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Klosko celebrating 40 years with Cheektowaga Southside
 | | Tom Klosko |
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In 1967, Tom Klosko was a 17-year-old high school graduate who had a vision of getting youth sports rolling in South Cheektowaga. Forty years later, he has accomplished more than he could ever have thought possible.
Klosko recently completed his 40th season as commissioner of the Cheektowaga Southside Youth Basketball League. He is also starting his 40th season as member of Cheektowaga Southside youth baseball and softball, serving on the league's Board of Directors.
Cheektowaga Southside basketball, based at Woodrow Wilson Elementary School in Sloan, now services more than 200 boys and girls aged seven to 17 from all over Western New York, primarily from Cheektowaga but also from as far away as Niagara Falls, Pembroke and Lackawanna. Klosko has performed countless duties over the years, arranging practice and game times, purchasing uniforms and sometimes refereeing, among other things. His passion for sports and desire to see kids improve both on and off the court is evident.
"We have just a lot of great kids," Klosko told the Times Tuesday afternoon. "The league is meant to keep kids off the streets and in the gym, to give them something to do and enjoy sports as well."
Klosko has seen several outstanding athletes make their mark in Southside hoops. He remembers the multitude of John F. Kennedy High School athletes, including Mark Ostempowski and Jeff Rogowski, Jason Wheeler, Steve Ciemcioch, P.J. Odrobina, as well as his sons, Scott and Mark, who starred in the late 1980s and early '90s. He also recalls Jesse Swanson, Chris Buczek, Rayshawn Bolden, Bill Battaglia and Steve Woods in more recent years.
Many non-Kennedy athletes have used Southside basketball as a starting point to their hoops development. Former and current Maryvale stars Garrett Kensy and Matt Mohr each played when they were in grade school, and former St. Mary's of Lancaster stars Nick Stahuna and Dave Wojcik also ripped the twine at Woodrow's gymnasium.
Local athlete Mark Myers, who later went on to star in college basketball for North Texas State, also staked his claim in Southside.
Klosko said many former players still write to him and ask for advice on a regular basis. He's proud of the fact that many of the league's former players have gone to have successful coaching careers, including Ostempowski and Rogowski for JFK varsity and junior varsity football, respectively, just to name a few.
Southside basketball first surfaced in 1967 at the former Grover Cleveland Elementary School (now Stanley G. Falk School) on Rossler Avenue. Game times were from 9- 12 a.m. on Saturdays only. Only boys teams participated, with just 34 youths registering.
Gradually, however, through Klosko's hard work and promotion of the program, Southside began to grow in numbers, as the league's location was switched to Woodrow Wilson. In 1987, girls teams were formed, an installation that Klosko said was needed for both males and females.
"It made everybody a better ballplayer," said Klosko. "Playing against boys helped girls develop their game. It also helped boys learn to coexist with the opposite sex."
Along the way, Klosko has received assistance in league preparation from Danny Nash, Robert and Michael O'Sullivan, Cal Grinnen and Paul Maly, just to name a few. League referees and coaches have served on strictly a volunteer basis.
Klosko, 57, said he has always promoted fair and equal treatment of all players on the teams, no matter what superstar individual may be on the squad.
"I don't care if you're the next Michael Jordan or whoever," Klosko stated. "You're going to respect every player around you."
Klosko also started at Southside baseball in 1967 as a director, purchasing team uniforms and working concessions, among other duties.
He has also coached JFK JV baseball for the last 17 seasons, compiling more than 150 wins during his tenure. Last year, the JV Bears won a school-record 17 games.
A father of two, Klosko has worked at the Town of Cheektowaga Sewer Department for the last 20 years, residing at Willowlawn Parkway. Both of his sons attended JFK.
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