Jamesville-DeWitt High School is synonymous with winning, and winning comes from having big name athletes. With the Boys Varsity Basketball team bagging yet another state championship, and the Boys and Girls Varsity Lacrosse teams working on undefeated seasons, this years seniors have continued the legacy of athletic success at J-D. These star athletes have proved themselves in high school, but can they continue to carry this legacy into college?

Jake Bratek (lacrosse)-
Bratek’s Body of Work: The face of Jamesville-DeWitt lacrosse has lived up to his hype, pushing the Boys Varsity Lacrosse team to an undefeated start, beating perennial powerhouses like West Genesee and Fairport. This Syracuse-bound senior knows how to play the game; this was on display when he netted nine goals against league rival Cortland. In his years playing for J-D, Bratek has netted 135 goals and 38 assists, and he’s not done yet. “Obviously, our goal is to win a state championship,” says Bratek. This would not be new for the lacrosse star, as he won a state championship in 2007, his freshman year. Championships also seem to be a sure thing in Bratek’s future, as his future Alma matter continues to dominate college lacrosse, and will only get better with the addition of Bratek.
School: Syracuse Orange
Reputation: The Syracuse Orange have won the most NCAA Men’s Division I National Championships in the game. Last year the team played in arguably the best lacrosse game ever, beating Cornell in overtime. Head Coach John Desko gives his players the chance to play with free will, running up and down the field, letting the game flow. These Orangeman play with a well-earned swagger, this swagger is sometimes vital, because it gives the team confidence to win big games. Bratek already looks like an Orangeman with his strut.

Liz Beville (lacrosse)-
Beville’s Body of Work: For some reason the Beville name has always been associated with the Jamesville-DeWitt Girls Lacrosse program. Maybe because the team has two sisters that dominate the game, but also because of their work ethic. Liz Beville has showed her little sister, Lauren, how to play the game- scoring over 80 points in her varsity career. Notching 35 goals and 50 assists, this girl just knows how to play and will fit in well with the Red Dragons at Cortland.
School: Cortland Red Dragons
Reputation: Another J-D Red Ram going to another lacrosse powerhouse. The Red Dragons are 13-2 overall, losing both their games by only one goal. The ladies from Cortland were a couple bounces away from strutting an undefeated record. However a perfect in conference record proves that this squad should be on track to win SUNYAC conference, and move on to the Division III National Championship. The team is graduating only three seniors, so Beville is going to have to work hard to find herself on the team; but she won’t have an issue doing that.

Lamar Kearse (basketball)-
Kearse’s Body of Work: Where to start? This basketball sensation has won three State Championships taking control of the final seconds of the 2008-2009 Championship as former Red Ram and Syracuse point guard, Brandon Triche struggled. The awards and all team listings are not important to this six-foot, 180 pound point guard. Racking up over 600 points in his career, the experience of playing in big games will lead Kearse to be a monster in college basketball.
School: New Jersey's Science & Technology University Highlanders (NJIT)
Reputation: The Highlanders had a rough year last year, racking up over 20 losses in 31 games, but they play a solid schedule. They might not play the “big name” schools, rather they play many southern squad and southern basketball is good basketball. This year the team had only two seniors, the experience and talent is coming back to NJIT. And what’s not to love about the new coach? Only after his second year at his first coaching job, Jim Engles brings enthusiasm and charisma according to other coaches and his players- Kearse will fit in well on this squad.

Tori Nies (lacrosse)-
Nies’ Body of Work: Nies just knows how to win. This year she has led the lady rams to an undefeated start at 8-0. Racking up goal after goal, assist after assist, Nies has a knack of find a way to put the rock in the net. After watching the Girls Varsity lacrosse team play Nies clearly is a leader as well. “She definitely guides our team,” says junior teammate Hannah Zmolek. “She is a great leader.” In her career at J-D, Nies has scored over 70 goals and has 50 assists, and don’t expect her scoring rant to end anytime soon.
School: Le Moyne Dolphins
Reputation: The Lady Dolphins Lacrosse team doesn’t boast the dominance that the men’s does, but they are good. Winning nine games and losing only five, Le Moyne continues to beat big name schools such as Bucknell, Binghamton and Sienna. The girls have one more game before the playoffs come, which is against Boston College. Nies is going to feel right at home as Le Moyne has a roster of entirely New York girls, there is not one out of state player. Former Ram Molly Maroney, a Le Moyne freshman, will guide Nies to be as much of a monster in college as she was at Jamesville-DeWitt.

Kenny Schunck (football)-
Schunck’s Body of Work: An actual bright spot on a rather gray football program. Kenny Schunck has played on the varsity football team since his sophomore year, when he grew into the enormous frame he has become famous for. In his three years playing center and linebacker for the Red Rams, Schunck has been to the playoffs twice, pushing the program in the right direction. When Schunck attends Union College in the fall don’t expect him to back down either. “I expect to perform,” Schunck says. “I’ll be working hard.”
School: Union Dutchmen
Reputation: Plain and simple, this is a great Division III football team. It is not easy in college football to drop an 8-3 record, beating teams like Ithaca, St. Lawrence, and RPI. The team then turned their early success into post season success, winning the ECAC North Atlantic Bowl over Hartwick College. Schunck will fit in perfect next year, he is the perfect size. Last year’s squad averaged just above 220 pounds, while Schunck tips the scales at just five pounds heavier. And in football size and strength is half the battle.

Cam Stone (lacrosse)-
Stone’s Body of Work: If any ”lacrosse person” watches the Jamesville-DeWitt Boys Varsity Lacrosse team play, one attackman stands out amongst a group of impressive athletes. Cam Stone may not be the biggest of athletes, but no one plays with the speed, quickness and heart of this future Hobart Statesman. One ability that Stone has that no one can teach is his ability to pass the ball. To outsiders, this sounds like an easy task, but to Stone it is an art that he is still tweaking to perfection. Stone racks up assists as he feeds the ball through masses of people to his target, which usually leads to a Red Rams goal. But do not be fooled, this kid can shoot, too. As a player, Stone clearly is one of the most rounded players on the J-D offense, one that has started off the season with seven wins and no losses.
School: Hobart Statesman
Reputation: When you think of Hobart lacrosse, you should think of yet another New York powerhouse school. Despite this, during the 2009 season the Statesman are struggling to say the least, dropping 10 losses and winning only two contests. But let’s look at the silver lining at the situation. Two of Hobart’s losses came to No. 1 ranked Syracuse-one of the losses came when Syracuse beat Hobart in overtime.. Next year Stone hopes to get a crack at Bratek, as a Hobart versus Syracuse showdown is a good possibility. “I can’t wait to get to Hobart and start helping this team win,” Stone says.

Ashriel West (lacrosse)-
West's Body of Work: Just another amazing girls lacrosse product of the Jamesville-DeWitt High School Varsity Lacrosse team. This year West is part of the nucleus of the squad that has started out the season with an unblemished record. Leading the team with 77 points (50 goals and 27 assists) West can lead the team to a Section III Championship and maybe even further.
School: Lake Erie Storm
Reputation: As of right now the Varsity Girls Lacrosse team at Lake Erie does not have much of a reputation. Last season, the programs first ever year, the team went 7-7 winning two out of their last three games in overtime (they scored a combined score of 55 goals in those two games) defeating Indiana Tech and St. Thomas Aquinas. J-D's West will have no issues fitting in on this roster- look for her name in the box score next fall.