20 AQUINAS LANDMARK | SUMMER 2024 alumni news spotlights Nicholas. MRS. DANA L. VASSER ’99 Athletics Dana (Jarzyniecki) Vasser graduated from Aquinas in 1999. She was involved in numerous activities in her four years, including Yearbook, Student Recruitment, Ski Club and Indoor Track, but where she really le her mark was on the soccer eld. As a freshman, Dana made the Varsity Soccer Team and continued as a four-year starter, earning numerous accolades throughout her high school career. She was instrumental in leading the team to the Section V Class BB Championship in 1996, 1997, and 1998, scoring the game-winning goal in both the ‘96 and ‘98 sectional championship games. Dana was named the o ensive Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the ‘98 championship game and the private/parochial player of the year. In ‘97 and ‘98, Dana competed in the Empire State Games, winning a gold medal in ‘98. Dana’s senior year was particularly notable. As the team captain, she was team MVP, made rst-team All-Greater Rochester, was selected to the All-State rst team, and was named Aquinas Female Scholar-Athlete of the Year. During her four years on the Varsity team, she was selected for the private/parochial rst team each year. Overall, Dana scored 40 goals and tallied 41 assists during her Lady Irish career. A er graduating from Aquinas, Dana played for the University of Maryland Terrapins, setting a school record for three assists in a game while starring as center mid elder. She played in 82 consecutive games and was named to the Atlantic Coast Conference Academic Honor Roll for all four years. She graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Psychology in 2003. Dana continued her education at New York University (NYU), earning a Master of Arts in Industrial & Organizational Psychology in 2005. Today, Dana is the Senior HR Business Partner at Point72, leading a team of seven. She is actively involved in the Pelham Country Club, serving on both the Pool & Swim Team Committee and the Food and Beverage Committee. Dana continues her athletic involvement by coaching her children in their sports and has previously served as a youth soccer and lacrosse coach. Dana believes that her experience at Aquinas, balancing academics, athletics, and community service, has prepared her for life. She attributes her success to learning time management early on, developing a continuous thirst for knowledge, and understanding the importance of hard work and community. e emphasis on community and service at Aquinas fostered empathy, which continues to in uence her career today. Dana re ects that making Varsity as a freshman was nerve-wracking, but her teammates welcomed her with open arms. She felt supported at Aquinas, both on and o the eld. is same con dence enabled her to take risks in the classroom and throughout her life. Dana is married to James Vasser, and they have two children, Sophie and Andrew. AQUINAS INSTITUTE 2009 BASEBALL TEAM Team e 2009 Aquinas Boys Baseball Team won the school’s rst-ever New York State Championship, with dominant pitching and not just timely hitting, but as one player said “all the time hitting!” A er a relatively slow start to the season at 8-5, the Li’l Irish lineup, which “top-to-bottom, had guys who just knew how to play baseball,” took o as they won their nal 15 games of the season. ey outscored their opponents 22-6 in the Section V Class A Tournament, knocking o four-time reigning champion Pittsford Sutherland in the sectional nal. eir postseason dominance continued in the state tournament as they outscored their opponents 19-2. Head Coach Mark Maglioco was named All-Greater Rochester and NYS Class A Coach of the Year. Second baseman Benjamin Bostick was AllGreater Rochester and NYS Class A Player of the Year. Pitcher Jedidiah Lemen also made the All-Greater Rochester Team, and was the MVP of the Section V Tournament. Seven members of the squad went on to play college baseball, and sophomore, Christopher Bostick would go on to make his Major League Baseball debut for the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2017. e baseball diamond was not the only place where this team had success. e 2009 Li’l Irish Baseball Team were true student-athletes, as they were also a NYSPHAA Scholar Athlete Team, and ve players were multiple Section V and NYS Champions. Team Roster: Benjamin Bostick ‘09 *; Christopher Bostick ’11; James Buonaugurio ’09; John Coppa ’09; Jalen Dennis ’10; John DiMartino ’09; Timothy Farmer ’10; Sean Hare ’11; Raymond Kelly ’10; Adam Knauf ’10; Eric Knauf ’09; Alan Komorowski ’09; Emmett Lawler ’09; Jedidiah Lemen ’10; Joshua Leonardo ’10; Daniel Redmond ’10; Michael Ru n ’10; Je Saraceni ’10; Mark Terhaar ’09; Steven Trubia ’11; C.J. VonBargen ’11; Charles Welling ’10; Brenden Whelehan ‘09 Coaches: Mark Magliocco; Tom Cringoli, Jim Shook THE ROAD TO THE CHAMPIONSHIP: • Section V Class A Final: Aquinas vs. Pittsford Sutherland (4-0) • State Quarter nal: Aquinas vs. Grand Island (12-0) • State Semi-Final: Aquinas vs. Mexico (4-1) • State Final: Aquinas vs. W.T. Clarke (3-1) Save the Date Aquinas will proudly induct this remarkable group of alumni into the 2024 Hall of Fame. We invite you to join us in honoring these exceptional individuals at the induction ceremony and brunch, which will follow the family mass during Alumni Reunion Weekend. For more information, please visit aquinasinstitute.com/HOF2024 or scan the QR code.
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy NTcyNDA=