Draft:Connolly Cup
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Overview
[edit]
The William R. Connolly Memorial Cup (locally known as the "Connolly Cup") is awarded annually since 1972 to the most outstanding high school football player in Western New York. It is presented by the Connolly Cup Committee following the season in December. The most recent winner is Elijah Kimble of Canisius High School after his strong Junior season made him the all-time leading rusher in the Monsignor Martin Athletic Association [1]. Elijah is the first person from Canisius to win the award.
The award was created by the Riverside Athletic Club to honor and recognize the top players in the Section VI - New York State Public High School Athletic Association ("NYSPHSAA") and the Monsignor Martin Athletic Association. Don Magee, a running back out of Eden High School was the first winner awarded in 1972 [2]. The award was given it's name by the Riverside Athletic Club following the untimely death of fellow member William ("Bill") Connolly in 1972.
Winners & Nominees
[edit]Jamestown High School has the most players who have won the Connolly Cup with six, and the most Nominees with twenty-one. Lackawanna High School and St. Francis High School both have had five players win the award; though St. Francis has had twenty-one players nominated verses Lackawanna's nine. Most past Winners and Nominees have gone on to play in college, and some in the National Football League (NFL). Most notably, Daryl Johnston from Lewiston-Porter High School who won the award in 1983, went on to play running back at Syracuse University . Johnston was selected by the Dallas Cowboys in the second round (39th overall) of the 1989 NFL draft and won three Super Bowls. Current Green Bay Packers linebacker, Isaiah McDuffie, won the Connolly Cup in 2016[3]. The full list of Winners can be found below. Though he did not win the award, Phil McConkey
of Canisius High School was a Nominee in 1974 who went on to play college football at Navy and later win Super Bowl XXI with the New York Giants.
Selection Process
[edit]
Any eligible person who plays varsity high school football in Section VI of NYSPHSAA or the Monsignor Martin Athletic Association is eligible to be nominated for the Connolly Cup for that year. The Connolly Cup Committee will discuss and select fifteen players each week of the regular season for Player of the Week honors, based on their play for that week. A player can be selected for multiple Player of the Week honors, but never within three consecutive weeks of being selected. At the end of the season, the Connolly Cup Committee will narrow all of the Player of the Week selections down to the top ten players - Nominees[4]. The ten Nominees are invited to the award banquet in December where the Winner will be announced.
Origins & History
[edit]The origins of the Connolly Cup trace back to the 1971 Heisman Trophy race, when Cornell University running back Ed Marinaro,winner of the Maxwell Award and the UPI College Football Player of the Year, [5] finished second to Pat Sullivan of Auburn [6]. The outcome sparked a strong disagreement among members of the Riverside Athletic Club in Buffalo, New York, including William R. "Bill" Connolly. Motivated by their passion for the sport and a desire to ensure that exceptional talent received proper recognition, the group resolved to establish a local award honoring outstanding high school football players in Western New York. This initiative led to the creation of the Connolly Cup in 1972.
Legacy of William R. Connolly
[edit]Bill Connolly was widely recognized for his lifelong commitment to community service and youth development. He volunteered with organizations such as the Boy Scouts of America and the American Red Cross, and professionally contributed to charitable efforts through his work with the United Way.
Connolly was deeply involved in local football, serving as an official for both little league and high school games. When health issues prevented him from continuing in that role, he remained active in the sport by volunteering as a trainer for the Riverside High School football team and for the Riverside Athletic Club’s team in the JFK Touch Football League.
His dedication to youth extended beyond football. During summers at his family’s cottage in Canada, Connolly organized a softball league for local boys. When his daughter Molly expressed interest in playing, he established a junior co-ed league to ensure inclusivity for younger children. In recognition of his contributions, a nearby ball field was named in his honor in 1971 and later rededicated in 2008 following community-led improvements.
After Connolly’s passing, the Riverside Athletic Club commemorated his legacy by naming their annual high school football award in his honor. The William R. Connolly Memorial Cup is presented to the Most Outstanding High School Football Player in Western New York.
| Year | Name | School |
|---|---|---|
| 1972 | Don Magee | Eden High School[9] |
| 1973 | Jerry Martin | St. Francis High School |
| 1974 | Pat O'Brien | Kenmore East High School |
| 1975 | Tom Blinco | Lewiston-Porter High School |
| 1976 | Jim Rath | Frontier High School |
| 1977 | Frank Rossi Jr | Baker-Victory High School |
| 1978 | Brian Ross | Niagara Wheatfield High School |
| 1979 | Mike Leavell | St. Francis High School |
| 1980 | Tony Baker | Springville High School |
| 1981 | Dane Hightower | Cardinal O'Hara High School |
| 1982 | Roberto Amoroso | Jamestown High School |
| 1983 | Daryl Johnston | Lewiston-Porter High School[10] |
| 1984 | Dan Mettica | Williamsville South High School |
| 1985 | Tom Sheehan | Bishop Timon High School |
| 1986 | Ray Braxton | Lackawanna High School |
| 1987 | Trevor Sajdak | Cleveland Hill High School |
| 1988 | Jim Snyder[11] | Medina High School |
| 1989 | Chris George | Springville High School |
| 1990 | Randy Smith[12] | Lockport High School |
| 1991 | Bob McDonnell | Grand Island High School |
| 1992 | Corey Schemm | Cleveland Hill High School |
| 1993 | Warren Miles | Lackawanna High School |
| 1994 | David Hinson | Jamestown High School |
| 1995 | Dennis Martin | Lake Shore High School |
| 1996 | Dave Schmidli | Wilson High School |
| 1997 | Frank Pavicich | Niagara Wheatfield High School |
| 1998 | Sandro DeAngelis | St. Joseph's Collegiate Institution |
| 1999 | Joe West | Lackawanna High School |
| 2000 | Aaron Leeper | Jamestown High School |
| 2001 | Mike Radon | St. Francis High School |
| 2002 | Jehuu Caulcrick | Clymer Central High School |
| 2003 | Keien Williams | Eden High School |
| 2004 | Zak Kedron | St. Francis High School |
| 2005 | Namman Roosevelt | St. Joseph's Collegiate Institution |
| 2006 | Curtin Underwood | Lackawanna High School |
| 2007 | Jeff Tundo[13] | Orchard Park High School |
| 2008 | Capone Smith | Lackawanna High School |
| 2009 | Zack Sopak | Southwestern High School |
| 2010 | Joe Licata[14] | Williamsville South High School |
| 2011 | Chad Kelly | St. Joseph's Collegiate Institution |
| 2012 | Corey Barczykowski | Alden High School |
| 2013 | Jake Sissions | Jamestown High School |
| 2014 | Stephen Carlson[15] | Jamestown High School |
| 2015 | Tyree Brown[16] | South Park High School |
| 2016 | Isaiah McDuffie | Bennett High School |
| 2017 | Matt Myers[17] | West Seneca West High School |
| 2018 | Mike Rigerman | Pioneer High School |
| 2019 | Jake Ritts | St. Francis High School |
| 2020 | No Award Presented Due to COVID | |
| 2021 | Jaylen Butera | Jamestown High School |
| 2022 | Trevor Barry | Iroquios High School |
| 2023 | Ja'Meer Thomas[18] | Bennett High School |
| 2024 | Adam Nunes | South Park High School |
| 2025 | Elijah Kimble | Canisius High School |
External Links & References
[edit]- ↑ Murray, Clevis (December 9, 2025). "Heavy is the head that wears the crown: Canisius' Elijah Kimble wins 53rd annual Connolly Cup". The Buffalo News. Retrieved December 20, 2025.
- ↑ Gallagher, Dick (July 22, 2018). "Connolly Cup Winners 1972-2017". WGRZ - Channel 2 News. Retrieved December 12, 2025.
- ↑ "Bennett's McDuffie wins Connolly Cup award". News 4 Buffalo. 2016-12-04. Archived from the original on 2023-03-28. Retrieved 2025-12-20.
- ↑ Reporter, Miguel Rodriguez News Sports (2021-11-17). "Connolly Cup unveils 10 finalists for WNY high school football player of the year". Buffalo News. Retrieved 2025-12-20.
- ↑ "Inductee | Edward Francis Marinaro 1991". Archived from the original on 2025-02-14. Retrieved 2025-12-16.
- ↑ "Pat Sullivan". Heisman. Retrieved 2025-12-16.
- ↑ Gallagher, Dick (July 22, 2018). "Connolly Cup Winners 1972-2017". Channel 2 News - WGRZ (Regional NBC Affiliate). Retrieved December 17, 2025.
- ↑ "Connolly Cup Recipients 1972-2013". USA TODAY. September 4, 2014. Retrieved December 17, 2025.
- ↑ "A LITTLE EXTRA BOOKING". The Buffalo News. December 16, 1972. p. 9. Retrieved 08/20/2026.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|access-date=(help) - ↑ "Connelly Cup:L-P's Johnston". The Buffalo News. Retrieved 08/20/2026.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|access-date=(help) - ↑ Staff (1988-12-04). "SNYDER ADDS CUP AWARD TO HONORS". Buffalo News. Retrieved 2025-12-20.
- ↑ khari.demos@gnnewspaper.com, Khari Demos (2021-06-11). "Former Lockport, YSU football star Randy Smith donates trophies". Niagara Gazette. Retrieved 2025-12-20.
- ↑ Beutel, Nate (2007-12-01). "HS FOOTBALL: Tundo wins Connolly Cup". Niagara Gazette. Retrieved 2025-12-20.
- ↑ Newspapers, Ryan NagelhoutGreater Niagara (2010-12-04). "Will. South QB Licata wins Connolly Cup, Kelly eyes next year". Niagara Gazette. Retrieved 2025-12-20.
- ↑ "Stephen Carlson Puts The County On NFL Scoreboard". post-journal.com. Retrieved 2025-12-20.
- ↑ Filipowski, Nick (2015-12-06). "First BPS student wins 44th Connolly Cup". WKBW 7 News Buffalo. Retrieved 2025-12-20.
- ↑ Gardner, T. (December 2, 2017). "Myers wins 46th Connolly Cup". WNY Athletics. Retrieved 2025-12-20.
- ↑ "Ja'Meer Thomas extends Bennett football title run, winning '23 Connolly Cup". News 4 Buffalo. 2023-12-05. Archived from the original on 2024-08-12. Retrieved 2025-12-20.
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Wikipedia articles must be written neutrally in a formal, impersonal, and dispassionate way. They should not read like a blog post, advertisement, or fan page. Rewrite the draft to remove:
Instead, only summarize in your own words a range of independent, reliable, published sources that discuss the subject.
If you have a conflict of interest (e.g. you are the subject, an employee, or a relative) or are being paid to edit, you must disclose this to comply with Wikipedia's Terms of Use.