Following an undefeated season led by a veteran-heavy roster, the challenge at Bishop Kearney is clear: sustaining that momentum.
Whether it’s due to the roster turnover or its new merger, the private school’s football program will have a new look this fall. After years partnered with Rochester Academy Charter School, Bishop Kearney is teaming with Williamson to form its varsity football team.
The merger may seem unusual at first glance given the distance between the two schools. But Williamson expressed the most interest in a partnership, after Bishop Kearney’s efforts to find a nearby school fell short.
“I was with Cal-Mum/Byron-Bergen when they were merged, so I kind of understand the process,” coach Sean Ramsey said. “When you look around geographically, there was not many options. Talking to the athletic director at Williamson (Bryon Rockow), there was interest there. That’s always the first step.”
The team expects that up to 40% of its practices will be held at Williamson, with plans for an eventual 50-50 split as the partnership continues. Concerning participation, Ramsey said the opening strength and conditioning session had 10-plus kids from Williamson, plus the contingent from Bishop Kearney.
That total is growing, though. One benefit of the merger with Williamson is the school’s wrestling program, which provides able-bodied talent for the gridiron.
“I’ve been knocking on doors. The word is starting to get out,” Ramsey said. “That’s how you build a program, is with kids that enjoy the grind. They’re mentally tough and physically tough, and those are the kids I believe Williamson has.”
Ramsey lost almost all of his starters from last year’s group that finished undefeated in its 10-game independent schedule. As the team prepares for this fall with a completely new core, teaching fundamentals has been paramount.
One player Bishop Kearney/Williamson expects to lean on is running back/linebacker Jackson Stevens. The sophomore, who enters his third varsity season, is the team’s only returning starter.
A fair share of the team’s roster is first-time football players, who’ll look to Stevens as a guiding light despite his relative youth.
“He’s still a little green but I coach him very hard. He’s completely bought in and he’s gonna be the leader for our team this year,” Ramsey said. “You look at him and he’s probably put on 10 pounds of muscle, on top of the 10 pounds he added from last year. He’s dialed in, very driven, very smart.”
With a return to classification football and the wealth of newcomers, a second-straight undefeated season seems a far cry. Bishop Kearney/Williamson’s coaching staff sees four wins and a sectional berth as a realistic goal.
That’s with one eye on the present, but another on the future. In the long term, the program hopes it can join one of the local leagues in the Finger Lakes or Livingston County — this year’s schedule is heavy on out-of-section opponents — and rise to the level of other traditional private school powers like Aquinas and McQuaid.
Get 15% off NFHS Network subscription ahead of high school sports season
Bishop Kearney is heavily investing in its athletic facilities, with plans for a multimillion-dollar training center by the 2027-28 school year. Should that come to fruition, continued success on the football field could follow.
“That’s the end game,” Ramsey said. “The administration at Bishop Kearney has made their goals very clear, and we want to be playing with the big boys. We’re not there yet, but we’re starting to lay the foundation. The goal for this year is to get kids to come out for football and stick with it.”
Bishop Kearney/Williamson football at a glance
Bishop Kearney/Williamson football schedule for 2026 season
Top returners and newcomers for Bishop Kearney/Williamson
RB/LB Jackson Stevens, OL/DL Hunter Hubright, OL/DL Liam Ames, OL/DL Nate Porchea, RB/LB Jonah Grubaugh, OL/DL Justin Drain
A look back: Bishop Kearney football
Marquee matchups for Bishop Kearney/Williamson
Only three of Bishop Kearney/Williamson’s seven games are against Section V opponents. Of the team’s 10 wins last year, the matchup against South Seneca was the closest (Bishop Kearney won by six points). Those two teams reconvene in the penultimate game of the regular season.
Justin Ritzel is a sports reporter for the Democrat and Chronicle, with a focus on Section V athletics and high school trends.
This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Bishop Kearney football rebuild centers on new merger
Reporting by Justin Ritzel, Rochester Democrat and Chronicle / Rochester Democrat and Chronicle
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Justin Ritzel, Rochester Democrat and Chronicle | USA TODAY Network
