by Jeff | Feb 17, 2023
Arthur was a varsity Cross Country and Track athlete while at Bennett. His efforts and achievements in track elevated him to this Hall Of Fame level. A versatile performer, Arthur excelled in the high jump, high hurdles, long jump and triple jump, achieving first team All-High in the high jump in both his junior and senior seasons. The Tigers won the “Scalp & Blade” track championship all three years Arthur was on the track squad. In his specialty event, the high jump, Arthur literally rose to the top setting a school, city and Section VI record with a leap of 6’ 10 3/4 “ in winning the New York State track championship. That winning height represents an incredible full 13 inches above his own actual height, unheard of in this event.
After high school, McClinton enrolled in the United States Marine Corps. His track and high jump career continued to flourish while in service, when he set the Marine Corp track record with a leap of 7’ 3/4”. This super effort qualified Arthur for the U.S. Olympic team trials.
Today Arthur McClinton resides in Buffalo and works as a barber at Bono Hair Studio on E. Delavan Ave. Arthur and his late wife have two children, Uniqua, aged 18, and Kevin aged 17.
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
Maurice Maloney, ‘48, competed in his first track competition in the spring of his sophomore year. He won his second race–the half-mile– helping him earn his first Bennett letter. As a junior, age 15, Maurice led Bennett to a Columbia Cup Championship in cross country. He finished second overall in the race–7 seconds faster than the previous course record. His senior year, Maurice ran the mile only once in competition–winning the race at 4:36 and breaking the Bennett record. At the Buffalo All High track meet, he was declared second in the half-mile in a dramatic and disputed finish.
While at Bennett, Maurice also raced with the Buffalo YMCA Track Club. The “Y” team–made up of high school kids–competed in the NAUU CC Championship in Detroit. Racing against 15 colleges, Maurice finished 7th overall, and helped lead the “Y” team to a second place finish behind Michigan State–besting 14 other colleges. He also became Canadian Junior Champion of the half-mile, winning the race 3 tenths of a second off the all-time Canadian record.
Maurice received a scholarship to Michigan State. At MSU, he was Captain and high point man of the Freshman Cross Country and Track Teams, and the only sophomore to make the Cross Country Varsity Team. Competing with 40 colleges at the IC4A CC Championships in New York City, he was the first sophomore to finish the race. His team won the 1949 NCAA Championship. In track, he was a member of MSU’s undefeated 4-mile relay team.
A serious knee injury at the end of his sophomore year ended his running career.
