Prep Talk
Borrelli Award to go to lax’s best
Published: April 28, 2009, 12:30 am
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Every January or February, with high school winter sports like basketball, hockey and wrestling at full bore, Tom Borrelli would catch me in the office and start talking about his favorite sport—lacrosse.
It didn’t matter that there was still snow on the ground—he already had his copy of the Inside Lacrosse Face-Off yearbook, and he always had one to give me, too. He already knew which big college games he was going to make a road trip to see, and he had already pored over the magazine to see how many Western New York natives were on big-time college rosters—players he would help our newspaper follow through their careers.
He’d always beat me to the punch on the high school schedule, too, telling me which major out-of-town powers that local powers Orchard Park, Hamburg or Amherst would be playing and when.
And of course, Tom covered the Buffalo Bandits since their inception. Through his diligence and passion for the game, he earned the honors of having the National Lacrosse League’s media award named after him as well as becoming the first media member inducted to the NLL Hall of Fame.
Starting this season, football will have its Connolly Cup, basketball will have its All-Western New York teams, and boys lacrosse will have the Borrelli Award.
At the conclusion of each spring season, the top senior boys lacrosse player in Western New York will be honored with the Tom Borrelli Memorial Award.
Following Borrelli’s untimely death last November, a committee spearheaded by News Sports Columnist Bob DiCesare established the Tom Borrelli Memorial Award and Scholarship Fund. The award was established in Borrelli’s name in hopes of making a lasting tribute—both to our fallen friend and colleague as well as the sport he loved.
A selection committee chaired by this reporter will choose Western New York’s top player after consultation with local coaches and scouts.
A scholarship fund has been established, and fund raising that began with a raffle in March will continue with the Tom Borrelli Memorial Award Golf Tournament on July 20 at Holland Hills; more details on the golf tournament will be coming soon.
Donations can be made out to the Tom Borrelli Award Fund and should be mailed to Tom Borrelli Award Fund c/o the Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo, 712 Main St., Buffalo 14202-1720.
’Nova coach at hoops clinic
The Western New York chapter of the Basketball Coaches Association of New York will hold its fifth Spring Basketball Coaches Clinic on May 8 from 5-9 p. m. at Depew High School.
Villanova women’s coach Harry Perretta, a Co-Big East Women’s Coach of the Year this season, will talk about the motion offense. Other speakers include Niagara men’s coach Joe Mihalich (National Association of Basketball Coaches District 1 Coach of the Year), Fredonia State men’s coach Kevin Moore (State University of New York Coach of the Year) and Geneseo State men’s coach Steve Minton.
The clinic is free and is open to all boys and girls basketball coaches of all levels; they do not have to be a member of BCANY. There will be a coaches social immediately following the clinic at the Lancaster Elks Club.
Johnston to state Hall
Daryl Johnston, who led Lewiston- Porter to Section VI titles in 1982 and ’83 before playing for Syracuse University and the Dallas Cowboys, will be inducted this summer into the New York State Public High School Athletic Association Hall of Fame.
Johnston, who was named to The News’ 50th anniversary All-Western New York football team in 2007 and is currently an NFL analyst for Fox Sports, is one of 10 members of the class of 2009.
Four administrators, three coaches, two athletes and an official will enter the hall, now in its seventh year, on Aug. 6 at the Crowne Plaza in Lake Placid.
The class also includes: administrators Theodore A. Bondi (Section V), Jack
D. Jones (IV), Ronald A. Montalto (IX), Bernie O’Brien (VIII); coaches Gary Montalto (I-Arlington boys soccer), James A. Pinkerton (X-Ogdensburg football, baseball and volleyball), Howard C. Vogts (VIII-Bethpage football); girls basketball standout Susan Wicks (XI-Center Moriches) and official Robert M. Garrow (VII).
kmcshea@buffnews.com
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