by Jeff | Feb 17, 2023
N.Y. State Senator Antoine Thompson was a two sport “All-High” athlete at Bennett. Antoine ran for the 1986 “Columbia Cup” cross country champion squad, and was an “All-High” selection on the 1987 squad with a 4th place finish in the All High meet. Additionally, he was captain of the Cross-Country Team in 1987 and Co-Captain of the Track Team in 1988. In track Antoine was a two time All-High performer in his senior year in the 880 yard run, and the two mile relay team. The Tigers captured the “Scalp & Blade” trophy as track champions during all of Antoine’s 3 year varsity career, a streak that would reach a 15 year run as undefeated track champions.
In his post high school years Antoine competed in track and cross country at Brockport State College, 1 year in cross country, and two years in track. Antoine later turned to politics, where he won a seat on the Buffalo Common Council, and later ran and won a race for State Senator. That seat was vacated by Byron Brown, who became Mayor Byron Brown of the City of Buffalo.
by Jeff | Feb 17, 2023
Bryan was a standout athlete on the Cross Country and Track teams during his four year career at Bennett HS. Bryan was All-High In Cross Country three times, placing 3rd as a sophomore, winning the title as a junior, and 2nd as a senior, even though he was hampered that season by illness.
As a freshman, Bryan won the freshman league title and set the freshman record for the race. In Bryans’ sophomore year he qualified for the National AAU Cross Country race in Raleigh NC, finishing 27th in his age group in the country. His junior year was Bryan’s best. Bryan twice broke the course record during that season, bettering it by an amazing 30 seconds. Bryan seldom had any runners within 150 yards of him that season, capping it off with a win in the All-High Championship. Bryan finished the WNY Regional meet in 2nd place, at that time, the best finish ever by a Buffalo Public High School runner.
Bryan led the Cross Country team to undefeated Columbia Cup seasons during his junior and senior years, with the team winning the Section A championship his senior year, a feat never before accomplished by a city high school. Bryans’ accomplishments in Track were no less impressive. He won consecutive 2 mile All-High Championships as a junior and senior, going undefeated in the 2 mile those years in City High School competition. Bryan set the Nicholls Track Invitational Meet 2 mile record his junior year. He helped lead the Bennett Track team to four straight undefeated Scalp and Blade championship seasons. The team won the Class BB sectional championship his junior year.
Bryans’ proudest achievement is that during his 8 varsity letter seasons in Cross Country and Track, his Bennett teams won 6 League championships, going undefeated in those championship seasons in City competition. Scholastically, Bryan was a member of the Student Council, National Honor Society, and a Regents Scholarship winner. Bryan attended SUNY at Buffalo, receiving a BS in Physical Education in 1981 . Knee and ankle injuries kept Bryan from continuing his running career at SUNYAB, but he did run in an occasional local race, such as the annual Buffalo Turkey Day race. Bryan now lives in Rural Hall North Carolina, where he is the Safety Manager for Sonoco CorrFlex’s, Rural Hall Plant. Bryan has two sons, Keith 23, and Justin 18.
After 8 years of dialysis, Bryan received a Kidney transplant in 2001 and urges everyone to become an organ donor.
by Jeff | Feb 17, 2023
This award is given to a deserving athlete that performed at Bennett at a high level in the competitive spirit of the late Earle Hannel, but technically is not eligible for our Bennett Sports Hall Of Fame. In George’s case, he started his secondary academic career at Bennett and was selected to enroll at the new “city honors” wing at Bennett. Three years later City Honors became a high school onto its own, and that is where George actually graduated from.
From the perspective of athletic achievement, George should have been selected much earlier that this. Among his achievements, Lewis was an All-High runner on two undefeated “Columbia Cup” cross country championship teams. In 3 years of varsity track, George ran every event and relay from the 220 yard dash to the 2 mile run. All three Tigers squads were undefeated in “Scalp & Blade” competition. Although All-High in several events, George’s specialty turned out to be the 880 yard run. George was not only All-High, but SectionVI individual champion, and finished 4th in the New York State track meet, winning his heat with an admirable time of 1 :53.1 clocking, a school record. Coach Veronica recalls of George, “the hardest worker in practice that I ever coached in track, bar none”. George Lewis’ success in track was due to his intense preparation and hard work, words that would make Earle Hannel very proud.
Lewis continued his running career at Buffalo State College after high school, and is a long standing employee of Niagara Mohawk (National Grid).
by Jeff | Feb 17, 2023
Walter was a rare 4 year starter on the varsity swim team. The Tigers were the “Syracuse Cup” champions all four years during Walter’s career. Walter was a large part of the powerhouse Bennett teams during that era that amassed a 45 consective meet winning streak. During Walter’s brilliant career at Bennett he achieved 6 All-Highs and 3 city records. The All-High events included the 100 yard backstroke (twice), 200 yard free (city record), 200 yard indidual medley, 400 yard free relay (city record) and the 100 yard breast stroke (city record).
After High School Walter continued his swimming career at Buffalo State College.
Walter Valley will be remembered as one of the best swimmers in Bennett history, in an era when the Tiger swim teams were at their strongest. Walter still resides in the Buffalo area.
