Kensington Lions' 32nd annual football classic set

The 32nd annual Kensington Lions All-Star High School Football Classic will be held at 7 p.m., Wednesday, July 25, at North Tonawanda High School, 405 Meadow Drive.

The game is usually held at Lancaster High School but an already scheduled soccer tournament forced organizers to change the venue.

Players must have graduated from high school to be eligible to play in the game.

Among the North team representatives are Amherst's Andre Hakeem; Cardinal O'Hara's Andrew Amato, Anthony Crispo and Stewart Fonville; Clarence's Michael Poss, Chris Skubis and John Syty; Kenmore West's Matt Harris; Kenmore East's Joseph Watson; Sweet Home's Allen Douglas; St. Joe's Brandon Darcy and John Greer; Williamsville East's Rick Silvestri and Williamsville North's Eric Dahlman, Brian Davis and Michael Moore.

The North team is coached by Williamsville South's Kraig Kurzanski with assistants Paul Pignataro and Chris Glenn, also of Williamsville South, Tom Goddard (Clarence) and Dean Santorio and Mike Stauffer (Grand Island).

Among the South team representatives are Cheektowaga's Eric Morganstern and Zak Sucharski; Cleveland Hill's Marquis Dorsey and Robert Fay; Depew's Carlton Byrum, Mike Sanders and Eric Wild; East Aurora's Tim Bailey and Andy Wade; Iroquois' Nick Kakavand, Mike Perillo and Kyle Shevlin; John F. Kennedy's Corey Knox; Lancaster's Dan Brownson; Maryvale's Matt Brennan, Matt Mohr and Jeremy Mountain; Orchard Park's Jason Ladouceur, Mike Leavell and Greg Michael; St. Mary's of Lancaster's Mitch Schaefer; West Seneca East's Jake Krezmien and West Seneca West's Gavin Gaiser and Dan Simon.

The South team is coached by West Seneca East's Jim Maurino with assistants Glen Graham (Cleveland Hill), Scott Zipp (Cheektowaga), Harrt Sugg (Depew), Matt Ard (Maryvale) and Mike Fatta (Cheektowaga).

The annual event was founded in 1976 by Kensington Lions Harry R. Chambers, Gene Zinni, and Milt Dickerson. Up to and including the year 2000, the benefactor of the game was the Club's Scholarship Program, with scholarship grants totaling $92,000 awarded to over 140 WNY students. During the last six years, the Club has given over $55,000 to Kids Escaping Drugs. A new sponsor for the event is Ad Pro Team Sports.

A player's banquet, hosted by the Kensington Lions Club, will be held at 7 p.m., Tuesday, July 24, at the Hearthstone Manor, 333 Dick Road, Depew. At that time, all players will be presented with their jerseys and will be recognized, along with their coaches, for their commitment to the upcoming game.

Tickets are available at all Tops Friendly Markets and from players and coaches. Prices are $6 for adults and $2 for children under 12.

For more information, visit www.kensingtonlions. org.