Ava Plezia and Paige Szymanski appreciate the relatability of Williamsville South girls soccer coach Carissima Cutrona.
Cutrona played for the Billies and for the Western New York Flash club team. She continued her career at the University at Buffalo and professionally for FC Buffalo. Plezia and Szymanski used to watch their coach when she was in high school, and they’ve caught a few of her professional games.
Inspired by Cutrona, Plezia and Szymanski became All-Western New York first-team selections and future Division I players — Plezia is committed to the University of Kentucky, Szymanski to the University of Arkansas.
“It’s cool and exciting to see how she’s progressed, and she can see how we’ve progressed as players,” Plezia said. “Seeing her now as a head coach is even cooler, because we see how she’s growing as a coach.”
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They also share a sentimental note: They are among some of the last players Kevin McNamara coached. McNamara, the Williamsville South coach for 28 seasons, died of cancer at 71 in 2022.
McNamara saw potential in Cutrona, Plezia and Szymanski. He had called up all three players to the varsity team as eighth graders — something that has stayed with Szymanski. She felt that season laid the foundation for the rest of her high school career.
“I think learning from the upperclassmen when I was in eighth grade made me hope to be a great example for my teammates ever since (then), because it meant a lot,” Szymanski said. “I always look back and think about how much I appreciate (McNamara). I think during my eighth grade and freshman year, he was one of the biggest mentors in my soccer career. Everything he said and taught me about, I’ve taken with me.”
Williamsville South player Paige Szymanski, left, has been playing for the Billies since she was an eighth-grader.
Harry Scull Jr., News file photo
Cutrona was an assistant when Plezia and Szymanski joined the team. She’s been a presence in their careers, watching their club games just as they watched her college and pro games. All three have watched each other grow — but now, Cutrona is their mentor.
“I know they want to make the best out of this season, and we’re looking at them to lead this team,” Cutrona said. “I get out and watch a lot of their club soccer games with the Flash, to see what they do in club and carry over to high school. I knew they could play at a high level if they wanted to. It’s going to be an exciting year for us and an exciting time to follow them in their collegiate careers.”
Together, they won the Section VI Class A1 title last season, and the goal is to do it again with eight seniors, including the Division I duo. During the summer, most of the team got together for workouts and, on certain days, would have captains practice, led by Plezia and Szymanski. A goal everyone on the team relates with is to avoid replicating last season but exceed it.
According to the New York State Public High School Athletic Association, Williamsville South has never advanced to a state final. No Section VI large school — Class AAA, AA and A — has ever won a state championship. A drought the Billies are aware of and hope to end.
“I think last season was a success for us because we won the section,” Szymanski said. “This year, we want to go farther because our team has a high standard. We want to win states, and as a team, we’ve been improving so much.”
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PlayerSchool Year Elia AddisonWilson9Mara BatchenNichols12Naoimh BradyClarence12 Elisabeth GrayLewiston-Porter10Kaitlin MettlerRoy-Hart12Michaela PanellaSt. Mary’s11 Ava PleziaWilliamsville South 12Marisa RichardNiagara-Wheatfield12Sophie RourkeAmherst12Paige SzymanskiWilliamsville South12
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Publish date : 2024-08-31 00:15:00
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