Leading off today: The Post-Standard set the stage for the high school football season with its annual preview in today's editions, and piece that pulled it all together was NYSSWA czar Neil Kerr's look at the
recent run of success by Central New York schools.
Though no Section 3 school had won at a level above Class C until CBA won Class AA in 2004, Syracuse-area schools have now earned three of the last four state Class AA championships and nine trophies overall since 2000. Though that doesn't match Section 1's 11 championships since 2000, it's quite a step up for a region that snared only one title in the first seven years of tournament finals at the Carrier Dome.
Additionally, Kerr points out that Onondaga running back Mike Hart, and CBA quarterback Greg Paulus and receiver Bruce Williams have all set state records during the past eight seasons.
"It starts with talent," coach Rome Free Academy coach Mike Davis said. "There's no question we've had some very talented football players in Central New York in this decade, starting with Mike Hart at Onondaga and Greg Paulus at CBA. But, it's more than that. The year-round dedication by both coaches and the athletes has paid off. All the summer weight training and conditioning programs that most of the good teams take part in now has something to do with the improved level of play in Central New York. And it is improved."
CBA coach Joe Casamento points to sophisticated offenses.
"The spread offenses run by outstanding quarterbacks is one reason for the increase in state championships," he said. "You look at some of the quarterbacks who have led their teams to state championships, guys like (Greg) Paulus for us, (Darnell) Murphy for Auburn, (Tim) Moran for West Genesee and (Connor) Sweeney for Bishop Ludden. All those guys could throw the ball and they all had excellent receivers to throw to."
Rochester AD retiring: Rochester City School Distrit AD Neil Zwierlein, 63, plans to retire on Oct. 3, the Democrat and Chronicle reported.
Zwierlein held physical education teaching and assistant football coaching positions at various schools and was the head coach at Edison during the late 1980s. He's credited with rebuilding girls sports programs at city schools, pulling the district back from the brink of what almost certainly would have triggered a Title IX complaint a decade ago by introducing more sports for female athletes.
HF-L senior injured: Honeoye Falls-Lima senior Melissa Plain, a member of the girls soccer and basketball teams, was seriously injured Wednesday morning in a one-car accident on her way to school.
Plain was driving north on Route 65 in West Bloomfield
