As winter sports practices get underway, Canisius is honoring some of the standout student-athletes from the fall 2020 sport seasons.

Letterman of the Season

Josh Harbison ’21 – soccer

Josh was a team captain as a senior and led the team as a center-midfielder playing 80 minutes a game. He scored four goals and added one assist as a senior including the game winning goal against St. Mary’s of Lancaster.  

“Josh shows leadership on and off the field and is the definition of a quality Canisius student-athlete,” says Canisius varsity soccer coach Chris Stuff. “Josh has a bright future and I have no doubt that he will find success in whatever he does.”

Josh and his extended family have worked extensively with Journey’s End Refugee Services. Specifically, Josh has volunteered weeks of his summer at the organization’s camp for children of refugee families at Beaver Island State Park.

Josh can be found helping at almost every volunteer opportunity at Canisius, from volunteering at St. Luke’s Mission of Mercy, to helping families with the St. Joseph of Arimathea pallbearer ministry, to leading the Freshman Retreat, to giving tours at Open House or directing the Campion House activities as the current prefect. 

Athletes of the Season

Finn Bluemle ’21, Will Scherrer ’21 and Ryan Coyne ’21— golf team members
(left to right above with Principal Ms. Andrea Tyrpak-Endres and President Fr. David Ciancimino, S.J.)

The golf team completed its third consecutive undefeated regular season and won two out of the last three All-Catholic championships. The golf team has dominated the past three seasons and these three young men have been the backbone of that success. Each of these young men made the varsity golf team as freshman and immediately made an impact. 

Will Scherrer started every match as a freshman and is the only player in Canisius Golf history to compete in every match from his freshman through his senior season. 

Finn and Ryan developed their craft as freshman, and became immediate regulars as sophomores. During their sophomore year, the team went undefeated and won the league playoff. Will earned All-Catholic honors and qualified for the NYS tournament. Finn and Ryan were key contributors throughout the regular season. 

As junior year came, it was time for these three players to lead the team. These young men were nothing less than spectacular. Finn and Ryan both finished in the top five in WNY scoring (public and private school). Will finished in the top-15 and played that year with a hairline fracture in his elbow. Ryan and Finn earned All-Catholic honors and all three qualified for the NYS tournament. 

During this past fall season, again, it was these three young men that led the team to its third consecutive undefeated season and league championship. Finn, Ryan, and Will all finished in the top-10 in league scoring. Finn earned All-Catholic honors, and each of these young men qualified for the NYS tournament.