On Saturday, September 30, the Holley Central School District in partnership with the Holley Sports Boosters inducted the 1990 and 1991 Class D State Championship boys varsity soccer teams into the Holley Hawks Sports Hall of Fame. The ceremony was held at Holley’s Sander Field at the Woodlands at 7 p.m. between the girls varsity soccer and boys varsity soccer Homecoming contests.
Following tradition, the inductees exited from behind the trees and onto the field to the sound of “Hells Bells” by AC/DC playing over the speaker. Together, they walked to centerfield alongside Coach Dan Orbaker and Assistant Coach Jim Palermo where they were introduced. They each wore Hawk Red headbands that read “Have no heart! Feel no pain!”
Articles from the 1990 and 1991 December editions of Holley’s Dimension newsletter were read aloud at the ceremony.
“For a second year in a row, the Hawks were behind but they dug deep and won the game in two thrilling overtime periods. For the first time in section V history, a team has won the state championship two years in a row,” wrote Orbaker in 1991. “What the team did was incredible, a record of 24-0-1. The greatest record in school history once again brought Holley a place in state history. All in all, this team was a club that in the beginning of the season did not have any idea of what it could become. The TEAM concept was critical to their success and through their hard work, determination and trust in each other they truly became champions!”
Along with the two teams, Coach Dan Orbaker was individually inducted into the Holley Sports Hall of Fame Saturday evening. Orbaker retired from his role as a high school chemistry teacher and varsity boys soccer coach at Holley in 2019 after 33 years. In that time, the Hawks secured 15 Genesee Region League titles, nine Section V championships and two state titles. Inducted into the Section V Hall of Fame in 2019, Orbaker led the Hawks to over 450 wins and was named Section V Coach of the Year 10 times. Over 50 of the players he coached were named to the All-Greater Rochester team and 114 players went on to play soccer at the college level.
“For 33 years, the Holley boys soccer team filled these bleachers with hundreds of fans,” said Orbaker’s wife, Darlene Orbaker, when she spoke at the ceremony. “Game nights were when many in Holley and neighboring towns would plan to meet up, have a chicken sandwich, maybe some of the Sport Boosters famous hand cut fries, and a hot apple cider while they anxiously awaited…the BELLS. Those bells are symbolic of many things beyond winning, they symbolize brotherhood and legacy. A brotherhood and legacy of a time Dan bonded with hundreds of players over the love of the game of soccer.”
Adding to the excitement, the Holley varsity boys soccer team tied Roy-Hart 3-3 on Saturday evening after going into double overtime. Playing in goal for the hawks is senior Cavan Bennage, son of 1990 team member and inductee Mike Bennage.
1990 and 1991 season highlights:
The 1990 team was the school’s first state championship soccer team with a 2-1 overtime victory over Southhold of Long Island in the Class D title contest. The Hawks, who finished the season with a 24-1-1 overall record, advanced to the state title contest by defeating Naples 3-1 in the Section V Class DD title game, Greenwood 4-0 in the Section V Class D state qualifier, North Collins 2-1 in overtime in the West Regional and Roxbury 4-0 in the state semifinal.
Adding a second title the following year, Holley’s 1991 team defeated Eastport of Long Island 3-1 in overtime in the Class D state championship game to complete a 24-0-1 season. To get there, the Hawks downed rival Kendall 2-1 in the Section V Class DDD title game to advance to the final. They went on to defeat Jasper-Troupsburg 4-0 in the Section V Class D state qualifier, North Collins 3-0 in the West Regional and Worchester 4-1 in the state semifinals.
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