AVRIL KING
Social Media Asst.
What is the best way to create a rivalry between the two western-most SUNY schools in New York State? How about a competition between the Fredonia Blue Devils and Buffalo State Bengals, which runs all season and includes every sports event in which the two schools meet?
That is what Fredonia’s Sports Information Director Jerry Reilly and Buffalo State athletics employee Joe Baudo decided on when they created Battle by the Lake.
The competition is held each year beginning in Fall. Whenever the two schools meet in a season game or SUNYAC Championship meet, points are awarded to the team that wins or finishes higher than the other. In Spring, the points are tallied and the winner is awarded the Lake Erie Cup to keep at their school for the following year.
The competition began in 2014 when Reilly and Baudo realized that there were only two schools winning the SUNYAC Commissioner’s Cup every year: Geneseo and Cortland.
“We wanted to give our athletics teams something to compete for,” said Reilly. “Our rivalry with Buffalo State used to be really intense, and we really wanted to rekindle the rivalry.”
This is the third year that the competition has taken place, and, according to the Fredonia Blue Devils website, Fredonia has won the two previous years.
Softball team member and sophomore chemistry major Mallory Mecca said of Battle by the Lake, “I think it’s a cool goal to reach towards and something different to think about. I’ve never had something like that before on any high school or travel team that I’ve played for.”
After two games played against Buffalo State on Friday, April 14, the softball team was unable to secure the Lake Erie Cup for Fredonia. However, the Blue Devils still hold a narrow lead over the Bengals with a score of 15.5 points to 13.5 points. There are still two more SUNYAC competitions in May for men’s and women’s track and field.
Over the next few years, Reilly is hoping for the event to grow in intensity on campus and even in the community.
“I don’t know if it’s been embraced like I envisioned,” Reilly said. “But, it was created to build a more positive experience for student athletes. We want them playing for more than a win.”
After a season filled with determination, the schools will meet again at SUNY Cortland on May 5-6 to decide the fate of the Lake Erie Cup.