For the first time since the men's lacrosse program took the field their inaugural season in 2011, Rick Schunke and his staff are in the building phase of the program.
The Hawks will rely on a mix of 19 veterans, who have worn the royal and white at some point in their academic careers and nine first-year players, who will have a chance for field time right away. Schunke and his staff will blend all those talents together with the expectation of making a return trip to the North Eastern Athletic Conference (NEAC) play-offs this year after missing their chance in 2016. Schunke guided Hilbert to three consecutive post-season tournaments in the program's first five year's of NEAC membership.
The 2016 team (5-8) was one game shy of qualifying for post season. Their 5th place finish (3-4) was one game behind the Wildcats from SUNY Poly who made the cut as the 4th seed. Two Hawks were named to the All-NEAC team at the conclusion of the season: Brenden Deady, the starting goalie for his first three seasons of competition, graduated as a 3x NEAC All-Conference player (2nd Team 2015 & 16) as well as the Rookie of the Year (3rd Team) in 2014 and freshman Attack James Duffy earned a spot on the 3rd Team All-Conference after leading the team with 44 points (22g/22a) .
The 2015 Hawks battled to a 6-2 league record (9-6 overall) before they suffered a NEAC semi-final loss in early May. Seven players were selected to the 39-man NEAC All-Conference team. Senior Sean Purtill and sophomore Nathaniel Hyman were selected to the First Team; junior Roland Jimerson, senior Drew Ulbrich and sophomore Brenden Deady were named to the Second team and senior Elliott Russillio and senior Adam McCulle were picked for the Third Team. Purtill earned his third post-season honor while Deady, Russillio and McCulle picked up their second award in their careers.
Schuke and he staff guided the injury-plagued 2014 team to the NEAC semi-final game. His 8-5 (5-2) squad fell to eventual NEAC champions but placed four players on the All-Conference team, headlined by the Rookie of the Year award. The 2013 Hawks battled to the NEAC championship game with a 10-5 overall and 5-2 conference record and earned seven individual honors when All-Conference awards were announced.
After gaining associate membership in the North Eastern Athletic Conference (NEAC) in the 2012 season, the Hawks challenged for a play-off spot in their first year. Schunke’s squad finished 4-4 in league play (5-7 overall) but had to settle for 5th place, one shy of making the NEAC play-offs. Injuries took its toll on the 2012 team and the coaching staff and players did everything possible to fill holes and finish the season in the hunt for post-season play. That missed opportunity the 2013 Hawks as they prepared for the new season with 20 new players on the roster.
Schunke and his staff molded the new comers, refined the returner's skills and guided them to NEAC championship game. The team's overall success trickled down to individual awards with seven athletes earning a spot on an All-Conference team, headlined by Sean Purtill's 1st Team selection.
Schunke guided the Hilbert lacrosse program into Division III status during the 2010-11 academic year building a roster of returning Hilbert club players, as well as freshmen and transfers who wanted to make an immediate impact in the athletics department. That 2011 squad finished 6-6 playing an independent schedule without a post season tournament to chase. Four players garnered national attention at the conclusion of their first season. Ryan Wagner was ranked #2 in goals per game, #3 in ground balls per game and #10 in race-off percentage. Josh Baker ranked #25 in points per game and goals per game while Sean Purtill and Kory Halftown ranked #22 and #31 in assists per game.
On December 16, 2009, Schunke became the head coach of the men’s inaugural lacrosse program. He arrived at Hilbert following several year of coaching at the high school level. Schunke coached 2 high school All-Americans and 9 All-League players at both West Seneca East (2000-02) and Frontier (2002-09). Coach Schunke is a volunteer youth coach with the Hamburg Knights Lacrosse Program (12U/17U) as well as an experienced NFLOA lacrosse official at the high school and indoor Box lacrosse leagues.
“Since my graduation from Hilbert (2001), I’ve witnessed the College improve its facilities and expand its campus footprint. These positive changes combined with the opportunity to recruit the talented athletes in our community to help establish a brand new lacrosse program gets me excited,” said Schunke. “I love the fact that Hilbert has two lacrosse fields on campus, which is another plus for recruiting, and I really look forward to creating my own stamp on Hilbert lacrosse.”
At Orchard Park High School Schunke was named a first team All ECIC and honorable mention All Western New York athlete after his teams won the Section VI title two years, in addition to finishing as a state semi-finalist in 1996.
His collegiate years found him competing at two Division I institutions (Canisius College – ’97 & ’98 and Gannon University - ’99) before he returned home to join the family business. Schunke held a full time job at Schunke Insurance Agency (West Seneca, NY) and attended Hilbert College to complete his bachelor’s degree in business administration. It was during this time, that Schunke began coaching at the high school level.
Schunke currently serves as vice president of Freeway Insurance Services of NY.
