Maple Grove is a school known across New York state for its athletic success. Most of that winning starts and ends with head coach Curt Fischer. Greg Vorse has more on the accomplishments of the Red Dragons leader.
Many coaches agree confidence is the biggest key when dealing with high school student/athletes.
At Maple Grove, thousands of athletes have walked on to the field or court bursting with belief knowing they have one of the greatest head coaches in New York state history, Curt Fischer.
"He just has so much experience, he has a great knowledge of the game, and I think going into any game we are confident we can win," said Bradley Benson.
"We just put all of our faith in the coaching staff and their preparation. What they do for us in practice in drills and everything. We just follow them and we know they will lead us down the right path," said Trevor Micek.
This year he became just the fourth Section VI football coach to reach 200 career wins. He has close to 20 sectional crowns between football and basketball, he laughingly doesn't know the exact number, and his Red Dragons have claimed four state championships - two apiece in football and hoops.
"There are only a few schools and a few coaches who can say they have done what he's done. To be a part of it has been awesome. To learn from him has been great. If he were to retire he'd have a great career, but he isn't ready yet, he has another run in him," said Jordan Saxton.
The deep playoff runs the last couple of years weren't limited to Maple Grove or Class D, in three years with the combined team of Maple Grove and Chautauqua Lake in Class C. Fischer and his boys won a pair of Section VI championships while compiling a 28-5 record. So, what's the secret to his success?
"It's just the relationship that we have, I really believe that. It starts out in midgets, I try to get down and help them as much as I can so that they know who I am and we've done that for years. I think it is just consistency and we just try to be who we are and who we are is family," said Fischer.
When you've been coaching at one school since 1991 in now what is four different sports in football, basketball, baseball and softball, you create quiet the legacy and even stronger bonds.
"He is like a second father to a lot of guys and to a lot of guys who don't have a father figure in their life he is someone they can look up to. Just to be that person for them is awesome on its own and to teach them football at the same time as how to be a man and how to go out after football. To show them all the lessons that he can through football is a great thing for him to do," said Saxton.
"He has put so much into this program the past two decades. Everything he has done is for the kids. I can't speak highly enough about him," said Micek.
"Anyone on the team would feel comfortable coming to him and speaking about anything other than football. So, grades, family, anything that is good or bad going on in their life, they know they can come to coach and talk to him about it," said Bradley Benson.
As much as Fischer means to Maple Grove, he knows he's received even more in return.
"It's my second family, it's the second part of my life. It's been awesome to see some many great people succeed. We've been through a lot. I think I've been through three superintendents and four or five principals. It's been a heck of a ride, no doubt," said Fischer.
With his team currently ranked number one in the state and his sophomore son, Zach, playing both football and basketball, coach has no plans to hang up his whistle anytime soon.