2009 YEAR END PART II: ‘Bar’ none

Barker Raiders boys cross country team makes history

By John D'Onofrio<br><a href="mailto:john.donofrio@lockportjournal.com">E-mail John</a>

BARKER — State championships don’t happen by chance. It takes a lot of hard work, dedication, athletic skill and good coaching to even get there.

After finishing seventh at states, then fourth, then second in consecutive seasons, Barker cross country head coach Paul DerSarkissian told his seven-member harrier squad at the beginning of the 2009 fall cross country season, “There’s only one place to go.”

And off they went, most of the time unseen and unheard, as they pounded the pavement on quiet streets throughout their tiny Niagara County village and around their school.

It ended in mid-November when the Raiders claimed the school’s first-ever state championship, winning the Class D boys cross country title at SUNY Plattsburgh, earning them the Union-Sun & Journal’s “Local Sports Story of the Year” honor.

“I’m honored for the boys and for all the hard work they put into it,” said DerSarkissian, who completed his ninth year as harrier head coach at Barker.

“I’m also honored for Barker school and the Barker community. It’s great for the spotlight to be on us and to be on us in such magnitude.

“It’s absolutely awesome and a huge honor,” he said.

DerSarkissian is no Nostradamus, but he did see far into the future when he gathered a group of young Barker cross country runners together for a pep talk four years ago.

“Back when we were in eighth grade, coach DerSarkissian pointed out that we had a strong modified team with many solid runners,” said Raiders senior Erick Bennes.

“He said at that time that in the future, if we stuck to it, that in our junior and senior years, if we continued to work together, that we had a great opportunity to do great things — and he was right.”

Barker’s successful title run was led by the trio of sophomore Mike Lantinen (17:00.6), Bennes (17:05.8) and sophomore Tyler Scheving (17:07.2), who finished 20th, 22nd and 23rd overall respectively.

Other key components in the team title win were senior Ryan Lamb (33rd, 17:19.2), sophomore Jed Platt (39th, 17:25.0) and seniors David Poyfair (71st, 18:32.5) and Matt Sweeney (73rd, 18:40.4).

“Our gap at the state meet between runners one through five was 25 seconds. That’s what made our team successful throughout this year. It wasn’t just the fastest runners, but everyone,” Bennes said.

Bennes and Lantinen said winning Barker’s first state team championship was something they’ll be proud of the rest of their lives.

“It feels great. The first state title for our school in any sport — and our school’s been around for centuries,” said Lantinen, who said he got his start in long-distance running with coach Sharon (Budde) Lamb on the Barker modified team.

Last year’s Raiders cross country team finished second at the state meet in Plattsburgh.

“Our goal last year was to get to states and this year, our goal was to win states,” said Bennes, who hopes to study engineering next fall at a college to be determined.

“We’ve had our eyes on this since summer and we felt collectively that we had a chance. It takes hard work and diligence to win in cross country. We had our minds set on a common goal and we worked hard to achieve it.”

Lantinen said the addition of Scheving, a Catholic school transfer student, last year, also gave the program added momentum.

“We didn’t expect him to be as good as he was when he first joined the team as a freshman,” Lantinen said.

“As soon as he arrived, he made the team that much deeper and we started winning invitationals and were ranked state wide and ended up second in the state last year.”

Since winning states, Barker harriers, along with their coaches DerSarkissian, a 1989 graduate of Barker, and assistant coach Sharon (Budde) Lamb, a 1979 graduate of Lockport High School where she was a girls sports pioneer, have been showered with accolades from the school district and village.

A large banner has been erected in the school gymnasium honoring the state title win, a sign was installed at the entrance to the village welcoming people to the “Home of the state-champion Barker boys cross country team,” a sign will be installed at the new Barker nature trail next to the school honoring the team and the school gave coaches DerSarkissian and Lamb state-title fleeces.

In addition, the team and their coaches were lauded at an emotional team banquet last month in which tears flowed freely.

“Two days after we got back we paraded around the schools with the pep band. It was quite a scene with students slapping high fives with the team in the hallways and the kids were giving me hugs,” DerSarkissian said.

DerSarkissian also earned the ultimate coaching honor recently when he was named All-Western New York Cross Country Coach of the Year.”

Here’s a look back, locally, at the second half of 2009:



JULY

1 — “Big Ben” McKissock socks a solo home run as the Cardinals defeat the Blue Jays, 1-0, in the Lockport Little League Major Division playoff championship game at the Ray Lee Complex.

2 — Bob Roth cards a 38 to earn low gross honors in the Reid’s Two-Man Golf League at Oak Run. John Sheppard fires a 27 for low net. Boxing great Alexis Arguello dies. NBA great Shaquille O’Neal signs with the Cleveland Cavaliers.

3 — Denny Ulrich and John Burkhardt share low gross honors in the Niagara-Orleans Country Club’s Men’s League in Middleport. Buffalo Bills offensive line coach Sean Kugler, a Lockport native, puts on a clinic for Lockport Little Loop Football players at Outwater Park.

4 — Former NFL quarterback Steve McNair is shot to death in Nashville by his mistress. Serena Williams defeats her sister, Venus, to win the Wimbleton Women’s Tennis Singles Championship.

5 — Sue Way is the top pitcher this week in the Lockport Horseshoe League. Roger Federer beats Andy Roddick to win the Wimbledon Men’s Singles Championship, earning his record 15th major.

6 — Don Gibb does everything but water the greens at Oak Run, carding a 34 for low gross in the Reid’s Two-Man Golf League. He adds 27 for low net and teams with Rich Mesi to earn low team gross and low team net.

7 — The 2009 Erie Barge Canal Fishing Derby opens on canal waters between Albion and the Tonawanda. The derby founder and director is Steve Harrington of Gasport.

8 — Attitudes wins the Thursday Night Dart League championship. Team members are owner Bob Soemann, former Charlotte Cross great Todd Maine, Kevin Reppintine, local umpire Ray Gill, Jim Tuohey, avid local golfer and kegler Jay Baes and Tim Andrews.

9 — Jim Moore and Gene O’Byrne fire identical rounds of 39

10 — Kyle Hinkley and Dave Soemann place first in a double-handicap horseshoe tournamrnt at Outwater Park. Peg Morgan aces the par-three, 127-yard No. 6 hole at the Lockport Town & Country Club.

11 — Sanborn’s Rich Vinson wins his first modified feature race of the season at Ransomville Speedway.

12 — Lockport pro bowler Brad Angelo and his teammates win the PBA Team Shootout in Jackson, N.J. Dario Franchitti of Scotland wins the Honda Indy-Car Series race in Toronto. Eun Hee Ji of South Korea wins the U.S. Women’s Open golf championship.

13 — Retired Lockport teachers Alex Mastroianni and Mike Finn team up to win the Oak Run Member-Member Golf Tournament’s A Flight. B Flight winners are Jim Wellington and retired Lockport City Treasurer James Ashcraft.

14 — P.J. Harris rumbles for 154 yards and three touchdowns, leading the Lockport Rage semi-pro football team past the Northcoast Vikings, 35-15.

15 — Brad Priebe tops the the Malloy Topsoil League at Oak Run with a 34 gross. Steve Fortuin (36) and Bruce Bessel (37) earn low gross honors in the Lock City Golf League at the Niagara County Golf Course.

16 — Annie Gibson fires both the high single scratch and the high five-game handicap, leading Cammarata’s Restaurant past Attitudes, topping Lockport Horseshoe League action at Outwater Park.

17 — Murphy Lang’s RBI single plates Zach Norman with the winning run in extra innings as R&M; paving wins the 2009 Lockport Little League AA Division championship, 12-11, over Advanced Technology.

18 — Former Buffalo Bills running back and National Football League Hall-of-Famer Thurman Thomas is one of 21 new members inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame.

19 — Golfing great Tom Watson misses an 8-footer for victory on No. 18 and loses 2009 British Open at Turnberry to Stewart Cink in a playoff.

20 — Guest columnist Nick Mattera slams the Porter Cup Golf Tournament for featuring “very few amateurs” in the field.

21 — Adult first-place finishers in the 2009 Erie Barge Canal Fishing Derby are Lockport’s Joseph Brown (bullhead), Aaron Woods (carp), Alan Berner (sheephead), Medina’s C.J. Kenward (Northern Pike), Middleport’s Josh Quackenbush (walleye), Newfane’s Richard Thering (catfish) and North Tonawanda’s Steven Canduff (bass).

22 — Kids Division first-place finishers in the 2009 Erie Barge Canal Fishing Derby are Gasport’s Rianna Frombgen (Northern Pike), North Tonawanda’s Brandon Jeeves (carp) and Rachel Wieclaw (bullhead), Medina’s Justin Ottaviano (catfish), Middleport’s Dustin Dietz (walleye), Tonawanda’s Ian Mott (sheephead) and Sahara Lester of Niagara Falls (bass).

23 — Elizabeth Connolly and Megan Valery each smack three hits with a triple, sparking Kern’s Wholesale to a 15-5 victory over Briody’s Health Care in Lockport Little League Major Softball Division action at the Ray Lee Complex.

24 — US&J; sports guest columnist Ethan Randall of Lockport says the Buffalo Bills should sign former Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick, who was recently reinstated by the NFL.

25 — Brendan Gielow wins the 51st annual Porter Cup Golf Championship at the Niagara Falls Country Club in Lewiston.

26 — Buffalo Bills defensive coordinator Perry Fewell tells the Associated Press that he’s keeping an open mind on whether yet-unsigned rookie safety Jairus Byrd can compete for a starting job with the team.

27 — Former Buffalo Bills quarterback Joe Ferguson said he’s doing much better after battling cancer for four years. Ferguson was diagnosed with Burkitt’s Lymphoma and leukemia in 2005.

28 — Starpoint’s Joe Scibilia tosses a 40-yard touchdown pass to Dae-Shuane Clark of Williamsville South as the North beats the South, 30-10, in the annual Kensington Lions Club All-Star High School Football Classic in North Tonawanda.

29 — Lockport’s Eric Bream earns a gold medal in the 400 meter dash at the Empire State Liberty Tour Track and Field Championship Meet in Queensbury, N.Y.

30 — Back from a serious foot injury that kept him out of 11 games last year, Buffalo Bills defensive end Aaron Schobel returns to practice.

31 — Sanborn’s Brian Lonneville becomes the 16th different Streetstocks Division feature winner at Ransomville Speedway.



AUGUST

1 — Lockport professional light heavyweight Amer Abdallah records a first-round knockout win over Donnie Pendelton of Milwaukee in the main event of Downtown Throwdown — the first major outdoor fight card in Lockport history. Respected Lockport mixed martial arts trainer Corey Webster is also a winner at the Ulrich Centre card.

2 — Completion of the Lockport Ice and Sports Arena on Chestnut Street is still two years away, say City Attorney John Ottaviano and Mayor Michael Tucker, at a youth street hockey tournament at the proposed rink site on Chestnut Street.

3 — Canal Fishing Derby prizes are awarded to Adult Division winners Steve Carnduff of North Tonawanda (bass), Richard Thering of Newfane (catfish), C.J. Kenward of Medina (Northern Pike), Lockport’s Alan Berger (sheephead) and Aaron Woods (carp) and Middleport’s Josh Quackenbush (walleye).

4 — Kids Division winners in the annual Erie Canal Fishing Derby earn prizes atb the annual banquet at the Gasport Fire Hall. They are Ian Mott of Tonawanda (sheephead), Rianna Frombgen of Gasport (Northern Pike), Sahara Lester of Niagara Falls (bass), Trevor Zanow of Ransomville (bullhead), Justin Ottaviano of Medina (catfish), Richard Thering III of Newfane (carp) and Lockport’s Chris Bogar-Lopez (walleye).

5 — Winners of “The Danny” Memorial Golf Tournament at the Niagara-Orleans Country Club in Middleport were two members of the Lockport Senior High School Class of 1979, Lynn (Graney) Casasanta of Connecticut abd Sharon (Budde) Lamb of Barker; along with Lockport’s Bill Graney and Hartford’s John Bald.

6 — Lockport’s Cliff Carlson and Jim Graton of Niagara Falls are winners of the monthly steel dart tournament at the Newfane Manor.

7 — Lockport’s Dan Grabowski records a hole-in-one at the No. 2 hole at the Lockport Town & Country Club. He uses a 7-iron to ace the 147-yard par three hole.

8 — “Is there anything else anyone wants to talk about?” Buffalo Bills quarterback Trent Edwards asks reporters when probed about the team’s flamboyant new wide receiver Terrell Owens.

9 — The Lockport Rage semi pro football team is on a hot streak, after winning three out of its last four games in the United States Football Alliance’s Eastern Conference. Former Lockport High great P.J. Harris rushes for three TDs in a 48-0 victory over the Nickel City Kings.

10 — Buffalo Bills defensive end Bruce Smith is inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton.

11 — Chicago Black Hawks star and South Buffalo native Patrick Kane is charged with attacking a Buffalo cab driver after the cabbie couldn’t produce 20 cents in change.

12 — Middleport Olympian wrestler Lou Rosselli is named to the Greater Buffalo Sports Hall of Fame.

13 — Bill Carroll and former US&J; Golf League Secretary of the Year John Madden are the top performers this week in the Lock City Golf League at the Niagara County Golf Course. Both carded 35s to share low gross honors. The Philadelphia Eagles pick up former Falcons QB Michael Vick.

14 — Don Gibb cards a 38 to earn low gross honors this week in the Reid’s Two-Man League at the Oak Run Golf Course on Lake Avenue.

15 — Team Pretty Girls, made up of Lockport’s Lindsey Burke, Lea Sobieraski, Allie Quast and Kayla Minner, wins the girls 18-under title at the annual Harbor Hoops competition in Wilson.

16 — Tiger Woods proves he’s human once and for all, as Y.E. Yang overcomes a two-stroke Woods’ lead in the final round of the 91st PGA Championship at Hzeltine in Chaska, Minn.

17 — Football practices open state-wide for high schools. Bills rookie safety Jairus Byrd participates in his first practice after missing the first 18 days of camp with a hernia.

18 — Local Minnesota Vikings fans like WLVL radio personality Paul Oates of Lockport start dancing in the streets when it’s announced that former Packers great Brett Favre would come out of his second retirement to play quarterback for the Vikings.

19 — Mike Ranney finishes with 86 points to place first this year in the Bud McCabe Memorial Golf League at the Niagara County Golf Course.

20 — Jeremy Brown was named his team’s most valuable player, but the Lockport Rage dropped their United States Football Alliance Eastern Conference semifinal playoff game at Cleveland, 27-24, in overtime.

21 — Lockport junior ice hockey standout Ryan Neidrauer signs with the Hartford Wolfpack Junior “A” Team in the Atlantic Junior Hockey League.

22— Jim Graton of Niagara Falls and Rod Harden of Youngstown are the monthly steel dart tournament winners at the Newfane Manor.

23 — Kyle Busch wins the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Sharpie 500 in Bristol, Tenn.

24 — Dylan Parker cards a 305 to win the Willowbrook Club Championship.

25 — A monument bench is unveiled at the Ray Lee Little League Baseball Complex on Lincoln Avenue in memory of the late coach and volunteer Bob Stoll. Members of the Stoll family, including Bob’s surviving wife, Betty Stoll, and friends attend the ceremony at Diamond B.

26 — Stan Kulak and Sue Way are the top male and female pitchers, respectively, at the Lockport Class “A” Horseshoe Tournament at Outwater Park.

27 — Nigel Davis rushes for 109 on just three carries with two TDS in a 39-0 Lockport Bucs victory over Pendleton in Niagara Youth Football League action at Exchange Club Field, Outwater Park.

28 — Rob Olear starts a girls tennis club in Wilson. Starpoint graduate Allie Matters records 13 digs for Seton Hall in a loss to Fordham at the UB Invitational in Amherst.

29 — California beats Taiwan 6-3 to win the 2009 Little League World Series in South Williamsport, pa.

30 — Boxing Night at the Elks Club is a huge success as Gasport boxing historian Bo Bilicki put on his huge display and many local fighters, including former professional light heavyweight contender Tommy Hicks of Newfane and Lockport heavyweight contender Tony Ventura shared fight stories.

31 — Starpoint senior tri-captains Joshua Elizalde, Brendan Reinert and Derek Bongiovanni will lead the football Spartans in 2009.



SEPTEMBER

1 — Members of the Village Eatery, 2009 Lock City Golf League champs at the Niagara County Golf Course, are brothers Mike and Jack Florio, Brad Priebe, Dave Milliman, Tim Dowell, Doug Zimmerman and John “Tiger” Madden.

2 — Wilson seniors John Vincent (quarterback) and Ethan Baker (wide receiver) will lead the Lakemen football team this season.

3 — Former Lockport High School all-star lineman Alex Haney takes over as the new head coach of the Newfane Panthers varsity football team.

4 — Senior tailback David Fluellen rushes for 182 yards and three touchdowns, but the Lockport football Lions drop their 2009 Section VI Class AA opener at defending state-champion Orchard Park, 32-26, in double overtime.

5 — Barker sophomore Austin Blackley returns the second-half kickoff 82 yards for a touchdown, but it isn’t enough in the Raiders’ opening day 30-6 loss to visiting Holley.

6 — The Lockport Midget Baseball League honors its best and brightest of 2009. Cambria’s Andrew Boyce is named “A” League MVP and Wilson’s Cameron Sidote is the top “B” League player.

7 — Congratulations to Wilson boys varsity soccer coach Tom Baia, who earns his 200th career victory at the Kendall Tournament.

8 — The formidable Lockport boys and girls varsity soccer teams are featured as they prep for their annual Booster Club Tournament this coming weekend.

9 — Junior Bridget Shanahan spearheads the visiting Royalton-Hartland Lady Rams girls volleyball team past Albion in four sets in their key Niagara-Orleans League early-season matchup.

10 — Jack DiMaggio and Jim Chapman earn the Reid’s Two-Man Golf League championship at Oak Run.

11 — Lockport senior Aislinn Bleiler and sophomore Olivia Kurbs net goals in a 2-1 Lady Lions win over Starpoint at the annual LHS Boys & Girls Soccer Tournament. Kristi Delabio scores the lone goal for the Lady Spartans.

12 — Senior David Fluellen rushes for 254 yards and three touchdowns as the football Lions even their new-found rivalry series with district neighbor Starpoint at 1-1 with a 36-7 win at Max D. Lederer Field.

13 — Newfane’s Nicole Adamson records 23 assists as the Lady Panthers volleyball team defeats Akron in four sets, topping Niagara-Orleans League action.

14 — Ouch. The Buffalo Bills open their 2009-10 NFL regular season by blowing a 24-13 lead at New England on Monday Night Football as the Patriots score two TDs in the game’s final two minutes to win, 25-24.

15 — Lockport senior Lea Sobieraski has 15 kills and sophomore sibling Emma Sobieraski adds 10 as the Lady Lions roll past Niagara-Wheatfield in straight sets to top Niagara Frontier League girls volleyball action.

16 — Desmond Stoll cards an even-par 36 to spark the Lockport Lions golf team past visiting Kenmore East, at the Lockport Town & Country Club. Gabby Balseca and Alexis Moreland combine for five goals to lift visiting Newfane past Royalton-Hartland, 7-0, topping Niagara-Orleans League girls soccer action at Roy-Hart Elementary.

17 — Crystal Mott scores two goals as Barker improves to 3-0 in Niagara-Orleans League field hockey with a 5-0 win at Newfane.

18 — Erik Taheri cards a 37 as head coach Doug Ames’ Newfane golf team improves to 8-0 in the Niagara-Orleans League with a 215-244 win over visiting Barker at Oak Run.

19 — Former Niagara Gazette sports editor Bill McGrath writes a touching tribute to Lockport native Mike Brown, a former star basketball player at Niagara University who recently died.

20 — Mel Thurston, Duane Harrer, Nelson Gould, Jim Sullivan, Mark Snell, Brent Brunne, Dan Hamilton, Kerry Fly and John Morello are inducted into the Lockport High School Sports Wall of Fame at ceremonies held at the Lockport Holiday Inn.

21 — Marissa Wright nets three goals to lead the Lockport Lady Lions past visiting Niagara Falls, 9-1, topping Niagara Frontier League girls soccer action.

22 — Molly Curry scores a three-goal hat trick as Wilson knocks off defending Niagara-Orleans League-champion Albion, 5-1, in a mid-season battle of girls soccer league unbeatens.

23 — Steph Wood has 11 kills and three blocks to lead Royalton-Hartland past Medina 3-0, topping Niagara-Orleans League girls volleyball action.

24 — Sophomore Robert Ralyea scores the game’s only goal and Chris Paradise earns the shutout as Lockport blanks Niagara-Wheatfield, 1-0, handing the Falcons their first Niagara Frontier League boys soccer loss of the season.

25 — Rick Pass is the 2009 champion of the Ships Cargo Golf League. Past champions are Dan Branch, Frank Perilli, Paul Pass, Ralph Camarre, John Craig, Pete Quirk, Chris HIldreth, Jim Leuer, Dave Bunn and Mike Morris.

26 — Lockport High School graduate Linda Kuligowski swims the English Channel as a member of the University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences relay swim team.

27 — Steve Lakes runs for one TD and Sean Seefeldt scored another as thye Newfane junior varsity football team improved to 3-1 with a 15-13 victory over Medina.

28 — Senior Chelsea McKenna is a four-time winner, lifting the Lockport Lady Lions over visiting Grand Island, 114-67, topping Niagara Frontier League girls swimming action.

29 — Nigel Davis rushes for 393 yards and five touchdowns as the Lockport Bus defeat the TTFA Bills, 36-25 in Niagara Youth Football League 135-pound division action.

30 — Senior Joe Monti and sophomore Matt Veihdeffer scored goals and keeper Shawn Slattery eaarned his third shutout of the season in goal as the Royalton-Hartland Rams blanked the Medina Mustangs, 2-0, topping Niagara-Orleans League boys soccer action.



OCTOBER

1 — Senior Matt McCoy and freshman Alex Reid net goals for Lockport in a 2-0 victory over visiting North Tonawanda, topping Niagara Frontier League boys soccer action.

2 — Roy-Hart senior wide receiver Jeff Swick goes up high to haul in a 19-yard touchdown pass from Connor Baker, but it wasn’t enough in a 14-6 football loss to visiting Allegany-Limestone under a full moon at Bruno Pacini Field in Middleport.

3 — A lightning strike temporarily halts the high school football action at Max D. Lederer Field, but when the clouds finally clear, Lockport senior David Fluellen thunders for 260 yards and four TDs in a 42-14 win over visiting Kenmore West.

4 — Niagara Falls native Jonny Flynn nets 14 points and adds 7 assists in his NBA debut with Minnesota as the Timberwolves defeat the Milwaukee Bucks, 117-103.

5 — Emma Sobieraski and Marissa Guyton each record nine kills, leading the Lockport girls volleyball team past visiting Grand Island, 3-0.

6 — Niagara County Community College sophomore volleyball player Kathie Kreppenneck (Starpoint) is named Co-Athlete of the Week for the Lady Trailblazers.

7 — Newfane High School girls soccer coach Linea Fetzer earns the Niagara-Orleans League Coach’s Sportsmanship Award.

8 — Miller Barmasse, Andrea Licata and Kitty Naughton earn singles wins for head coach John Beatty’s Lady Lions tennis team, which beat Lewiston-Porter, 4-1.

9 — Wilson’s Nate Meier is a mudder, rushing for 201 yards and three touchdowns in the Lakemen’s 32-0 football victory over Roy-Hart at rain-soaked Bruno Pacini Field in Middleport.

10 — David Fluellen rushes for 191 yards and four touchdowns as the visiting Lions defeat Williamsville North, 41-14, topping Class AA North football action.

11 — The Buffalo Bills hit an all-time low, losing 6-3 to the previously-winless Cleveland Browns at Ralph Wilson Stadium.

12 — Justin Harvey nets four goals to spark the Newfane Panthers past the visiting Depew Wildcats in non-league boys soccer action.

13 — Newly-inducted Lockport Bowling Association president Ron Sementelli said he hopes to increase participation numbers during his two-year term.

14 — Lockport and Starpoint girls swimmers team up to raise breast cancer awareness at their non-league meet at LHS.

15 — Senior striker Matt McCoy’s league-leading 18th goal of the season sparks the Lions past Lewiston-Porter, 1-0, topping NFL boys soccer action.

16 — John Vincent saves his best for last at Walter Hutchison Field in Wilson, tossing three touchdown passes in the Lakemen’s 39-0 victory over rival Newfane.

17 — Cagey junior quarterback Dale Stewart did everything but work the concession stand at Max D. Lederer Field, figuring in on all three Wolverines touchdowns, as visiting Niagara Falls defeated Lockport, 21-14, in a Class AA North football thriller.

18 — Back-up Ryan Fitzpatrick leads the Bills to a comeback 16-13 victory over the “New York” Jets in overtime at Giants Stadium New Jersey.

19 — Lockport supermom Judy Arlington-Sparks, a veteran marathon runner, heads up a Y-10 training group in preparation for the Feb. 13 Y-10 Race in Lockport.

20 — Savannah Gancsz nets four goals and Sienna Dear adds two as Barker’s field hickey team improves to 13-0 in the Niagara-Orleans League with a 9-0 spanking of Medina.

21 — The Buffalo Sabres score five first-period goals en route to a 5-2 win over visiting Florida at HSBC Arena.

22 — Head coach Chris Niver’s Lockport varsity boys volleyball team (11-2) makes history, clinching at least a tie for its first-ever Niagara Frontier League championship, with a 3-0 win at Niagara Falls.

23 — Austin Blackley rushes for 101 yards and three TDs, lifting head coach Bill Bruning’s Barker Raiders over Canisteo, 28-21, in a Section V Class D Bowl Consolation football semifinal contest.

24 — Senior linebacker Luke Rankie records a team-high 17 tackles in Lockport’s 26-14 victory over Jamestown in their Section VI football Class AA quarterfinal at Max D. Lederer Field.

25 — Interception phenom Jarius Byrd of the Buffalo Bills picks off two passes in the Bills’ 20-9 win at Carolina. Byrd now has five picks in his last three games.

26 — Mike Kojsza records 11 kills and Sean Smith adds nine as the Lions beat Grand island in four sets to finish 12-2 in the NFL and claim its first league title in the program’s 18-year history.

27 — Garrett McIntosh, Kyle Jones, Alex Brennan, Adam Jones and Mike Thompson scored goals for Wilson in its 5-1 playoff victory over Roy-Hart in a Section VI Class C prequarterfinal boys soccer contest. Tim Mullen nets the lone goal for the Rams.

28 — Andrew Granchelli and Alex Reid net two goals apiece to spark the Lockport boys soccer Lions past visiting Jamestwon, 5-0, in a Section VI Class AA prequarterfinal boys soccer game.

29 — Former Royalton-Hartlands great Liz DeWaters picks up an assist to help her Cortland Lady Red Dragon teammates past Mountclair State, 3-1, in a women’s Division III field hockey contest.

30 — Tim Connolly nets the game-winner in OT as the Buffalo Sabres beat the visiting Toronto Maple Leafs, 3-2, improving to 8-1-1 with their fourth straight win.

31 — Alex Reid, C.J. Ralyea and Matt McCoy net goals and keeper Chris Paradise earns the shutout in goal as Lockport blanks Kenmore West, 3-0, in a Section VI Class AA boys soccer quarterfinal contest at LHS.



NOVEMBER

1 — Ryan Moats becomes the first Hoston Texans player to rush for three touchdowns in a 31-10 win over the Buffalo Bills at Ralph Wilson Stadium in Orchard Park.

2 — The official numbers are in for Lockport High School’s first 4,000-plus yards rusher, David Fluellen. The senior finished the past season with 1,638 yards on 229 carries, giving him a school-record 4,274 for his career.

3 — Nicole Adamson records 25 digs, 23 assists and four kills, leading Newfane past Albion, 3-2, in a marathon five-set Section VI Class B girls volleyball semifinal.

4 — The New York Yankees defeat the visiting Philadelphia Phillies, 7-3, winning the franchise’s 27th world title in six games. Hideki Matsui of the Bronx Bombers is named series MVP.

5 — Evan Bullard had 19 kills and 19 digs as visiting Kenmore West upsets the Lockport boys volleyball Lions in four sets in their Section VI Class A quarterfinal. Mike Kojsza had 15 kills for Chris Niver’s NFL-champion Lions, who finished 14-2 overall in their most successful season in history.

6 — Lockport senior Drew Perilli turns in one of the most amazing seasons in Lockport long distance running history, capturing the NFL and Section VI large school cross country titles. Out for most of the season with tendinitis, Perilli had been running for just two weeks prior to the title wins.

7 — Barker downs Akron, 3-0, to win their fourth straight Section VI Class C field hockey championship. Seniors Sienna Dear, Aileen Hinton and Rebecca Quackenbush score goals for head coach Jude Otto’s team at Medina’s all-weather field.

8 — Barker wins their third straight Class D sectional cross country title at Elma Meadows. The defending VI-champion Starpoint girls are third in Class A, while the Starpoint boys are fifth.

9 — The new Niagara County Community College men’s basketball coach is former Barker 1,000-point scorer Bill Beilein.

10 — Thomas Marks Elementry School fourth grader Ryan Bradley competes in the NFL Punt, Pass & Kick event at Ralph Wilson Stadium, during halftime of the Bills-Houston Texans game, placing fourth

11 — The Newfane Thunder 8-9-year-old Mini Division Thunder finished as undefeated champions of the Niagara-Orleans Football Association.

12 — Among those named to the Niagara-Orleans League First Team for girls volleyball are Royalton-Hartland’s Tanya Brewer and Bridget Shanahan and Newfane’s Katie Wright and Meaghan Puff.

13 — LHS senior diver Ashley Keller places first in the Section VI Diving Championships at the ECC Flickinger Center in Buffalo.

14 — Barker wins the New York State Public High School Athletic Association (NYSPHSAA) Class D boys cross country championship at Plattsburgh State, under head coach Paul DerSarkissian.

15 — Lockport’s Joe Schultz is the first place winner of the monthly steel darts tournament at the Newfane Manor. Schultz defeats Buffalo’s Owen Stuart in the final.

16 — The state Class D champion Barker boys cross country team is featured. Members of the team are Mike Lantinen, Erick Bennes, Ryan Lamb, David Poyfair, Matt Sweeney, Jed Platt and Tyler Scheving. They are coached by Paul DerSarkissian.

17 — The Buffalo Bills finally cave into fan pressure and fire head coach Dick Jauron after three lousy seasons. Jauron’s interim replacement is defensive coordinator Perry Fewell.

18 — Among those named to the Niagara-Orleans League First Team for boys soccer are Wilson’s Tyler Reimers, Patrick Dietz and Kyle Jones; Roy-Hart’s Andy Gow and Newfane’s Justin Harvey.

19 — Among those named to the Niagara-Orleans League First Team for girls soccer are Wilson’s Kaitlyn Thompson, Jessica Foster and Molly Curry, Newfane’s Carolyn Eberhart and Gabriella Balseca and Barker’s Sarah Sullivan.

20 — Lockport seniors Andrew Granchelli, Jim May and Matt McCoy earn First Team All-Western New York honors for boys soccer. LHS junior Megan Kuczka earned First Team honors in girls soccer.

21 — Among those named to the Niagara Frontier League First Team for boys volleyball are Lions Mike Kojsza and Sean Smith and Lady Lions Lea Sobieraski and Katie Prue.

22 — Jimmie Johnson claims his fourth straight NASCAR Sprint Cup title with a fifth-place finish in the season finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway.

23 — St. Joe’s freshman Tyler Ferretti of Lockport is slated to compete in the Pirate City Baseball Tournament in Bradenton Florida, Dec. 27-30.

24 — Among those named to the Niagara-Orleans League First Team for field hockey are Barker’s Sienna Dear, Crystal Mott and Rebecca Quackenbush, Newfane’s Catie Matalavage, Wilson’s Elise Jancef and Roy-Hart’s Allison Smith.

25 — Veteran Starpoint athletics director Tom Sarkovics is named as a finalist by M&T; Bank of Buffalo for the “Touchdown for Teachers” program. As a finalist, Sarkovics will be recognized at the Bills-Dolphins game this coming Sunday at Ralph Wilson Stadium in Orchard Park.

26 — Lockport High Football Booster award winners include Thurman Harden, Jake Chenez, Luke Rankie, David Fluellen, Jim Graziano, Sean Mulvey, John Pinzel, Andrew Kerrissey, Rashad Brown and Eric Vasko.

27 — Hundreds attend a professional wrestling card at Lockport’s Kenan Center Arena, featuring former great Jimmy “Superfly” Snuka and his son, Deuce. Veteran announcer Danny Sheehan calls the play-by-play for LCTV, with controversial sideklick, “Johnny Demon.”

28 — The Buffalo Sabres score five third-perioid goals to beat Carolina, 5-1, at HSBC Arena.

29 — North Tonawanda defeats New Rochelle, 14-7, earning the first-ever state football title for a Niagara County high school.

30 — Senior Brad Priebe and freshman Brittany Wright are the captains of the 2009-10 LHS boys and girls bowling teams, respectively. Ryan Miller earns his third shutout of the season in a 3-0 Buffalo Sabres victory at the Toronto Maple Leafs.



DECEMBER

1 — Head coach Matt Burt’s LHS bowling team is off to a great start in the NFL, sweeping visiting Niagara Falls at Allie Brandt Lanes. Head coach Joe Scapelliti’s 2009-10 LHS wrestling Lions are featured, led by senior Ivan Cruz.

2 — A new era for LHS boys basketball is set to begin as Dave Gilson takes over as the new Lions cage head coach, replacing the retired Wayne Ginty. Seniors Ivan Cruz, Dave Wilcox and C.J. Ralyea earn pins for LHS, but the Lions drop their NFL wrestling opener at Niagara Falls, 47-31.

3 — Leading head coach John Sullivan’s Lions into their 2009-10 Niagara Frontier League swim season are seniors Mark Wallace, Corey Petrie, Erik Ellis and Zach Dugan. The “host” Bills are 0-2 in Toronto, losing to the “visiting” Jets, 19-13.

4 — Lockport senior Mark Wallace breaks the Lions record in the 100-yard backstroke. The basketball Lions get 18 points from senior guard Sean Smith in their season-opening 65-33 victory over Bennett in the first round of their host Rotary Tip-Off Tournament.

5 — Justin Stokes nets a game-high 22 points as Buffalo Middle College beats the host Lions, 78-46, in the title game of the 19th Lockport Rotary Club Boys Tip-Off Basketball Tournament at LHS.

6 — The DeSales Catholic Middle School swim team concludes its season at the Neumann League Championships at the University at Buffalo’s Natatorium in Amherst. First-place finishers for the champion-Knights are Jack Capen, Luke Lawrence and Jessica Sacco.

7 — New Jersey Devils goalie Martin Brodeur ties Terry Sawchuk’s NHL record with his 103rd shutout in a 3-0 victory over the Buffalo Sabres at HSBC Arena.

8 — Greg Priebe bowls a 290 single and 658 series, while Jon Hejza adds a 279--639, but the Lions lose to Niagara Falls, 7-0, in an early-season NFL match at Bowl-O-Drome.

9 — Buffalo Sabres keeper Ryan Miller earns his 16th shutout in a 3-0 victory over the Washington Capitals. US&J; outdoors columnist Joe Ognibene of Grand Island passes away.

10 — Mark Wallace (100 backstroke, 100 butterfly) and Corey Petrie (200 freestyle, 500 freestyle) are double individual winners for Lockport in a 102-83 NFL boys swim loss to Lewiston-Porter.

11 — Pro golfer Tiger Woods announces an indefinite leave from golf after allegations of infidelity make headlines around the world. Woods’ marriage to his wife, Swedish model Elin, is also reported in jeopardy.

12 — It’s a sad day for UB football fans as University at Buffalo hed coach Turner Gill is tapped as the new head coach at Kansas.

13 — Lockport professional bowler Brad Angelo rolls a perfect game and finishes 10th at the Red, White & Blue Open in Wichata, Kan.

14 — Clarke MacArthur scores a powerplay goal 14:41 into the third period as the visiting Buffalo Sabres bounce back to beat the Montreal Canadiens, 4-3, earning their fourth straight victory.

15 — Sean Smith nets a game-high 24 points as the LHS cage Lions rout visiting Lew-Port, 83-52, topping NFL boys basketball action.

16 — Lockport celebrates 50 years of wrestling with a special celebration prior to their 44-25 NFL win over Lew-Port at LHS. Among those present are the school’s first-ever coach Bob Ames, along with former coaches Ken Pettapiece, Bob Casler, Pat Seidel and Mike McAvoy; and dozens of former wrestlers, including one of the program’s first “stars” Tommy Hicks.

17 — Senior forward Lea Sobieraski nets a agame-high 21 points as the lockport Lady Lions rout visiting Niagara Falls, 60-29, topping NFL girls basketball action.

18 — Rick Eberhart and Tyler Haseley score goals for Lockport (0-6), but it’s not eough in a 7-2 federation ice hockey loss to Clarence.

19 — The Lockport and Starpoint boys swim teams announce they will co-host a fundraiser this week that will benefit Upstate New York Transplant Services.

20 — The Bills are mathematically eliminated from the NFL postseason, following Sunday’s 17-10 loss to the visiting New England Patriots at Ralph Wilson Stadium in Orchard Park.

21 — Lockport High School cheerleaders are gearing up for a trip to Florida, where they will perform a routine on New Year’s Day during the halftime show of the annual Gator Bowl.

22 — Lockport High School varsity basketball teams sweep Kenmore West. Sophomore Emma Sobieraski cans 15 points to lead the Lady Lions past the visiting Lady Blue Devils, 52-42, while senior Shannon Haynes nets 25 in a 57-56 Lockport road win over Ken West.

23 — Buffalo Bills defensive end Aaron Schobel conteplates retirement, while expressing frustration at not making the NFL playoffs in the nine years he’s been a player.

24 — Former professional lightweight boxing contender Tommy Hicks of Newfane pens a column on his wrestling Lockport High School wrestling days. Hicks grappled for the Lions in 1961, a year after the program was started.

25 — Buffalo Bills third string quarterback Brian Brohm prepares for his first regular-season start against the Atlanta Falcons.

26 — Thomas Vanek and Jason Pomminville score for Buffalo, but the Sabres lose to visiting Ottawa, 3-2, in a shootout.

27 — Trevor Moreland scores two goals to lead the Lockport Strikers youth soccer team past the Kenmore Lightning, 5-0, at the Epic Center in Williamsville.

28 — The DeSales varsity Lady Knights take top honors at the Niagara Parochial Girls Preseason Basketball Tournament, winning the title game, 21-18, over St. Peter’s.

29 — Buffalo rookie safety Jairus Byrd is the only Bills player named to the NFL Pro Bowl. Byrd has a league-best nine interceptions.

30 — Kim Harrington nets 13 points to lead Royalton-Hartland to a 49-25 victory over Barker in the Lady Rams’ 2009 Holiday Girls Basketball Tournament in Middleport.

31 — Lockport’s inspirational Kasey Stover is selected as the 2009 US&J; Sports Story of the Year Runner-up. Born with cerebral palsy, Kasey competed as a member of the Starpoint modified swim team.

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