Author: Dylan McGlynn

SARATOGA SPRINGS —Founded to help grow and increase opportunities for local youth basketball participation, Saratoga Battle Basketball has quickly picked up steam in the Capital Region youth basketball circuit.

Originally established in 2019, Saratoga Battle plans to offer 12 to 13 teams this season between boys and girls teams at a variety of grade levels, said president Adam Britten, who noted the program has grown “a thousand percent” since its inception. There are roughly 150 kids participating this year across all of the Saratoga Battle teams.

“We have two fourth-grade teams, we have one fifth-grade team, two sixth-grade teams, one seventh-grade team and one eighth-grade team on the boys side,” said Britten. “And then we basically double that on the girls side as well.”

The league is open to all kids who reside inside the Saratoga Springs City School District, whether they attend a district school or otherwise.

The boys teams compete in the Capital District Youth Basketball League (CDYBL), while the girls teams compete in the Capital District Girls Basketball League (CDGBL). Teams play a schedule of roughly 16 to 18 games, plus an end-of-season tournament. Games are played from the first weekend of November to the first weekend of March, Britten said.

The program has seen strong results early on, with three of its boys teams winning CDYBL championships at their respective age levels last season, said Britten.

“We’re really trying to act as a feeder program for middle school, freshman, JV, varsity basketball, no matter what school you go to in the Saratoga district,” said Britten. “I’m happy to say that my entire eighth grade team last year, they were all playing on the modified team at Saratoga. That’s the ultimate goal, is to make the high school-level teams.”

One major perk for the program are the annual games played on the hardwood at MVP Arena in Albany. In the week leading up to Christmas, the Saratoga Battle teams have an opportunity to play in the arena, with Britten saying “It’s probably the number one thing that the kids and parents look forward to.” The teams also attend a Siena College game at the arena.

“It’s just something really cool,” Britten said. “The night of the game, we do reserve a banquet hall, and get the whole program in there, and have some food. … It’s just definitely a very cool experience.”

Saratoga Battle is registered as a 501(c)(3) non-profit, and is entirely funded by donations and sponsors, with Britten saying they aim to keep fees as low as possible for families and kids who wish to play. He noted Saratoga Battle will work to sponsor families who may need financial assistance, and offer carpools to help transport kids to games and practices. Britten also credited the organization’s sponsors for their support.

“Our goal is to always be cost-effective for the families to play, and to keep fees as low as we can,” said Britten. “We want to keep families interested, and we think the number one factor in that is keeping costs to a minimum. That’s always our goal there.”

Saratoga Battle’s teams will play their home games this season at Gavin Park in Wilton. Britten noted the organization has to pay to reserve gym time, which he said is currently the program’s “biggest challenge.” 

“We’re raising money and spending it on the kids,” said Britten. “There’s no man, no adult or coach making any money on the program.”

Britten, who was born and raised in Saratoga Springs, said he “grew up in these programs,” and noted it is meaningful to offer a strong opportunity for local kids to get involved with basketball, and also to build a presence and connections in the community.

“A lot of what we do is making sure that every kid has an opportunity to play,” Britten said. “At the end of the day, there’s probably four or five hundred kids playing basketball in Saratoga. We’re happy with our presence.”

HALFMOON — Charlie Greiner and Carter Sica of the Saratoga Springs varsity boys golf team have each clinched their spots at the 2024 NYSPHSAA Boys Golf Championships in June, earning top-nine finishes at the Section 2 State Qualifiers last week.

Greiner placed eighth overall, while Sica placed ninth. The 2024 championships will be Sica’s third trip to states, and Greiner’s second. Head coach Jake Zanetti said that it was meaningful to see the pair advance to yet another state tournament, saying both golfers “showed some toughness” to earn their spot.

“Carter had a very difficult opening nine holes, shooting a 43. And then for him to grind out a 39 on the back to end up qualifying, ultimately, showed a lot of grind and grit and toughness out of him,” said Zanetti. “Charlie Greiner, in a similar situation, with only four or five holes left to play, he birdied 14, which is one of the toughest holes. … Then he had a great shot on 17, which is where he said it basically sealed the deal for him as far as qualifying.”

Now the duo will have plenty of time to prepare for the state championships, which begin June 2 at the Mark Twain Golf Course in Elmira. Zanetti noted that Greiner and Sica have months to work on their game, and added that both having prior state experience can prove beneficial.

“So they’ve now had the experience of going, and now they can put that away, and go out there and compete,” Zanetti said. “They’ve got … seven more months of training to get under their belt in anticipation of states in June. Them buying themselves that much more time to improve their games is huge. They could be that much better come June.”

Greiner and Sica’s finish at state qualifiers comes after the Blue Streaks placed second as a team at the Section 2 Championships, ending their bid for back-to-back sectional titles. But despite the finish at sectionals, it was still a remarkable year for the Blue Streaks’ squad, going 14-0 in the regular season and winning the Suburban Council Championships as a team.

Zanetti emphasized the depth of the team this year, noting that although the Blue Streaks were only allowed to bring six golfers to the section championships, all nine members of the varsity roster qualified for sectional play. Thomas Bundy, Charlie Blake, and Cole Whitman also advanced to the state qualifiers for the Blue Streaks this year after strong finishes at sectionals.

“We were very strong, one through nine,” Zanetti said. “Our nine guys could compete with anybody. We actually had to leave three kids off our sectional roster, even though they qualified.”

He noted that he hopes this rule will change at some point to allow all qualified golfers to attend the section championships. He also added the program had a “very strong” JV team this year, and also started an unofficial modified team to allow more kids an opportunity to play.

“We want to keep the numbers pumping for Saratoga golf,” said Zanetti.

Looking forward, the Blue Streaks’ coach said he is excited to travel with Greiner and Sica to states in June, saying, “It’s always a fun trip.”

“It’s a bonding experience for the boys, among the Section 2 team. It’s great for all the other coaches to get together,” Zanetti said. “We’ve got some really good coaches in Section 2 that get to shed their wisdom on boys from other teams, which is kind of a rare thing. It’s a fun all-around trip.”

SARATOGA SPRINGS — The Head of the Fish Regatta returns this Halloween weekend, drawing in thousands of rowers to compete on Fish Creek. But the largest rowing event in Saratoga Springs initially had humble beginnings upon its establishment in 1986.

The regatta was originally founded as a way for Tom Frost and his fellow members of the Saratoga Springs Rowing Club to raise money to purchase a boat and other equipment for the club. 37 years later, the event has grown more than anyone imagined.

Kate Mastrangelo, daughter of Tom Frost, said it is “pretty amazing” to see how the regatta has grown over the years.

“They didn’t expect it to end up being a big thing, you know? They just needed to make enough money to buy a boat,” said Mastrangelo. “They just didn’t have the equipment, and that was the whole beginning of the race. Just so that they could actually go places and row. And boy, did that take off.”

Held on Oct. 28 and 29, the Head of the Fish will welcome Frost back to this year’s event to honor him for his part in establishing and running the regatta. Now operated primarily by the Saratoga Rowing Association, this year’s event is expected to attract between five to eight thousand participants, said regatta director Kristi Wagner.

“It is really a very meaningful experience to have so many people love this area, and have such a good time, and enjoy coming back year after year,” said Wagner. “It gives us a lot of pride, obviously in the rowing aspect of it, but more in the community. … There’s something for everyone. It makes me happy that we can show off Saratoga in such a positive light.”

Through the years, one major draw to the Head of the Fish has become its trophies, which began as literal heads of fish. Today, they are made with plaster molds of fish heads, but the trophies originated from Frost himself, who would bake and mold real fish heads onto plaques each year. Frost would also draw and design shirts and posters for the regatta each year.

“He would talk to fishermen all over the eastern seaboard, and find out what kinds of fish they could get him, and how could they get it to him,” said Mastrangelo. “He had people delivering coolers full of fish heads. … He just would get so excited about what he could find.”

The Head of the Fish offers nearly 100 events for a variety of age groups, ranging from middle school to adults, ensuring numerous rowers the opportunity to take home a fish head trophy of their own.

“We have a lot of different options, so there’s really something for everyone,” said Wagner. “There’s an opportunity for everyone to race if they wanted.”

The regatta offers single races, doubles, triples, quads, eights, single-gender, mixed-gender, and more, Wagner said. Saturday will consist of primarily college and adult events, while Sunday will consist of middle and high school-age events.

The races take place on Fish Creek, lasting 3,200 meters. Wagner said visiting teams will typically launch from the Saratoga Lake State Boat Launch or the Lee’s Park boat launch, traveling up Fish Creek as a warmup before racing back down.

37 years after the inaugural Head of the Fish, Mastrangelo said it will be “a really cool honor,” for her father to attend the regatta and be recognized for his work in creating it, and said he will appreciate the honor. She was also sure to credit his fellow members of the Saratoga Springs Rowing Club for their efforts in creating the regatta as well.

“I think it’s pretty awesome to have him honored for what he did,” Mastrangelo said. “There were a lot of other people involved too, though, and I do hope at some point that’s recognized.”

Chris Chase, founder of the Saratoga Rowing Association who ran the regatta for almost 20 years, emphasized the Head of the Fish has become a strong community event, crediting local police departments and Lee’s Park and Campground among others for their support through the years. The regatta is also supported by a sizable number of volunteers each year.

“I can’t say enough about the job the Saratoga Sheriff’s Department did for us,” said Chase. “They would send out units for the water, and they would send out units for the road. … Lee’s Park, he’s got 200 acres over there. This never happens without his 200 acres.”

Wagner also emphasized the regatta’s goal of working with local vendors and companies.

“I want to keep things as local as possible, and give business as best we can to other local companies,” Wagner said. “I think we’ve been developing and continuing some cool relationships.”

Over the years, the regatta has helped grow the presence and participation of rowing in Saratoga Springs, with Chase saying Saratoga “became quite the rowing town.”

“People who came here loved Saratoga,” Chase said. “It became like a mini-rowing town. It was on your calendar somehow. … We were lucky to have such an embracing community.”

With the regatta taking place on Halloween weekend, Wagner added that some rowers will dress up, saying, “It’s just definitely a fun event.”

“And in the fall, rowing races are competitive, but really, our main racing season is in the spring,” said Wagner. “… Obviously, it’s competitive, and we do have a lot of really competitive teams that come and race, and everyone’s trying to win and trying to go as fast as they can, but there’s also this air of, ‘This is a really fun sport, and this is why we all do it.’ It’s a really cool combination of everything.”

HALFMOON — The Black Horses hit the links last week and came away with hardware, as the Schuylerville varsity boys golf team captured the Section 2 Class C/D Team Championship at the Fairways of Halfmoon.

The team posted a combined score of 244, led by Ryken Riper’s 78. Adam DeGregory shot an 81 for Schuylerville, while Kadin Converse shot an 85 to help the Black Horses win their second sectional title in the past three seasons.

“These kids are really competitive, and they absolutely love the game of golf,” said head coach Matthew Steinfort. “They’ve had really low rounds before, so it’s just a matter of trying to recreate that mindset, that attitude, and that mood, and go execute on that day. A credit to them, they went out there and they performed well.”

Steinfort credited the team for their commitment, saying the Black Horses’ golfers have been “constantly” on the course throughout the season. He said his message ahead of sectionals was “to take advantage of the opportunity, and to be the best version of themselves.”

“It’s about just trying to stay focused, and stay diligent about how you approach your game,” Steinfort said.

The Black Horses also captured the team title in 2021. Riper’s 78 was good for a third-overall finish individually, while DeGregory placed fifth and Converse tenth. The trio all earned spots at the state qualifier match, where the top nine golfers advanced to the state tournament. 

Steinfort praised the trio’s consistency throughout the fall, and said his mindset entering state qualifiers was simply to let the golfers “do their thing.”

“These guys are good,” Steinfort said prior to state qualifiers. “It’s just a matter of me to be smart enough to stay out of their way, to let them go out there and do what they’re capable of doing. My part is to simply try to help instill confidence, and try to shape a loose and relaxed but focused frame of mind.”

DeGregory and Converse each advanced to the final round of state qualifiers, finishing in the top 20. DeGregory finished 10th in the final round, just missing the cut for a trip to the state championships, though he was named the first alternate. Converse finished 19th overall.

“They’re a competitive group. They play so much, and they put so much time into it, and they have the ability,” Steinfort said of the Black Horses’ team. He also pointed out that Riper, DeGregory, and Converse are all only juniors. 

“So they do have one more year, and I’m just happy for those guys that they were able to get a second one in this three-year stretch,” continued Steinfort. “Hopefully they’ll have a good season next year as well, and put the work in.”

SARATOGA SPRINGS — The Saratoga Springs varsity field hockey team earned a win on Friday that was meaningful in more ways than one.

An overtime goal scored by Claire Frasier propelled the Blue Streaks to a 1-0 win over rival Shenendehowa during the team’s annual Pink Game, held this year in support of Saratoga field hockey alum Olivia Allen.

Allen, a 2023 graduate, was diagnosed with leukemia in June, and on Friday, the team was able to pick up a momentous win in Allen’s presence. She said the support shown “means a lot.”

“It means a lot for them to be playing for me,” said Allen. “And I love the sport, so it’s nice to be here.”

Allen said she made some of her best friends during her time with the team, and said it was “awesome” to see the victory.

“I made my four best friends on the team. Some of which were from elementary school, but we played together all through high school,” Allen said. “So the friendship and the competitiveness is the best part for me.”

Saratoga head coach Jo-Anne Hostig said the exciting victory puts “a little icing on the top” of a meaningful day.

“That’s what the game’s about,” Hostig said.

Hostig said it is meaningful to support Allen, saying she was “our sunshine” on the field hockey team.

“I want to give to her now, because she gave to us. And that’s how all the kids feel,” said Hostig. “She was our ray of sunshine, so we’re going to help her through it, whatever it takes. It’s good to see her.”

Saratoga also held its Pink Game several years ago in memory of former assistant coach Beth Roberts, who died of cancer. Hostig noted that Allen “always checked in” on her following Roberts’ passing.

“Like it’d be my birthday, and she’d be like, ‘How are you doing, Coach?’” Hostig said. “And I’m like, ‘OK, this is way out of the season.’ Because she knew that I was hurting, because I was so close to my assistant coach.”

Hostig credited the team and its community for their support, saying that her players were selling ribbons in school throughout the week to raise money, and that several coaches and alumni returned for the game.

“We’ve rallied around it, and we’ve rallied around Liv, and her family,” Hostig said. “I know that they appreciate it. And I know that if anything happens to any other, we’d do the same thing. That’s the best part.”

Frasier’s game-winner came following a penalty corner, off an assist by Charlotte Drabek.

“It was definitely not what I expected,” said Frasier of the goal. “I was intending to pass it off, but it was a great opportunity.”

Hostig said the team has been consistently improving as the season has continued, with Friday’s victory avenging an earlier 2-1 loss to Shen on Sept. 18. Frasier also added that the win gives the team confidence as they prepared to enter the final week of the regular season.

“We are maturing leaps and bounds each game that we’ve had, and our confidence level has gone up so much,” said Hostig. “And they are trusting their teammates more, and that’s what the best part is. You can only hope that this time around, when you get toward sectionals, you want to be peaking.”

And ultimately, the win was about more than just field hockey.

“It’s an experience that’s really important,” Drabek said.

“They’re realizing that there’s more than them. There’s an outside world, and we need to make sure that we remember that,” Hostig added. “I’m glad that (Olivia) was able to make it, and that we are able to share this with her.”

REXFORD — The Section 2 girls golf tournament began on Wednesday, gathering many of the powerhouse programs in the sport at The Edison Club in Rexford. But one team was full of new faces.

The Saratoga Central Catholic girls varsity golf team qualified for this year’s sectional tournament as a team for the first time in school history, and also had three golfers representing the Saints in the individual tournament. It was a large step forward for the program, which previously had only one Section 2 qualifier in team history (Allison Motler in 2021).

Clara Goffioul, Chloe Lawrence, and Maddison Norton qualified for the Section 2 individual tournament, and the trio was joined by Aila Cartier for the team competition. Head coach Heather Bott said the trip to sectionals represents the girls’ dedication to the sport, and noted a sectional appearance was their goal entering the season.

“I knew with this group of girls, it was a real possibility,” said Bott of sectionals. “At the very beginning of the season, I was like, ‘Our goal is to send a team.’”

“It was definitely the goal,” added Lawrence.

“Yeah, everyone was close, but no one made it (last year),” said Cartier.

The Saints’ lineup at The Edison Club included Goffioul, a senior who was a part of the school’s first-ever girls golf team as a ninth-grader, Bott said. After moving to Germany, her family returned to the area in time for her senior year, and Goffioul was able to cap it off with a trip to sectionals.

“I was so happy, because it was my senior year, so it was my last chance to make sectionals,” Goffioul said. “And it’s my first year back, so I’m actually really happy I made that.”

“I was excited to see that she was coming back, because I was hopeful that she could have an opportunity to qualify for sectionals, and she did,” added Bott.

The team also includes Norton, a ninth-grader who has been a member of the varsity team since seventh grade.

“I’ve been working for it for three years,” said Norton. “I came close last year. It just feels good.”

Lawrence also qualified this year after finishing only one match short in 2022, Bott said. She added it is rewarding to see the team achieve its goal, saying it has been “a lot of fun to watch them grow.”

“I think really, it was just dedicating themselves to the sport,” Bott said. “You can see the improvement they’ve made over the last year … Just being able to watch them, see them grow, get to know them a little bit more on the course, and see their personalities come out, see them enjoy the love that they have for the game and watch that grow, it’s been really fun.”

The Saints placed eighth as a team, with a total score of 453. Lawrence shot 101, Goffioul shot 108, Cartier shot 117, and Norton shot 127. Prior to sectional play, Bott said her message to the team was simply to “enjoy the experience,” which was echoed by the Saints’ golfers.

“I just want them to have fun and take it all in,” Bott said ahead of sectionals on Tuesday. “Don’t take it so seriously. Because golf is a tough game. It’s a mental game. Just having fun, enjoying the camaraderie that they have with their teammates, with the other teams that they’re playing, that’s what it’s all about.

“If you focus on that, I tell them, everything else will come.”