Helen Nikiel

Helen Nikiel was a standout athlete at Cheektowaga Central and set numerous girls’ school records.

After graduating from Cheektowaga, she attended Buffalo State College and graduated in 1971. Although there were no women’s varsity athletics at the time, she was still a leading student-athlete, participating in the school’s Women’s Recreation Association in basketball, and bowling.

Nikiel played 10 years with the Tonawanda Shamrocks softball team and had an impressive 180-67 record with a 1.43 ERA as a pitcher for the Shamrocks. She was named the Northeast Region Most Valuable Player in 1972 regional tournament. She also played 9 seasons for the Shamrocks’ basketball team and averaged 10.7 points and 6 rebounds per game.

As a standout softball player, Nikiel joined the Buffalo Breskis and played professionally for 4 years (1976-79). She was a 30-game winner in just her first season with the team.

In 1981, Nikiel competed in the City of Buffalo bowling tournament and captured the women’s singles title.

In that same year, she returned to her alma mater to coach the Buffalo State women’s softball team. In 1984 she led the Bengals to a SUNYAC title and was named the Coach of the Year.

Helen Nikiel was inducted into the Western New York Softball Hall of Fame in 1984 and the Buffalo State Athletics Hall of Fame in 1988.