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Cheektowaga siblings seek gold in Empire State Games archery
By Steven Dlugosz Times
 | | FAMILY MATTER...Cheektowaga residents and siblings Richard (right) and Jennifer Fabiszewski hope to hit a bulls-eye in archery events at the upcoming Empire State Games in Westchester County. (Times photo) |
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Richard and Jennifer Fabiszewski of Gualbert Avenue have a typical brother-sister relationship- one that includes good-natured kidding, debating and one-upsmanship. The siblings say they aim, both figuratively and literally, to spurn each other on in the same event- archery- at the Empire State Games from July 26-30.
Richard, who will be a junior at St. Francis High School in the fall, is making a return trip to the ESG, which are taking place in Westchester County, after last summer in Rochester earning a team gold medal for the Western Region and an individual bronze medal in scholastic all-around archery. He finished third overall among participants, totaling a score of 1,639.
Richard, or "Ricky," who was practicing with his sister last Thursday evening at the West Falls Conservation Club, told the Times he's happy to make this year's ESG a family affair.
 | | STUMPF'S VETERANS...From left, Depew residents Joe Coni and Cory Kowalski, Cheektowaga's Aaron Benson and Depew resident and coach Dan Molnar are hoping to lead Western's gymnastics squads to more gold medals in the Empire State Games. The four have made a combined 21 appearances at the games, with Molnar making his 14th stint. Benson and Kowalski are each making their third appearance and Conti, his fourth. (photo courtesy of Dan Molnar, Stumpf's Gymnastic Center) |
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"We definitely have a friendly competition," a smiling Richard said of the archery rivalry he has with Jennifer. "We try to motivate each other and that often helps us perform better."
The two have been shooting archery for about four years. Their father, Richard Sr., took them shooting in 2003, and the trio has since made the hobby a part of their lives, participating in several clubs and events, including Leo's Junior Olympic Archery Development (JOAD) in East Aurora, indoor and outdoor JOAD Nationals in Pennsylvania and Ohio, New York State archery championships and others.
Jennifer, who attends Mount St. Mary Academy, said watching her brother compete last summer at the ESG inspired her to participate this year.
"Gold is what I'd like, althought I know the competition is tough," the soon-to-be sophomore told the Times. "(Richard) said he had fun at the games, and that's all that matters, although winning definitely helps the process."
The siblings' father said Richard and Jennifer have dedicated a large portion of themselves to archery, also showing a high level of intensity.
"It grew from a hobby. They've done a lot over the last couple of years," Richard Sr. told the Times. "There's definitely a friendly rivalry going on with the two of them. They gab a lot to each other and try to vie to be the best, but it's meant to be that way. They really motivate each other."
The trio has made many a trip to West Falls in preparation for the ESG, especially after the closing of a well-known facility in East Aurora.
"It's a quiet place, but it's great," Richard Sr. remarked last Thursday, also noting that the conservation club had further-away ranges and targets in wooded areas. "We really enjoy coming out here."
The Fabiszewski trio is not lacking confidence heading into the event, although each family member said medaling is not a given.
The elder Fabiszewski enthusiastically chanted "gold, gold, gold" as Jennifer practiced shooting. He also mentioned that Richard's experience last year was a great transition into this summer, adding that Jennifer has the potential to earn a medal.
"They've both been working super hard," Richard Sr. said of his children. "They both know what they're capable of doing. We're going to bring home some honors this year."
The Times tracked down other local athletes and coaches participating in the ESG, including:
Joe Conti, Depew Open Men's All-Around
Individual Gymnastics
Conti, a 2006 graduate of Lancaster High School, is making his fourth consecutive trip to the ESG in gymnastics. One of many Western New Yorkers to train at Stumpf's Gymnastic Center in Williamsville, he helped lead the Western Region garner a gold medal in the open division last summer.
He credited Stumpf's instructors- including ESG coach and fellow Depew resident Dan Molnar- with improving his performance over the last couple of years.
"They taught me a lot of strengths, both physically and mentally," Conti said. "With the mental aspect, they tell us to move on and not hang your head if something goes wrong. If one event's not working, go on to the next one and succeed there."
Conti, who is majoring in graphic design at Buffalo State College, added that he likes Western's chances of grabbing gold again this summer.
"We've got a great team with a good deal of confidence," he stated.
Brianna Murphy,
Depew Scholastic Women's Ice
Hockey
Murphy, who is heading into her senior year at Lancaster High School, is making her first ESG appearance for the Western Region women's ice hockey squad.
She is no stranger to making good first impressions, based on last year's hockey season. In 2006-07, Murphy became the first female athlete in several years to make the Redskin boys' ice hockey roster, impressing coaches in scrimmages with her fiestiness and goal-scoring touch.
The left winger has attracted interest from several colleges in the northeast as well as Canada. She currently holds a grade point average of 97.5. Murphy joins Cheektowaga resident Pamela Zgoda as a potent local combination at the ESG.
Russell Wojtusiak, Cheektowaga
Scholastic Men's Greco-Roman
and Freestyle Wrestling
This Cheektowaga Central seniorto be is making his first ESG wrestling appearance in the scholastic men's 143-pound Greco-Roman and freestyle competitions.
Wojtusiak has experience on the big stage, having qualified for the Section VI championships in 2006 after an outstanding regular-season campaign. A three-year veteran on the Warriors' wrestling squad, he stated he is both nervous and excited to represent the Western Region in the ring.
"There's some of both emotions," Wojtusiak said. "I know a couple of the wrestlers from tournaments we've had. Hopefully, I can make it far and get recognized by some of the colleges."
The Central student added that he hopes in the future to attend either Buffalo State or Brockport State.
Kamil Cislak, Depew
Scholastic Men's Soccer
Cislak, who will be a senior in the fall at Lancaster, is another first-time local at the ESG. He goaltends for the Redskins' varsity boys soccer team in the fall and is a member of the Western New York Premier squad.
He maintains that he is anxious, but ready to get started in the cage at the ESG.
"I'm not nervous," the Ellicott Place resident said. "I'm confident in myself and I want to go and show people what I've got. It's about representing Western New York."
Cislak added that he believes this summer's Western squad is capable of earning at least a bronze medal. Paul Maconaghy, Cheektowaga
Coach- Men's Open Athletics
Maconaghy is making his 15th coaching experience in open men's athletics at the ESG. The Yvette Drive resident said this year's athletes rank about on par with those of years' past.
"There's a good mix of balance," said Maconaghy, who oversees the Westerners' decathlon and heptathlon events. "I think we've got a good chance to medal in the decathlon and earn gold in the scholastic women's events." Colleen Greene, Cheektowaga
Open Women's Softball
Greene, a 2003 graduate of Cleveland Hill, is coming off a solid college softball career at the University at Buffalo, where she served as a versatile utility player at second base, third base and outfield.
This is her first ESG appearance, although she said she knows the majority of her Western teammates from area softball leagues and from growing up in Western New York. Greene added that she thinks her squad has what it takes to grab the gold.
"We just had a tournament recently, and I felt our team did really well," said Greene, who earned degrees from UB in health and human resources and early childhood education. "Just knowing the team, I really think we have a great chance to win (the gold medal)."
Greene added that she will mainly play in the outfield for the Western Region.
Pam Zgoda, Cheektowaga
Scholastic Women's Ice Hockey
Zgoda, about to enter her senior year at Nichols Academy, is already a seasoned veteran of the ESG, making her third appearance this summer.
The defenseman is one of many returnees to the Westerners' silvermedal winning squad in 2006. She joins Depew's Brianna Murphy as a solid 1-2 combo on the ice.
"The team as a whole is primarily veterans, said Zgoda, a member of the Buffalo Bisons girls' hockey team. "We've got a really good chance to get the gold." Jeff Gutmann, Cheektowaga
Scholastic Men's Volleyball
Gutmann has been one of the key members of Maryvale's varsity boys volleyball team the last couple of seasons. He will be a senior at Maryvale in the fall.
Gutmann was unavailable for comment as press time, as he was practicing at the USA Olympic High-Performance Camp in Florida. He is making his first ESG appearance and hopes the event serves as good exposure in attracting Division I colleges, some of which have already contacted Gutmann with interest to attend their schools. Mark Miskovski, Cheektowaga
Open Men's Weightlifting
Miskovski, a 2006 graduate of Maryvale High School, is making his second consecutive ESH appearance in open men's weightlifting.
He qualified for the Section VI championships two years ago and was a major reason for the Flyers' regular-season success in recent years.
Katie Schrantz, Depew
Open Women's Volleyball
Schrantz, a former resident of Depew who graduated from Lancaster High School in 1998, is making her fifth ESG appearance in women's volleyball.
Currently a resident of West Seneca and a project analyst at M&T Bank, she earned two gold medals and two silvers in her four previous ESG experiences, including a second place finish last summer. She and younger sister Molly teamed up on three ESG appearances.
Schrantz also played volleyball at Daemen College, where she earned a degree in business. She said that even though the Western Regions's roster changes from year to year much more than other regions, the locals still have a great shot at earning a medal.
"There's always a mix of girls coming up from scholastic or coming back after playing a couple years in college," Schrantz told the Times. "We have new combinations, but we're reloaded with talent and should do very well."
Pete Szymanski, W. Seneca
Scholastic Men's Athletics Szymanski, who coached John F. Kennedy's boys' cross country and indoor track teams in recent years, is making his 11th ESG coaching appearance.
Szymanski listed, on the girls' side, West Seneca East's Amanda Solly (1,500 and 5,000-meter runs) and East Aurora's Jenna Hulton (800 and 1,500-meter runs) as Western's most talented runners.
"We've got some good relays," said Szymanski, who added that the locals' roster is comprised by about 60 percent of Rochaster-area athletes. "We should be decent."
The JFK coach added that recent graduate and Bear Male Athlete of the Year Corey Knox had decided to attend Midland Lutheran College in Nebraska in the fall. Knox earned a partial scholarship to the NAIA school.
Other JFK graduates Greg Kraft will attend Fredonia State College, and Jessica Campas, Erie Community College.
Taylor Eldridge,
Buffalo
Scholastic Women's
Athletics
Eldridge is already making a name for herself as one of the best-ever Cleve Hill track athletes, having qualified for the New York State Public High School Athletic Association championships the past two seasons.
The soon-to-be sophomore was crowned state champion in Kingston, New York this past spring in Division II in shot put and discus.
Eldridge is making the first of what should be several appearances in the ESG.
Matt Santarsiero,
Cheektowaga
Open Men's Athletics
Santarsiero, a 2006 graduate of Amherst High School, is a resident on the outskirts of Cheektowaga, residing on Huxley Road. He is making his first ESG appearance in the 800-meter run in the open men's athletics division.
He currently runs track at Erie Community College's North campus and qualified in the 4x400 for the National Junior College Athletic Association. Santarsiero, who lists his mother as one of his biggest supporters, said he hopes to finish at least fourth or fifth for Western in the 800.
"It's all going to depend on the weather and other factors," said Santarsiero, who added that he will transfer to either UB or Brockport State after the next school year. "All I can do is try to better prepare myself and do my best."
Sam Thompson, Cheektowaga
Open Women's Softball
Thompson, a 2006 graduate of Maryvale, is making her first ESG appearance on the softball diamond. The 2006 Times Softball Player of the Year currently pitches for John Carroll University in Cleveland and should see a lot of time on the mound for the Western Region.
She added that Western's roster is deep and talented.
"We'll do well," Thompson said. "Even our bench players are good enough to start. Coach has a tough time deciding who's going to see time. We've got 14 girls who are all capable of playing well."
Western's open women's softball team lost in the bronze medal game in 2006.
Jesse Kelso, East Aurora
Scholastic Men's Baseball
Although he's a resident of East Aurora, Kelso attends St. Mary's of Lancaster High School and is coming off a very solid season in which he was among the Lancers' leading hitters.
His father, Mark, played safety for the Buffalo Bills in the late 1980s and early '90s and serves as the defensive coordinator for the St. Mary's football team.
The soon-to-be junior will see time in the outfield for the Western Region. Kelso said his team's pitching is a big reason he expects the locals to earn a medal.
"We've got a good team that's pretty young, but talented," Kelso told the Times. "We should do really well...I'm a little nervous and excited to do well at the same time. I just want to contribute."
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