As always, today's 24th Western New York High School Sports football awards banquet was an enjoyable event as the season's best were honored.
Dick Gallagher, the driving force and organizer of the banquet, has made an annual tradition of this year's seniors "passng the torch" to this year's juniors. The torch used is one Gallagher received after running a portion of the Olympic torch relay in 1996.
Representing the seniors on the left are: Tyler Stoldt, Mikal Coleman, Shamari Cheney, Glenn Gronkowski and Joe Licata; on the right are Okoya Anderson, Justin Burke, Chad Kelly, Michael Arcuri and Chris Driver.
The banquet also featured the debut of the Day-Day Morris Award, given in the name of former Sweet Home player DeShanaro "Day Day" Morris to a player for overcoming adversity and perseverence. Morris was on hand to present the award to Williamsville East's Sean McNamara who played football in his senior season after battling cancer.
A tremendous event continues. This can't be said enough: Western New York is fortunate to have Dick Gallagher.
---Keith McShea
buffalonews.com/high-schools facebook.com/preptalkblog twitter.com/bufnewspreptalk
