Andy Wunder

Before graduating from Lyons High School in 2000, Andy Wunder was a standout football and track and field athlete. Andy excelled at offensive and defensive tackle during his football career. In both his junior and senior years, he was selected to the Finger Lakes West All-Star Team as both an offensive and defensive tackle; in 1999, he was selected to play in the Eddie Meath All Star game, which consisted of the best seniors in Section V. But it was in track and field where Andy truly excelled. In the 1999-2000 indoor track season, the first year that Lyons participated in the sport, Andy was the overall Section V Champion, as well as a Class Champion, in the shot put. He went on to represent the Section V team in the state meet.

During this season, he set both the Section V Class C and Wayne County indoor shot put records. At the close of the season, he was chosen for the Section V Rochester Winter Track League All-Star Team.  In outdoor track and field, Andy was the Wayne County League discus champion in 1998, 1999 and 2000, as well as the shot put champion in 2000. He was also a Sectional Champion in the discus in 1999 and 2000, setting the meet record in 2000. Andy represented Section V in the state championships in both 1999 and 2000; he still holds the school record in the discus and was selected as Track MVP in 2000, as well as being a four-time Wayne County League first team All \-Star.

After high school, Andy continued his outstanding track and field career at the University of Rochester, where he set the indoor 35 lb. weight throw record, and in 2005 he was the New York State Collegiate Track Conference champion in the weight throw. He was selected to the first team NYSCTC All-Star Team, was the U of R field event MVP and concluded the 2005 indoor track season by becoming an NCAA All American. In outdoor track, the success continued as Andy was the 2004 NYSCTC shot put champion, was selected as a first team NYSCTC All-Star, U of R team MVP, team captain, and set school records in both the shot put and hammer throw. Andy went on to represent the U of R in the NCAA National Championships in the hammer throw in the spring of 2005.

Academically, Andy also excelled. He earned a chemical engineering degree from the U of R in 2004. In the following year, he entered an internship program at Eastman Kodak where he was able to perform his research and at the same time take graduate classes at the U of R. and continue his track career. This work culminated in a technical publication, a patent and a Master’s Degree in chemical engineering in 2005. Andy was employed by Eastman Kodak Cp. upon graduation and is currently employed by Zoto’s International in Geneva. Andy is married to the former Erica Gansz and currently resides in Lyons.

Laura Olson

 Laura Olson Botkins was a standout track and field athlete while at Lyons High School before she graduated in 2000. Laura also participated in soccer all four years of high school, being named Wayne County All-League during the fall of 1999. But it was in track and field where she truly excelled. She was chosen All-League in 1999 in both the pole vault and 100-meter dash. Laura was also Section V Champion in the pole vault that year, first at the Meet of Champions, qualifying her for the state meet.

During her senior year indoor season, she was the Section V Class Champion and the overall Section V Champion in the pole vault, qualifying her for the indoor state championships. Also, during that indoor season, she qualified for the National Championship meet where she placed seventh overall. Laura was the first athlete from Lyons to participate at the National level. During that season, she set the overall Section V record in the pole vault, as well as being named to the Rochester Winter Track League All League Team. The following spring, she was once again All-League, Section V Class Champion, and overall Section V Champion in the pole vault and once again a state meet participant.

That summer, she competed in the USATF Junior Olympics, where she finished 20^th overall in the national championships. Laura was selected as Lyons Female Athlete of the Year 1999-2000.

After high school, Laura continued her outstanding track and field career at Division I University at Buffalo. During her years at UB, Laura broke the indoor pole vault record 12 times and the outdoor pole vault record 8 times, which she still holds. She also set a new stadium record, breaking the record set during the World Games held at UB stadium in 1992. She was named All East in both her junior and senior years, winning the ECAC Indoor Pole Vault Championship in 2004. Laura was the Mid-American Conference Outdoor Champion and conference runner-up three times in the pole vault.

During her junior season, she placed third in the Eastern Regionals, qualifying her for the NCAA National Championships, where she placed 13^th from among 26 competitors. In her senior season, she was one of 15 athletes nationally that qualified for the NCAA Indoor National Championships. The following spring, she was 2^nd at the Eastern Regionals, qualifying her once again for the NCAA Division I National Championships. During her collegiate career, she won many invitationals, as well as setting numerous stadium and facility records. Laura was also New York State Empire Games Open Pole Vault Champion in both 2002 and 2005. In 2005, she set the meet record, which was broken this past summer.

Laura didn’t just excel in track and field; she also excelled in the classroom. In 2004, she was the recipient of the SUNY Chancellors’ Scholar Athlete Award, was a member of UB’s honor society, and Alpha Kappa Delta. She was also a member of Pi Theta Epsilon at D’Youville College where she recently completed her Master’s Degree in Occupational Therapy. Laura currently resides in Cheektowaga, New York, with her husband, Nick. 

Jerry J. Sollenne

Jerry J. Sollenne was a standout three-sport athlete at Lyons High School from 1961-1964, playing football, basketball, and baseball. During his junior football campaign, he was named All Wayne-Finger Lakes quarterback.  During his senior season, Jerry threw 16 touchdown passes and was again named All Wayne-Finger Lakes quarterback.  He led the Lions to a 25-20 victory over a Tom Coughlin (NY Giants) led Waterloo team and a Rod Verkey led Mynderse Academy team.

Jerry was co-captain of the ’62-’63 and ’63-’64 basketball teams. In his junior year, Jerry led the league in scoring, set a single-season assist record for Lyons, was named to the All Tournament Team in the Rush Henrietta Christmas Tournament, was a unanimous 1^st team All Wayne-Finger Lakes Team selection, and his team won the ’62-’63 Wayne-Finger Lakes title.  He was also named to the Class AA All Greater Rochester Area First Team.

During his senior season, Jerry finished 10^th in league scoring, set the two-year Lyons’ assist record, and was again named to the All Tournament Team in the Rush Henrietta Christmas Tournament and 1^st team All Wayne-Finger Lakes Team. His senior team also won the Wayne-Finger Lakes title.  Jerry also played varsity baseball for 3 years with a career batting average of .315.

After high school, Jerry attended SUNY Buffalo where he earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree in History. He completed a Master of Science Degree in Educational Administration from SUNY Brockport in 1974 and a Certificate of Advanced Study from Brockport in 1975. Jerry also attended the University of Rochester, working towards a doctorate in Education Administration.

From 1968-1975, Jerry worked for the Romulus Central School District, where he taught history and physical education. He also was the head football coach for 6 seasons, head track coach for 2 seasons and the varsity club advisor for 7 years. Jerry retired in October of 2004 and currently resides in Sun Lakes, Arizona. 

Ken Chalker

Ken Chalker graduated from Lyons High School in 1954, where he lived out his childhood dream of becoming a Lyons sports legend. In the final game of the ’54 season against arch rival Newark, Chalker scored 34 points, giving Lyons its third consecutive Wayne-Finger Lakes League Championship. In the sectional qualifying game, again against Newark, Ken scored 32 points in a double overtime victory before a sellout crowd at the Rochester Sports Arena.

Lyons roared through the sectionals and into the Class A final against East Rochester, a team they had beaten in the ’52 sectional final. With 10 seconds remaining, East Rochester went ahead but with only 3 seconds left in the game, Ken Chalker sank the winning basket. In the three games against Newark, Chalker scored 96 points!

Chalker received many individual honors, including 1^st team All-Section V and Section V most valuable player. He led the Wayne-Finger Lakes League in scoring and was a two-time selection to the Wayne-Finger Lakes All League Team.

Ken also played offensive and defensive end in football and was named to the All-League team. In baseball, Ken was a member of a Wayne County League Championship team. Ken worked as a brakeman for the New York Central Railroad. He passed away at age 53 and is survived by his wife Judith, sons Kevin and Gary and daughters Elaine and Doreen.

Louis M. Morris Jr.

Louis Morris graduated from Lyons High School in 1971. While in school, Louis participated in basketball, football, JV baseball, and track.  He had a lot of success on the hardwoods at Lyons High School. From 1968-1970, Louis was the second-leading rebounder on the team. In 1969, he was awarded a Wayne County Basketball League Honorable Mention, and during the 1970 season, Louis received the Most Assists Award.

Louis also had a very successful track career. In 1970, Louis was the Wayne County Long Jump Champion, as well as Section V Long Jump Champion. In 1971, Louis was named the Senior Male Athlete of the Year for Lyons High School.

After high school, Louis joined the US Army Paratroopers at Fort Brag. While at Fort Brag, he boxed as a middleweight. Louis received an honorable discharge from the army in 1976 and went to work for the state of Florida until 1985. Louis then moved back to NY and is presently working for the US Postal Service.

Louis strongly believes that coaches Blackwell, Wheat, Lawrence, and Lisco, as well as his teammates, were all positive influences on his life and helped him become a more productive individual. 

1977 Football Team 

In 1977, Lyons High School fielded an undefeated championship football team. The Lions were league champs as well as Section V Champions. However, this championship did not come easy. Lions' toughest opponent came in the first game of the season. In the opener, the Lions came from behind to defeat the Red Jacket Indians 7-6 on an Ed Mitchell touchdown and a Bob Hauf extra point.

The team also won their non-league game against a heralded Waterloo squad picked to win their conference title. It was the first non-league win for the Lions in a number of years. Probably the most exciting win for the Lions that season was against DeSales. The wind was exceptionally strong the night of the game, but the Lions’ ground game proved very successful, dominating time of possession in the quarters going into the wind. Beating the Wharf Rats was a major accomplishment for the Lions, as DeSales finished with a 7-1 record and placed second in the league.

The 1977 Lyons Football Team set a school record for the longest winning streak at 16 straight wins! With their 9-0 record, the Lions were ranked No. 8 in the state and awarded the Section V Class B Title. The ’77 team also placed many players on the All-Conference Team, including thousand-yard rusher Jeff Leonard.