[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 5 (Tuesday, January 9, 2018)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E15-E16]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  HONORING THE WEST SENECA WEST VARSITY FOOTBALL TEAM FOR THEIR STATE 
                          CHAMPIONSHIP VICTORY

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. BRIAN HIGGINS

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, January 9, 2018

  Mr. HIGGINS of New York. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to honor the West 
Seneca West varsity football team for their remarkable achievement of 
winning the 2017 New York State Public High Schools Athletic 
Association Class A Championship with a 14-6 victory over the Section I 
Champions, Yorktown High School, at the Carrier Dome in Syracuse on 
November 24, 2017.
  The West Seneca West football team earned the distinction of being 
ranked No. 1 in large schools by the Buffalo News. Head Coach Mike 
Vastola was selected Coach of the Year and senior quarterback Matt 
Myers was selected Player of the Year and Connolly Cup Winner, an award 
given to one outstanding varsity football player from Western New York 
each year.
  Myers accounted for 264 of West's 290 yards in total offense. The 
defense performed well under pressure to lay a strong foundation for 
the biggest victory in the history of West Seneca West football. This 
incredible season comes on the heels of a 12-year playoff drought, 
which displays the dedication of these players and coaches to building 
a championship team.
  I'd like to thank former coach and current president of the West 
Seneca Teacher's Association, Joseph Cantafio, for inviting me here 
today to recognize the young men and the football organization that has 
brought this community together, inspiring a great sense of pride for 
West Seneca's accomplishments both on and off the field. The team's 
spirit of hard work, camaraderie and incredible sportsmanship has moved 
this community to believe that anything is possible when you come 
together as a team.
  Every player on the roster deserves to be recognized for the efforts, 
from freshmen to seniors. The efforts of Liam Scheuer, Josh Clifton, 
Juston Johnson, Mike Velasquez, Josh Karmazyn, Bryan Ball, Mitch 
Bednarz, David Beard, Jacob Wagner, Dillon Weir, Nick Knowles, Luke 
Wilhelm, Kyle Bauer, Kyle Haettich, Jordan Mackiewicz, Jake Cooper, 
Nicolai Lowman, Dylan Kasic, John Speyer, Cody Chambers, Jake Wood, 
Corey Snyder, Jebadiah Braunscheidel, John Cantafio, Josh Wilson, 
Bradley Claycomb, Nick Fazzio, Jeremy Cuthbert, Daniel Cantafio, Robin 
Block, Nick Cooper, George Newcomb, Tremar Brice, Chris Ignasiak, 
Tavian Brooks, Dustin White-Wagner, Mike Glinski, and Trevor Stoddard 
earned West Seneca West the state championship, led by Captains Jesse 
Broad, Matt Myers, Vinny Draper, Coach Mike Vastola, Assistant Coaches 
Dave Recor, Matt Marinaro,

[[Page E16]]

Rob Lares, Joe Cantafio, Neil Raddu, and Rich Sanders, and Athletic 
Director Vincent Dell'Oso.
  The team's perfect record in 2017 is one that will be remembered and 
celebrated for years to come. Let me echo the words of Coach Mike 
Vastola who proclaimed it ``a great moment for fans, a great moment for 
the community and a great moment for all the guys that he was proud to 
coach.'' A moment every football player dreams of, winning the state 
championship after a hard-fought couple of years, is an accomplishment 
that this team should be very proud of.
  Mr. Speaker, thank you for allowing me a few moments to recognize the 
champion West Seneca West varsity football team. Their success 
reinforces timeless lessons learned by student athletes of the virtues 
of preparation, teamwork, and diligence. Congratulations to the West 
Seneca West varsity football players, coaches, staff and fans on this 
well-deserved, historic victory.

                          ____________________