Veteran athletic trainer Jeff Bray, left, works on Ava Wilburn during a Keuka College women's soccer home game in the fall of 2011.

By John Boccacino/Sports Information Director

Jeff Bray is an avid motorsports fan, and when he arrived in scenic Keuka Park to accept a job as Keuka College’s head athletic trainer/assistant athletic director in the summer of 1992, he figured he was just making a pit stop.

Nearly 20 later, the man who came to campus on a two-year plan can’t imagine working anywhere else.

As he reflects on two decades of dedicated service to the Storm’s student-athletes, Bray can’t help but wonder how he ended up as the second-longest tenured member of the College’s athletics department.

To quote the Grateful Dead anthem, “Truckin’,” what a long, strange trip it has been for Bray.

Born in Sterling, Kansas, a small town that Bray said possesses a similar down-home feel to Keuka, Bray essentially grew up on his parent’s gas station before enrolling in Kansas State to study athletic training.

Bray has taped hundreds of professional athletes during a career that, among other stops, has seen him work the sidelines of NFL games, alongside pit crews for assorted auto racing events across the world, and behind the bucking chutes at top-flight bull riding competitions.

During a four-year stint in the NFL working as an athletic trainer with the Philadelphia Eagles — three as a summer intern and one as a paid professional — Bray taped Hall-of-Famer Reggie White, was part of a team that helped dynamic quarterback Randall Cunningham recover from various knee injuries, and worked alongside talented coaches such as Buddy Ryan, Jeff Fisher and Wade Phillips, to name a few.

Tom Coughlin, the Waterloo native who will lead the NFC champion New York Giants into battle against the New England Patriots in Super Bowl XLVI Feb. 5, was also a part of those Eagles’ coaching staffs during Bray’s time with the team.

Jeff Bray has worked as an athletic trainer for numerous auto races, including an open wheel race when he met Helio Castroneves, an IndyCar driver and three-time Indy 500 champion.

Bray worked alongside legendary actor/race car driver Paul Newman and the drivers of his Newman/Haas Racing Team when working in the Champ Car Racing Series. Division I schools, including Bray’s alma mater Boise State, have sought his expertise in the field of athletic training, making enticing job pitches in an attempt to land Bray’s services.

But through an athletic training career that has spanned more than three decades — the last two of them spent at Keuka — there is no place Bray would rather call home than picturesque Keuka College.

“One of the reasons it’s been easy to stay here is because Keuka’s just been a good place to be, with good people who provide a great college experience, be it coaches, parents, administrators, or the student-athletes. Coach Dave Sweet has been an outstanding mentor and has taught me all about the world that is Division III athletics,” said Bray, who became interested in physical training after watching his mother, Nettie, battle back from a debilitating stroke when Bray was 15.

“I really appreciate getting to know the families of the student-athletes here. At a Division I school you never really have any dealings with parents. Keuka is special from that standpoint, and as my kids get older that [relationship with the parents] means more to me, because not too far down the road it’ll be me handing my kids off to a college and I’ll want to feel as comfortable sending my kids off to college as the parents of our student-athletes feel when they send their children to Keuka.”

However, that opinion of Keuka took some time to formulate for Bray, who currently resides in nearby Penn Yan with wife, Kristen, and son Tyler, 15, and daughter Kelly, 13.

When Bray was offered the Keuka position, he had his reservations. Sweet, Keuka’s athletic director and head coach of the women’s basketball team, had been on campus for nine years and was working diligently to transform the Storm from a predominantly women’s sports-based program into a well-rounded, co-ed athletics department that produced championship-caliber teams on the playing fields, and accomplished students in the classroom.

Additionally, Bray had only worked with professional and Division I athletes at his previous jobs, and Keuka was a tiny Division III school smack-dab in the middle of rural Upstate New York.

The Storm didn’t even have a football team, a fact Bray felt was a prerequisite for any potential job. He previously had worked passionately with football teams at every stop along the way: from his student athletic trainer days at Kansas State, to his graduate work at Boise State, through his four-year stint with the Eagles, and his time spent as Illinois State’s head football trainer.

In the end, while the decision was Bray’s to make, his future wife Kristen held the ultimate card. She had grown up in the Buffalo area and was a successful basketball player at Canisius College. Even though the couple wasn’t yet married, Bray realized it was important for Kristen to be closer to her family.

So the couple came to an agreement. Kristen and Jeff would relocate and Bray would try out the Keuka position for two years, and if Bray was unsatisfied at the end of the two-year trial period, Kristen would relocate anywhere in the country as her husband searched for his dream job.

Twenty years later and, the rest is history. Bray said he “fell in love” with the job and the students, and while other colleges and universities have called for Bray’s services, the answer has always been the same: “Thanks, but no thanks.”

“I had a unique opportunity at a very young age to reach the pinnacle of our profession,” said Bray, who still carves out time in his busy schedule to work between 5-10 auto races a year as an athletic trainer.

“There are thousands of young athletic trainers, student athletic trainers that aspire to work in pro sports, and only a few get there. I had the opportunity and while I enjoyed my time in the pros, long-term I didn’t know if it was for me. After a lot of thinking, when this job became available I took it and while I couldn’t believe I was at this small college with no football, I owed it to Keuka to give it my best. After all these years this is where I’m supposed to be.”

To achieve peace of mind with his decision about his future, Bray turned to an important part of his past, Otho Davis, his mentor in the athletic training field. Davis was the long-time trainer in the NFL who had worked with the then-Baltimore Colts and was Bray’s boss with the Eagles when Bray secured a summer internship to study under the legendary Davis, who at the time was considered among the best trainers in all of professional sports.

Davis, who died from pancreatic cancer in 2000, was instrumental in swaying Bray to take the job with the Storm. While he was the influence who got Bray into professional sports, Davis also warned Bray of the dangers of working in an industry where off days are few and far between and the average work week could range from 80 to 100 hours.

Davis, who had four sons, rarely got to see his family due to the rigors and demands of the job, a factor Bray considered heavily when debating the pros and cons of the Keuka position.

As Keuka's head athletic trainer, Jeff Bray is responsible for attending to all injured players, whether they play for the Storm or the opposition.

In the end, the chance to help deserving Division III athletes won out. Now, fast-forward 20 years and Bray’s presence has become part of the fiber of a student-athlete’s life. Bray and his staff of athletic trainers work all Keuka College sporting events, ready on the sidelines should an injury befall a member of the Storm or the opposition.

“When I’m asked why I’m still at Keuka, ‘I say why not?’ If our point guard, [Jessica Bandrowski], sprains her ankle and is going to potentially miss some big games coming up, she’s as valuable to her team as [Boise State star quarterback] Kellen Moore is to his team,” said Bray, who used his NFL connections to secure the New York Jets old athletic training equipment when the NFL franchise decided to purchase new equipment in 1998.

“Sure, it’s not going to be in the USA Today or make ESPN that Bandrowski sprained her ankle and might miss a game, but she deserves to be treated like a professional athlete, too. But also, if I go to coach Sweet and say Bandrowski can’t play tomorrow, I’m not going to get the screws put to me [to get her ready to play] to the point that my ethics are pushed and her best interests are questioned in order to get a win.”

Bray’s influence on Keuka’s student-body is not limited to the various playing fields for the Storm’s 16 varsity sports teams. Bray also serves as an adjunct instructor and teaches two sports management classes.

Each fall, as part of their senior class projects, Bray’s sports management students organize the annual Storm Madness pep rally, a raucous affair that provides a first look at the men’s and women’s basketball teams to the campus and neighboring communities.

“Jeff has been my right-hand man for all these years, and he is immensely talented and certainly has a lot to offer to any college,” said Sweet, who credits Bray’s communication skills, problem-solving ability, and self-starter mentality as some of his best personality traits.

“He’s tuned-in well with the needs of our student-athletes and understands what we’re trying to accomplish as a small Division III college athletics program. We’re not all about wins and losses; we try to educate the student-athletes on the overall collegiate experience and Jeff has been extremely helpful, not only to the college but to me in particular.”

Applauding Keuka’s unique Field Period as one of the most beneficial aspects of a Keuka education, Bray backs the college’s required annual 140-hour long internship program that offers real-world work experience to students each year they’re on campus.

“Professionally, if you’re trying to get somewhere, don’t always think you’re going to get somewhere on your own,” said Bray, who originally learned of the Eagles’ summer trainer position through Jim Rudd and Hank Fijalkowski, his bosses while Bray was a student athletic trainer at Kansas State.

“There are people that can and will help you if they know where you want to go. I am a firm believer in our Field Period because I lived the internship route, that’s how I got into the NFL. Jim and Hank, my mentors, told me I needed to do an internship in the NFL, and at the time I was probably too stupid to ask questions. But if Otho, Jim or Hank told me to do something, I knew that was what I needed to do. Our students need to get out and have those workplace experiences, but students can’t have a broken want-to. You can’t be the one pushing them; they need the drive and motivation to succeed.”

Throughout the years, Bray’s dedication toward Keuka College and the Storm’s student-athletes has never wavered, and he is just as passionate about his job and this campus as he was July 1, 1992, the day he first reported for duty at Keuka.

“I think you’re missing the boat of life if you’re not passionate about something,” Bray said. “To this day, I’m still doing something I’m passionate about and that’s pretty cool.”

Senior Brandy Shafer was selected as the NEAC Player of the Year.

The Keuka College women’s lacrosse team swept the North Eastern Athletic Conference (NEAC) regular season and tournament titles as well as the North Atlantic Conference (NAC) tournament title for the second year in a row.

In doing so, the Storm players and its coach were well represented on the All-NEAC teams. 

Head coach Kelly Lickert was an easy choice for NEAC Coach of the Year after leading her team to a perfect 7-0 regular season and a 12-1 overall record.

Senior sensation Brandy Shafer (Rochester, N.Y./Eastridge) was selected as the NEAC Player of the Year as well as earning a spot on the All-NEAC first team.  Shafer led Keuka with 50 goals and 65 points while finishing third on the team with 15 assists.  The midfielder, who was selected as the NEAC Tournament MVP,  also led the Storm with 26 caused turnovers and 35 draw controls while adding 38 ground balls.  

Joining Shafer on the All-NEAC first team were seniors Laura Dougherty (Geneva, N.Y./Geneva) and Brittany Murray (Heuvelton, N.Y./Heuvelton).  Dougherty led Keuka with 26 assists and finished second overall in scoring with 18 goals and 44 points.  Murray was third on the team in scoring with 25 goals, 12 assists, and 37 points while leading the squad with 48 ground balls.

Freshman attacker Maggie Bonafede (Churchville, N.Y./Churchville-Chili) was selected to the All-NEAC second team after finishing fourth on the team in scoring with 19 goals, 16 assists, and 35 points.  The rookie added two game-winning goals and 23 draw controls.

Selected to the All-NEAC third team were freshman Taylor Smith (Webster, N.Y./Webster Schroeder), sophomore Sarah Capek (Horseheads, N.Y./Horseheads), and freshman Kay Kostuk (Cortland, N.Y./Cortland).

Smith was fifth on the team in scoring with 23 goals, five assists, and 28 points.  The attacker led the Storm with six game-winning goals and added 35 ground balls and 25 draw controls.  Capek helped lead a very strong defensive unit that allowed just 5.46 goals a game this season.  Capek had 20 ground balls, 15 caused turnovers, and also scored three goals.  Kostuk joined Capek on the Storm’s elite defensive unit and finished with 18 ground balls, 11 draw controls, seven goals, a pair of assists, and nine points.

Freshman Maggie Bonafede (front) and senior Brandy Shafer combined for eight goals and three assists.

For the second straight year the Keuka College women’s lacrosse team swept the conference tournament championships after they defeated Husson University by a score of 15-8 at SUNY Morrisville on Saturday.

Keuka, who ends its season with a 12-1 overall record, had already defeated SUNY Morrisville to win the North Eastern Athletic Conference (NEAC) tournament championship.  With the seven-goal win over Husson, Keuka defends its North Atlantic Conference (NAC) tournament championship.

Keuka scored the games first three goals before Husson scored three of the next four goals to get within one.  That would be as close as they would get as Keuka netted the next four goals to go up 8-3 and eventually held a 9-5 advantage at the half.

Husson wouldn’t get any closer then four goals down the entire second half as the Storm out-scored them 6-3 in the half.  For the game, Keuka ripped 38 shots while holding Husson to 23.

Rookie Maggie Bonafede (Churchville, N.Y./Churchville-Chili) led the Storm’s offense with four goals and a pair of assists as senior Brandy Shafer (Rochester, N.Y./Eastridge) also had four goals and passed off one helper. 

Senior Brittany Murray (Heuvelton, N.Y./Heuvelton) added three goals and two assists as classmate Jennifer Bush (Endwell, N.Y./Maine-Endwell) had a goal and two assists.  Senior Laura Dougherty (Geneva, N.Y./Geneva) chipped in with a goal and an assist while rookies Taylor Smith (Webster, N.Y./Webster Schroeder) and Kay Kostuk (Cortland, N.Y./Cortland) each netted one goal a piece.

Sophomore goalie Molly Hogan (Horseheads, N.Y./Horseheads) stopped nine shots in goal while Husson goalie had an impressive 18 saves.

Senior Brandy Shafer was named the NEAC Tournament MVP for the second straight year.

The Keuka College women’s lacrosse team defended its North Eastern Athletic Conference (NEAC) tournament title with a 13-8 win over the No. 2 Mustangs of SUNY Morrisville on Sunday. 

Now the Storm must defend its North Atlantic Conference (NAC) tournament title and they will again have to play Husson University to do so.  That game will be played at SUNY Morrisville this Saturday, May 7.

Keuka (11-1) led just 4-2 at the half but answered with nine second half goals, including six straight, to secure the victory.  With the Storm up 11-3, Morrisville netted five of the games last seven goals to make it close.

The Storm out-shot Morrisville 24-23 but had four less (9-13) draw controls and nine fewer (20-29) ground balls. 

Senior Brandy Shafer (Rochester, N.Y./Eastridge) had a game-high four goals to go with her four draw controls to be named the Tournament MVP for a second consecutive season.  She had seven goals and an assist in the Storm’s two games.

Senior Laura Dougherty (Geneva, N.Y./Geneva) passed off four assists while freshmen Maggie Bonafede (Churchville, N.Y./Churchville-Chili) and Taylor Smith (Webster, N.Y./Webster Schroeder) added two goals and two assists a piece.  Freshman Kay Kostuk (Cortland, N.Y./Cortland) tallied two goals as classmate Meredyth McMichael (Penn Yan, N.Y./Penn Yan) netted one.

Sophomore Molly Hogan (Horseheads, N.Y./Horseheads) finished with nine saves for the second straight game as Morrisville’s goalie stopped seven shots.

Freshman Maggie Bonafede had a goal and two assists in the victory.

The top seeded Keuka College women’s lacrosse team rolled through the No. 4 seeded Express of Wells College by a score of 10-3 in the semifinals of the North Eastern Athletic Conference (NEAC) Tournament on Saturday.

The Storm (10-1) advance to take on the No. 2 seeded Mustangs of SUNY Morrisville, who knocked off Cazenovia College by a score of 8-6, for the NEAC Tournament title at 2 pm at Penn Yan High School.

Keuka’s senior sensation Brandy Shafer (Rochester, N.Y./Eastridge) got the Storm on the board first when she converted a shot off a Laura Dougherty (Geneva, N.Y./Geneva) pass just 5:22 into the game.  Wells would tie the game 1:18 later before Keuka scored four straight goals to go up 5-1.  Wells would end the half with another goal to give the Storm a 5-2 advantage heading into the second half.

The Express opened up the second half with a goal to cut the Storm’s lead to just two (5-3).  Keuka would close out the game scoring the final five goals to finish with a 10-3 victory.

Keuka’s defense limited Wells to just 14 shots all game while ripping 32 of its own.  The Storm picked up 16 more ground balls (30-14) ad five more draw controls (10-5) then the Express.  Wells’ goalie stopped 14 shots in goal while allowing 10 goals.  Keuka’s Molly Hogan (Horseheads, N.Y./Horseheads) finished with nine saves on just 14 total shot attempts.

Shafer led the offense with three goals and an assist as Dougherty finished with a goal and three assists.  Rookie Maggie Bonafede (Churchville, N.Y./Churchville-Chili) added a goal and two assists to go with her team-high five ground balls and three draw controls.

Freshman Taylor Smith (Webster, N.Y./Webster Schroeder) netted two goals as senior Brittany Murray (Heuvelton, N.Y./Heuvelton) and rookies Kay Kostuk (Cortland, N.Y./Cortland) and Meredyth McMichael (Penn Yan, N.Y./Penn Yan) each had one goal a piece.

Keuka will defend its NEAC Tourney Title this weekend at home.

The Keuka College women’s lacrosse team (9-1) will host the 2011 North Eastern Athletic Conference (NEAC) Tournament after winning the conference regular season title with a perfect 7-0 record.

The tournament will be played at Penn Yan High School on its turf field this Saturday and Sunday, April 30 and May 1.  Game times will be 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. on Saturday with the championship game being played on Sunday at 1 p.m.

The seeding for the tournament is as follows:

No. 1 Keuka (7-0)
No. 2 SUNY Morrisville (6-1)
No. 3 Cazenovia (5-2)
No. 4 Wells (4-3)

Keuka, who the NEAC Tournament a season ago, will square off against Wells in the 4 p.m. game on Saturday with Morrisville and Cazenovia playing in the 7 p.m. game.  The two winners will play for the championship and the chance to take on the North Atlantic Conference (NAC) Tournament winner on May 7 at SUNY Morrisville.  The Storm also won the NAC Tournament championship last season.

Senior Laura Dougherty led the Storm to a regular season title

The Keuka College women’s lacrosse team used a big first half against Wells College to finish off its undefeated North Eastern Athletic Conference (NEAC) regular season championship run.  Keuka defeated the Express by a score of 15-7 on the road Thursday.

The win moves Keuka to 9-1 overall and a perfect 7-0 in the conference as they win its first-ever regular season title.  Keuka has won the past two NEAC tournament championships but had never won the regular season title.  Wells slips to 6-7 overall and 4-3 in the conference.

Keuka jumped out to a 9-3 halftime lead and held the Express to just four second half goals while scoring six more.  The Storm had 27 shot attempts while allowing 17 for Wells.  The Express won the draw control battle 13-10 as well as the ground ball battle 13-11.

The Storm had five players score at least two goals with senior Laura Dougherty (Geneva, N.Y./Geneva) leading the way with three goals and two assists.  Classmates Brandy Shafer (Rochester, N.Y./Eastrdige) and Jennifer Bush (Endwell, N.Y./Maine-Endwell) each netted three goals a piece as well. 

Freshmen Maggie Bonafede (Churchville, N.Y./Churchville-Chili) and Taylor Smith (Webster, N.Y./Webster Schroeder) each had two goals a piece while freshmen Kay Kostuk (Cortland, N.Y./Cortland) and Meredyth McMichael (Penn Yan, N.Y./Penn Yan) each found the back of the net once while also passing off an assist.  Senior Brittany Murray (Heuvelton, N.Y./Heuvelton) also had an assist.

Sophomore Molly Hogan (Horseheads, N.Y./Horseheads) stopped six shots in goal while allowing seven as Wells goalie also had six saves.

Keuka will finish off its regular season with a home game against Utica College on Tuesday, April 26 beginning at 4 pm.

Freshman Tatiana Pena scored two of Keuka's 14 goals.

The Keuka College women’s lacrosse team remained undefeated in North Eastern Athletic Conference (NEAC) play with an easy 14-4 win over the Mustangs of SUNY Morrisville on the road Sunday.

Keuka improves to 6-0 in the conference, with just one more NEAC game remaining on its schedule, and 8-1 overall.  Morrisville slips to 5-6 overall and 5-1 in the conference.

The Storm used a 10-2 first half to put the game out of reach and then out-scored the Mustangs 4-2 in the second half to ease to a 14-4 victory.  Keuka out-shot Morrisville 27-17 while making four of its six free position shots. 

Senior Brandy Shafer (Rochester, N.Y./Eastridge) led with four goals and two assists, giving her 49 points on the season.  Seniors Brittany Murray (Heuvelton, N.Y./Heuvelton) and Jennifer Bush (Endwell, N.Y./Maine-Endwell) as well as freshman Taylor Smith (Webster, N.Y./Webster Schroeder) each had two goals and an assist.

Freshman Tatiana Pena (Hicksville, N.Y./Hicksville) added two goals while classmate Maggie Bonafede (Churchville, N.Y./Churchville-Chili) had a goal and an assist.  Freshman Meredyth McMichael (Penn Yan, N.Y./Penn Yan) scored Keuka’s other goal.

Sophomore Molly Hogan (Horseheads, N.Y./Horseheads) had four saves in goal while Morrisville’s goalie collected 11 saves.

Keuka will next play at Wells College this Thursday, April 21 beginning at 4 pm.

Sophomore Molly Hogan allowed just two goals in 60 minutes.

The Keuka College women’s lacrosse team continued to win with a 10-2 road victory over the Wildcats of Cazenovia College on Saturday.

The win is Keuka’s fifth straight and moves them to 7-1 overall and 5-0 in conference play while Cazenovia falls to 6-5 overall.

Both teams were consistent in its scoring with Keuka netting five goals in each half and the Wildcats tallying one goal a half.  The Storm had 28 shot attempts while allowing just 10.  Keuka grabbed 31 ground balls to Cazenovia’s 17.

Senior Brandy Shafer (Rochester, N.Y./Eastridge) led the offense with four goals as classmate Laura Dougherty (Geneva, N.Y./Geneva) added two goals and two assists.

SeniorBrittany Murray (Heuvelton, N.Y./Heuvelton) had two goals while freshman Taylor Smith (Webster, N.Y./Webster Schroeder) had a goal and an assist.  Sophomore defenderCourtney French (Massena, N.Y./Massena) scored Keuka’s other goal and freshman Maggie Bonafede (Churchville, N.Y./Churchville-Chili) passed off an assist.

Keuka will next play at SUNY Morrisville this Sunday, April 17 beginning at 1 pm.

Senior Mary Nicholas scored her first career goal in the win.

Keuka College women’s lacrosse rolled to its fourth straight win behind the play of its senior class in a 15-1 win over the visiting Eagles of the College of St. Elizabeth on Sunday.

Keuka improves to 6-1 overall and remains atop the North Eastern Athletic Conference (NEAC) standings at 4-0.  St. Elizabeth falls to 1-11 overall and 0-4 in the conference.

The Storm led 10-0 at the half and upped its lead to 14-0 before St. Elizabeth scored its only goal.  Keuka would tack on one more goal for the 15-1 victory.  The Storm out-shot the Eagles 38-5 and picked up 36 ground balls to Elizabeth’s 13.  Keuka won 14-of-18 draw controls as well.

The Storm’s seniors, playing on senior day, accounted for eight of the Storm’s 15 goals and nine assists.  Leading the way was Brandy Shafer (Rochester, N.Y./Eastridge) with a game-high three goals and four assists.  Laura Dougherty (Geneva, N.Y./Geneva) added two goals and two assists while Jennifer Bush (Endwell, N.Y./Maine-Endwell) had a goal and two assists.

Freshman Tatiana Pena (Hicksville, N.Y./Hicksville) had two goals while Brittany Murray(Heuvelton, N.Y./Heuvelton), Maggie Bonafede (Churchville, N.Y./Churchville-Chili), Taylor Smith (Webster, N.Y./Webster Schroeder), and Meredyth McMichael (Penn Yan, N.Y./Penn Yan) each had a goal and an assist. 

Senior Mary Nicholas (Geneva, N.Y./DeSales) scored her first career goal while sophomore Sarah Capek (Horseheads, N.Y./Horseheads) added her third goal of the season.  Sophomore Courtney French (Massena, N.Y./Massena) added an assist.

St. Elizabeth’s goalie stopped 15 shots while allowing the 15 goals.

Keuka will next play at Cazenovia College this Saturday, April 16 beginning at 12 pm.