Athletic Hall of Fame Nominations
Dedicated to the Memory of THE VERY REV. RUFINUS NIEDZWIECKI, OFM CONV.
The Very Rev. Rufinus Niedziecki Memorial Sports Hall of Fame at St. Francis High School is named after one of Western New York’s legendary sports figures. In over twenty years at his alma mater, St. Francis High School, Father Rufinus built a reputation as one of the area’s finest and most knowledgeable coaches. His basketball teams always enjoyed winning seasons and won numerous Manhattan Cup titles; and his baseball teams were an annual fixture in the Georgetown Cup championships. Besides compiling one of the best records of any coach in the area, his astute administrative abilities led to the building of one of the finest athletic programs in the region a St. Francis. An outstanding basketball and baseball player, Father Rufinus was a member of the first class to graduate from St. Francis in 1931. Known as a stern disciplinarian, Father “Rufe” is best remembered by his players as a gentle and kind person who was deeply concerned about every young man he coached. In 2002, Fr. Rufinus was inducted in the Western New York Baseball Hall of Fame.
The hall of fame is now permanently displayed in the lobby of the Gacioch Family Athletic Center
The Very Rev. Rufinus Niedziecki Memorial Sports Hall of Fame at St. Francis High School is named after one of Western New York’s legendary sports figures. In over twenty years at his alma mater, St. Francis High School, Father Rufinus built a reputation as one of the area’s finest and most knowledgeable coaches. His basketball teams always enjoyed winning seasons and won numerous Manhattan Cup titles; and his baseball teams were an annual fixture in the Georgetown Cup championships. Besides compiling one of the best records of any coach in the area, his astute administrative abilities led to the building of one of the finest athletic programs in the region a St. Francis. An outstanding basketball and baseball player, Father Rufinus was a member of the first class to graduate from St. Francis in 1931. Known as a stern disciplinarian, Father “Rufe” is best remembered by his players as a gentle and kind person who was deeply concerned about every young man he coached. In 2002, Fr. Rufinus was inducted in the Western New York Baseball Hall of Fame.
The hall of fame is now permanently displayed in the lobby of the Gacioch Family Athletic Center
Nominations now being accepted
Nominations for the St. Francis Athletic Hall of Fame dedicated to the memory of Very Reverend Rufinus Niedzwiecki, OFM Conv. are currently being accepted. Nominations may be submitted by any friend or supporter of St. Francis High School
- Attended St. Francis for at least two years
- Graduated in good standing at least five years prior to nomination
- Participated in at least one sport at St. Francis
St. Francis High School
Success Begins at St. Francis
