by Jeff | Feb 17, 2023
Steve Poliachik is receiving the Career Achievement Award for tonight’s induction ceremonies. Poliachik has had an outstanding sports career. At Bennett he was involved in coaching Girls softball for 24 years from 1979-1982 compiling 182 wins, Girls basketball for 24 years from 1979-2002 compiling 163 wins and Girls volleyball for 18 years from 1985-2002 compiling 108 wins. In all three sports his teams had multiple invitations to the sectional playoffs.
Poliachik played organized baseball for 45 years in elementary school, Mckinley High School, Jacksonville University and UB. At McKinley he starred in three sports – baseball, football and basketball where he was All High in baseball as a pitcher and in football as a quarterback.
In 1962 he played on the American Legion DelBello team which won the U.S. Championships in Bismarck, North Dakota. Another highlight of his career also occurred in 1962 when he was invited to try out for the New York Yankees. The team felt that he would benefit more by attending Jacksonville University on a baseball scholarship. Shortly after he transferred to UB where he also played baseball.
Other noteworthy feats were pitching batting practice, filming hitters and charting pitchers for the Buffalo Bisons, appearing in a bit part in the movie “The Natural” which was filmed in Buffalo,and pitching batting practice in Old-Timer Games to such players as Mickey Mantle and Joe DiMaggio. He is also a member of the WNY Baseball Hall of Fame and Harvard Cup Football Hall of Fame.
Poliachik said, “I greatly appreciate the many awards and achievements that I have been honored with in my life. However, being inducted into the Bennett Sports Hall of Fame is a dream come true. Being involved in coaching at Bennett gave me the chance to be directly involved in coaching my two daughters, Kim and Kristen who are both members of the Bennett High School Sports Hall of Fame. The sacrifice of my wife will never be forgotten. She has always been there for me as I pursued the goals that I wished to attain.’
by Jeff | Feb 17, 2023
Cary Presant played varsity tennis for Bennett for three years where he attained All High ranking in doubles in 1959. He was also the University of Buffalo’s Tennis Team manager in 1961 and was the Los Angeles Inter Community Tennis Singles Champion in 1979 and 1985.
In addition to an outstanding tennis career his professional career has been truly remarkable. Dr. Present is a practicing hematologist and medical oncologist in Southern California at City of Hope Medical Center. He is also a Clinical Professor of Medicine at the University of Southern California School of Medicine.
Dr. Presant’s book “Surviving American Medicine” received the 2013 International Book Award for best book on health. He has also written over 400 scientific articles. He is a nationally recognized leader in medicine who is president of the National Association of Community Cancer Centers and a director of the American Society of Clinical Oncology. Among many other awards he has received are the Sklarow Award in 1982 from the Maimonides Medical Society in Buffalo and the National Community Clinical Scientist Award in 2016.
Dr. Presant’s current research is focused on developing new therapeutic programs for cancer. He also lectures on improving health care and research advances throughout the United States.
Dr. Presant’s wife Shelia is also a Bennett graduate. The Presants reside in San Marino, California. In his spare time Dr. Presant is busy teaching tennis to his four grandchildren which he thoroughly enjoys.
by Jeff | Feb 17, 2023
Nicole D. Smith’s remarkable record in basketball at Bennett may never be broken. From 1998-2002 she was All High and All Western New York each year, scoring over 1.000 career points. As the old saying goes, “NOT TOO SHABBY!” Adding to her legacy, she also starred on the varsity softball and volleyball teams for all four years. To achieve 12 major letters is truly a legendary feat. In addition to her superlative athletic athletic ability she was team captain twice in basketball and volleyball in 2001 and 2002.
After graduating from Bennett she attended Daemen College and majored in Psychology. She also continued her basketball career at Daemen playing three years on the varsity attaining Honorable mention ALL League in 2003. Smith’s present profession is working as a New York State Corrections officer for the past ten years.
“When I received a phone call telling me that I was going to be inducted into the Bennett High School Sports Hall of Fame I was completely flabbergasted. Words cannot express how thrilled I am to receive this prestigious award,” Smith said.
by Jeff | Feb 17, 2023
Elson Turner Jr. nicknamed (“Butch}, was on three of the greatest cross country teams in the history of Bennett High School. By winning the three championships his teams received the “Columbia Cup” which gave them the distinction of being the outstanding cross country team in Buffalo Public High School competition during those three years. In a storied career at Bennett “Butch” was also on the track team for four years. He was the City 440 Yard Invitational Champion in both his junior and senior years attaining All High Status each year. (1964 and 1965).
After high school he was awarded a full track scholarship to Buffalo State College. However, he had always had a desire to travel all over the world. He joined the United States Air Force in 1966 and received an honorable discharge in 1973. After leaving the Air Force “Butch” worked at Mid Atlantic National Bank as an Assistant Branch Manager. He was also a Senior Analyst for the Hertz Corporation and an excellent cook. While working at Delaware North he turned his passion for food into a profession and opened the popular Elson’s Catering Service for many years. In 2013 he retired from the Delaware North Corporation.
Turner Jr. enjoyed listening to jazz, attending concerts and listening to sports on the radio. He was an avid reader and extremely cognizant of the events of the day. He was an outstanding speaker, had an infectious laugh and especially enjoyed gatherings with his family and friends.
