|
Published: July 10, 2008 11:13 pm
EMPIRE STATE GAMES: Former Falls stars Gamble, Garrison reunite
By Jonah Bronstein E-mail Jonah
Greg Gamble and Rob Garrison, senior leaders for the Niagara Falls High School juggernaut that won the state basketball title in 2005, will team up again later this month at the 31st Empire State Games in Binghamton.
The former Wolverines are among ten players expected to compete for the Western Region’s open men’s squad, posted Thursday on the Empire State Games Web site.
“We had practice yesterday, and after I took a shot, Greg looked at me and said, ‘I just realized this is the first time we’ve played on the same team since high school,’” Garrison said Thursday. “It’s a great feeling. We don’t have to re-learn how to play together. It’s like riding a bike.”
The ESG, which pits six regional teams against each other from July 23 through 27, will also give Garrison his first chance to play sanctioned games with Niagara University teammate Bilal Benn. Both players sat out last season, per NCAA rules, after transferring to Niagara. Garrison came from the University of Connecticut, while Benn first attended Villanova University.
“I think that will help us build more chemistry that will be vital for our team in the season,” Garrison said. “We’ll be able to learn more about each other on the court.”
Gamble, on the cusp of his senior season with the University at Buffalo, is coming off a breakout performance at last year’s ESG. Averaging 22 points over the final two games and hitting the game-winning shot in the semifinals, Gamble lifted the Western squad to a gold medal.
Last year, Gamble was assisted by UB teammate Byron Mulkey, a Niagara-Wheatfield High School graduate who had 14 points in the gold medal game. This year, Gamble will be joined by Andy Robinson, the Bulls’ leading scorer in 2007-08.
The preliminary rosters, which won’t be made official until July 22, include several athletes from this area.
Sanborn’s Nick Melligan and Grand Island’s Benjamin Certo will be looking to repeat as gold medalists with the scholastic men’s hockey team. They’ll be joined on the ice by Lewiston’s Hayden Fitzpatrick and Grand Island’s Ryan White.
Jake Brandt, of Cambria, will once again compete in the heavyweight division of the open men’s weightlifting competition. The former Starpoint High School football star now playing at St. John Fisher College was a silver medalist last year.
Kelvin Agee and Davon Marshall, members of Niagara Falls High School’s 2008 state finalist team, will play for the scholastic men’s basketball squad.
Jamie and Jenna Raepple, of Grand Island, are members of the scholastic women’s soccer team. Former Viking Jessica Kuehne will play for the open women’s team.
Michael Curatolo, of Youngstown, is on the scholastic men’s soccer roster.
Brian Archie, Jr., of Niagara Falls, will compete in the 100-meter dash at the long jump in the scholastic division. Greg Feathers of Grand Island will throw the javelin and discus, while Adam Helman, another member of the Vikings’ Niagara Frontier League outdoor championship team, will compete in the pole vault.
Carl Caughell, of Niagara Falls, will run in the open men’s 110 hurdles.
Emily Thompson, of Niagara Falls, is playing for the open women’s softball team.
In the water, Niagara Falls will be represented by Kristen Champoux and Kelsey Ward, both scholastic athletes. Champoux is set to compete in the 200-meter breast stroke and the 400 individual medley. Ward will race the 400 freestyle.
Derrick Adams, of Niagara Falls, is competing in open freestyle wrestling at 157 pounds. Niagara Falls’ Angelo Malvestuto is in the 192-pound scholastic division.
In open Greco Roman wrestling, Marco Mendez, of Niagara Falls, is at 187 pounds, and Christian Held, of Wilson, is at 139 pounds.
Ed Knab, of Grand Island, will compete in the criterium, the time trial and the road race in the masters men’s cycling division.
Ed Quarantillo, of Lewiston, is on the scholastic men’s diving roster. He is set to jump off both the one-, and three-meter boards.
Jenna Van Dusen, of Lewiston, is on the open women’s gymnastics team.
Jimmy Pezzino, of Grand Island, is on the scholastic men’s gymnastics team.
Anthony Gugino, of Grand Island, claimed the Western Region’s spot in the 161-pound division of the open men’s judo event.
James Allen, of Sanborn, is entered in both the 5K and 10K open men’s racewalks.
Ryan Steimel, of Grand Island, is a member of the masters men’s rugby team.
Sharon Lopacki, of Lewiston, will shoot in the open women’s sport pistol competition.
Mark Bellanca, of Grand Island, will throw the javelin in the masters men’s track & field event.
Janelle Cardamone, of Niagara Falls, is playing for the masters women’s volleyball team.
In addition to Garrison and Benn, the Niagara Purple Eagles will be represented by open men’s soccer players Eric Brodfuehrer, Billy Gustafson and Matt Stedman, as well as open women’s basketball players Liz Flooks, Jennifer McNamee and Sarah Wilson. Shauna Ambrose, Niagara’s leading scorer two seasons ago, will play for the Central Region.
WESTERN-MOST WESTERNERS
Locals heading to the Empire State Games, according to rosters published Thursday at www.EmpireStateGames.org. Please pass along any additional names, including transplanted locals competing for another region, to scoreboard@gnnewspaper.com.
Open Men’s Basketball
Rob Garrison, Niagara Falls
Greg Gamble, Niagara Falls
Bilal Benn, NU
Scholastic Men’s Basketball
Kelvin Agee, Niagara Falls
Davon Marshall, Niagara Falls
Open Women’s Basketball
Liz Flooks, NU
Jennifer McNamee, NU
Sarah Wilson, NU
Masters Men’s Cycling
Ed Knab, Grand Island
Scholastic Men’s Diving
Edward Quarantillo, Lewiston
Open Women’s Gymnastics
Jenna Van Dusen, Lewiston
Scholastic Men’s Gymnastics
Jimmy Pezzino, Grand Island
Scholastic Men’s Hockey
Benjamin Certo, Grand Island
Hayden Fitzpatrick, Lewiston
Nick Melligan, Sanborn
Ryan White, Grand Island
Open Men’s Judo
Anthony Gugino, Grand Island
Open Men’s Racewalk
James Allen, Sanborn
Masters Men’s Rugby
Ryan Steimel, Grand Island
Open Women’s Shooting
Sharon Lopacki, Lewiston
Open Women’s Soccer
Jessica Kuehne, Grand Island
Open Men’s Soccer
Eric Brodfuehrer, NU
Billy Gustafson, NU
Matt Stedman, NU
Scholastic Women’s Soccer
Jamie Raepple, Grand Island
Jenna Raepple, Grand Island
Scholastic Men’s Soccer
Michael Curatolo, Youngstown
Open Women’s Softball
Emily Thompson, Niagara Falls
Open Women’s Swimming
Kristen Champoux, Niagara Falls
Kelsey Ward, Niagara Falls
Masters Men’s Track & Field
Mark Bellanca, Grand Island
Open Men’s Track & Field
Carl Caughell, Niagara Falls
Scholastic Men’s Track & Field
Brian Archie, Jr., Niagara Falls
Greg Feathers, Grand Island
Adam Helman, Grand Island
Masters Women’s Volleyball
Janelle Cardamone, Niagara Falls
Open Men’s Wrestling
Derrick Adams, Niagara Falls
Christian Held, Wilson
Marco Mendez, Niagara Falls
Scholastic Men’s Wrestling
Angelo Malvestuto, Niagara Falls
|
|
|
Photos
|
|
|
|
|
 |
Cooks
COOKS, Servers, part time. Apply within Joes Hideaway, 2230 Cayuga Dr. Ext., Whtfld 990-1261...>MORE
Bartender / Cook
BARTENDER/COOK Part Time. No experience necessary. Call 438-1460 from 1-8pm...>MORE
Customer Service
Niagara Orleans Country Club is looking for part time help through October in club house. Some weekends required. Apply ...>MORE
Siding Installer
SIDING Installer, light construction. Pay based on exp. Will train. Must have transp. 434-3430...>MORE
CLEANERS
Housekeeping, Summer/ permanent help, p/t-4 day work wk, no w/e, bonuses, car nec. 694-2810 ...>MORE
Secretary
Secretary- F/T, Exp. Clerical, Comp., Acct. Skills. Send resume to St. Peter R.C. School, 140 N. 6th St. Lewiston, NY ...>MORE
Microcomputer Coordinator
MICROCOMPUTER COORDINATOR Application Deadline: June 30, 2009. Submit District application, Civil Service app...>MORE
COTA
SCHOELLKOPF HEALTH CENTER
C.O.T.A.- Short Term Rehab Clinic
Opportunity to work in dynamic ...>MORE
Nurse
NURSE. Niagara County Community College is seeking a part-time college nurse for the colleges health services. Please s...>MORE
Cashiers
CASHIERS - Looking for cashiers for convenience store in Wrights Corners. Call 689-0600 ext. 31. ...>MORE
See all ads |
Ford 1993 Taurus
FORD 1993 Taurus, just inspected, runs good $900 or best offer, 284-0244...>MORE
Audi 1998 A6 Sedan
Audi 1998 A6 Sedan with 160k miles. Charcoal ext., Tan int., 4DR, Automatic, AWD, 6 Cylinder, Gas engine. Pow...>MORE
Dodge 2001 SLT
O1 DODGE SLT, 8 bed, cap, spray line, low miles. Never seen winters, $7,300. 998-0230...>MORE
Olds 2001 Intrigue
Olds 2001 Intrigue, 130k runs great, leather, sun roof clean inside/out. $3000or BO. 628-6295...>MORE
1950 Plymouth Custom
PLYMOUTH 1950 Custom, 4 dr, good shape, $1,500/BO. 795-0074...>MORE
2000 Chevy S-10
CHEVY 2000 S-10 pick up, 2.2L, 5 spd, ext cab, EC in & out, CD, cold AC, great gas mi. $2750. 523-7102...>MORE
1994 Pontiac Sunbird
PONTIAC 1994 Sunbird conv. V6, EC in & out, red w/blk top, wht int., CD, real sharp. $2850. 523-7102...>MORE
Dodge 1996 Grand Caravan
Niagara Falls 2753 NIAGARA ST. FRI. SAT. 9AM-4PM oriental rug, old tools, antique car parts, toys, ...>MORE
Pontiac 2004 Grand Prix GT
PONTIAC 2004 Grand Prix GT 4 door, good cond, $8000, 998-5596...>MORE
1990 Chevy 2500
1990 CHEVY 2500 pick up, fresh paint, 160k mi, good runner, 4WD, ext cab, $2500, 716-572-9153...>MORE
See all ads |
|
 |
|