Lake Shore enters 2026 with proven pass-catchers, two-way pieces back

Overview

• Sean Kunkel is entering the season after three years as Lake Shore's varsity head coach and 17 years with the program.
• Tommy Smaldino is back as a senior WR/DB after catching 31 passes for 489 yards and four touchdowns in 2025.
• Samuel Smaldino returns as a junior TE/LB after a 2025 season with 23 catches for 296 yards and four touchdowns, plus 46 tackles.
• Tyler Kwilos rushed for 283 yards, caught 18 passes and scored a defensive touchdown in 2025.
• The Eagles are scheduled for home games against Williamsville South on Sept. 4, Amherst on Oct. 2, Lewiston Porter on Oct. 15 and Eden/North Collins on Oct. 23.

Lake Shore Eagles 2026 Football Preview

Lake Shore's 2026 football season starts with a familiar voice leading the program and several players back who produced in multiple areas last fall.

Sean Kunkel enters the season after serving as Lake Shore's varsity head coach for the past three seasons. He has been with the program for 17 years, following three years as a junior varsity assistant at Cleveland Hill.

Lake Shore has experienced seniors and juniors, led by Tommy Smaldino, Samuel Smaldino, Tyler Kwilos and Bryson Reid.

Pass Game Carries Experience

Tommy Smaldino, a senior WR/DB, gives Lake Shore a proven receiving option. In 2025, he caught 31 passes for 489 yards and four touchdowns. He also made 13 tackles, intercepted two passes, recovered a fumble and defended two passes.

Samuel Smaldino, a junior TE/LB, also returns after a productive sophomore season. In 2025, he had 23 receptions for 296 yards and four touchdowns, while adding 46 tackles, two tackles for loss, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery.

That gives the Eagles two returning targets with touchdown production from last season. Lake Shore also has senior wide receivers Tyler Spencer, James Marszalek, Cole Kowalski and Felicity Deeds listed on the roster, along with underclassmen at the position.

Backfield And Defensive Pieces

Tyler Kwilos, a senior RB/LB, brings one of the broader 2025 stat lines back for Lake Shore. Last season, he rushed for 283 yards and a touchdown, caught 18 passes for 169 yards, and finished with 29 tackles, four tackles for loss, one interception, three passes defended and one defensive touchdown.

Bryson Reid, a junior QB/LB, also has prior varsity production. In 2025, he rushed for 158 yards, caught nine passes for 61 yards and completed three passes for 42 yards. Defensively, he had 22 tackles and two passes defended.

Nathan Skibinski is listed as a senior kicker and made three PATs in 2025. Lennox VanAernam, a junior OL/DL, added 14 tackles and a rushing touchdown last season.

Up front, Lake Shore's roster includes senior linemen Giovanni Guzman, Omar Atkins, Blake Hamm, Adam Helmer and Owen Valencourt, plus junior linemen Aiden Bean, Aiden Murphy, Max Pitilo and VanAernam.

Schedule Landmarks

Lake Shore is scheduled to open Sept. 4 at home against Williamsville South at Lake Shore Central High School's stadium, then visit OC Rivals (Medina/Albion) on Sept. 11 at Veterans Park in Medina.

The Eagles go on the road again Sept. 19 against West Seneca East, with that game listed at West Seneca West High School's stadium, before visiting Maryvale on Sept. 25.

October brings three home dates in the final four scheduled games: Amherst on Oct. 2, Lewiston Porter on Oct. 15 and Eden/North Collins on Oct. 23. The lone road game in that stretch is Oct. 9 against McKinley at Riverside High School.

For Lake Shore, the season begins with enough known production to give the Eagles a starting point. Tommy and Samuel Smaldino lead the returning pass-catchers, Kwilos brings two-way senior production, and Reid gives the roster another returning player with offensive and defensive experience.