Spa Catholic beat Hoosic Valley last week, 57 to 39, for their 11th straight win. Image via the Saratoga Central Catholic Saints.
SARATOGA SPRINGS — The Saratoga Central Catholic varsity boys basketball team won again last Friday, defeating Hoosic Valley 57 to 39. The Saints were led by Tyler Hicks with 18 points, while Ryan Gillis added an 11-point, 11-rebound double-double.
The victory was the 11th straight for Spa Catholic, which hasn’t lost a game since December 8. Their record now stands at 13-1 overall on the season, and an undefeated 8-0 in the Wasaren League.
The win against Hoosic (which was the second time the Saints have beaten the Hawks this season) further cemented the Saint’s #1 spot in Wasaren, dropping Hoosic to third place and elevating the 6-2 Mechanicville to second place.
On Friday, January 24, Mechanicville will face the Saints for the first time this season.
The Ballston Spa girls varsity basketball team defeated Schenectady on January 14 by a score of 70 to 14. Image via the BSPA DAWGS Facebook page.
BALLSTON SPA — The Ballston Spa girls varsity basketball team visited the Electric City earlier this month, shattering Schenectady like a broken light bulb, 70 to 14. All ten dawgs contributed to the scoreboard, highlighting the team’s unselfish ball movement and playmaking.
The team fared less well three days later, however, falling to Niskayuna in a close contest at home, 47 to 43. In that game, B-Spa was behind by a dozen heading into the fourth quarter, before battling their way back to a 4-point loss.
Following the win and loss, Ballston Spa’s record stood at 8-4 on the season overall and 3-4 in the Section 2 Suburban Council. Their next game arrives on January 28 at home versus Guilderland.
From left to right: 518 Ballers Owner Vance Parella, Ike Sheppard, Keith Edmonds Jr., and Saratoga Racers Owner Keith Harrington. Photo via the Saratoga Racers.
SARATOGA SPRINGS — Local American Basketball Association (ABA) teams the Saratoga Racers and 518 Ballers crowned Ike Sheppard “King of the Court” after he won a 1v1 tournament held in Albany on Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Keith Edmonds Jr., a member of the Ballers, was named runner-up in the contest.
The tournament showcased some of the Capital Region’s top players, including Saratoga Racers Zach Radz (a former Tracy McGrady Ones Basketball League New York Regional champion and national finalist), Tyjon Gilmore, and Todd Spotswood.
Racers owner Keith Harrington said that 100% of the tournament’s proceeds will go towards the Racers and 518 Ballers.
“It was a blessing that we were brought together to promote our teams, the ABA, and Capital Region basketball,” Harrington said in a statement.
NEW ORLEANS — The NFL’s New Orleans Saints apparently liked what they heard, inviting Saratoga Springs native and Miami Dolphins Defensive Coordinator Anthony Weaver back for a second interview regarding their head coaching position, according to the NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero.
“Weaver impressed in multiple interviews with [the Washington Commanders] and Atlanta [Falcons] last year, and now is in the final round again,” Pelissero wrote in an X post on Monday.
Earlier this month, The Athletic’s Senior NFL Insider Dianna Russini reported that the Chicago Bears had made a formal request to interview Weaver as well.
Weaver is a graduate of Saratoga Springs High School and a member of the Blue Streak Hall of Fame. In his first year heading Miami’s defense, the team ranked fourth in the league in net yards allowed per game.
A pickup truck crashed into a building located at 107 Circular Street in Saratoga Springs last summer, causing The Beagle School to relocate one of its programs. Photo via the Beagle School of Saratoga Springs.
SARATOGA SPRINGS — A fundraiser will be held at the Canfield Casino to benefit the Beagle School in Saratoga Springs after the private preschool’s two-year-old program at 107 Circular Street was damaged by a drunk driving incident last summer.
At the end of June last year, police said that a Greenfield man crashed his pickup truck into the Beagle School location known as “Little Beagle.” The man was charged with a misdemeanor DWI, reckless driving, and leaving the scene of an accident, among other charges.
No one was hurt, but the building itself sustained significant damage, forcing the school to relocate while the Circular Street structure is repaired.
For more information on the Casino Night event happening on March 21, visit https://beagle-school.betterworld.org/events/beagle-school-casino-night.
Principal Anna Farone was celebrated by her staff and students Wednesday after she won the Distinguished Administrator Award from the Bishop of Albany. Photos by Jonathon Norcross.
SARATOGA SPRINGS — Queen Anna, adorned in a flowing blue cape and golden bejeweled crown, strode down her hallway while crowds of cheering spectators sang her praises. No, this isn’t a scene from Buckingham Palace, but rather a celebration of St. Clement’s School Principal Anna Farone, who recently received the Distinguished Administrator Award from the Bishop of Albany.
On Wednesday, Farone was surprised by her faculty and students with a day-long celebration in honor of her award.
“Instead of doing any work in the office, I was [told] to follow a schedule,” Farone said. “I went to every classroom for about 15 minutes and every class showered me with gifts and kind words.”
Farone’s staff prepared her a giant breakfast. Her second graders sent her on a scavenger hunt. Other students wrote her letters, sharing some fond memories of their experiences at St. Clement’s. There was also a slideshow highlighting her contributions to the school over the last thirty-plus years.
“I feel very blessed, very lucky to be able to be here and have this experience and have the people around me that I have,” Farone said. “The school holds a pretty special place in my heart.”
Farone attended St. Clement’s as a student and so did her father. Her mother also taught there. After graduating from Saratoga Central Catholic High School, she received a B.A. in Elementary Education from St. Michael’s College in Vermont. She then earned a Masters in Education at SUNY Plattsburgh.
She launched her teaching career at St. Mary’s/St. Alphonsus in Glens Falls before returning to St. Clement’s as a teacher. She remained in that role for several decades before serving as assistant principal for seven years and now principal for four years (and counting). Outside of her busy work schedule, Farone enjoys golfing and flying airplanes (she holds a private pilot’s license).
“Her leadership, unwavering commitment to the success of our students, and dedication to creating a faith-filled and supportive learning environment have left an indelible mark on our school community,” Assistant Principal Teri Crowe told Saratoga TODAY.
“It’s like home,” Farone said of St. Clement’s. “The community feeling here is pretty special. Faith and family is one of our mottos and I hope I continue that.”
A sold-out audience listens to the Outlook for Construction 2025 panel discussion hosted by the Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce at the SUNY Adirondack campus in Wilton. Panelists, from left to right: James Dawsey of MLB Construction Services; Michael Munter of Munter Enterprises; Kylie Holland from Curtis Lumber; and David Collins of D.A. Collins Companies. Photo by Jonathon Norcross.
WILTON — Local construction industry leaders assembled on Tuesday morning at SUNY Adirondack’s Wilton campus for a panel discussion about the future of the business in Saratoga County. Among other topics, the panelists described issues they’re facing with recruiting and training new hires, many of whom lack skills applicable to the construction trade.
“Historically, in our industry, we recruited farm kids,” said David Collins, owner of D.A. Collins Companies. “They know how to fix equipment, they know how to operate equipment, they know how to work long, hard hours. Now those farms aren’t around anymore.”
Collins said the lack of skilled recruits was resulting in more training for new hires.
“The younger people coming in don’t have the same work ethic or insight into what a day’s work is compared to a farm kid,” added Michael Munter, vice president of Munter Enterprises. “I don’t want to use the word ‘soft,’ but I think we’re a little softer than it was when we were out there in the trenches getting screamed at.”
Munter said that veteran construction workers had begun mentoring younger workers to help show them the ropes.
Audience member Stacey Fantauzzi, vice president of operations for North East Fire Protection Systems, said business owners themselves had also become “soft” by “accommodating a lot of the shenanigans” of new hires. Fantauzzi said parents are “atrophying our children by allowing a lot of this softness.”
One 2022 survey conducted by the Associated General Contractors of America found that 91% of construction firms reported having difficulty filling open positions due to a lack of qualified candidates. This shortage of skilled laborers could result in longer and costlier projects, declines in productivity and quality control, and more injuries on the job.
The labor issues could also impact housing shortages. A fall 2024 labor market report from the Home Builders Institute stated that “additional skilled construction workers will be needed to reduce the nation’s housing deficit during the second part of the current decade, a shortfall [the National Association of Homebuilders] estimates to total 1.5 million homes.”
Despite the need for more workers, labor shortages in home building remain widespread, even with an uptick in immigration over the last two years. A NAHB/Well Fargo Housing Market Index survey found that builders reported shortages in 16 different trades, ranging from landscape to carpentry.
James Dawsey, president of MLB Construction Services, suggested that a stronger presence in schools was necessary to introduce kids to skills applicable to the construction trade.
“I think if we reach down and at least give the kids a basis for wanting to get into this business, I think that’s a big plus on our side,” Dawsey said. “Hopefully it’ll pay dividends in the future to try to attract people into our business.”
SARATOGA SPRINGS — The Saratoga Central Catholic boys varsity basketball team won its tenth straight game on Tuesday, defeating Waterford-Halfmoon 78 to 42. The victory improved Spa Catholic’s season record to 12-1, with an undefeated 7-0 record in the Wasaren League. As of press time, the Saints were first in their league standings, with the 5-2 Hoosic Valley in second.
Against Waterford-Halfmoon, Ryan Gillis led the Saints with 12 points, while Tyler Hicks added 11. Last Friday, Hicks led Spa Catholic with 19 points in a 54 to 39 victory against Tamarac. Gillis contributed 9 points and 13 rebounds in the contest.
Saratoga’s only loss thus far came on December 8, when they fell to Berne-Knox-Westerlo, 55 to 49. Since then, their ten-game win streak has seen them beat Hoosic Valley, Greenwich, Schuylerville, Stillwater, and Corinth. Their two most dominant victories came against Berlin/New Lebanon (71 to 17) and Hadley Luzerne (81 to 32).
The Saints will have a home rematch against Hoosic Valley on Friday, January 17 at 7:30 p.m.
Schuylerville girls varsity runner Meaghan Lynch poses with her medals after breaking two school records in Boston. Photo via the Schuylerville Central School District.
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS — Schuylerville High School’s Meaghan Lynch broke two school records at the Beantown Winter Classic in Boston last month, recording a 7.48 in the varsity girls 55-meter dash (6th place overall) and a 35-03.25 in the triple jump (4th overall).
Last year, Lynch was a Section 2 Division III individual champion in the 55 meter and the long jump.
Additional Black Horses with strong showings in Boston included Campbell Bailey (7th in the girls high jump), Adeline Ballou (14th in the girls 1,000-meter run), and Willem Foster (18th in the boys high jump).
Screenshots of the redesigned Saratoga Race Course and Skidmore Athletics websites.
SARATOGA SPRINGS — The online homes of both the Saratoga Race Course and Skidmore Athletics underwent renovations recently, launching redesigned websites this week and last.
According to the New York Racing Association (NYRA), its new site features “easier navigation for players, visitors, and horsemen; a unified racing command center with live video, picks, entries, and results; and an improved mobile experience.” NYRA’s revamped Saratoga Race Course page can be viewed at: www.nyra.com/saratoga.
Skidmore College said that its athletics site features “a bold, modern design” as well as streamlined navigation, an improved user experience, a greater focus on events, an updated facilities page, and easier access to live game coverage. Skidmore partnered with SIDEARM Sports for the project. The new site can be seen at: SkidmoreAthletics.com.
