by Jeff | Feb 17, 2023
John came to Bennett as a sophomore, and immediately became a star in basketball. As the starting point guard John was named 1st team all-high in both his junior and senior years. In 1989 John also was named 1st team all-WNY in basketball, More important to John, the Tiger basketball squad went undefeated in “Yale Cup” action during the ’86/’87 season, capturing the cup with a won 13 lost 0 record. The Tigers defeated Newark HS in the far west regional, before losing their first game at the state championship at Glens Falls, NY, finishing with a 22 win 1 loss record, ranked 7th in NYS. John
finished his three year career at Bennett with over 1,015 points.
John attended Samford U. (AL) on a basketball scholarship. John’s work with the 4/11 charity brings him back to Buffalo every summer to promote a Yale Cup alumni basketball exhibition.
by Jeff | 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.
by Jeff | 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.
by Jeff | Feb 17, 2023
Paul Emerick was a baseball standout and basketball player at Bennett in the 1950’s. He was, arguably, one of the best right handed pitchers ever to represent the ngers in the long baseball history of Bennett High School. His superb fast ball and curve, as well as his outstanding control, enabled Bennett to capture the Cornell Cup during his junior year. The Tigers also won the Cornell Cup during his sophomore season. He was named to the All-High first team as a pitcher during his senior year at Bennett.
Paul enlisted in the U.S. Air Force after graduating from Bennett. While serving in “Special Services” in the Philippines, Paul was a star pitcher, as he competed against the top teams in the Far East. Upon discharge from the Air Force, he signed a professional baseball contract with the Kansas City Athletics organization. He was assigned to the Daytona Islanders of the Florida State League in 1963, and was slated to move to AAA Albuquerque the next year, when a serious rotator cuff surgery ended his pitching career.
Paul retired after a long career in the New York State Correctional System, and currently resides with his wife in North Tonawanda.
