Ron Torgalski '89 has been inducted into the Athletic Hall of Fame at Nichols School. Torgalski is currently the head baseball coach at the University of Buffalo. At Hamilton he played basketball and baseball and was a member of Delta Upsilon. He majored in psychology and after graduation played professional basketball in Sweden for two years before returning to Hamilton to serve as assistant men's basketball coach from 1991 to 1994. He went on to become an assistant basketball coach at the University at Buffalo and later assistant baseball coach, which led to his being named head coach of the baseball team in 2006.
Excerpt from citation for Ronald J. Torgalski's induction into the Athletics Hall of Fame at the Nichols School:
With your father a coach and athletic director at St. Francis of Athol Springs, you grew up around athletics. You had gained some early renown while playing Little League baseball and grammar school athletics at St. Joseph's in Cheektowaga. Upon your arrival at Nichols in the fall of 1981, your athletic impact was almost immediate.
You were a four-year starter on the varsity baseball team and were named to the All-Catholic team as a sophomore and to the All Niagara Frontier League (NFL) team your junior and senior years as well as Honorable Mention All-WNY as a senior. You played one year of varsity football, and during that sophomore year you were named Honorable Mention All-Catholic. Your terrific basketball garnered the most recognition and accolades.
As a four-year starter at guard, you were named All Monsignor Martin League as a 10th grader, All Niagara Frontier League in your junior and senior years, and first team All Western New York as a senior. As a senior, you led Nichols to its first New York State Class C Federation Championship, after which you were named Most Valuable Player of the tournament and named as first team Class C All-State. You finished your basketball career as the all time leading scorer in school history with 1783 points (later to be surpassed only by Christian Laettner '88) and you remain one of the leading scorers in Western New York history.
At Hamilton College, you played baseball for two years and basketball for four. As the starting point guard, you were an integral part of Hamilton's E.C.A.C. Championships in 1986 and 1987.
As a freshman in 1986, you were named Rookie of the Year in both the E.C.A.C. and N.E.S.C.A.C Leagues. In 1989, you were named to the All-E.C.A.C. first team averaging 10.6 assists per game. You finished your college career ranked third in Division III history in assists and as a 1000 point scorer.
Following your graduation from Hamilton, you played professional basketball in Sweden, where you averaged 22 points and 9 assists per game. You returned to your collegiate alma mater as an assistant men's basketball coach from 1991 to 1994 contributing to a NCAA Division III national championship in 1991. More recently you have served as an assistant basketball coach at the University at Buffalo and later as assistant baseball coach, which led to your being named head coach of the Bulls' baseball team in 2006.
Excerpt from citation for Ronald J. Torgalski's induction into the Athletics Hall of Fame at the Nichols School:
With your father a coach and athletic director at St. Francis of Athol Springs, you grew up around athletics. You had gained some early renown while playing Little League baseball and grammar school athletics at St. Joseph's in Cheektowaga. Upon your arrival at Nichols in the fall of 1981, your athletic impact was almost immediate.
You were a four-year starter on the varsity baseball team and were named to the All-Catholic team as a sophomore and to the All Niagara Frontier League (NFL) team your junior and senior years as well as Honorable Mention All-WNY as a senior. You played one year of varsity football, and during that sophomore year you were named Honorable Mention All-Catholic. Your terrific basketball garnered the most recognition and accolades.
As a four-year starter at guard, you were named All Monsignor Martin League as a 10th grader, All Niagara Frontier League in your junior and senior years, and first team All Western New York as a senior. As a senior, you led Nichols to its first New York State Class C Federation Championship, after which you were named Most Valuable Player of the tournament and named as first team Class C All-State. You finished your basketball career as the all time leading scorer in school history with 1783 points (later to be surpassed only by Christian Laettner '88) and you remain one of the leading scorers in Western New York history.
At Hamilton College, you played baseball for two years and basketball for four. As the starting point guard, you were an integral part of Hamilton's E.C.A.C. Championships in 1986 and 1987.
As a freshman in 1986, you were named Rookie of the Year in both the E.C.A.C. and N.E.S.C.A.C Leagues. In 1989, you were named to the All-E.C.A.C. first team averaging 10.6 assists per game. You finished your college career ranked third in Division III history in assists and as a 1000 point scorer.
Following your graduation from Hamilton, you played professional basketball in Sweden, where you averaged 22 points and 9 assists per game. You returned to your collegiate alma mater as an assistant men's basketball coach from 1991 to 1994 contributing to a NCAA Division III national championship in 1991. More recently you have served as an assistant basketball coach at the University at Buffalo and later as assistant baseball coach, which led to your being named head coach of the Bulls' baseball team in 2006.
