Aquinas-Landmark-Winter-2021

1970-1971 AQUINAS HOCKEY TEAM Team As the 1970-1971 hockey season approached, Aquinas was not considered a favorite or even a contender. To replicate the previous season’s record seemed a stretch as the team’s top scorer and star goaltender had graduated, and Coach Fr. Jack Spratt had retired. The teamwas led by the one of the strongest defensive units in the league—seniors Tom Schenkel ‘71, Barry Bedford ‘71, Steve Schram ‘71, and junior Joe ‘Red’ McQueen ‘72. However, the most outstanding member of this defense was senior Mark McCaffrey ‘71. The players had recruited Mark, goalie for the AQ boys soccer team, to fill the position. He had never played hockey before. The first forward line was senior Ralph Alparone ‘71, and juniors Mike Fitzpatrick ‘72 and Mark Wiedemer ‘72. Juniors Jack Richards ‘72, Tom Fedick ‘72, and sophomore Dave Vadas ‘73 made up the second line and played as an excellent checking unit. After winning three easy games, the Irish fell to Fairport 2-1. Determined to prove themselves, the team rattled off an eight-game winning streak finishing the regular season as champions. On March 13, 1971, Ralph Alparone’s goal 55 seconds into overtime defeated Pittsford 4-3, culminating in a 14-1-1 season. Aquinas captured its very first Monroe County regular season and playoff championship. This game followed a 4-overtime thriller in the semifinals where AQ defeated Fairport. The 1970-1971 teamwas led by three all-stars. First-year goaltender Mark McCaffery ‘71 recorded six shutouts, forward Mark Weidemer ‘72 tied for second in league scoring, and captain Tom Schenkel ‘71 anchored the defense. However, this was a true team effort as many contributed to the success. Class AA Championship, and Dan’s sophomore quarterback, Jake Zembiec, was named All-Greater Rochester and NYS Player of the Year. The team finished the season ranked 26th in the nation. In 2015, the teamwas again 13-0 with a NYS Championship, but this time, finished within the USA Today Top 25 with a final ranking of 14th in the nation. Under Dan’s offensive system, Zembiec was again named NYS Player of the Year along with teammates Jamir Jones and Earnest Edwards. A Sectional Championship in 2017 was followed by a State Championship in 2018 where Dan helped sophomore quarterback, Tyler Szalkowski, earn All-Greater Rochester honors. SEAN S. SCHIANO ’87 Athletics Sean grew up playing basketball and had the honor of playing for coaches Rich Pilliter ‘63, Mike Ruff, and Mike Dianetti during his time at AQ. Despite a severe ankle sprain that kept him off the court for a full month his senior year, Sean was determined to play Division I basketball. He attended Fork Union Military Academy following his graduation fromAquinas and there, received a Division I scholarship to play basketball at Niagara University. He played in all 112 games of his college career. Before leaving Niagara, Sean was playing in the United States Basketball League (USBL) for the Long Island Surf and through that experience gained much exposure. He was invited to the Utah Jazz rookie/free agent camp the summer following graduation, then began an impressive thirteen-year basketball career spanning three continents. His first European contract brought him to Germany to play for Sportverein 1903 Tübingen, then Sporting Club Toulouse in France. Sean eventually returned to the U.S. to play for the Fort Wayne Fury of the Continental Basketball Association (CBA), then went back overseas to play for the Hung Fu Rams in Taiwan. Sean spent another three seasons in Germany playing for SportGemeinschaft Braunschweig – a team he helped to the playoffs all three years. Sean returned to France playing in Strasbourg the following year, and then headed back to Germany to play for WiredMinds Tübingen for two more seasons. Sean played the next year in Bremerhaven before returning for one year in Tübingen. He played his final season in 2004-2005 for the Duesseldorf Magic. Throughout his career, Sean was part of two championship-winning teams, both in Tübingen, and made the playoffs seven times. 24 AQUINAS LANDMARK | WINTER 2021 A lumni N ews 2021 INDUCTEES Continued