SCHUYERVILLE — The Schuylerville Drama Club would like to thank everyone who participated in its 5K Ugly Sweater fundraiser run! Proceeds will go towards the drama club’s middle school production, The Wizard of Oz, which will be performed March 6 and 7. Of the 157 runners, the top finishers were Megan Vianese and Daryl Headen. Winners received a medal and a ticket to the show in March. In addition, 55 items were donated to S.A.F.E.R.

SCHUYLERVILLE — Schuylerville varsity boys soccer player Zach Saddlemire was selected as an all state player by the state soccer committee. Saddlemire is the second player in Schuylerville’s history to be selected for the honor. “Zach has been a major part of his team’s success over the past three years with his tremendous work rate, durability and desire to win,” said head coach Dave Gauci. “He was voted captain the past two seasons and has led his team to a 44-15-1 record in his high school career, while scoring 20 goals and 25 assists. Photo provided. He also was a key contributor to this year’s team that made it to the New York state final four.”

The Ballston Spa Athletic Hall of Fame Requests Nominations for 2020
BALLSTON SPA — The Ballston Spa Athletics Hall of Fame Committee requests nominations for its 2020 induction class. Online nomination forms may be submitted at ballstonspaathleticshalloffame. com until January 15, 2020. The ceremony will take place in May of 2020 at the Ballston Spa High School auditorium. For more information, please visit the website: ballstonspaathleticshalloffame.com.

Blue Streaks Hockey
SARATOGA SPRINGS — The Saratoga Springs Blue Streaks varsity hockey team played Adirondack on Wednesday, December 11 at the Glens Falls Recreational Center; Saratoga won 4-1. Joe Amodio at one goal and one assist; Andrew Blanchard had one goal; Will Detora had one goal and two assists; Charlie Leary had one goal. Anthony LaMonda had the goal for Adirondack. Saratoga goalie Brad Blake had 15 saves.

Saratoga Regional YMCA Over 50 Basketball League Scores
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 11
D’Andrea’s Pizza v. Walton’s Sport Shop
Walton’s-60: Jimmy Parker-23, Mike Bentley-16 D’Andrea’s-53: Mike McMorris-18, Rory Wilson-17

West Side v. Lazy Dog Cookie Company
Lazy Dog-57: Scott Clark-21, Matt Treaux-12 West Side-38: Dave Wolfe-13, Mark Sohl-12

Stephen’s Chrysler Jeep Dodge of Greenwich v. Nemer Chrysler
Nemer-67: Stephen Brown-28, Pat Reidy-19 Stephen’s-56: Pat Killian-18, Paul Gross-16

Turning Point Chiropractic Shop v. Mama Mia’s Restaurant
Turning Point-61: Bob Hanson-33, Mike Scanlon-11 Mama Mia’s-49: Phil Fitzpatrick-24, Lamont Williams-13

Saratoga Springs Wrestling v. Walt Whitman
Walt Whitman HS (WWH) 44.0 Saratoga Springs Sr HS (SSSH) 26.0 99: Lucius Anderson (SSSH) over Dominic Repetti (WWH) (Dec 8-2) 106: Jacob Pratt (SSSH) over Nicholas Campanelli (WWH) (Dec 6-5) 113: Kyle Griskowitz (SSSH) over Jared Goldis (WWH) (MD 10-2) 120: Antonio Encarnacion (SSSH) over Michael Sales (WWH) (Fall 0:12) 126: Double Forfeit 132: Maximo Vasquez (WWH) over Zeph Watkins (SSSH) (Fall 1:33) 138: Griffin Biviano (SSSH) over Angel Catalan (WWH) (Fall 1:30) 145: Sachiel Chuckrow (SSSH) over Grady O`Loughlin (WWH) (MD 10-2) 152: Joseph Feola (WWH) over Eric Griskowitz (SSSH) (Dec 8-2) 160: Liam Villanti (WWH) over (SSSH) (For.) 170: Jakarai MC Kay (WWH) over Justin Garfolo (SSSH) (TF 19-4 4:47) 182: Pedro Benitez (WWH) over Noah Robinson (SSSH) (Fall 0:37) 195: Saul Ulloa (WWH) over David Jenks (SSSH) (Fall 0:40) 220: Adrian Londono (WWH) over Austen Douglas (SSSH) (Fall 1:59) 285: Steven Lainez Gomez (WWH) over (SSSH) (For.)

1st place Level 4 & Bronze Teams Level 4 Team:from left to right: Priya Raso, Julia Gillson, Angie Pierre, Gianna Milo, Cailyn Bodkin, Ayla Skinner Bronze Team: From left to right: Hailey Delgado, Neville Zampier, Lexie Dobson, Bianca Marchesiello, Ryleigh Ostrander, Madelyn Green, Gabrielle Farrow, Isabelle Green, Natalie Ostrander, Olivia Mennillo 2 of our girls made top 100 in the country. Ryan Stark: Vault score 9.675 and all around 38.525 Isabelle Green: Bars score 9.875 and Floor score 9.8

Galway Junior/Senior High School Principal Michael Miller is pleased to announce the Honor Roll for the first quarter of the 2019-20 school year. 

Academic Scholars

GRADE 6
Abigail Conti, Lexie Gibbs, Julia Gillson, Sean Gillson, Madison Hoyt, Jane Lapati, Carter Larson, Peregrine Perkins, Max Sicard

GRADE 7Dylan Baxter, Trevor Bombard, Simon Evans, Heather Ehrenberg, Tyler Friedman, Ethan Dabrowski, Lilly Frederick, Sophia Davison-Gauss, Taylor Germain, Nika Horvath, McKenna Kanaby, Mariska Leszczynski, Magdalene Maciag, Deirdre McElhinney, Ava Remscheid, Hailey Reome, Addelayde Ross, Stacey Winsor, Chloe Zembsch

GRADE 8
Shamus Evans, Jackson Flint, Abigail Gullett, Emma Mitchell, Eban Perkins

GRADE 9
Sara Conti, Kerringtyn Davis, Abigail  Ehrenberg,  Sophia  Fasolino,  Skye Fitzgerald, Van  Horvath,  Emma  Jordan,  Joshua T Lovelass,  Stephanie  Martin, Thomas Villano III

GRADE 10
Nathan Baxter, Camryn  Carnevali,  Anna  Dabrowski, Isabella S Hart, Anna E Meisenburg,  Sadie  Underwood

GRADE 11
Heather Atkinson, Charles  Clarke,  Diana  Colangelo,  Dylan Collins, Morgan  Drouin,  Ashleigh  Heuser,  Philomena Hornfeck, Joshua Hoyt, Emily  Johnston,  Katy  Kurtzner,  Isabella  Mancini,  Arianna  Persaud,  Ryan Ripepi,  Rowan Smith, Ella  Underwood, Lindsay Wight

GRADE 12
Kaylee  Bagdan, Aila K Bishop, Alexis Biss, Paige  Brink,  Vanessa Colangelo, Holden Decker, Madison DesPres, Walter J Ellsworth,  Anna K Gardner,  Rachel A Germain,  Hannah R Hofmann,  Joshua J Jankowski, Ryan J Lovelass,  Alex R Malanoski,  Ruth E Reichard, Leanne Rydzewski, Gabrielle Scheeren, Anna Tarashuk, Leah Willbrant, Rachel  Wnuk  

High Honors

GRADE 6
Kara Ferguson, Haleigh Hansen, Nathan Jones, Kyle Keehan, Peyton Sanders, Marek Sherman, Daniella Villano

GRADE 7
Adam Alden, Thomas Aldrich, Tanner Bernard, Kaylee Colabello, Sophia Dugan, Kaleb Johnson, Seth Kenyon, Riley Kress, Aiden Morey, Gavin Russell, Cody Schneider, Kyle Schneider, Anna Spadaro, Ethan Watrobski, Sybrina Wilkins

GRADE 8
Colin Anderson, Carson Eagan, Danielle Gabri, Alexis Heuser, Amber Kolpakas, Christopher Maher, Ava-Rae Nelson, Natalie P Niedhammer, Brooke Padgett, Kendra Peterson, Aidan Reekie-Mell, Mia Sherman

GRADE 9
Quinn Bernard, Olivia  DesPres,  Jayden  DeVellis,  Kailey Jankowski, Daniel Liberatore, Emma Mariani, Grace O’Brien, Samantha Teter

GRADE 10
Eliza Eagan, Hannah French, Jalene Graham, James Hilton, Elisabeth B LaBreche,  Rosie Matecko-Conti, Trishelle Oliver, Myles Pleasants, Julia Reedy, Breanna Reynolds, Alexis Rose, Emma Spadaro, Gavriell Wenk, Jordan Zuk

GRADE 11
Kiana  Arey, Braden Boudreau, Konstantin Friederich, James Grogan, Kyle Hunter, Hunter Jenison, Samuel Mitchell, Kaitlin Pritchard, Michelle Sherman

GRADE 12
Alexander Bott, Taylor Coughlin, Morgan Edwards, Aiden Holbrook, Hailey A McElhiney, Mikayla Neahr, Alexandra Knizek, Carter Scribner, Jade Sicluna, Gabrielle Signor, Adam Smith, Peter Stewart, Nathaniel R Urban

Honor Roll

GRADE 6
Samuel Pratt Davidson, Victoria Duma, Sophia Fiorillo, Landen Fitzgerald, Jessica Newsom, Matthew McCray, Eibhleann McElhinney, Marleigh Morse, Chase Ruggiero, Cassandra Ten Eyck, Kody Ten Eyck-Bauer, Benjamin Tompkins, Kalina Vokatis

GRADE 7
Hayden Bergen, Jason Bilili, John Budris, Sadie Denison, Mikenzie Gowie, Marek Jesionowski, Xavier Ottati, Kiernan Seburn, Hailee Whitney, Xander Yerdon

GRADE 8
Clark Anuszewski, Adrienne Carter, Casey Clarke, Sierra Denison, Carmen Imbo, Christopher Keefe, Melanie Kurtzner, Riya Randall, Hailey Wilson

GRADE 9
Alaina Aschmutat, Kira Bishop, Brian Brink Jr., Matthew Colabello, Raelynn Cullen, Grace DeNisio, Brandon Garney, Connor Johnson, Zachary Kenyon, Sydney Mariani, Jillian Neahr, Spencer Newsom, Gavin O’Neil, Molly Oravsky, Jeremiah Paro, Kaelin Pitman, Tyler Sowle, Zane St. Louis, Eric Zelezniak

GRADE 10
Brian Alden, Karley Barkley, Seth Colflesh, Kylee Decker, Shanley DeRidder, Avery Gilman, Dylan Moules, Dalton Sargent, Caden Sherman, Myels P Shippey, Samantha (Sam) Webb-Horvath

GRADE 11
Arianna Allen, Lexie Bessette, Trevor Carnevali, Noah Flint, Joseph Hahn, Antonio Hart, Benjamin Jordan, Sean Morse, Anthony Powers, Brendan Shader, Matthew Smith, Milan Venditti, Michael Zelezniak

GRADE 12
Skyler Armer, Russell Cook, Kenneth DeRidder, Kenneth Hay, Nicholas Keller, Courtney Koehler, Kimberly Martin, Michelle McCray, Sierra Morris, Jaquline Pilczuk, Hayli Raylinsky, Carson Scribner, Garrett Shippey, Jake Sicard

SARATOGA SPRINGS — A new partnership between SUNY Empire State College and Suffolk County Community College provides guaranteed admission to a bachelor degree program at SUNY Empire for eligible SCCC graduates. This announcement follows the opening of the brand-new SUNY Empire Long Island campus in Selden. 

The new agreement assures a seamless transfer to SUNY Empire for SCCC graduates with any associate degree. It allows students to transfer up to 79 lower-division credits to SUNY Empire, more than half the 124 total credits required to complete a bachelor’s degree, meaning students can earn a bachelor’s degree in as little as one year after earning their associate degree. 

The partnership also waives the orientation fee and provides a $100 Presidential Scholarship to all transfer students. 

Thanks to SUNY Empire’s flexible, personalized education model, SCCC students can complete their degrees entirely online with one-to-one mentoring and academic support. SUNY Empire also offers on-site learning at more than 30 campuses and learning hubs across New York state, including several on Long Island. 

Students transferring from SCCC to SUNY Empire can now take advantage of SUNY Empire’s new, state-of-the-art campus in Selden equipped with cutting-edge technology for in-person and distance learning, which allows students to collaborate with each other as well as faculty and peers across New York state in rich learning environments. SUNY Empire’s Selden campus is less than half a mile from Suffolk Community College’s campus, creating an easily accessible transition to bachelor’s degree right down the road. 

“By strategically co-locating our new campus near Suffolk County Community College, Suffolk graduates can easily continue their education and pursue their goals with as few barriers as possible,” said SUNY Empire State College President Jim Malatras. “SCCC students will save time and money on a bachelor’s degree program under this important partnership. I’d like to thank Suffolk County Community College Interim President Louis Petrizzo and the hardworking faculty and staff at both institutions that made this possible.” 

“Community colleges are all about creating opportunities for our students and Empire State has created a wonderful transfer opportunity today with a fee waiver and a scholarship component that should be the template for all transfer agreements,” said Suffolk County Community College Interim President Louis Petrizzo. 

To be eligible, SCCC transfer students must have completed an associate degree within the past three years, or be in (or entering) their final semester of completing an associate’s degree. The program is also open to employees of Suffolk County Community College. Employees who already hold a bachelor’s degree and wish to pursue a graduate degree at SUNY Empire, are eligible for the same benefits listed above. In addition these students will have access to a point of contact at the School for Graduate Studies to help with the admissions, enrollment and orientation process. 

SUNY Empire State College offers a wide range of bachelor’s degree programs that align with many of the associate degree programs at Suffolk. For a list of bachelor’s degree programs, visit www.esc.edu/degrees-programs/.   

For more information on graduate level degree and certificate programs offered by SUNY Empire State College, or to apply, visit www.esc.edu/graduate-studies.   

Photos provided.

BALLSTON SPA — James Prastio, an 18-year-old senior at Ballston Spa High School, grew up surrounded by football. His father, James Sr., played semi-pro football during James’ childhood and signed James up for flag football as early as he could. 

“I immediately fell in love with the game,” Prastio said, “I had such a passion and love for football and what it meant to be a part of a team and how close everyone was. It’s just something I’ve always loved.”

“He was the heartbeat of our team this fall.  He is a very passionate athlete and loves Ballston Spa football. He was a 3-year starter for us, a team captain, and he also led our team in rushing and tackles,” Coach Jason Ohnsman praised.

Prastio has equally kind words for his coach: “He took a chance on me and that’s something that I am always going to be forever grateful for because without him taking that chance on me, I wouldn’t be where I am now.”

Prastio got moved up to varsity his freshmen year for playoffs and has been a varsity player ever since. 

“The team has suffered a lot of ups and downs. My group of friends, we’ve all played together since we were six years old. We all knew that this was the year we needed to turn it around and bring Ballston Spa football back into the light again. It was time to put Ballston Spa back onto the map,” he explained.

This past season, Prastio was a runningback and linebacker, but he has played different offense positions for the team; his freshman and sophomore years he was a wide receiver and in his junior year, he played tight end. He has no problem changing it up depending on the needs of the team.

“Playing a bigger role was important to me because I wanted to bring pride back to the community. Then this year we obviously had some success reaching the semi-finals and beating Amsterdam at home for a quarter-final game, which was the first time in 15 years that we’ve had a playoff game at home, and the first time in forever that we’ve won a playoff game. To have that be my last game on that field, it was surreal and amazing. I was so happy for the community and my team,” Prastio said.

“His biggest game this year was definitely our first-round home playoff game where he led the way with 250 yards rushing and 4 touchdowns as well as 10 tackles in a 35-12 win.  It was awesome for him to lead us in the first home playoff win in almost 10 years,” Ohnsman stated.

Prastio also letters in wrestling, where he won Class B last year; he also plays lacrosse and took home Section II All-Star last season. However, football is his favorite.

“I like to hit people. I like the physicality of the sport and I especially love the brotherhood that it brings. I’ve been a part of many teams for different sports and the bond that we had this year for football is something I’ve never felt on any team I’ve been on. I genuinely loved and cared about every single one of those guys,” he said nostalgically.

Prastio is undecided on which college to attend but he plans to study education so he can be a coach.

In his free time, he enjoys hanging out with his friends and girlfriend.

When asked what his advice was for future teams, he said this:

“They can measure a lot of things; they can measure your height, they can measure your weight, but there’s one thing they’ll never be able to measure and that’s heart. That’s something you always have to have and a lot of pride in what you do.”

SARATOGA SPRINGS — The Saratoga Springs Blue Streaks varsity hockey team participated in the Don Kauth Memorial Tournament with games against Mamaroneck and Williamsville North at Weibel Avenue Ice Rink. Williamsville North took the W, 4-1 and Mamaroneck also took the win, 5-4. Saratoga played Mamaroneck on Saturday, December 8. In the first period, Leary scored Saratoga’s first goal with an assist from Amodio; Mamaroneck scored twice from Torre and Mollin, both assists by Delast and Spano with a second assist on the first goal. No goals were scored in period two. Mamaroneck then scored twice again in the third period by Leicht, assist by Takaya, and Delast, assist by Kelly. Saratoga also scored twice from Amodio and Sarver. Mamaroneck won in overtime with a goal by Delast. Saratoga goalie Brad Blake had six saves and Mamaroneck goalie Madlyn Boyle had 28 saves. The Blue Streaks played Williamsville North on Sunday, December 8. In the first period, Williamsville North had one goal by Okulewicz with an assist by O’Donoghue; in the second period Ward scored two goals, each with a first assist by Ferenczy and Krier; Okulewicz had a second goal in the second period with no assist. Amodio scored the only goal for Saratoga Springs in the third period with assists by Detora and Lefebvre. Saratoga goalie Brad Blake had 14 saves and Williamsville North goalie Henry Braun had 24 saves.

BALLSTON SPA — Saratoga County 4-H offers a wide variety of unique opportunities for local youth. One such offering is the Horse Quiz Bowl, a distinctive program specific to 4-H members across the country. This fun and interactive activity provides kids from ages 8-18 the opportunity to compete in a “Jeopardy” style forum on equine topics ranging from tack and equipment to health and nutrition. The Quiz Bowl teams are created of four people each, and may participate in one of three levels; novice, junior and senior. Team practices began on Dec. 10 and are scheduled for every Tuesday. Participants are welcome to join any time of the year and will begin preparing for competitions on the regional, state and national levels. The program is exclusively for 4-H members; HOWEVER, Saratoga County 4-H is always accepting new members and registration is only $5. Horse Quiz Bowl practices will be held every Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. No horse experience necessary, just a willingness to learn and meet new people and enjoy yourself. Sign up any time to join a practice. For more information about Horse Quiz Bowl, contact Brieanna Hughes. To register for Saratoga County 4-H contact Leland Butting at Cornell Cooperative Extension of Saratoga County at 518-885-8995.