Buffalo Bills support flag football players

A question for you.

Does it seem like the fall high school sports season is on deck, moments from stepping up to the plate? Yes, time flies.

Faster than you can say "What time is the game?" we will be in the bleachers and on the sidelines watching our favorite teams and athletes get busy.

Justin Ritzel of the Canandaigua Daily Messenger with Democrat and Chronicle reporters Marquel Slaughter and James Johnson share what is happening in this and other Varsity Voices newsletters:

NYSPHSAA reversing course on emergency response initiative

In 2023, the NYSPHSAA passed a mandate that would require all interscholastic teams in New York state to have emergency response training, that must be enacted to start the fall 2024 season. But the state association is rescinding that requirement after it was determined that such a mandate would violate New York state education law.

According to a memo from NYSPHSAA Executive Director Robert Zayas, New York state education law states that its the responsibility of public schools' boards of education to "adopt and amend district-wide safety plans and building-level emergency response plans." The NYSPHSAA, according to its own constitution, can only enact laws that are not specifically addressed in education law.

The NYSPHSAA executive committee approved the "Anyone Can Save a Life" program last July, which outlines the steps individuals should take in an emergency response situation. Interscholastic teams would've also been required to conduct one emergency drill prior to 50% of their contests.

Emergency response training garnered increased attention in January 2023 when Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin went into cardiac arrest following an attempted tackle during a game against the Cincinnati Bengals. Following the play, on-site medical personnel administered oxygen and performed CPR, and also utilized an AED to revive Hamlin's heart.

New York state education law currently requires that all school buildings have accessible AED equipment, as well as one staff member trained to use it at school-sponsored sporting events. Last November, Gov. Kathy Hochul signed legislation that requires all youth sports programs to have AED equipment and someone trained to use it on hand during practices, games and camps.

More information on the Anyone Can Save a Life program is available at its website.

Buffalo Bills support flag football players

Live in Section V or Section VI, and there is a strong chance you know a fan or two of the National Football League's Buffalo Bills.

And it is clear in both areas the Bills support high school flag football, a sport offered to increase options for girls in the state.

The Bills plan to salute the top flag football players in Section V and Section VI on the team's website. Coaches in Section V selected the first Democrat and Chronicle All-Greater Rochester Flag Football Team, a group of 22 girls, that was published in July. The Buffalo News version is the All-WNY flag football team.

Players and coaches at Bishop Kearney and Clarence in Section VI, the first pair of high school state champions in New York State Public High School Athletic Association history, received autographs and jerseys while guests of the Bills during a mini-camp practice.

In 2022, the Bills, New York Giants, New York Jets and Nike helped NYSPHSAA and section members plant the roots of the high school flag system in place today. Teams in Section V were formed and on the field in the spring of that year.

Section V crowned its first sectional champions in 2023. There were 33 varsity teams in Section V in 2024. NYSPHSAA and Section V coordinator Jen Lapinski anticipates 34 teams to play in 2025.

Penfield graduate threw himself on to track record list

Dave Hennessey's connection to Section V track and field goes back decades. As a coach, that means 1975.

Sure enough, there is a tie between Hennessey and Peter Northrup, who broke Section V's 57-year old outdoor shot put record in the spring during his final season at Penfield. Northrup was an underclassman at Penfield during Hennessey's decades-long run as a Penfield varsity coach.

"Watching him I’m not surprised," Hennessey said. "He's really worked himself hard. He's become a top thrower.

"He's been a great leader. Great kid, he got the sportsmanship award from Section V which gives you an idea of what kind of person he is."

Northrup set the Section V outdoor shot put record at 64 feet-10 inches during the state championships at Cicero-North Syracuse. He tied Roger Taylor's long-standing mark of 64-5.75 earlier in the state meet.

Hennessey was a high school student when Taylor, a standout at Canandaigua, set the record.

"When you think about it, there have been a lot of good throwers that took a shot at it, but nobody was able to get it," Hennessey said.