THE 2003 BOYS VARSITY SOCCER TEAM Team The 2003 Aquinas Boys Varsity Soccer Team was more of a family than anything else. The closeness of this squad, led by coach Joe LaPietra—who cared deeply for his players and demanded greatness in both practice and games—eventually led to a truly historic state championship season. Returning almost the entire starting squad from the previous year’s defeat in the state quarterfinal, the 2003 team refocused in the preseason and never looked back. They finished with an impressive 22-0-2 record, not conceding a single goal in the first 10 games of the season, while outscoring their opponents 104-4 and recording 21 shutouts. There wasn’t a single player on this 24-man roster who didn’t contribute to this unprecedented season. Instilled by Coach LaPietra, the team’s motto was “TUF”: Team, Unity, Family. That mindset is exactly what carried them through a long, historically successful season. Ultimately, the 2003 season was about much more than just a flawless stat sheet and a state trophy. By truly living out their “TUF” motto, this legendary squad proved that athletic greatness is built on a foundation of mutual trust and shared purpose. Decades later, their historic run remains a masterclass in what can be achieved when a team refuses to play for individual glory, choosing, instead, to play for each other. Team Roster Latim Bitek ’06, Connor Burgasser ’06, Jack Burgasser ’04, Sean Connell ’04, Anthony Dambra ’06, Stephen Fantuzzo ’05, Frank Iacovangelo ’04, Adam Kelly ’05, Daniel Kolb ’05, Corey Lown ’05, Keith Manscuk ’04, Kyle Manscuk ’07, Anthony Mirabella ’06, James Marsala ’05, Chris Nacca ’05, Patrick Nichols ’05, Jaymes Nowicki ’04, Dominic Pettinari ’04, Joe Pettinari ’04, Chris Roland ’06, Mike Roorda ’05, Cameron Smith ’05, Brad Torcia ’05, Corey Wisecup ’04 Head Coach: Joe LaPietra Assistant Coaches: Tad Valentino ’94, Anthony Tata ’94 The Road to the Championship: • Section V Class BB Final: Aquinas vs. Pittsford Sutherland (5-0) • State Qualifier: Aquinas vs. Mynderse Academy (4-0) • State Quarterfinal: Aquinas vs. Grand Island (5-0) • State Semi-Final: Aquinas vs. Jericho (2-1) • State Final: Aquinas vs. Westhill (4-0) Save the Date On Sunday, September 27, 2026, we will proudly host Aquinas Institute’s Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony. We invite you to join us in honoring this year’s inductees at the ceremony and brunch, following family mass – all during Alumni Homecoming Weekend. For more information and to secure your spot, please visit www.aquinasinstitute.com/AHW26 or scan the QR Code. 23 Welcome In Wednesday is a chance for your child to spend a day on campus to see the school and what it will be like as a student here. Parents and guardians are invited to a brief presentation in the morning to learn more about the admissions process and ask representatives from AQ’s Enrollment Office questions. Scan the QR Code to register today!
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