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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.

Kisha West

Kisha West

by | Feb 17, 2023

Came to Bennett as a freshman in 1978 and “hit the ground running”, literally. Kisha became a sprinter in the 1979 champion girls track squad, running the 1OOm, 200m and 400m relay. The 1979 relay team was all-high, all WNY, winning the section VI championship. The relay team advanced to the state meet at West Point where they finished 5th in NY State with a time of 48.5 sec. In her sophomore year, Kisha was all-high in the 200m (26.2 sec.), 400m relay (50.2 sec.) and a new event for her, the long jump(16’1 O”). As a junior, Kisha earned all-highs # 5,6,7,and 8, in the 1 00m(11 .48 sec.), 200m (26.2 sec.), 400m relay(51.1 sec.) and the long jump, with a city record distance of 1 7’5″. In her senior year, Kisha continued piling up all- high # 9, 10, 11 and 1 2, adding yet another event, the 11 Om high hurdles, in a city record of 14.9 sec. The other all-high events in 1982 were the 1 00m, 400m relay and long jump. Kisha returned to the NYS meet at Cornell U. in the 11 Om high hurdles, finishing 4th in NYS. Kisha also finished in the top 5 in WNY in five different events in 1982.

Career summary, 12 all-highs in five different events, all WNY twice, two appearances in state meets, city records in the 400m relay, long jump and 11 Om high hurdles. Oh yes, and a track scholarship to the University of Hawaii.

Mel Tolbert

Mel Tolbert

by | Feb 17, 2023

Mel was a two sport star in both cross country and track. Mel achieved a double-all-high in both sports. In cross country Mel was the # 1 finisher in the all-high run in both ’67 & ’68. In track Mel was the 880y run champion in Junior and Senior years.

Art “Buzz” Serotte

Art “Buzz” Serotte

by | Feb 17, 2023

Art “Buzz” Serotte graduated from Bennett in 1957. After matriculating at the University of Buffalo, he became a Physical Education Teacher and coach in the Buffalo Public School System. During his illustrious 35 year career, Serotte made his mark by coaching football and basketball at Grover Cleveland H.S. His football teams captured 12 Harvard Cips, and shared another in 15 title game appearances. Art’s 1 60 – 52 – 5 won/lost career record is one of Western New York’s all-time best. In basketball, Grover won 5 Yale Cups, and 7 Section VI Class titles under his tutelage. He also coached cross country and track at various stages during his coaching tenure at Grover.


During Serotte’s high school days at Bennett, he stood out as a football lineman.He was named All-High by the Buffalo Evening News in his senior year. Serotte helped lead the Tiger gridiron forces to a won 6, lost 2 record, and a 9-6 Harvard Cup Consolation Game victory over McKinley in 1956, for third place. For his outstanding play during the season, he was named to the Buffalo Ad Club’s All-Star game, pitting the Buffalo Public School representatives against a team picked from the Erie County Conference and the Niagara Frontier League.


Art also played basketball at Bennett and was a member of the 1957 Yale Cup Championship team during his senior year.

Emery J. Fisher

Emery J. Fisher

by | Feb 17, 2023

Emery Fisher is an ideal candidate for this award named in memory of former Bennett athlete and charter member of this Sports Hall of Fame committee, Earle Y. Hannel. Emery’s contribution to the local sports scene includes that of an athlete, coach, cross country, track and swimming official, and director of several amateur sports events in our area.

As an athlete, Emery was a hurdler and sprinter at Bennett, finishing 3rd in the All-High meet as a junior, and 2nd as a senior. It must be noted that this was the era of post-graduate students, which means Emery competed agaist 5th year athlete during his 4 year career. Emery continued his sprinting and hurdling career after Bennett in the army, and then at the U. of Buffalo. Emery was a varsity athlete at U.B. from 1947 -1951 .

Emery’s coaching career included a 21 year stint as cross country and track coach at the U. of Buffalo. His teams at U.B. had a winning record during his tenure there.

Anyone that ran track in the Buffalo Public Schools would recognize Emery as the starter for the “Scalp & Blade” track meets. Emery was the official starter for the league from 1974 – 2005. Emery was also an official for high school and college competition in cross country, track and swimming. Emery was also a starter and finish judge in numerous local road races. Emery’s lengthy resume also includes former president of the N.Y.S. Collegiate Track & Reid Association, regional officer of the Jesse Owens Games (1967- 1984), and the World University Games in Buffalo.

Emery was also head official for the Olympic Marathon trials in 1980 and 984, and started the “Big E” Relays in W.N.Y. Emery was a huge contributor to W.N.Y. sports as an athlete, official, and director, in the true sprit of Earle Hannel.