Leading off today: Friends and colleagues are dealing with the shocking death of Amherst High School coach and middle school physical education teacher Jason Beckman in a one-car crash on Monday.
Beckman, 52, was driving a Jeep Gladiator on the Niagara Scenic Parkway when the vehicle veered off the road and into the Niagara River, The Buffalo News reported.
Beckman, a graduate of Gowanda High and Canisius University, taught in the Amherst district for 29 years. He began his coaching career at Amherst and was in his 14th season as the football head coach. He also coached the boys bowling team.
"He didn't need to win championships or go recruit and try to find these guys that everyone else seems to do these days," said West Seneca East coach Jim Maurino, a Canisius classmate. "He was just happy being a coach and teaching the kids the game of football and all of the intangibles that come with it. He was always working hard for the kids and for the program."
Added South Park coach Tim Delaney: "He always coached his kids hard. Their kids always played hard and were always competitive, even when they didn't have the best of teams. They always played until the end."
Another ruling in Carle Place senior's favor
Senior Ryan Leary can suit up for the Carle Place boys soccer team's regular-season finale on Oct. 15 and be eligible for the Section 8 playoffs,
Newsday reported.
Leary won an appeal with the New York State Education Department on Oct. 3 that allowed him to play both soccer and football after the school district's superintendent ruled he could not play both.
Newsday reported Leary has completed half of the required six soccer practices and will be set to play for the defending NYSPHSAA Class B champions next week vs. West Hempstead.
The final hurdle to be cleared came when the NYSPHSAA waived its representation rule, which requires players to be an eligible participant in six regular-season soccer contests in order to be eligible for sectionals.
Mechanicville' streak ends at 101 games
Greenwich defeated Mechanicville 2-1 in a Wasaren League boys soccer game on Tuesday, ending the Red Raiders' league unbeaten streak at 101 games since 2016.
The Witches improved to 9-0 in the league and 13-1 overall. Mechanicville fell to 6-1 and 9-4-1.
