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Tundo says he was punished for telling the truth about hazing

Honesty may not have been the best policy for Jeff Tundo.

When the 2009 Orchard Park High School graduate and sophomore on the Ohio State University men’s lacrosse team told college officials the truth about his involvement in a party, the standout athlete was indefinitely suspended from the school and the team.

His suspension made headlines on local television stations and in newspapers, but the college confirmed few details to the media.

Jeff Tundo, seen here as a senior at OPHS in 2009, was suspended from the Ohio State University men's lacrosse team.

According to Tundo, who along with his father Gene sat down for an interview with The Orchard Park Press, it started in January, when the men’s lacrosse team held its annual freshman player initiation party at the house of some of the squad’s other sophomores. At the party, freshmen were sent to the basement to participate in the program’s traditional rituals, where alcohol was allegedly consumed.

According to Tundo, one of the freshmen was having a rough time and was pulled from the initiation. He later told his resident assistant about the initiation and the information made it way up the levels of the school’s administration.

School officials, according to Tundo, brought the team members into a meeting and asked them to write down what took place at the party.

“They said, “It’s a pretty serious offense. You need to tell us everything that happened. It’ll help you in the end if you do tell the truth,’” Tundo said. “I wrote down everything that we did, everything that happened the whole night. Other kids who were involved maybe didn’t write what they did.”

Jeff Tundo contends he did not name names in his explanation of the night’s events, but he later discovered that some teammates specifically mentioned his name in their submissions.

As a result of the investigation, every member of the team was suspended for one game. Tundo sat out during the team’s opening contest against Detroit.

As the season progressed, school officials continued their investigation, according to Tundo. In early April, Tundo was informed during a hearing that he and two of his teammates would be suspended for two semesters due to their roles in the hazing of athletes. He unsuccessfully appealed the decision, claiming that the sanctions were disproportionate to the alleged activity.

Tundo admitted during the recent interview that his involvement in the incident was wrong.

“I understand how someone can get hurt during the whole situation,” said Tundo, who was Ohio State’s second highest scorer with 23 goals and 35 points, despite missing the team’s final three games. “I get that whole thing. I understand that. Obviously, I made a bad, bad decision, but at the time you don’t know that.”

However, Tundo contends his actions were no worse than those of other players who were not suspended indefinitely.

“It looks like three kids ran this initiation when it was 43 people that were in the house,” Tundo said.

“Everyone was guilty,” he added, noting that he felt pressure to maintain a team tradition that he experienced in his own freshman season. “The same activities that happened to me happened this year. Not once was anyone forced to do anything.”

Tundo said that prior to his own initiation last season, he expressed concerns to his father, who is the varsity lacrosse and football coach at Orchard Park High School.

“I said I was nervous about initiation and I’ve never been through one before,” said Jeff. Gene Tundo said he called coach Nick Myers and said: “Coach, I’m worried about Jeff’s health and safety, and I’m worried that this could be construed as hazing, and you losing your job.”

Gene Tundo says Myers indicated he would take care of the situation.

The Orchard Park Press sought comment from Ohio State University officials, but they declined to elaborate on Tundo’s suspension or his version of events. In response to an email sent to the Ohio State University Athletic Department on Monday, May 16, Dan Wallenberg, associate athletic director of communications, said: “There is nothing more we can add.”

As much as Tundo says he would like to return to Ohio State, his future is undecided. He visits Columbus to see friends, but is not allowed to be on campus. His scholarship remains in place.

“It’s hard to trust the university,” said Tundo, admitting that returning to the campus would be uncomfortable. “I just don’t think the investigation was done thoroughly and the right way. It’s hard to trust a university that you go out on the field for, you risk injury, and I try to represent them the best way I can. Obviously, this doesn’t help. I carried a 2.9 and I’ve been doing community service. I feel I’ve been representing Ohio State well.”

Gene Tundo said Ohio State should have canceled the entire season. But the school, Tundo speculates, wanted to escape further controversy after the football team dealt with suspensions of its own. Coach Jim Tressel and five players were suspended for allegedly committing NCAA violations.

“If they wanted to crack down they should’ve just ended the season,” said Gene Tundo. “I don’t think they wanted to do that, because that would’ve drawn way more attention to them.”

At Orchard Park, Jeff Tundo helped the Quakers to the Class A lacrosse championship game during his senior season. He was a two-time All-American and also led his team to the Class AA state football championship.

“I was happy and I love it at Ohio State,” said Tundo. “That’s the place I started and that’s the place I want to finish. I don’t want to have a team initiation define my career.”

Despite his desire to remain at Ohio State, it may not be an option. University officials said his suspension is “indefinite.” Tundo contends he was told it is only for two semesters.

“I’ve worked so hard to get where I am and I don’t want to cut that short, but sometimes things happen,” said Tundo.

Moving forward, at Ohio State or elsewhere, Tundo is sure he wants to play lacrosse.

“I don’t want to waste my talent and give up on everything I’ve worked for since I was four years old,” said Tundo. “I’d sure like to keep playing lacrosse in college and finish it off. I want to make a trip to the (NCAA) tournament.”

Even if he doesn’t return to Ohio State, Tundo said he is confident he can find a school at which he can utilize his talents and excel in the classroom. He isn’t worried his suspension will negatively impact his future.

“I think there are plenty of coaches who would want me,” he said. “I mean, they (Ohio State) still want me to go there. I don’t think it’s ruined my future at all. I’ve told the truth and I was a great teammate. Anyone you tell that to will understand.”

Top 20 Orchard Park Sports Stories from 2011

Kelly has sights set on bobsled medal

Published in the Orchard Park Press on March 11, 2011

Katelyn Kelly starred in indoor and outdoor track at Orchard Park High School before moving on to Miami University in Ohio, where she competed in the heptathlon, high jump and 400-meter hurdles for the Redhawks track and field team. Kelly’s strength and speed led to success at the collegiate level, but now the 2005 graduate of Orchard Park is hoping her talents can help her succeed at the Olympic level in the bobsled competition.

Katelyn Kelly

After graduating in the spring of 2009 from Miami, where she studied English literature and biology, Kelly began taking prerequisite and other health science classes while filling out physician assistant school applications and working at a hospital to earn clinical hours.

When Kelly got word of a recruitment letter sent from Olympic bronze medalist Elana Meyers to her strength coach at Miami, she decided to put her skills to use in pursuing the opportunity to become a member of the U.S bobsled team.

“I didn’t really know that much about it,” said the daughter of Thomas and Kathleen Kelly. “If anything, it’d be an experience. I could say I tried bobsled and went down a bobsled run.”

In March 2010, Kelly traveled to Lake Placid, where she got the chance to ride in a bobsled for the first time.

“I screamed the whole way down,” said Kelly, who said she got sick later that day from her trip down the rough Lake Placid track that is dubbed “The Baby Shaker.”

Kelly’s initial worries about riding in a sled that travels over 70 miles-per-hour quickly subsided as she began to enjoy her new opportunity.

“By the end of the week, I really liked it so I proceeded to take the next few steps,” Kelly recalled.

She attended rookie week that August and combines in September.

In October 2010, after reviewing combine test scores, push championship results and team selection race times, the U.S. Bobsled and Skeleton Federation selection committee named Kelly to the 2010-2011 national bobsled team that would compete on the World Cup circuit.

As the brakeman, Kelly’s job is to push from directly behind the sled at the start and create as much speed as possible before jumping into the rear end of the sled and continuing the trip down the track behind the driver.

In an event where women compete with two-people teams and men compete with both two- and four-man teams, the start will last about five seconds of the approximately 60-second race. Therefore, it is critically important that Kelly generates as much velocity as possible.

“The biggest part of the race is the push, for the brakeman; all the power and speed is behind the push,” said Kelly. “If you beat someone by a tenth of a second at the start it adds up as you go to the bottom. A tenth at the start is approximately three-tenths at the bottom.”

After the push, Kelly’s role is to stay relaxed and keep down. She holds onto the brake handles while counting the turns so she knows when to brake after passing the finish line.

While most members of the bobsled team begin as brakemen, some move on to become drivers. Kelly said that was her plan when she traveled back to Lake Placid in early March.

“I like the idea of having more control of the situation,” said Kelly, who will continue to train as a brakeman and plans to apply for residency in Lake Placid. “You get to do the curves. You get 60 seconds instead of five seconds. While it’s fun being a brakeman, it just doesn’t seem like enough.”

Drivers have to study tracks and learn the fast lines for every curve. They have to decide when to steer and not steer, utilizing the D-rings that control the sled.

As a member of the team, Kelly has visited and competed at all four North American bobsled tracks including Lake Placid; Park City, Utah; Calgary, Alberta; and Whistler, British Columbia, where the last Winter Games were held.

In addition to the North American locations, Kelly has toured the tracks in Europe, including Munich, Germany; Igls, Austria; Winterberg, Germany; and Torino, Italy. Kelly’s favorite track is the world’s only natural track, in St. Moritz, Switzerland, the birthplace of bobsled.

Despite the opportunity to travel to different parts of the world, the life of a bobsled team member is difficult. Kelly said she rarely gets a day off. If she isn’t at the bobsled runs or training, she is cleaning the 400-pound sleds.

The travel and culture shock can be challenging as well.

“When you’re trying to be at your highest level physically and mentally, it’s just a little more stress,” Kelly said of traveling to different countries. “The food is different. The grocery stores are different. All the signs are in a different language.”

Kelly hopes all the hard work will conclude with a trip to the Olympics. She has her eyes set on earning a spot on one of the three two-woman teams the U.S will send to the 2014 Winter Games in Sochi, Russia.

“It’s really awesome to represent your high school, and in college it’s an honor, but to represent your country, I think is the biggest honor you can possibly have,” said Kelly. “It’s the highest level that you can achieve.”

Kelly added that her desire to compete in athletics stems from the support she received when attending Orchard Park High School.

“I really don’t think I would have gone on to do college sports if I hadn’t been involved in sports at Orchard Park,” she said. “The coaches really encouraged me.”

The 23-year old Kelly said she is committed to earning a trip to the Olympics in 2014 and 2018, which means she has to put her other life goal on hold for another seven years.

“My two dreams in life are to go to the Olympics and be a doctor,” she said, “The rest will take care of itself, I think.”

Top 20 Orchard Park Sports Stories from 2011

The last time the Orchard Park boys lacrosse team did not win the Section VI Class A championship was in 1994 when Sweet Home won the title. The Quakers won the previous three championships and sixteen straight after 1994. The current streak came to an end on June 1 when the Quakers fell to the Clarence Red Devils at All High Stadium, 7-5.

Sectional streak ends for OP boys lacrosse

Despite several turnovers throughout the first quarter, Orchard Park took a 2-0 lead on goals by sophomores Tim Wagner and Austin Goltz. The Quakers extended the lead with two more goals from Goltz and one from senior midfielder Connor Hicks to procure a 5-2 halftime lead.

It was a completely different game in the second half. Orchard Park was held scoreless while Clarence scored five second-half goals to capture the section title and end Orchard Park’s streak.

“I don’t really think they shut us out (in the second half) to tell you the truth,” said senior captain Trevor Vargo. “I think it’s more we shut ourselves out. We didn’t run our offense.”

Vargo credited Orchard Park’s veteran defense led by senior goalie Nick Owens, who played despite a hip injury, and senior defensemen Cullen Mangino, Pat Moran and Colby McNichol for keeping the Quakers in the game while taking responsibility for the team’s offensive woes in the second half.

“Our defense played well the entire game,” said Vargo. “We just didn’t run our offense the way we’re used to. We didn’t capitalize on shots and opportunities we had. We didn’t win the little battles on ground balls and clearing the ball. I don’t think we cleared the ball well in the second half and that lead to extra possessions for Clarence.”

Orchard Park’s offense settled down after a sloppy first quarter by both teams, but could not manage to clear the ball effectively against a Clarence team that was aggressive in attacking Orchard Park ball-carriers.

“We threw the ball away a lot,” said Orchard Park’s assistant coach Larry Catalano. “I think we went seven minutes in the third quarter without a possession. It’s not a big mystery. We threw the ball away on offense. We didn’t have many possessions and they out-hustled us.”

Despite the loss, Vargo was hopeful that the young players on the team can begin a new streak.

“Sixteen in a row is probably one of the longest streaks in the country for sections,” said Vargo. “Next year it’ll start over again.”

Catalano on the streak’s conclusion:

“Everybody’s gunning for you and it’s going to happen. It’s not easy. No one’s happy about it. I told the young guys to remember this. We’ve been kicking people’s butts for twenty years. Everybody’s gunning for us. Now we have to get back on top.”

Top 20 Orchard Park Sports Stories from 2011

The inaugural season of the Girls Varsity Ice Hockey Federation began for Orchard Park/Frontier in December 2010 at the Time Warner Rink in East Aurora and ended with a sectional championship in March 2011.

Orchard Park/Frontier Girls Hockey

The Western New York Girls Ice Hockey Federation began with seven teams including Orchard Park/Frontier, Kenmore, Lancaster, West Seneca, Amherst/Sweet Home, Williamsville and Monsignor Martin.

Every team played each other three times for a total of 18 games played with each squad eligible for the federation title, and all but the Monsignor Martin team eligible to win the sectional championship.

“I think that having the girls team at the school is a really cool thing, because it gives the girls an opportunity to come together and play with a lot of girls you never knew even played,” said Chelsie Hausberger. “It also gives us a chance to do something we have never been able to do before; represent our school through a sport we all love to play.”

After finishing the regular season with an 8-8-2 record, Orchard Park/Frontier saved its best hockey for the post-season by advancing to the federation title game by knocking off top-seed Monsignor Martin in the semi-finals, 2-1.

The Orchard Park/Frontier squad lost three regular season contests to Monsignor Martin; 7-0, 5-1, and 5-2, but were able to neutralize their opponent’s offense by adjusting their defensive alignment in the semi-finals of the federation playoff tournament.

Orchard Park/Frontier lost to Williamsville in the federation championship, but went on to defeat the same team in the Section VI title game.

“This is very special,” said Orchard Park/Frontier head coach Jim McCarthy, who coaches with assistant Lucian Forcucci. “Not only this league, but this team. This is our first team. You see how hard they work every day. You see how they grow as players and improve. This team has become close because of those things.”

Top 20 Orchard Park Sports Stories from 2011

Mecca breaks multiple records at rifle competition

By Coach Richard Ortlepp from the Section VI newsletter dated May 2011

Dominique Mecca, an 11th grader at Orchard Park High School, has rewritten the ECIC record book this year. She has tied or broken all 5 individual records:

• Prone 100-10C (10 perfect center shots) tied record set in 1988 by James Meger (Lancaster)
• Offhand (standing) 97-07C breaks record (96-06) held by Jacob Genovics, Alden 2003
• Kneeling 100-05C breaks record (99-07) held by Chris Koss, Clarence 2005
• Aggregate (overall) 294-15C breaks record (293.12) held by Brian Curtis, Alden 1990
• League Average 287.12 breaks record (285.75) held by Brian Curtis, Alden 1989-90

Photo from http://www.section6.e1b.org

The NYSPHSAA Rifle Regionals were fired at the US Military Academy (West Point) on March 5. New this year were the targets the athletes were firing at. The target was the USA 50, a more difficult target used by colleges. This was the first year that the athletes fired at these targets, having used A-36 targets in previous competition.

Dominique fired an aggregate (overall) score of 292/300 (old record 291 on the A-36 target) set in 1991 by Brian
Curtis of Alden. Firing in this match were the best of each section. The closest individual had a score of 282. Dominique has the New State Record.

She fired a 95/100 in the offhand (standing) position winning 1st place and setting another record. The closest competitor had a 90. Dominique also fired a 98 in the kneeling position, won 1st place set another record.

In the prone she and the winner both fired 99/100, but the winner, Leanne Highby of South Lewis HS, had one more center (perfect shot) or else she would have had a clean sweep of the individual championships.

Top 20 Orchard Park Sports Stories from 2011

Two three-sport Quakers frustrated by power of Clarence

Originally published on June 10, 2011 in the Orchard Park Press

When the Orchard Park baseball team lost to Clarence in the Section VI Class AA championship on June 1, it was the third straight season the Quakers were eliminated by the Red Devils and the second consecutive loss in the title game.

The loss was especially hard to take for two of the athletes.

A dejected Ryan Lindquist was forced to endure another post-season loss to Clarence when the OP baseball team fell in the sectional championship on June 1. A three-sport athlete, Lindquist earned seven varsity letters but no section titles, while losing to Clarence in six out of nine post-seasons.

Seniors Kyle Witkowski and Ryan Lindquist, who have both played three sports, each earned seven varsity letters but have won no sectional titles thanks to a handful of post-season losses to Clarence.

Both standouts, Witkowski and Lindquist are members of the varsity basketball and baseball teams. Witkowski was the starting quarterback for the football team and Lindquist was a starting midfielder on the soccer team.

In their respective fall sports, each had their seasons ended by Clarence in the sectional championship.
“It is extremely frustrating with all the chances I have had,” Witkowski said. “You would have thought we would have won one of them.”

Witkowski has been a member of the varsity baseball team for three seasons. In his sophomore season, he was on the mound when Clarence defeated the Quakers in extra innings to end Orchard Park’s run.

The Orchard Park football team narrowly lost to Clarence in the Class AA section championship at Ralph Wilson Stadium, 31-28. The Red Devils handed the 8-2 Quakers their only two losses of the season.

“Every time you play Clarence it seems like it’s the game everyone wants to show up,” Witkowski said of Orchard Park’s growing rivalry. “That’s the team you really want to beat.”

As members of the Orchard Park basketball team, Witkowski and Lindquist suffered an overtime loss to Clarence in the Class AA semifinal at Buffalo State that ended their junior season campaign.

“I can’t stand losing to them and I’ve never been able to beat them in the big game,” said Lindquist, who as a member of the soccer team was eliminated from the playoffs by Clarence the last two seasons, including a 2-1 loss in this past fall’s sectional championship. “They are always so strong. It’s demoralizing to lose time and time again.”

Lindquist, who has experience nine post-seasons, has been eliminated by Clarence six times. He said the rivalry with Clarence is frustrating, but helps the schools challenge each other.

“We’ve been pushing them hard the past few years and I think they responded in the past two,” he said. “Now they are pushing us and I have absolute faith in our athletic programs that we will respond to that in a positive way. It’s the back and forth that really creates a strong rivalry.”

Orchard Park teams advanced to six sectional championships this year. They lost all six. Four of the losses came to Clarence – in football, boys soccer, baseball and boys lacrosse.

Top 20 Orchard Park Sports Stories from 2011

Phil Aronica, a 2010 graduate of Orchard Park High School and sophomore on the University at Buffalo men’s swimming & diving team, qualified for the 2012 Olympic trials in the 100-meter backstroke with a time of 57.53 at Senior Nationals in August 2011.

Phil Aronica

Aronica missed the Olympic cut during the 100-meter backstroke event, but redeemed himself during the medley relay, where the first leg of the relay is eligible to qualify for cuts or records.

“I was so upset after my 100 back event because the pool is outdoors and I lost track of where I was in the lane,” said Aronica. “I ran right into the wall and stopped. I had to wait until the last day for the 400 medley relay at finals to swim the backstroke leg again to get my cut. I ended up getting it. I’ve never been to such a low to such an incredible high in my life.”

Aronica qualified for the trials as a member of the 400-meter medley relay that he swam with fellow UB teammates Josh Meints, Matt Schwippert and Matt Hogan.

In his first season with the Bulls Aronica set school records in the 100 backstroke as well as a member of relay-setting teams in the 200 Medley Relay, 400 Medley Relay and the 800 Freestyle Relay.

At Orchard Park, Aronica was the 2010 New York State champion in the 50 freestyle and 100 backstroke and set Section VI records in the 50 freestyle, 100 backstroke and 200 medley relay. He set school records in four individual events and two relays.

The Olympic Trials will be held in Omaha, Neb., June 25-July 2.

Top 20 Orchard Park Sports Stories from 2011

Jessica Grogan, a 2008 graduate of Orchard Park High School and senior on the Canisius College synchronized swimming team, was selected to compete for a spot on the U.S. Olympic synchronized swimming team.

Jessica Grogan

Along with Canisius teammates Melisa Andrews and Jessica Mancini, Grogan competed at the U.S. Olympic trials on Nov. 11-14 at the Greensboro Aquatic Center in Greensboro, N.C.

At the 2011 ECAC Championships, Grogan finished third in the solo competition and has helped the Golden Griffins to three ECAC titles and two U.S. Collegiate National bronze medals.

Top 20 Orchard Park Sports Stories from 2011

After over eighteen years of working in the Orchard Park School District, Jim Higgins resigned from his post as Athletic Director in January 2011 to take on the same role at West Seneca.

Excerpt from Jan. 2011 article:

Jim Higgins

“I’ve been able to experience things at different levels which are very unique,” said Higgins, a 1988 graduate of OPHS, who served as athletic director for three and a half years. “Some people stay at one position their whole career. I’ve been able to teach at all three levels; physical education and health. Having the building level perspective as administrator and being in charge of the whole athletic department has been great too. It’s been a unique experience and very rewarding.”

Higgins presides over the West Seneca’s two high schools, two middle schools, and seven elementary schools.

“I have been an outside observer of West Seneca having coached against them and our programs play against them in the same league,” he said. “I know a lot of people over there. The size of the district provides a lot of opportunity.”

On January 31, 2011 Higgins began his new position with the hope he could bring the successes of Orchard Park to the West Seneca athletic programs.

“If you look at wins and losses, they haven’t been up there, but I think that’s a part of it too,” Higgins said. “We’ve had success over the years and hopefully I can bring my experiences over there with what has worked here.”

Top 20 Orchard Park Sports Stories from 2011

Meghan Manley

Meghan Manley concluded her high school running career at Orchard Park with an impressive tenth-place finish in the 800-meter run with a 2:14.17 time at the New York State Track & Field Championships held at Caledonia-Mumford High School on June 10-11.

In the winter of her senior year, Manley ran the 600-meter event at the state indoor championships. After being crowned the Section VI champion, Manley finished sixth at the state meet with a time of 1 minute and 37.22 seconds.

Manley is currently a freshman on the University at Buffalo women’s track & field team. In her first college meet held at Kent State on Jan. 14, Manley earned a second-place finish among twenty-seven runners in the 1,000-meter ran with a time of 2:58.81.

Top 20 Orchard Park Sports Stories from 2011

The Orchard Park girls volleyball team won the New York State Class AA Section VI title this fall with a three-set sweep over Frontier. The win was Orchard Park’s first section title in girls volleyball.

“I feel incredible. There are no words to describe it,” senior Alyssa Dueringer said after the match. “We beat a team that normally always beat us. It’s amazing. It’s incredible. I love it. It’s an honor to play with this team. I love these girls. It’s amazing.”

Section Champions

The Lady Quakers lost in the far west regional to eventual state champion Penfield. The team graduates only one player (Alyssa Dueringer) so hopes are high for a repeat.

Top 20 Orchard Park Sports Stories from 2011

Pat Moran, a 2011 graduate of Orchard Park High School, followed the footsteps of both his father and grandfather by boxing in the Golden Gloves competition.

Here’s my story that ran in the Orchard Park Press:

Moran continues family legacy at Golden Gloves

Pat Moran

Orchard Park High School senior Pat Moran, a member of the football and lacrosse teams, wanted to take on a new challenge between seasons and figured he would try the sport at which both his father and grandfather excelled.

“My dad and grandpa used to box and I thought I’d get into it,” said Moran, who will box for the first time at the Buffalo Golden Gloves competition at the Burt Flickinger Center on Friday, March 18.

To prepare for the fight, Moran has been training two hours every weekday night for 10 weeks at the Northwest Buffalo Community Center on Lawn Avenue, under the tutelage of his father and former professional boxer Don Patterson.

A training session is comprised of shadowboxing, sparring with other boxers, hitting the heavy bag and jumping rope.

It’s the toughest training Moran has ever experienced.

“I’ve never trained harder for any other sport,” said Moran, who has dropped from 250 pounds down to 215 since football season. “It’s draining,” he said of the training. “I go to lacrosse and it’s just not even close.”

His father Mike, a 1983 graduate of Orchard Park High School and former silver medalist at the Golden Gloves, and Patterson trained together under legendary boxer Jackie Donnelly, from Buffalo’s First Ward, at the Babcock Street Boys & Girls Club.

According to Patterson, Moran’s pedigree, athletic background and work ethic have helped him launch a strong start in the ring.

“He’s coming along very well,” said Patterson, a member U.S. National Team in 1989-1990. “He’s progressing very well. He has an athletic background and he comes from a good pedigree, so he goes back a few generations with boxing.”

In addition to his father’s background in boxing, Moran’s grandfather, Paul, who routinely attends his training sessions, was a Golden Gloves champion in Pennsylvania.

“It is real fun,” Moran said during a recent training session. “My dad is helping train me and my grandpa comes out.”

Moran, who will have several members of his family and friends attend the fight, will box in the super novice level in the super heavy weight division of the Golden Gloves. He will be box in a three-round bout.

“He has no fights (behind him),” said Patterson. “He’s a sub-novice, but he’s doing very well.”

Some of the areas Patterson said he has been working on with Moran are the natural things that everybody has to work on when they first start boxing. Patterson said. That includes judgment of space and how to protect oneself on the inside.

“Those are the things you want to see as he develops,” Patterson said of Moran. “That takes experience, and that starts March 18.”

Top 20 Orchard Park Sports Stories from 2011

Orchard Park High School earned a lot of success in the pool throughout both the girls and boys seasons in 2011.

During the 2010-2011 school year, the boys team earned a first place finish at sectionals in the 200-yard medley relay (1:40.24).

Andrew Duszynski

Three Quakers finished among the top six in the 200-yard individual medley, including top finisher junior Andrew Duszynski (1:58.02). Spencer Bray finished fourth (2:04.11) and senior Mike Sutz finished sixth (2:06.42).

Duszynski and Sutz competed in the 100-yard butterfly earning fourth and ninth place, respectively. Bray finished sixth in the 100-yard backstroke (57.07).

Freshman Zach Healy finished ninth (50.13) at sectionals in the 100-yard freestyle event.

At the state meet, the medley relay of Duszynski, Alex Moore, Sutz and Bray finished 19th (1:39.65). Duszynski (1:44.72) and Bray (1:45.17) competed in the 200-yard freestyle event earning 15th place finishes among federation swimmers and 10th and 11th place among NYS public high school swimmers.

Duszynski earned the ninth fastest time in the 100-yard backstroke (52.77) among public high school swimmers and 17th among all swimmers. Bray swam in the 500-yard freestyle earning the 14th best time (4:48.4) among public swimmers and placing 22nd overall.

In the fall of 2011, Lady Quakers sophomore Andrea Ernst, eighth-grader Amanda Ernst, junior Grace Coyle and senior Anna McArdle earned a sixth-place finish in the 200-yard medley relay (1:56.76) in the sectional meet. The same group finished fourth (1:41.24) in the 200-yard freestyle relay at the sectional meet and went on to finish 9th in the state meet (1:39.86).

Andrea Ernst

Andrea Ernst finished third in the 200-yard freestyle (1:56.05) at the sectional meet and 10th at state meet (1:54.87). Ernst also competed in the 100-yard butterfly event earning a second-place finish (57.96) at the sectional meet and a ninth-place finish at the state meet (58.35).

Top 20 Orchard Park Sports Stories from 2011

Orchard Park soccer goalie Jordan DiLapo earned a spot on the FC Buffalo roster. At just 16 years of age, DiLapo was the team’s youngest player.

OPHS goalie earns chance to play among top players

Originally published on July 8, 2011

Jordan DiLapo

Jordan DiLapo has already shown that he can defend the high school soccer net, but now the Orchard Park teenager is showing off his skills while defending the goal of the FC Buffalo Blitzers in the National Premier Soccer League.

DiLapo, who will be a senior at Orchard Park High School this fall, has been the starting goalkeeper for the boys soccer team for two years. FC Buffalo head coach Dan Krzyzanowicz asked him to try out for his team, and DiLapo earned a spot on a roster that already featured two goalies.

DiLapo and Krzyzanowicz have been familiar with each other for years: both worked at various soccer camps. Krzyzanowicz has been the director of coaching for the Orchard Park Soccer Club since January 2010 and will begin his 10th season as the head men’s soccer coach at Medaille College this fall.

The FC Buffalo organization, formed by three local soccer enthusiasts, Scott Frauenhofer, Ryan Knapp and Nick Mendola, is dedicated to the growth of both soccer and community in the Western New York area through a commitment to the blue collar work ethic.

The team plays in the Northeast Keystone Conference of the National Premier Soccer League, a professionally operated league sanctioned by the United States Adult Soccer Association as an affiliate of the United States Soccer Federation, the ruling body for soccer in the U.S., and FIFA, the world’s ruling body for soccer. The FC Buffalo roster boasts top players from the University at Buffalo, Marist College and Cornell University, among others.

DiLapo, who will turn 17 in September, is the youngest player on the Blitzers. He made his mark when he debuted on June 10 in a contest against the New Jersey Blaze.

FC Buffalo won the game, 3-1, with the help of a momentum-stopping penalty kick save by DiLapo.

“I felt a lot of pressure,” DiLapo said of the penalty kick which took place with FC Buffalo leading by two goals with roughly 15 minutes left. “A goal would’ve given them a lot of momentum.”

DiLapo has started four more games since his first win.

On June 25, DiLapo held the Pocono Snow to no goals in a 0-0 tie, and on July 2 allowed just one goal in a 1-0 loss to the Reading Revolution.

He also saw 10 minutes of work in the Lord Bedlington Cup, a highly publicized friendly game between FC Buffalo and the Bedlington Terriers of England, a team whose popularity has grown since being sponsored by Buffalo billionaire Bob Rich.

FC Buffalo defeated Bedlington, 5-1, in the game that was played on Wednesday, June 29.

“It’s a phenomenal experience playing with the talent that was on the field,” said DiLapo, the son of Tristan and Debbie. “It showed the potential that Western New York (soccer) has. I’m so glad I got the time and the experience.”

The game drew an incredible 3,821 spectators at Buffalo’s Robert E. Rich All High Stadium, where FC Buffalo plays its home games.

“It’s the opportunity of a lifetime,” DiLapo said of the game. “It’s one of the biggest games I’ve been a part of and played in. We had a huge turnout and we performed.”

Top 20 Orchard Park Sports Stories from 2011

Taylor Swiatek

Taylor Swiatek capped off her basketball career at Orchard Park by setting a new school scoring record with 1,121 points.

Swiatek helped the Lady Quakers to four consecutive berths in the sectional semi-finals.

In Swiatek’s four seasons on the Orchard Park girls varsity basketball team, the Lady Quakers earned a combined record of 56 wins with 29 losses.

Swiatek currently plays at Buffalo State College.

Top 20 Orchard Park Sports Stories from 2011

As a senior at St. John Fisher College, 2007 Orchard Park High School graduate Erich Rassow ranked third nationally in faceoff percentage in Division III lacrosse. Rassow won 72.4% of faceoffs and earned All-American honorable mention.

Erich Rassow

Excerpt from published article:

OP’s Rassow quick on the draw for Fisher lacrosse

Rassow’s success comes as no surprise. The 2007 Orchard Park High School graduate’s dedication to preparation exceeds ordinary measures.

Rassow studies game film to learn opponents’ tendencies, such as the hand and foot positioning of his counterparts.

“I study a lot of film and focus on the fundamentals of the position,” said Rassow. “It is almost a game of rock, paper, scissors, but if you have a strong solid rock it takes your opponent a little more time to figure out how to win.”

Rassow’s commitment to his craft has allowed him to win an incredible 72.4 percent of his faceoffs and help the Cardinals to a 12-4 record.

In his junior campaign, Rassow was equally as successful earning a 70.1 win percentage (272 of 388) en route to helping his team to a 16-2 record.

In order to succeed as much as he does, Rassow must be very diligent in his preparation and says he receives plenty of help from head coach John Johnson and his staff which includes six-year assistant coach Nick Voll, who works primarily with the team’s faceoff specialists.

“Pre-game mental preparation is something they both stress and have taught me,” said the son of Egon and Christine.

A unique aspect of Rassow’s preparation is listening to mp3 recordings that provide varied cadences to improve timing. The recordings come from a lacrosse training website that Rassow learned about from attending a camp before his junior season.

The timing of draws has become even more critical with a rule change prior to the 2011 season.

Previous to this season, faceoff men would bend down to draw and the official would almost immediately blow his whistle to begin the faceoff. Now an official will pause and vary the start of the draw.

“When I was in high school the cadence was ‘Down, Set, Whistle’. Then I came to Fisher and had to adjust to a quicker ‘Down, Whistle’,” said Rassow. “The fact that they changed it back to the ‘Down, Set, Whistle’ is to eliminate those who anticipate the whistle. I like it. The referees have also been told to vary their cadence so I have some mp3 clips on my ipod of varied ‘Down, Set, Whistle’ cadences that I listen to on a daily basis.”

Rassow’s commitment to improving his draw skills is his way of helping his team win.

Over the past two seasons, Rassow has taken 87 percent of the draws as Fisher’s main option in the faceoff circle.

“It’s all about gaining possession for your team; something I pride myself in,” he said.

Top 20 Orchard Park Sports Stories from 2011

OPHS cheerleading squad finishes first at Chicagoland

The Orchard Park varsity cheerleading squad capped off an incredible season with a first place finish at the Chicagoland National Championship in Chicago, Illinois on March 5.

Led by coaches Jill DiPasquale and Lauren Bonilla, the first place finish among the seventeen teams in the squad’s division gave the girls another win to add to those already captured at the Winter Cheer Fest in January and the ECIC championship won in February.

“It’s great to end on a good note like this after all of the hard work and effort we have put in this long season that has been going on since August 2010,” said senior Alex Ellis, one of the team’s captains. “We were the first Orchard Park Varsity Cheerleading team to win ECICs, and to have the opportunity to go to a national competition and bring home first is just amazing.”

Da Var Squad

In addition to their successes in cheer competitions, the cheerleaders participated in many community efforts and helped raise funds for the breast cancer walk and Special Olympics of Western New York. They also participated in the anti-bullying seminar called Rachel’s Challenge.

The final stage of the girls season ended with the win at Chicago, a trip in which the girls had a chance to truly bond.

“The team definitely became closer being able to go on this trip and after winning we were all satisfied and able to conclude the season,” Ellis added. “We are all very grateful that we have the chance to take the trip.”

Quotes from the season:

Alex Ellis, OPHS ‘11

“Our confidence has helped the success of the team this year. I have never seen confidence like this team has this year. Our coaches are definitely the biggest help for our success. Both are former Orchard Park Cheerleaders and both are very knowledgeable of cheerleading and love coaching.”

Kelsey Collins, OPHS ‘11

“This year’s team is special, because you’d think we would get sick of each other after being together for so long, but if anything we have become closer. I like our team a lot, because we always joke around. If a stranger were to come and watch one practice they would think we are the biggest goofballs, but it’s fun that we can joke around, but still be serious when it comes down to it.”

Coaches Jill DiPasquale and Lauren Bonilla

““Every girl plays a role on this team. We do not have benches or sidelines to sit on.”

“They all respect each other and never bring their personal problems into the team. They are teammates above all other things.”

Top 20 Orchard Park Sports Stories from 2011

The Orchard Park High School softball team went 3-17 in 2010, but improved on that mark with a record of 7 wins and 9 losses in 2011, including two playoff victories. The second post-season win came in dramatic fashion at number-one seed Kenmore West.

Taylor Jezuit

Softball shocks top-seeded Kenmore West to advance in playoffs

Originally published on June 3, 2011

It wasn’t enough that the Orchard Park softball team won its first round playoff contest versus Frontier. The Lady Quakers continued their drive toward a sectional title by knocking off top-seeded Kenmore West on Sunday, May 29.

After a 2-0 win over Frontier in the Class AA pre-quarterfinals where sophomore pitcher Carlo Loffredo shut out the Falcons and allowed just two hits, the ninth-ranked Lady Quakers traveled to Kenmore West High School for a quarterfinal bout with the number-one seeded Blue Devils.

Orchard Park jumped out to an early 3-0 lead before Kenmore West answered with three runs in the bottom of the fifth inning.

The Lady Quakers responded with two more runs in the sixth with the help of patience at the plate and timely hitting.

Jozwiak reached on an error which was followed by a bunt from Lindsey Hurley, who beat the throw to first base, to give the Lady Quakers a pair of base-runners with no outs.

After a couple strikeouts, Kristen Klemmer slapped a single to left field to load the bases.

It was then that eighth-grader Shaye Swiatek drew a bases loaded walk to recapture the lead, 4-3. Junior catcher Taylor Jezuit followed with a single to extend the lead, 5-3.

“It’s a matter of knowing the strike zone,” Orchard Park co-coach Josh Dannecker said of his team’s patience at the plate. “They’ve seen a lot of pitches and you just feel comfortable knowing that with one, two strikes on you that you have the confidence that it just takes one hit to make the difference.”

Kenmore West scored once in the bottom of the sixth and had a chance to tie the contest in the seventh. With the game-tying run on second base, Orchard Park left fielder Ciara Godbout charged into short left field to snag a blooper and record the winning out.

Loffredo struck out eight batters and picked up the win on the mound to earn her sixth victory of the season.

“It’s definitely a big deal for us, especially because I think we’re playing harder now,” Loffredo said of the playoff wins. “During the season, we’ve definitely had our ups and downs, and I haven’t seen us play this hard. It’s very exciting.”

Junior third baseman Jess Jozwiak on the season:

“Winning two playoff games just shows everyone how good of a team we are and can be. The potential to be number one in the division is there. Those two wins give us all motivation to win three or four playoff games next year.”

Top 20 Orchard Park Sports Stories from 2011

Before I jump into the Top 20, I want to acknowledge one story that deserves special recognition.

I wanted to add to the list the story of the great success of the inaugural Lindsay Matthews Run, but didn’t know where to rank it. I think a charity run dedicated to the memory of a lost loved one should be considered far more important than anything.

The list of top stories is meant to be a fun list of sports-related stories from the past year; so rather than trying appropriately place this story on the list, I thought it was better to mention the story and its importance prior to beginning the list.

I did not have the pleasure of meeting Lindsay, but everyone I speak with that knew her describes Lindsay as a very loving and caring person. It is my hope that the run dedicated to her memory grows larger and is an even greater success this summer than it was in 2011.

Here is the story:

Inaugural Lindsay Matthews Memorial Scholarship Run Draws Big Turnout

The Lindsay Matthews Memorial Rock at the Orchard Park Soccer Complex on Milestrip Road

The memory of Lindsay Matthews was very much alive at the inaugural Memorial Scholarship 5K Run & 1-mile walk held on Sunday, July 24 in her name.

The event, which was held at the Orchard Park Soccer Complex on Milestrip Road, drew 281 runners and nearly 500 participants in memory of the 2007 Orchard Park High School graduate who was tragically killed in an accident while attending Geneseo College in November 2008.

“It means a lot, because we miss Lindsay,” said her father, Ian Matthews. “We’ve gotten so much support from the community. That’s one thing about Orchard Park and Western New York; people are very supportive for events like this.”

Runners were treated to a mixed course of road and grass terrain that included a loop around the soccer fields where Matthews once played, and two dashes past Lindsay’s memorial rock that sits at the front of the complex.

“This race means a lot to us, because it’s as though Lindsay is still around,” Matthews added. “It’s like a birthday party for Lindsay.”

The force behind the success of the race was provided by Lindsay’s mother, Karen.

“My wife’s the driving force behind this,” said Ian Matthews, who was told the first year of an event usually attracts only 100-150 runners. “Karen has gone out and gotten sponsorships.”

The run helps benefit the Lindsay’s Scholarship Fund which is now in its third year. 2011 graduates Melanie Janulewicz and Emily Fleetwood were this year’s recipients.

At the time she was attending Geneseo, Matthews was studying to be a speech pathologist and was a member of the women’s soccer team. She also worked at the Orchard Park Boys and Girls Club.

“She was a really good kid so we try to pick the applicants with Lindsay’s character traits,” said Matthews.

Michael Mezzadri of Orchard Park won the race finishing in nineteen minutes flat. Abigail Benson of Elma was the top female finisher at 19:33.

Top 20 Orchard Park Sports Stories from 2011

Happy New Year! As we continue to welcome 2012, I thought it would be fun to reflect back on the great stories in Orchard Park Sports from 2011. I have compiled a list of the Top 20 stories of the past year.

I tried to recall all the stories I covered from the entire year; researching stories I may have missed and scouring old issues of my work in the Orchard Park Press. I think I came up with a good list filled with championships, personal achievements and human interest stories.

I just hope I didn’t miss anything.

Let’s start with a few honorable mentions I left off the list:

*Hollins sisters win ECIC doubles championship in girls tennis and advance to states
*Sam Korach and Sawyer Dina advance to state tennis championships
*Boys soccer defeats Clarence for first time in…hmmm… a while
*Boys hockey wins first playoff game in school history
*Girls bowling captures a tie for ECIC I championship
*Joe Jacobs-Federbar awarded All-American honorable mention in DIII lacrosse for Nazareth
*Joe Hill’s masterful performance for the OP Sox in NABF baseball regional tournament

Ready…here we go!