Computer Science from S.U.N.Y. Buffalo, and an MA degree from Clark University in Massachusetts. She is presently employed by Avocent Corporation as their Mid West Sales Director.
Carla and her husband, Michael Bankovich, reside in Cleveland, OH, and have three daughters, Francesca 16, Arianna 12, and Nina age 8.
by Jeff | Feb 17, 2023
Tom McClain Jr. was a three sport athlete at Bennett who participated in swimming ( 1960), Indoor Track ( 1960 – 61 ) and Cross Country ( 1962, 63, 64 ). Tom was coached by two of Bennett’s finest coaches, Rudy Heis ( swimming ) and Elmer Rosenthal ( Indoor track and Cross Country ). As a freshman, Tom was on the swimming team, earning a major letter in the breaststroke. In Tom’s sophomore year he ran indoor track, also earning a major letter. Tom’s greatest athletic achievement came in Cross Country, where Tom was All-High three consecutive years, finishing second in the All-High Cross Country meet each of the three years.
In 1962 Tom competed in the All-High meet against ninety-six runners from twelve schools. The young sophomore’s goal was just to qualify to compete in the All-High meet, but Tom exceeded all expectations by finishing second ( first for Bennett ) in the entire city. Through hard work and determination, Tom went on to finish second in the city in both his junior and senior seasons also. A rare accomplishment in Cross Country.
Tom resides in Buffalo to this day.
