Hilbert College

Yuhas has been involved in Western New York softball for over thirty years as a player and a coach. Prior to his hiring in January 2010, Yuhas assisted the Eden junior varsity girls softball team (22-2 record) during the 2009 season. Since 2002, Yuhas has been involved with the Eden Recreation softball league facilitating skill training clinics for scholastic level softball players helping the young athletes establish sound fundamentals which will ultimately make them better ball players.

 

Coaching travel softball has been as much a part of Yuhas’ life as his playing days competing in several WNY men’s fast pitch leagues.  “I grew up watching and playing the game alongside my father and current member of the Buffalo softball hall of fame, Peter Yuhas Sr.  My dad not only taught me the fundamentals of the game but a deep appreciation for the athletes who play it,” explained Yuhas.  Since 2006 he has been the head coach of the Hamburg Breakers travel softball 14U and co-coach of the 16U team.   The 14U Breakers won the Niagara Frontier Divisional Champions in 2008.  In 2009 after moving up to the 16U division, the team won a PONY regional qualifier in Ithaca, NY enabling them to participate in the 2009 PONY National Tournament in Akron Ohio, where they faced  some of the best competition in the country. The team finished in the top twenty out of the 125 teams invited. Their success continued as the 16U team took part in the NSA World Qualifier Tournament. Their second place finish qualified them for the NSA Eastern World Championship which will take place in the summer of 2010.

 

Yuhas’ experience as a coach and athlete goes beyond softball. As an undergraduate student, he was a member of the Plattsburg State and the University at Buffalo Division II hockey programs. His playing abilities twice secured him a spot on the Empire State Games collegiate hockey team in the early ‘80s with competition at Lake Placid, NY. After his playing years, he went on to coach a youth hockey team with the Buffalo Bisons hockey organization.

 

Yuhas transferred to the University of Buffalo to earn a degree in Environmental Design and Planning (‘83).  He currently is an Independent sales and marketing consultant.  Yuhas resides with his family in Boston, NY.  

Testa earned a bachelor’s degree in Human Services in 2006 and is currently the assistant director of Admissions for Hilbert College. Due to the requirements of her position in the Admissions Office and her graduate studies at St. Bonaventure University (MSED in Mental Health Counseling), Testa will continue to work with the softball program as an assistant coach.

“I am really looking forward to the season,” said Testa. “I think we have three great returning seniors, dedicated returning athletes who want to play and really talented freshmen pitchers. The combination of the upperclassmen along with the new kids will be a dynamic group to work with.”

During her undergraduate career, Testa was a four-sport athlete – a rarity these days on college campuses. She was a four year letter winner in softball earning AMCC All Conference recognition in 2004; a member of the women’s basketball team during her sophomore and junior years; participated in volleyball her freshman year but finished her final three fall seasons playing on the women’s soccer team.   

“I understand the demands of being a student-athlete in college having been on so many different teams with so many different personalities. It can be a juggling act with time management,” said Testa.  “But I also believe being involved in college athletics is a great opportunity to develop the whole person. That is what I love about coaching - the on-the-field as much as the off-the-field impact I can have on student’s lives.”

Testa currently resides in Buffalo, New York.

 

Head Coach Peter Yuhas announced the hiring of David Vesneske to complete his softball coaching staff. “Dave brings a tremendous amount of softball knowledge to our staff. His greatest asset is his ability to teach both offensive and defensive pressure techniques that will make us a better team,” said Yuhas in his introduction of his second assistant coach. 

 

While finishing his Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration Economics and Finance from SUNY Fredonia, he was able to gain his first coaching experience with the fast pitch house team in Elmira, NY from 1980-82. His experience coaching throughout his last two years of college confirmed his love for the sport and his desire to become a coach.

 

Several years later Vesneske expanded his coaching knowledge when he served as a Hamburg Youth Soccer coach from 1996-98. From 1998-2002, he found himself as a head coach in the Hamburg Junior Baseball league. Coaching in the Junior Baseball league inspired Vesneske to take part in the Hamburg Breakers Girls Fastpitch Travel Softball program.

 

Vesneske has held the positions of assistant coach and head coach for the Breakers since 1999. Yuhas and Vesneske have had several years of experience coaching the successful travel teams together which brings even more excitement of the addition to the program. Along with his knowledge, he has a high energy personality which brings enthusiasm for the game that will keep us moving forward in the development of our softball program” stated Yuhas. “Our goal is to balance the power game with the speed of small ball and Dave has proven to be successful at both.” 

 

Currently Vesneske is the owner and founder of the Classic Awning & Tent Company in Hamburg, NY which has been a successful business for the last 25 years.