Edward Harling

by Jeff | Feb 17, 2023

Edward “Slim” Harling graduated from Bennett in 1955, after transferring from Fosdick Masten High School following his sophomore year in 1953.

Harling played the 3 major sports of basketball, baseball, and football at Bennett. In football, he held down an offensive end position, and in baseball, he was a rangy target as a first baseman.

A basketball center, Ed was named to the Buffalo News and Courier Express All High teams in both his junior and senior years. He finished first in the Yale Cup individual scoring race during his senior year, averaging over 25 points per game. During his junior season, Ed led Bennett to the Yale Cup championship. He was an outstanding rebounder and scorer throughout his playing days at Bennett, pacing the team in both categories during his Tiger career.

An individual highlight for Harling occurred during his junior season, when he scorched the nets for 62 points. The feat came in a 1 08-60 Bennett win over Grover Cleveland High School, breaking the previous single game record of 60, set in 1951. The 6′ 4″ center connected on 26 of 49 shots from the field, and 10 of 14 free throws on that memorable day. It was a record that stood for 28 years.

During Harling’s 1954 season, in a showdown game on the home court of Kensington, Bennett clinched the Yale Cup by defeating the Knights, 70-67 Ed was again at the forefront for the Tigers, providing the tying and deciding points with successful free throws 26 seconds before the final buzzer. The sizzling battle was termed by Ray Glunz, Buffalo Director of Physical Education, as “one of the finest games I have witnessed in 20 years.”

Prior to his final year at Bennett, a state basketball publication named Harling as a potential All-American candidate, amongst New York state high school cagers entering their senior year.

Ed went on to play basketball at Bowling Green (Ohio) University.

A recent retiree as a physical education teacher in the Buffalo Public Schools, he resides with his family in Williamsville.

John Zeitler

by Jeff | Feb 17, 2023

John Zeitler was one of Bennett’s outstanding athletes. He lettered for four years in baseball and three in basketball and football. He made All-High in football and baseball his senior year and was second-team All-High in basketball. In football his senior year, he led all city scorers with six touchdowns. In baseball he pitched all of Bennett’s games, recording five wins and one loss. He beat Riverside, 3-2, in the Cornell Cup championship game. The previous baseball season, 1 949, he was named second team All-High as an infielder when he batted .580.

Zeitler also starred on the Bennett American Legion baseball team that in 1 949 lost to Timon, two games to one, for the Erie County championship. Timon went on to win the New York State title.

Following his graduation in 1 950, Zeitler was faced with a tough decision. He was offered four-year athletic scholarships to Colgate and Michigan State. He choose Michigan State, where he played three seasons as a third baseman in an era before freshmen were allowed to play varsity. As captain in his senior year, he led the Spartans to the Big Ten championship and a berth in the College World Series. He hit .385 in the CWS and signed to play professionally in the Detroit Tigers’ farm system.

He did two things with the bonus money he received from the Tigers. He bought his mother a fur coat and his father a new car. Zeitler played two seasons of pro baseball and another five of semi-pro with Simon Pures of the Buffalo Muny League. He was recognized for his excellent play with Simons by being named to the Western New York Baseball Hall of Fame.

After his pro and amateur baseball career, Zeitler entered the priesthood. Today, he is pastor of Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church in Lakeview and recently directed the building of a new $4 million church.