In grand fashion, Brighton celebrates its volleyball champions and the first Boys state team sports title in school history

In grand fashion, Brighton celebrates its volleyball champions and the first Boys state team sports title in school history

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Not quite a ticker tape parade, last evening was still one never seen on South Winton Road in Brighton.

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Photo: David Judd

Climbing about a fire truck at Brighton Station # 1, the Brighton High School New York State Division 2 volleyball champions were given a police and fire escort to the High School where the Barons were greeted by about two hundred cheering fans.IMG_1346

The fans were there to show appreciation and to witness sports history. Having defeated Hauppauge-XI in three sets last Saturday at Suffolk Community College in Long Island, the Barons claimed the first ever Boys team sport state title in the long tradition of Brighton athletics. (Both Girls Lacrosse and Alpine Skiing won titles in 2005.)

IMG_1350Standing on the school steps while displaying their title plaque in front of tv cameras made all those weekends of practices and bus rides worth it. And for us in the crowd–many of whom had stopped their cars to spontaneously join the celebration–memorable indeed.

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Time Warner Cable at the event

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Coach Brad Rosenbaum

The team is coached by Brad Rosenbaum who you met in At Young Women’s College Prep   I mostly know Brad from the Brighton summer softball pick-up game at Twelve Corners Middle School.  Over the years, his former volleyball players have come back again and again to join their old coach at the game.  Alongside the baseball banter, one senses a warm rapport between Brad and his former players. A rapport on display last night with his current squad as Brad proudly watched his team enjoy their well deserved moment on the steps. On behalf of the Sunday “boys of summer,” congratulations Brad and the Barons.pu softball

It has been a good year for Brighton sports. While not in the same grand fashion, this is the second time in six months Brighton has celebrated a champion.Cheering Ernie Clement at the Otter

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A sea of red rose as one at the Otter

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The only volleyball trophy now displayed. 1956 Section 5 champions, coached by Mr. Marling

While Brighton has had its share of athletic successes, over the years Brighton has always balanced sports and academics well.  Having devoted his career to counseling and education, Brad wants–and has seen–his players to have as much success in the classroom (and life) as on the volleyball court.IMG_1368

IMG_1371In the trophy cases in the school lobby–and how many schools can boast this–there are two cases for the awards given the Trapezoid, the school newspaper and to Galaxy, the literary and arts magazine. And a case for the Model United Nations. And trophies for art and writing.  And in the gym are banners for teams recognized as Scholar Athletes. As an alum, I am thrilled by the accomplishment of the Boys volleyball team. And I am also happy to know the Masterminds have a title of their own.

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Trapezoid and Galaxy Awards

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courtesy of Brighton Memorial Library

And, speaking of champions, this year marks the 60th Anniversary of Brighton’s 1955 undefeated football team when Mr. Inside and Mr. Outside ruled the gridiron.

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And, speaking of champions, lest we not forget, the 1981 Monroe County Chess League Champion Brighton Barons. The yearbooks says “Chess Club.” But we were very much a TEAM.

Note: one of our subscribers, Michael Raff, wrote: Glad to see our “Chess and Strategy” club we started in the early ’70’s survived to become the Chess Club in 1981. Yes, I still have old yearbooks to substantiate this. Our faculty leader was Ray Sherbisnski [sic].  I think it was Sherbinski, but not sure. He was also our faculty leader.

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courtesy of Brighton Memorial Library

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D & C caption: “Dave Kramer of Brighton concentrates on his next move. He lost.” (1981)

Below is another Brighton tradition, this the 29th addition of the Turkey Bowl. Every Thanksgiving, BHS alums and others gather for a pre pig out pigskin game.

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11/26/15 Reifsteck Field, Brighton, NY

links (and pics) to other stories about Brighton

Celebrating diversity at Meridian Centre Park

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On a Black Lives Matter sign in Brighton

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On the 1957 Brighton Town Hall mural with Sandra Frankel frankel-308x5801

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Veteran’s Day at Buckland Park

On a stainless steel American bald eagle at Buckland Park bence

About The Author

dkramer3@naz.edu

Welcome to Talker of the Town! My name is David Kramer. I have a Ph.D in English and teach at Keuka College. I am a former and still active Fellow at the Nazareth College Center for Public History and a Storyteller in Residence at the SmallMatters Institute. Over the years, I have taught at Monroe Community College, the Rochester Institute of Technology and St. John Fisher College. I have published numerous Guest Essays, Letters, Book Reviews and Opinion pieces in The New York Times, Rochester Democrat and Chronicle, the Buffalo News, the Rochester Patriot, the Providence Journal, the Providence Business News, the Brown Alumni Magazine, the New London Day, the Boston Herald, the Messenger Post Newspapers, the Wedge, the Empty Closet, the CITY, Lake Affect Magazine and Brighton Connections. My poetry appears in The Criterion: An International Journal in English and Rundenalia and my academic writing in War, Literature and the Arts and Twentieth Century Literary Criticism. Starting in February 2013, I wrote for three Democratic and Chronicle  blogs, "Make City Schools Better," "Unite Rochester," and the "Editorial Board." When my tenure at the D & C  ended, I wanted to continue conversations first begun there. And start new ones.  So we created this new space, Talker of the Town, where all are invited to join. I don’t like to say these posts are “mine.” Very few of them are the sole product of my sometimes overheated imagination. Instead, I call them partnerships and collaborations. Or as they say in education, “peer group work.” Talker of the Town might better be Talkers of the Town. The blog won’t thrive without your leads, text, pictures, ideas, facebook shares, tweets, comments and criticisms.

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