Leading off today: Alden swim coach Gary Grant has died from injuries suffered last month while competing in a triathlon,
The Buffalo News reported Wednesday.
Grant, a 1983 Alden graduate who coached there for almost 20 years, died in Erie County Medical Center on Sunday, after suffering spinal and head injuries during the TriDunkirk triathlon Aug. 26. Grant was trying to unclip his bicycle shoe while rounding a corner when he rode into a metal pole, family members said.
He was 46.
Grant had been a long-term substitute in the Letchworth school district until he was hired as a full-time teacher there this year. He had competed in triathlons since high school.
"I have never met a person that didn't like my husband," Elaine Grant, his wife of 20 years, told the paper. "A lot of people describe him as having an infectious smile and laugh. I describe him as having the biggest heart and greatest capacity to love of anyone I know."
All-stater done for year: University of Pittsburgh cornerback Jahmahl Pardner, fourth-team all-state as a junior and a first-team pick last fall, will miss the remainder of the season due to an injury.
Pardner will have surgery to repair a torn ACL suffered in the Panthers' 35-17 victory over Virginia Tech on Saturday. He appeared in all three games in his true freshman season on special teams and as a nickel back, recording three tackles, one sack, and one forced fumble.
It is likely the school will petition the NCAA for a fifth season of eligibility. NCAA rules allow for a medical waiver if the player has appeared in four or fewer games and has a redshirt season available.
Keeping up with the Joneses: One of New York sports' most accomplished sets of brothers has a very busy weekend ahead.
Jon Jones will defend the UFC light-heavyweight title against Vitor Belfort in the main event of Saturday night’s mixed-martial art show in Toronto. Chandler and Arthur, both defensive linemen, will then be on opposite sides of the field Sunday night for New England and Baltimore respectively when the Ravens host the Patriots in NFL action.
“All of this hasn’t dawned on me yet,” Jon Jones said. “We’re all still at the very young stages of our careers. I have this thing where I’m really big against complacency, so I don’t want accept the attitude like, ‘We did it!’ because we haven’t done it yet."
FOXSports.com football and MMA writer Alex Marvez caught up with several members of the family and reveals some stories from their days as star Section 4 athletes. It's a good read.
More football: Maple Grove has ascended to No. 1 in Class D in this week's New York State Sportswriters Association rankings. Perry, which knocked off then-No. 1 Letchworth, makes its rankings debut at No. 13.
