Sports

A key member of ND’s 1^st Bishop Smith League Football Championship team also being honored tonight, Dave was a four-year member of the Fighting Irish Varsity Football Team and had the distinction of being the only member of his class to play Varsity football as a freshman. He was recognized as the Most Valuable Player [MVP] of the 1966 Varsity Football team and received All-Catholic recognition as the Smith Division 1^st team fullback during his senior year.

A well-rounded competitor, Dave was also recognized as the MVP of his Varsity Wrestling and Varsity Track and Field teams during his senior year at ND. As a wrestler, he earned All-Catholic honors in the heavyweight classification in tough Smith League competition and captained the Fighting Irish Bishop Smith League 1967 All-Catholic Championship team during his senior year. Weighing 180 pounds, Dave often wrestled up to the 255-pound weight class whenever additional points were needed! He had the distinction of only losing one Varsity match during his star-studded four-year wrestling career on the mats at ND!

As a member of the ND Varsity Track team, he established the All-Catholic record in the shot put as a freshman and went on to hold ND school records in the shot put and discus and was a member of the 880 yard relay team by the time he graduated in 1967. He was also named the recipient of the E. Lawrence Spring Award for ND school spirit on and off the field of play as a senior.

After his ND graduation, Dave attended Erie Community College where he earned an AAS [Applied Arts and Sciences] degree. He was the president of the ECC Athletic Society and wrestled collegiately earning the overall MVP Athlete-of-the-Year award in 1969.

In 2014, Dave trained and competed in the West Virginia senior Olympics in the shot put and discus, scoring well enough to qualify for the national senior Olympics in Minneapolis in 2015. Dave and his wife Marcia are the parents of two children -- Andrea and Benjamin – and nine grandchildren and currently reside in Morgantown, W. Va. Dave is employed by the [Monroe] "Mon" County Board of Education Transportation Department as a bus driver.

Michael Francis ‘80

Mike Francis had the unique distinction of representing Fighting Irish Football and Basketball teams in both Bishop Smith League and NYSPHSAA Section V [Rochester Region] competition! As was the case with his athletic brothers John ’66, Ron ’67, Fred ‘69 and Mark ’75 before him, Mike was a high profile student-athlete during his four years [1976-1980] at ND participating in four years of Varsity Football and Varsity Basketball, two years as a member of Varsity Track and Field and one year as a member of Varsity Baseball.

Mike truly made his mark on the gridiron during his junior [1978] and senior [1979] seasons. As a junior, he was ND’s Most Outstanding running back, a member of the 1978 Genesee Region [GR] Championship team and received 1^st team GR All-Star honors as a running back. He was also named to the prestigious Rochester Democrat and Chronicle All Greater Rochester [AGR] all-star team in that same year as a wide receiver [45 catches, 849 yds, 15 TDs].

As a senior, he was once again a member of the 1979 GR league Football championship team and named a GR league 1^st team all-Star for the second straight year. Mike was also a member of ND’s 1979 Section V Class C Championship Football team and was again recognized as a member of the Democrat and Chronicle’s AGR all-star team, this time as a wide receiver as well as a running back where he accounted for 15 TDs. The 1979 ND team MVP and New York State all-state selection, Mike was also named to the Rochester Times Union “Super 22” all-star team as a running back.

As a member of the ND Varsity Basketball program, Mike was named team MVP during his sophomore year while playing in Bishop Smith league competition and a Genesee Region [GR] All-Star during his junior and senior seasons after ND left the Smith League for local Section V competition. As a senior, he was named to the all-tournament team in the Albion Christmas tournament.

He was also a member of the Fighting Irish Baseball team which competed in the Bishop Smith league as a sophomore as well as the ND Varsity Track team his junior and senior years as a sprinter.

Mike played one year of collegiate football during his freshman year as a wide receiver for the Canisius College Golden Griffins. The parent of three sons – Mitchell, Richard and Andrew -- Mike resides in Tonawanda and currently serves as an officer at the Buffalo Federal Detention Facility in Batavia.

Monica Dillon Billard ‘82

Monica Dillon was a highly competitive four-sport student-athlete for Lady Irish athletic teams in the early portion of the 1980s. ND records indicate that the Batavia native played four years of Soccer, Basketball and Softball and three years of Volleyball during her noteworthy Lady Irish athletic career.

Monica was a key member of the 1981 and 1982 Section V Class D Championship Varsity Girls Volleyball teams. Her 1982 team finished the season unblemished while compiling a perfect 17 – 0 record! She earned Junior Varsity Basketball MVP recognition in 1978 and 1979 and the Varsity Girls Basketball Coach’s award as a sophomore in 1980.

During her senior year, Monica was named to the Section V Girls Basketball All-Tournament team and received the ND Coach’s Award for Varsity Volleyball. She was also named to the Genesee Region [GR] Softball All-Star for the second consecutive year while also receiving additional recognition as the Varsity Lady Irish Softball MVP.

Monica was named the ND Female Athlete-of-the-Year during her senior year [1981-82] of Varsity competition.

After graduating from ND in 1982, Monica went on to Marietta College [Marietta, Ohio] where she earned her BS degree in Sports Medicine/Athletic Training degree [1986]. She continued her athletic career at Marietta where she played four years of Varsity Volleyball for the Pioneers and, as a senior, co-captained her collegiate Volleyball team while earning 1^st team All OAC [Ohio Athletic Conference] honors in the process! Monica also played three years of collegiate softball and one year of crew during her college career.

After graduating from Marietta, Monica moved to Boston and earned her MS degree in Health, Sport and Fitness Management as a graduate student at Northeastern University. She worked as a trainer, fitness director and assistant General Manager of the Boston Raquet Club for 12+ years until the arrival of her first daughter, Sarah. During the next nine years, Monica was a stay-at-home mom during which time also gave birth to her second daughter, Julia, in 2002. In 2007 she re-entered the work force as a personal trainer, yoga teacher and manager of the Kingsbury Fitness Club [where she still works today] in Kingston, Mass.

In addition to a lifelong career in the fitness industry, Monica has maintained an active and healthy lifestyle while participating in sprint distance triathlons, hiking, running Boston marathons, playing golf, biking and doing yoga!

Monica is the proud parent of two daughters, Sarah [19] and Julia [15], and currently resides in Kingston, Mass.

Sean Flynn '96

Sean Flynn was a standout student-athlete throughout his star-studded six-year career [2000 - 2006] at ND. A native of Batavia, Sean began his record setting Varsity Golf career as a seventh-grader at St. Joseph's Elementary in Batavia. He earned medalist honors in the Genesee Region [GR] Sectional Golf Qualifier as a freshman and went on to be a three-time ND Varsity Golf MVP! A five-time Genesee Region All-Star [Grades 7 - 11], Sean also qualified for the Section V Golf Tournament on four different occasions and the NYSPHSAA state tournament on one occasion [1995]!

Sean was also a key member of the Fighting Irish Varsity Football and Ice Hockey teams during his four years at ND. He served as captain of his Varsity Football team as a senior and helped lead ND to the Genesee Region Division III title. A two-time MVP and talented member of ND "Irish on Ice" Varsity Ice Hockey team from 2002 - 2006, Sean was a key member of ND's first Section V Class B Hockey Sectional Championship team during his senior year during which time he was also named to the Monroe County All Star Hockey 1st Team.

As a senior, Sean moved from the "links" to the baseball field where he earned the "Coach's Award" in route to helping the ND Varsity Baseball earn the 1996 Section V Class D title.

Sean will be remembered as a team leader and role model for younger student-athletes throughout his accomplished sports career at ND. He earned honor roll and NYSPHSAA ”Scholar-Athlete” [minimum 90-percent academic average] distinction throughout his high school career and was recognized as the recipient of the prestigious Reverend David J. Scheider Sports Loyalty Award [1994-1995] as well as the Batavia Lions Club Bill Cook Scholar-Athlete and Athlete-of–the-Year at ND during his senior year [1995-1996].

Upon graduation from ND in 1996, Sean completed BS [Business Management, 2001] and MBA [2002] degrees at Canisius College, the Jesuit College of Buffalo. He currently works as a commercial underwriter at JP Morgan Chase in Columbus, Ohio. Sean and his wife, Karyn [Sokol –ND '97], reside in Dublin, Ohio and are the proud parents of three children – Maren [8], Declan [5] and Nora [3] Flynn.

Jennifer Cocco Rybczak ‘01

Jenny Cocco was an exceptional student-athlete who began her six-year [1995-2001] Fighting Irish Varsity Swimming and Track and Field team careers as a seventh-grader at St. Joseph’s Elementary, in Batavia!

As a member of the Varsity Boys Swim team, Jenny was the first athlete – male or female – to compete for six years in ND’s Varsity Swimming program and played a key role developing the program, as well as putting it on the Genesee Region [GR] and Section V maps.

A member of two ND Genesee Region Varsity Boys Swimming Championship teams [2000 and 2001], Jenny earned 17 GR League individual championships [6 – 100 yd. breaststroke, 5 -200 yd. freestyle relay, 4 – 50 yd. freestyle and one each in the 200 yd. medley relay and 400 yd. freestyle medley] during her six years in the pool competing against primarily male swim competition!

By the time she completed her senior swim season, Jenny – who was unbeaten as an individual in dual meets throughout her high school career -- was credited with being the ND school record holder in nine individual events [50 freestyle, 100 freestyle, 100 breaststroke, 100 butterfly, 200 Individual medley, 500 freestyle, 200 medley relay, 200 freestyle relay and the 400 freestyle relay]. She was also credited with being the Genesee Region county record holder in an additional five events [50 freestyle, 100 breaststroke, 200 freestyle relay, 400 freestyle relay and 200 medley relay]!

As a junior, she was a contributing member of ND’s NYSPHSAA Varsity Boys Swimming Championship “Scholar-Athlete” [minimum team average of 90 percent] team – the #1 academic team in New York State!

Jenny’s competitiveness transferred to the Track and Field arena each season after swimming! A six-year member of the ND Varsity Girls Track team, Jenny had the distinction of being undefeated in dual meet competition during her sophomore, junior and senior seasons!

She was an 11-time Genesee Region champion [Intermediate hurdles – 4X, 400 meter run – 3X, and 1600 meter and 3200 meter relay – 2X each] and set county records in the 400 meter run, the 400 intermediate hurdles and as a member of the 3200 meter relay. She was also a seven-time Section V Class D individual champion [400 meter run – 3X, 400 intermediate hurdles-2 X and 1600 and 3200 meter relays – 1X each] during her Varsity Girls Track and Field career.

Jenny competed at the New York State meet level twice, once as an eighth-grader where she finished fifthas a member of the 3200 meter relay team and as a senior in the individual 400-meter run where she tied the Section V 400 meter record. 

After graduation from ND in 2001, Jenny attended and received degrees from SUNY Geneseo [BA – English Education] and the University of Buffalo [MA – Education]. She swam collegiately at SUNY Geneseo for four years where she was an Academic All-American who set two ECAC conference records [100 yd. and 200 yd. breaststroke], seven SUNYAC records [100 yd. and 200 yd. breaststroke -3X each and 400 Medley Relay once] and four SUNY Geneseo pool records[ 100 and 200 yd. breaststroke and 200 yd. and 400 yd. Medley relays].

Jenny currently teaches AP Literature and Composition at Altmar-Parish-Williamstown High School. She and her husband, Alex Rybczak, currently reside in Cicero and are the proud parents of three boys – Jack [5], Vito [5] and Louie [4] Rybczak!

Administrator/Contributor

Joseph D. Scanlan ’65: ND Principal: 2004 - 2015

Joseph Scanlan, Ed.D., ND Class of 1965, is being inducted into the Notre Dame Hall of Fame as an Administrator/Contributor, a role he certainly excelled at.

A lifelong LeRoyan, Joe played basketball and ran cross country, served as president of the Class of ’65 and was the 1965 “Man of the Year” during his ND years. He earned both his BA in History and his MS in Education at Canisius College where he was a member of both the DiGamma Jesuit Honor Society and the Col. Richardson Army ROTC Honor Society. He attended SUNY Brockport for his CAS/SAS Administrative Certification and earned his doctorate [Ed.D.] in Educational Administration from the University of Rochester. His wife, Kate, was Notre Dame’s Campus Minister/Theology teacher for 15 years while his son, Michael ’02, played on our 2001 New York State Boys Basketball Championship team and continued the “Scanlan Tradition” as he also was named ND Man of the Year for the Class of 2002.

Joe spent 15 years at Byron-Bergen as both a teacher and administrator, 17 years at York as HS Principal before returning to Notre Dame where his plan to “stay a few years” turned into an 11-year stint as his Alma Mater’s President/Principal! Known as “Dr. Joe” to students and staff alike, he was a student-oriented administrator who had high expectations for himself as well as for all members of the ND school community. These high expectations reaped many benefits from academic, athletic and respect for others perspectives during his tenure including ND being named the #1 academic high school in the GLOW Region during each of the 11 years he served as principal.

A staunch supporter of Notre Dame’s students on a multitude of levels, he was most visible (and vocal) at ND sporting events cheering for and offering support as well as encouragement to all Fighting Irish teams and student-athletes. Even though his job demanded a lot of time, he found the time to attend numerous athletic events making a point of attending contests of all sports while rarely, if ever, missing a home game. Our student-athletes were always well aware and very appreciative of his support which provided Dr. Joe a venue to reach them on many levels. Dr. Joe could often be heard in the halls or cafeteria offering advice and encouragement to student-athletes and nonstudent-athletes alike. Many of his athletic sayings such as “You miss 100 percent of the shots you don’t take” are legendary among ND student-athletes!

During Dr. Joe’s tenure, Fighting Irish athletic teams won two State championships, eight NYS Western Regional championships, 28 Section V titles, and 40 GR [Genesee region] championships as well as producing 167 NYSPHSAA Scholar-Athlete [minimum 90 percent academic average] teams.

When asked to briefly sum up his ND years, Dr. Joe said: “My love of interacting with teenagers and my longtime interest in high school athletics made attending and supervising ND Fighting Irish athletic events and rooting for our Alma Mater a perfect match!"

1965 Fighting Irish Bishop Smith League Varsity Football Championship Team

The Fall 1965 football season at Notre Dame was a record setting time period in school history as our Varsity Football program notched the first [of many] Bishop Smith League Championships in school history!

The Smith league championship roster featured the likes of senior Co-Captain All-Catholic Halfback John Francis '66 -- regarded as one of the most talented all around athletes in ND sports history, his junior QB brother Ron Francis '67, as well as senior All-Catholic linemen Jim Schiller '66 and co-captain Jim Murphy '66. 

The makeup of our 28 member Varsity roster included nine seniors [Class of ‘66] Dan Callahan, Joe Chilano, John Francis, Brian Glor, Mike Lippold, Jim Murphy, Tom Petrick, Jim Schiller and Paul Tresco, 15 juniors [Class of '67] Mike Brady, Jim Bundy, Ray Chaya, Larry Conte, Ron Francis, Jim Hedtke, Bill Johnson, John Kellner, Dave Mandeleone, Mike McGinnis, Dave O’Connor, Mike Serve, Jim Starret, Bill Sutherland and Carl “Butch” Webster and four sophomores [Class of '68] Bob Cline, Dave Dudek, Harry Stortz and Denny Waggoner. 

Highlights of the 1965 season included speedy John Francis' four touchdown performances against Knights of DeSales of Lockport [38 - 27] as well as in ND's first time ever victory over the Frannies of St. Francis of Athol Springs [34 - 13], Ron Francis' two TDs in a come-from-behind 34-to-14 victory over Erie County Power Alden High School and a hard fought 13-to-7 victory over the Olean Archbishop Walsh Eagles after being down 7 - 0 early in the game.

The come-from-behind Walsh victory set the stage for the Smith League Championship game on a cold November Sunday afternoon against the Vikings of Bishop Gibbons at North Tonawanda Stadium. Supported by seven busloads of spirited ND student fans and down by four points with four minutes to go, junior QB Ron Francis '67 connected with classmate Mike Brady '67 on a key pass that kept a fourth-quarter Irish drive alive. With 52 seconds on the clock, Francis connected with sophomore Denny Waggoner '68 for the go ahead TD.  

Senior co-captain Jim Murphy '66 iced the championship by intercepting a Gibbons pass 10 seconds later and rambling for a 23-yard TD to seal the deal. Final score: ND 25 - Bishop Gibbons 13.

Congratulations to Head Coach Bernie Fagan, assistant coaches Joe Eppolito and Joe Chilano, and our 28-member record-setting 1965 Bishop Smith League Varsity Football Champions -- our first in school history!

The free instructional Batavia Blue Devil Boys Basketball Saturday Program for students in grades one through six will be held weekly at John Kennedy Elementary School Gymnasium from Nov. 4 through Dec. 9.

The program is open to boys who attend Batavia City Schools only. Participants are to enter and exit the gym by the rear of the school, which is located at 166 Vine St. in the City of Batavia.

Times are as follows:

GRADES 3-4:  9 -- 10:30 a.m.

GRADES 5-6:  10:30 a.m. -- noon

GRADES 1-2:  Noon to 1 p.m.

Although the cost of the Saturday program is free, there is a fee for those playing in the league that begins in January and runs through early March. This is a travel-friendly league, which competes against other towns including Attica, Alexander, Oakfield, Byron Bergen, Pembroke, Elba, and St. Joe's.

Practices will begin after Winter Recess and be held once or twice per week in the evening at various schools in Batavia. There will be an 8-10 game schedule and played on the weekends. Schedules will come out around the holidays.

The program will feature Coach Jim Fazio -- Batavia Jr. Blue Devil youth director, youth coaches, and current Blue Devil players. It will focus on the offensive and defensive fundamentals of the game including shooting, passing, dribbling, rebounding and ball handling, etc. There will be contests with full court and half-court games.

Contact Youth Director Jim Fazio 585-356-0901 with questions or concerns.    jfazio@gvboces.org

To get an application, email Fazio at his email address above.

Batavia City Schools are not responsible for injury that may happen during the program.

On homecoming night, the Oatkan Knights secured the #2 seed in sectional play and locked up a 6-1 record for the regular season with a 20-6 win over Letchworth/Warsaw.

Kyler LaCarte gained 56 yards and scored a TD on 21 carries. Luke Stella added a TD and 21 yards on nine carries. Cole Biggins was 8-19 passing for 84 yards. LaCarte had one TD pass for 24 yards.

Reece Tresco had six receptions for 65 yards. Gavin Luckey, two for 37 and a TD.

Luke Stella led the defense with six tackles, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery. Jake Hill had five tackles. Gavin Luckey, four, and Bryce Bordonaro, four. Gaven Cassidy had two interceptions to go with three tackles.

In other Friday night action:

• Alexander 54 -- Oakfield-Alabama/Elba 6. It was also homecoming for Alexander and on a night when the community honored Brian West Jr., the former player killed earlier this year in a car accident, the Trojans brought their A game. The 54 points scored by the team matched West's uniform number. 
• Cal-Mum/Byron-Bergen 49 -- Avon 12. Bryce Yokel gained 225 yards and scored three touchdowns on 13 carries.

Le Roy game photos by Ed Henry. Top photo: Kyler LaCarte fights for yardage.

Gaven Cassidy after an interception.

Bob Locke

Reece Tresco

Start of the game, honoring law enforcement with a greeting of Sheriff's deputies.

St. Mary’s football squad left Woodward Field a bit crushed on Friday the 13th after the Blue Devils steamrolled the visitors on their way to a school-record 69 points in a game.

Batavia won its final regular season match 69-20.

On the record-setting night, Batavia's kicker Alec Wagner also put his name in the books by going nine for 10 on extra point attempts and finishing the regular season with 30. The previous school record was 28.

The team's total point record stood for 55 years. 

Junior Ray Leach carried the ball 15 times for 106 yards for five touchdowns. He also scored on a 22-yard interception. Senior Chandler Baker was four for four passing, 75 total yards, and one touchdown. He scored a touchdown on a 45-yard punt return and 70-yard kickoff return.

Andrew Francis scored a touchdown on a 24-yard pass from Baker.

Batavia’s Defensive stats: John Kindig had six tackles, three for a loss, one sack, and one fumble recovery. Nick Neid made 11 tackles, two for a loss. Anthony Ray made four tackles, all for a loss. Josh Barber had seven tackles, three for a loss. Alex Rood made four tackles, one for a loss, two sacks and one interception.

St. Mary’s scoring summary: D’Jae Terry scored two touchdowns, one of them on an 85-yard kickoff return and a 75-yard run from the line of scrimmage. Quarterback J’Shawn Collins scored on a 57-yard run. St. Mary's scored only two points on three extra point attempts.

To view or purchase photos, click here: http://steveognibenephotography.zenfolio.com/p532489889

Press release:

The Batavia Ramparts Peewee III Hockey Team and Frank Lord -- psychic, clairvoyant, medium and spiritual advisor -- are teaming up for a two-night fund-raiser event.

• 7 p.m., Monday, Oct. 16^th at the Polish Falcons in Batavia (123 S. Swan St.)
• 7 p.m., Thursday, Oct. 19^th at the American Legion in Le Roy (21 Lake St.)

Tickets are $20 and can be purchased in advance or at the door on the night of the events.

This is a Group Psychic Reading. If you've been to one of these events before, you know how amazing the connections can be. If you've never been, don't be afraid to check it out. Help support a local hockey team! 

Frank Lord is New York State’s youngest and most accurate registered psychic, clairvoyant, medium and spiritual advisor who grew up in Batavia. His spiritual guidance emphasizes mainly on what the past, present, and future hold for the individual who seeks the answers they need. Frank also works in an array of the metaphysical realm, specializing in areas such as astrology, dream interpretation, and spiritual investigation.

He has worked professionally since the age of 12. Frank has read more than 9,500 individuals and continues to read on a daily basis. Frank has worked in areas such as New York City, Buffalo, Rochester and New Jersey.

Featured on the Sci-Fi Channel at age 18, Frank has worked with such individuals such as Raymond Buckland, former Genesee County Historian Sue Conklin, The Boo Brothers, and The Ghost Hunters. He enjoys all areas of work in the aspect of spiritualism and ensures guidance that will help with an individual's situation at hand.

Tickets can be purchased in advance at Millennium Computers, 156 Washington Ave., Batavia; or contact Michelle Johnson at 409-9299; Alicia Cook at 815-3478; or Holly by email at   hollyesch@yahoo.com; or from any Peewee III Hockey parent.

Photo, from left: Larry Willer, John Mungillo and Jennifer Papiernik

By Tim Bojarski, for Batavia Downs

Western New York veteran trainer John Mungillo reached a major milestone at Batavia Downs on Wednesday afternoon (Oct. 11) and he did it in a very convincing manner. Mungillo sent out his 3-year-old pacing filly Roll With Faith that he co-owns with Lawrence Willer and Finish Line Investors and watched her go wire to wire at 1-9 over a very sloppy race track in 1:57.3 to notch the 1,000^th training victory of his career.

The grand achievement didn’t happen overnight, it was a culmination of a lifetime’s labor.

Mungillo started working as a groom for Pete Mondi at Batavia Downs in 1981 and eventually became second trainer for Don Rothfuss where he earned his driver’s license and started teaming regularly. When Mungillo went on his own in 1986 his objective was to have horses from his barn win, regardless of who did the driving and didn’t let ego stand in the way of success.

Although he did drive regularly from 1987-1989, he focused more on training his stock from that point on and really started accumulating wins as his stable grew.

Mungillo’s career best training year was in 2013 when he scored 155 wins with a .309 UTR and earnings of $683,812 as a result. For his entire training career Mungillo has 6,099 starts with 1,000 wins 860 seconds and 791 thirds with $4,466,409 in purses. That’s 43 percent in the money lifetime and that’s not too shabby.

Currently at the Downs Mungillo is racing 10 horses regularly and ranks eighth among all trainers with 13 wins, eight seconds and 14 thirds off 84 starts and has banked $66,782 in purses so far. For the entire year he has 32 wins and $202,945 in purses.

It's been a few years since baseball fans at Dwyer Stadium could see the names of hitters at the plate and their batting averages, but when next spring's first "play ball" is called that will have changed.

Crews were at the stadium today making long-desired (by the fans) repairs of the outfield sign that will restore the lighting to the upper portion where players' names and averages appear.

The project is part of the city's maintenance budget for Dwyer.

Alexander remains undefeated on the season, at 6-0, after beating Notre Dame on homecoming night 60-0.

It was a big night for freshman running back Terrez Smith, who gained 212 yards on six carries. His big run was a 67-yard touchdown.

Chris McClinic gained 103 yards on seven carries and scored two TD, one on the ground, one through the air.

Alexander also scored on a 60-yard punt return by Takari Lang-Smith.

Next week, Alexander closes out the season with senior night at home against Oakfield-Alabama/Elba.

Photos by Jim Burns.