Bulls Help Lead Western Region At Empire State Games

Current and former UB student-athletes compete at 29th annual games

Greg Gamble

BUFFALO, NY – University at Buffalo student-athletes made their presence known at this year's Empire State Games, helping the Western Region to 244 total medals, including 96 golds. The Western Region had the most medals, as the Hudson Valley Region finished second with 240 total medals.

The Western men's basketball team, which featured two current members of the UB men's basketball team, took home the gold medal as junior Greg Gamble (Niagara Falls, NY/Niagara Falls) led the way with 22 points in the gold-medal game. Sophomore Byron Mulkey (Wheatfield, NY/Niagara Wheatfield) added 14 points in the 78-64 victory over the Hudson Valley Region. Graduating senior Darwin Young was also a member of the gold medal team.

The Western women's volleyball team took home the silver medal after falling to New York City in the championship match. New York City took home its fourth straight gold medal with the win. Current assistant coach, Ladi Iya and freshman Lindsay Schlegel (Lancaster, NY/Lancaster) were on the squad, as well as graduating senior Jenna Mapé. Former UB standout, Lindsay Matikosh was also on the team, which was coached by former Buffalo assistant coach Todd Kamenash.

Stephanie Bennett

The Western women's basketball team fell in its quest for a bronze medal, finishing fourth at this year's games. Senior Stephanie Bennett (Springfield, OH/Kenton Ridge) had a game-high 23 points in that contest. Junior Rachelle Matthys (St. Clair, MI/St. Clair) was also on the team as she had 14 points in a victory over Long Island.

Dana Carter

The Western softball team won the bronze medal as it defeated the Central Region, 13-2. Junior Dana Carter (Williamsville, NY/Williamsville North) and former UB players Colleen Greene and Lauren Picciano were also on the team as Picciano helped lead the way, including a four-RBI performance against Long Island.

Lee Catchpole

The Western men's soccer team, which is coached by UB assistant coach Dave Hesch, also claimed a bronze medal in this year's games. Senior Lee Catchpole (Norwich, England/Bungay) had five goals and one assist in the tournament, including a hat trick against Long Island. Junior Marc Stencel (Cheektowaga, NY/Cheektowaga) had four assists, including two on Catchpole goals. Also on the men's team were former players, Brian Knapp, who had an assist in the bronze medal game, and Greg Galmore, senior Dave Chojinowski (Rochesterm NY/Hilton), sophomore Bob Shuttleworth (Tonawanda, NY/Nichols/Loyola College) and current UB assistant coach, Matt Stuczynski.

Individually, the Bulls also shined in track and field as a couple athletes picked up gold medals in their individual events. Sophomore Ezekiel Porter (Rochester, NY/East) picked up a gold medal in the 200-meter dash as he ran the race in 22.00 seconds. Reggie Rucker, who graduated this past spring, won the gold medal in the 110-meter high hurdles with a time of 14.39 seconds. Rucker also won a silver medal in the 400-meter intermediate hurdles with a clocking of 54.14 seconds.

Ezekiel Porter

Roy Richards, who also graduated this past year, won the gold medal in the long jump as he leaped 7.16 meters. Sophomore Eugene Kennedy (Troy, NY/Troy) who was competing for the Adirondack Region, finished in fourth place in the high jump as he cleared 1.95 meters, while sophomore Matt Gac (Newark Valley, NY/Newark Valley), competing for the Central Region, finished in seventh place in the hammer throw. Porter, Richards and Rucker teamed up with Daniel Harris as the team took home the gold medal in the 4x100 relay as they won by one-hundredth of a second over the team from New York City.

Tina Villa

On the women's side, senior Tina Villa (Saratoga Springs, NY/Saratoga Springs) won the gold medal in both the shot put and the discus as she competed for the Adirondack Region. Villa threw 13.12 meters in the shot put and 44.47 meters in the discus.

SeniorPat Lloyd (Middletown,NY/Valley Central) picked up a bronze medal as he wrestled in the 152-pound weight class where he finished the tournament 4-1 in his five matches.

07/31/2007