EMPIRE STATE GAMES
Buffalo already game planning for 2010
Binghamton again lauded as host site
This year’s Empire State Games are completed. Next year’s will be held in the Hudson Valley. The Games come to Buffalo in 2010.
Buffalo’s got plenty of time, right?
“It’s not too early to be planning at all,” said 10th-year Western Region director Lou Reuter. “The two years gives the local organizing committee plenty of lead time. I wasn’t overly impressed with work done last time in Buffalo [2003], but this time I think they’re right on top of things in terms of fundraising and getting people in place. I’m impressed with the [Buffalo Niagara] Convention and Visitors Bureau and the people there.”
Binghamton was again lauded as a host site, as it was in 2000 and 2004, thanks in large part to Binghamton University. From President Lois B. DeFleur on down, the school embraces the Games like no other campus in the state.
“It’s good to find a university which has a president who is really hands on with the project and encourages the involvement of the community,” said Games director Fred Smith. “That certainly helps.”
Masters swimmer dies
John Schwartz, a 72-year-old Masters swimmer from Nyack of the Hudson Valley region, died Friday after he suffered a heart attack during a 1,500-meter race at Owego Free Academy.
The competition continued that night — even the race went on as Schwartz, swimming in an outside lane, was attended to — as well as Saturday and Sunday.
“We have everything that’s necessary at Masters events,” said Smith. “[Medical personnel] were with Mr. Schwartz immediately. . . . It was one of those things were there wasn’t anything
else that could have been done.”
Around the Games
• Jessica Grogan of Orchard Park was Western’s most prolific gold medalist as she won four in synchronized swimming. She won in figures, solo and trio and was part of the team which won gold for the 31st time in 31 Games.
Two scholastic gymnasts won three golds each: Sarah Nadrowski of Buffalo won the all-around, the uneven bars and was part of the women’s team gold; Jimmy Pezzino of Grand Island won the horizontal bar, vault and the team gold.
• All four gymnastics teams won gold. The local team members were:
Men’s open — Kenneth Byrd (Getzville), Joe Conti (Depew), Luai Ibrahim (Buffalo), Cory Kowalski (Depew), Michael Morse (East Amherst), Harrison Reisweber (Amherst), Keith Stumpf (Williamsville);
Men’s scholastic — Aaron Benson (Cheektowaga), Jimmy Pezzino (Grand Island), Nathaniel Roberson (Williamsville), Noah Roberson (Williamsville), Cody Stumpf (Williamsville), Michael Wozniak (Clarence Center), Jonathan Zirna (East Amherst) and Pezzino.
Women’s open — Kristina Arcury (Williamsville), Courtney Connors (Lancaster), Kayla Gray (Buffalo), Nicole Radon (Hamburg), Jenna Vandusen (Lewiston).
Women’s scholastic — Emilie Fose (North Tonawanda), Mary Hamilton (Lancaster), Kaitlyn Lopez (Buffalo), Amanda Recor (Lancaster), Katelyn Schmitt (Kenmore) and Nadrowski.
• In shooting, Western won the team trap gold for the 29th time in 30 years as Buffalo’s James O’Brien and Lancaster’s Tom Mathias teamed with Rochester’s Bob Kalwas.
• The reporting of results by Games headquarters suffered this year due to a change in the ESG computer system. “It was a work in progress,” Smith said. “It will be so much better next year.”
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