2002 State Champs Remember Their Team

The 2010 Harrison Huskies have surprised some doubters by reaching the state championship game Friday at the Carrier Dome. They will no doubt surprise a few more if they bring home the school's first football state championship since 2002.

Harrison has two football state championship banners hanging at the high school, one from 1999 and the other was the 2002 team. We asked members of those teams to look back at their accomplishments from those seasons.

After losing in the 1998 state championship game the 1999 team was led largely by Harrison's record-setting running back in Sammy Maldanado. As good as the 1999 team was, the 2002 team may have been even better.

Harrison won the 2002 game on a last second field goal by Pete Kohlasch to beat Chenango Forks 22-21. Since then several players continued their athletic careers at the next level but they all remember their game at the Carrier Dome.

Andrew Weininger played on both championship teams. Admitedly he was just happy to make it that far as a varsity athlete in 1999, but he remembers the final moments of the 2002 game vividly. 

"Chenango Forks used two or three timeouts before we attempted the kick. When we were out there during that time coach Paladino came out to talk to us.  He said 'Be ready, they aren't trying to ice Pete (Kohlasch), they are trying to set up a block,'" Weininger said. "That immediately switched my focus from worrying about the kick, to just worrying about blocking my gap."

"I will never forget the feeling when I finally looked up and saw the ball soaring high, perfectly splitting the uprights," he said. "I was in complete shock."

Weininger went on to letter in football for the Wisconsin Badgers from 2005-2007 . He was on the Capital One Bowl championship teams of 2006 and 2007 before graduating with a degree in political science in 2008.

Kohlash, the the kicker who was better known as the team's quarterback, went on to graduate from Loyola University.

"I don't know if it was that we were awestruck or if it was nerves, but we went into the locker room at half time and the score was 21-12," Kohlash said. "In the locker room we said if we were going to go out we would go out playing our game. We played better defense and came out in the second half with a better intensity."

Also on the field that day was sophomore lineman Kevin Sun, who's picture will be immortalized forever on the Journal News cover that ran the following day.

"Being a part of the experience definitely set my standards for myself as an athlete," said Sun. "Showing up at the games, all the fanfare that came along with our games, the police escort, it was a hell of a time."

Ryan Lambiasi has become a physical education teacher and a high school football coach himself since being a member of the 2002 team. Lambiasi was a great two-way player on the line for the Huskies and a three-year starter. 

"I remember being down at halftime and nobody was nervous. We had been in big games and championship games before and the fact that we were down by nine didn't matter, we knew that we were going to win," Lambiasi said. "It was one of the most gratifying and rewarding experiences in my life. We had put in the work and the time that was needed and were able to bring it to the field."

Split end Nick Galasso may have been better known for his skills on the baseball field, but he caught a key touchdown pass in the playoffs against the rival Rye Garnets that season before playing for the state championship. 

"I remember going onto the field for the last drive and knowing that we had a chance to do something very special," Galasso said. "That ring is very important to me still eight years later."

Rudy Arcara was a key member of the 1999 and 2002 teams, he is now a member of the Harrison coaching staff.

"I'd never lie to the kids on the team now," said Arcara. "They are right up there with the '99 and '02 teams as far as talent is concerned. Early in the year I questioned their heart and their toughness, but we had some tough games this year and they have been able to comeback and play hard in every one of them. Now the team is finally starting to believe in themselves and playing the way I know they can."

Even though some of the former players haven't been able to watch Harrison play this season, all said they are all rooting for Harrison to bring home the trophy.

"When Harrison has the talent they are very hard to beat. They play sound and disciplined football," Lambiasi said. "When you have the right kids Harrison is as good as it gets."

"I wish this team all the luck in the world. I want them to win as much as I wanted our team to win," said Galasso. "Winning that game was a life-changing moment and I hope they can experience the same."