Dejesus becomes model for Ken East student-athletes

Kenmore East volleyball coach Kyle Horvatis had to stop and think for a second.

The question was simple enough -- what stands out the most about his senior captain David DeJesus?

Trouble is that DeJesus has so many positive attributes that, frankly, Horvatis didn’t know where to begin.

In his second season of varsity DeJesus is a core returning player on a Ken-East squad that put together an 8-4

season and made a run at the NFL title before seeing its season come to a heartbreaking end in falling to Williamsville South in the opening round of sectionals.

“It still burns,” DeJesus confessed. “It’s something that I never want to have happen again. It’s my senior year, so I’m going to do whatever it takes to push pass that and get further in sectionals.”

DeJesus is quick to credit Horvatis for providing the team with the type of winning formula that gets the best out of every player.

“He’s a great guy, great coach,” DeJesus said. “He expects a lot out of us and because he expects a lot, he gets a lot. We respect him, every single one of us, and we don’t want to let him down. Last year was a big disappointment for us, and we let him down. We’re definitely not going to do it again.”

Playing for the Bulldogs modified volleyball team, which ironically was coached by Horvatis, when he was younger, DeJesus enjoyed life on the court, but as he got older, he tried his hand in the Bulldogs football program. However, his heart called him back to the volleyball court.

Volleyball is just one small aspect of what makes DeJesus standout. Also an accomplished swimmer, he is an honor student and a member of the Student Advisory Council. DeJesus has also gone to Leadership Camps at Fredonia College and speaks as a student representative of the school’s technology program to the Ken-Ton Board of Education..

“Kenmore East, it’s going to send me places,” DeJesus said.

Looking over DeJesus’ body of work as a student-athlete, it’s understandable why Horvatis needed a second or two before he spoke.

“I know that basically whatever he does he’s going to be successful; he’s successful in swimming, volleyball, is an honor student. He’s got the world by the horns. As he grows up, he’s just unstoppable,” Horvatis said.

“He’s the (kind) of student that I wish we had more of,” he added. “When it’s time to listen he’s all ears. When he has input, he gives it and it’s valuable every time. So aside from volleyball, yeah he’s a really great kid.”

Whether it’s athletics, academics or a school club, DeJesus is honored to represent Kenmore East in any way possible.

“We’ve got a thousand kids in the school, so to be an individual picked out to represent that school, I do it to my utmost. It’s an absolute honor,” DeJesus said.

“There’s no words that can describe how good it feels to be selected by teachers, principals, my fellow students. It’s definitely a big honor,” he added.

Just as it’s a big honor for Kenmore East High School to call DeJesus one of its own.