Anderson Baird at the state meet in Ithaca. Photo provided by Elizabeth Baird.
ITHACA — Saratoga Springs High School swimmer Anderson Baird had a spectacular showing at the state championships in Ithaca last weekend.
Baird returned home as the New York State public and federation title holder in the 200 individual medley, earning him automatic All American status with a winning time of 1:48:81. The Section 2 sportsmanship winner also placed fourth overall in the 100 breaststroke with an All-America consideration time of 55:73.
Four additional Blue Streaks competed at states. Preston Arnold swam the 100 butterfly individual event. The 200 medley relay team of Baird, Loic Goffioul, Jordan Nyatome, and Arnold earned a spot in the bonus final and placed 24th overall in the state. The 400 freestyle relay team of Baird, Arnold, Goffioul, and Magnus Lohse placed 20th overall in the bonus final.
The Saratoga Springs boy’s varsity swim team is coached by Bill Asay.
At last year’s state championships, Baird placed fourth in the 200 individual medley with a school record-breaking time of 1:50:72. He also placed seventh in the 500 freestyle with another school record-breaking time of 4:38:70.
The Lady Saints basketball team had a .500 winning percentage when they fought for their first-ever Section 2 Class D championship. The team had suffered misfortunes that included bouts with the flu, an injured ankle, and mono. But those obstacles weren’t enough to stop a squad determined to make history.
“We were clearly the underdog in a lot of ways, but we didn’t let that affect us going in,” Coach Athena DiLorenzo-Ryan told Saratoga TODAY. “You’re on a high when you’re winning, but then when you go on some type of losing streak, I think the important thing is to look ahead to better days and keep working hard in the gym, keeping your head held high. I try to instill that in them. This isn’t over. We’ve got to keep pushing through. And that’s what happened.”
On March 7, Saratoga Catholic narrowly defeated the two-time defending champions Northville, 43 to 41, in a game that was decided in its final moments. The victory clinched the Lady Saints’ first sectional title in program history.
Sophia Ryan, who broke her school’s all-time scoring record earlier this season, led with 30 points. In other words, she netted almost 70% of her team’s point total. It was a dominant performance but an unsurprising one from a standout who once told Saratoga TODAY that she most admires players who can maintain their composure in big moments.
To secure the W, Lady Saints Leanna Scaperrotta, Lily Norton, Madison Norton, Maggie Durfee, and Margaret Crowe all added digits to the scoreboard.
“I just told these girls, look what you’ve done, it’s totally amazing,” DiLorenzo-Ryan said. “They deserve it. They really do.”
Saxophonist Branford Marsalis performing at the Universal Preservation Hall on Feb. 27.
SARATOGA SPRINGS — Master of sax Branford Marsalis brought his quartet to the Spa City last Friday night, tearing his way through a set that spanned sonically from melodious to an almost-violent composition by bassist Eric Revis that Marsalis called a “2 a.m. with handcuffs” kind of love song.
The Grammy-winning Marsalis has many claims to fame, including collaborations with the Grateful Dead, Sting, Dave Matthews, Spike Lee, Public Enemy, and Phil Collins. From 1992 to 1995, he was the leader of the “Tonight Show with Jay Leno” band.
But in 2026, at 65 years young, Marsalis took the UPH audience on a journey that spanned from the Depression-era Jimmy McHugh tune “Sunny Side of the Street” (which Marsalis called “a wonderful song of American optimism”); the 1928 hit by the Paul Whiteman Orchestra, “There Ain’t No Sweet Man That’ Worth the Salt of My Tears”; the 1960-recorded John Coltrane tune “26-2”; and 1974’s “Long As You Know You’re Living Yours,” a Keith Jarrett cover. Also performed was an audience-led rendition of “Happy Birthday,” sung in honor of pianist/birthday boy Joey Calderazzo.
A highlight was the encore “Nikaste,” an original composition by bassist Eric Revis. After some on-stage back-and-forth as to whether the song would be played towards the end of the set or during the encore, Marsalis’ quartet erupted with the unconventional love song. “You tell me what kind of ‘love’ you think this is,” Marsalis quipped before his drummer Justin Faulkner practically committed a violent crime upon his kit. Faulkner also displayed his grin-inducing habit of exclaiming “Aaahhh” every time he seemed to be enjoying himself.
This year, as Marsalis pointed out before playing “26-2”, is John Coltrane’s centennial. Saratogians can celebrate 100 years of the pioneering saxophonist at the forthcoming Saratoga Jazz Festival, which will include a salute to Coltrane by the Skidmore Jazz Institute Faculty All-Stars.
Cover of “Fallen Light” and author headshot both provided by Zachary Coffin.
WILTON — J.R.R. Tolkien. George R.R. Martin. Z.R. Coffin.
A Wilton resident will soon join the ranks of published fantasy authors when his debut novel, “Fallen Light,” is released the week of March 16.
The novel centers on Isaac, an arcanist tasked with retrieving an artifact located inside an ancient temple hidden in a remote forest. When attempting to grab the artifact, Isaac is ambushed and soon realizes there is a traitor amongst his arcanist clan.
“It’s a very character-driven story,” Coffin told Saratoga TODAY. “I have magic and all these different races, like elves and orcs and dwarves and the typical high fantasy stuff. But what I focus on the most is how these characters interact with each other.”
Coffin got the fantasy bug when he was a kid, beginning his education with “Lord of the Rings” and “Star Wars.” He sparked his creativity by playing “Dungeons & Dragons” and other roleplaying fantasy games. He put his imagination to the test in a high school writers group, which joined other local school districts for conferences that included author-led workshops. In college, he grew from short stories to novels, drawing upon ideas he generated during D&D campaigns.
“I started trying to storyboard, and I wrote probably three novels that will never see the light of day because they’re not very good,” Coffin said. “But I refined that over the years and eventually got to [“Fallen Light”].”
Although many would-be novelists tend to kick around a book idea before tossing it into a desk drawer, Coffin realized his vision by a simple but effective method: Love of the game.
One of Coffin’s favorite fantasy authors, Brandon Sanderson, posts writing courses to YouTube. In those lectures, Sanderson says he asked himself an important question: If I could never publish my books, would I still write? The answer, for both Sanderson and Coffin, was an emphatic “yes.”
“There’s an intrinsic kind of enjoyment to me doing it,” Coffin said of his writing. “Even if I just shared it with my friends and family, that’s good enough for me.”
Sanderson is something of a hero to self-published authors. His 2022 Kickstarter campaign to self-publish four novels earned him more than $41 million donated by 185,000-plus backers. Last month, the rights to Sanderson’s “Cosmere” books were picked up by Apple TV. The deal, described as “unprecedented” by The Hollywood Reporter, grants Sanderson near-complete creative control over the forthcoming adaptations of his work.
Coffin isn’t necessarily setting his sights as high as the singular Sanderson, but the self-publishing route is an increasingly popular one for many writers. Some authors with work released by major publishers have told Saratoga TODAY that despite the backing of a traditional publisher, they still spend a lot of their time marketing their own books and pouring countless hours into growing their social media followings. Many of them also have to work full-time jobs outside of their busy writing schedules, just to make ends meet.
“Figure out what you want to do first,” Coffin advises first-time authors. “Don’t really prescribe to what people are telling you you have to do. Figure out what aligns with how your life works and your interests, and then go from there.”
Coffin utilized the services of The Troy Book Makers, a company that aims to produce “attractive, well-designed books at a low cost” and has released dozens of titles.
From conception to completion, Coffin estimates he spent about five or six years working on “Fallen Light.” With the book’s release imminent, prospective readers are advised to visit Coffin’s Facebook page (www.facebook.com/zrcoffinauthor) for publishing updates. The novel will soon be available on Amazon and at local bookstores.
A horse drops by the crowded Henry Street Taproom for Therapeutic Horses of Saratoga’s “Raise a Glass” fundraiser on Feb. 26. Photos by Jonathon Norcross.
SARATOGA SPRINGS — There were still 99 days left until the Belmont Stakes, but that didn’t stop Saratoga horse people from converging at Henry Street Taproom for Therapeutic Horses of Saratoga’s “Raise a Glass“ fundraiser last Thursday night.
At the event, a total of $9,440.57 was raised to support the care of retired racehorses and equine-assisted psychotherapy.
“A huge thank you to Henry Street Taproom for being exceptional hosts and for their generosity in supporting this event,” Therapeutic Horses wrote in a social media announcement. “When a local nonprofit and a local business come together, the impact ripples far beyond one evening.”
A car accident at the Olde Bryan Inn forced the restaurant to repair its vestibule. Photo via Olde Bryan Inn.
Keuka Springs Vineyard held a ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate the opening of its new tasting room/bottle shop on Spring Street. Photo via the Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce.
MALTA — Four months after Chipotle opened a new location in downtown Saratoga Springs, another outpost of the Mexican grill has sprung up in Malta at 4 Kelch Drive, bringing the Saratoga County Chipotle total to four. The new Malta location is actively hiring for several positions, including kitchen leader, service leader, and crew member.
Saratoga’s Broadway Deli owner Daniel Chessare announced last week that he was putting his popular eatery up for sale. “The restaurant industry is tough,” Chessare wrote in a social media announcement. “I’ve been in it since 1997. Everything hurts and I’m tired all the time.” The deli is still in operation while a buyer is being sought. Meanwhile, Chessare will be active at his other establishment, Bibulous, a colorful bar/hangout spot that focuses on deserts, cocktails, and appetizers.
The Olde Bryan Inn is repairing its vestibule after a “small car vs. entryway incident” occurred this past weekend. The inn reported that nobody was injured. “We always strive to make a good first impression, so please pardon our appearance while we make repairs,” the restaurant said.
Local butcher Primal announced the sudden closure of both its locations on Feb. 24. “Like some other local food businesses, the increasing pressures and costs to continue operating have become unsustainable,” Primal owner Tim Howland said. “As your local butcher, we prided ourselves on providing the very best products and service. We simply can no longer keep that promise.” Primal first opened in 2009 and had locations in both Saratoga Springs and Albany.
Front Street Deli in Ballston Spa, which was taken over last month by Coffee Planet owner Kim Tribley, has reopened with an updated menu. Offerings include “build your own sandwich,” quesadillas, grinders, vegetarian options, and “build your own pizza.” Some of its more unique specialty pizzas include the jamming pie (bacon jam, onions, and a hot honey drizzle on white pizza) and hogtastic (ham, pepperoni, salami, and capicola with red or white sauce).
Panza’s, the classic Italian restaurant in Saratoga with a lineage that stretches back to a bakery that first opened in Mechanicville in 1897, announced last month that a new executive chef would take its reins: Elliott Vogel. Vogel’s resume includes positions at Siro’s, Jack’s Oyster House, and Daley’s on Yates, a Schenectady eatery that closed in June. Vogel is a licensed forager who is “committed to sourcing thoughtfully and using local, seasonal products,” Panza’s said. “We invite you to experience his talents as he continues creating Panza’s iconic family recipes, while also infusing new energy into the menu with his inspired additions.”
Keuka Spring Vineyards, which launched its new tasting room and bottle shop on Spring Street in December, celebrated its opening with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Feb. 20. The Finger Lakes-based winery initially opened a smaller outpost inside the Saratoga Marketplace in 2024 before deciding to upgrade to a larger space.
Katie Camarro, owner of Sundaes Best Hot Fudge Sauce, is hosting an antique sale at her hot fudge factory at 23 Northern Pines Road (Building 2, Suite 2102) in Wilton on Saturday, March 21 from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. Camarro and her friends have gathered antiques, vintage items, and collectibles especially for the sale. For more information, email KatieCamarro@gmail.com or call (518) 932-1988.
SARATOGA SPRINGS — As wintertime hibernation ends and Saratogians dream of spring, local breweries are ready to start pouring.
Tree House, the wildly popular brewer acclaimed for its IPAs, will host a one-year anniversary party at its Saratoga location on Saturday, March 7. The event will include a pizza special (pepperoni pies with chipotle-lime sauce) and live music performed by Rich Ortiz and Matt Evans. In a social media announcement, Tree House also teased that the first week of March would be “very special” with (presumably) future announcements to come.
The Tree House taproom has become a live music hotspot of late, hosting artists on Friday nights from 6 to 9 p.m. Caity Gallagher played there on Feb. 27 and will return on March 27. Jimmi Justin Music, Russ Kennedy, John Stack, and Pat O’Connor are also slated for shows during March and April.
In other brews news, Back Barn Brewing officially opened the doors of its new Ballston Spa location (the historic Abner Doubleday House that was formerly the home of Real McCoy) on Feb. 28. The brewer also teased that it’s “planning to celebrate throughout March so stay tuned.” Back Barn is a farm brewery based out of a renovated barn in Delanson, a village in Schenectady County about 50 miles southwest of Saratoga.
Malta is also replacing one brewery with another. The Albany Business Review reported last week that Mixed Breed would take over the former home of Unified Beerworks, which closed its doors around the end of last year following seven years in business. Mixed Breed hopes to open its new taproom and restaurant in Malta by mid-April. Renovations are already underway.
Photo of Saratoga Springs wrestler Danny Dacey competing at states by Laura McDonald.
SARATOGA SPRINGS — Injured, facing the 11th-best high school wrestler in the country, and derailed by a controversial call, Danny Dacey was hit with a series of insurmountable obstacles at the state championships in Albany last weekend.
How the Saratoga Springs grappler chose to deal with those hurdles left his coach gobsmacked.
“He did such an amazing thing at such an amazing moment,” Coach Jake Zanetti told Saratoga TODAY.
Dacey entered states as the No. 3 seed. He defeated Peter Mikedis in the semifinals, but may have torn his meniscus while doing so. Set to face Griffin LaPlante in the finals, Dacey had to overcome a bum knee to defeat a No. 1 seed who had already captured a state title. It would’ve been an uphill battle, even if Dacey was fully healthy.
But then something remarkable happened. About 45 seconds into the first period, Dacey executed a cement mixer that planted LaPlante onto his back. Holding him there for nearly a minute, it seemed like Dacey might be able to pull off the upset. But LaPlante began bleeding from his nose, so the referees stopped the action to check on LaPlante. A chorus of boos rained down on the officials as spectators questioned the decision to interrupt the match.
“It’s definitely a tough choice,” Zanetti said of the refs’ controversial call. “If they let the match run out till the end of the period, if they just let the match go for the six [remaining] seconds, that would have been fine… But by rule, they probably did the right thing because the referees can always say that they’re looking out for the safety of the wrestlers and the competitors. They’re able to do that in any position. But anyone who’s been around the world of wrestling knows that you don’t really take a guy off his back in that type of position. You just don’t really do it. It was kind of crazy.”
Dacey was up 9-3 heading into the second period, but LaPlante was back up on his feet. The nationally-ranked wrestler then scored enough points to secure the victory and the state title.
Many athletes, be they high schoolers or professionals, wouldn’t have taken those events in stride, especially with a state championship on the line. But Dacey “responded like a champion,” Zanetti said. “He was the last person to complain or call out the refs for doing the wrong thing. He took it like a class act, a good sport, a senior captain, and a leader who understands the sport and was aware that this ref made a call that really hurt him, but ultimately he had no control over it. The fact that Danny made it a close match, let alone getting that close to winning, was such a great thing that he should be proud of for the rest of his life.”
Dacey hopes to continue his wrestling journey at a Division 1 school, and Zanetti believes that at states, the Blue Streak “showed he’s capable of doing special things at the next level.”
Saratoga Racer Juwan Malone dunks during a March 1 game against the top-ranked Buffalo Extreme. Photo via the Saratoga Racers.
MECHANICVILLE — The Saratoga Racers’ near-Cinderella story collapsed in the second half of a tense March 1 game against the undefeated, top-ranked Buffalo Extreme.
The first quarter was a vicious back-and-forth battle that produced a few fouls, a few turnovers, and a lot of chatter from the Buffalo bench. Obviously intent on preserving their flawless regular season record, Buffalo began widening their lead in the opening stanza until Saratoga nailed a triple, induced a turnover, and then laid in an easy bucket to bring themselves within three points.
As the final seconds of the first quarter ticked away, the Racers’ RJ Rosa sank another three-pointer, literally at the buzzer, to tie the game at 31-31. The crowd, one of the biggest and most enthusiastic Racers audiences in the team’s two-year history, erupted.
Early in the second quarter, Saratoga pulled ahead by five, thanks to its relentless defense. With a touch under nine minutes left before halftime, the first of at least two on-court altercations broke out. A pair of officials and a coach broke up the dispute before a technical foul was issued.
Despite the distraction, Saratoga fought to maintain an edge, leading by anywhere from three to six points during the second stanza. With just two minutes remaining in the first half, the Racers had a one-point lead. A thunderous dunk from Racer’s star Juwan Malone helped deny a Buffalo comeback. At halftime, Saratoga was ahead 62-59 and on their way to becoming the first American Basketball Association (ABA) team to take down the Extreme.
But then fortunes changed. Buffalo launched into the second half with a 9-0 run until Rosa stopped the bleeding with a jumper. In only a few minutes, however, the Extreme had rocketed to a ten-point lead. That advantage steadily climbed until suddenly Buffalo was up by 20 points and seemed to be manhandling Saratoga with ease.
Saratoga was also the victim of its own errors. A number of missed free throws kept the squad from reducing their disadvantage to single digits. One missed free throw resulted in another technical foul that inspired a Buffalo coach to hurl his clipboard across the corner of the court. As tensions mounted, the Extreme nailed a shot from well behind the arc at the third quarter buzzer, solidifying what would prove to be an insurmountable lead.
The fourth quarter was an ugly one. The game ended at 143-127 after another on-court altercation caused officials to call off the contest with 40-some seconds still on the clock. John Ryals III led all Saratoga scorers with 30 points. Malone added 22 and Donovan Williams contributed 21.
Despite the tough finish to their regular season, the Racers are nonetheless well-positioned for the playoffs. The team has been placed in the ABA East Region Blue Division as the No. 3 seed. They’ll next head to Vermont, to take on the No. 2 seed Coyotes, for a 7 p.m. Sunday night game at Barre Municipal Auditorium.
Although only one seed apart, the 11-5 Racers have a considerable advantage over the 12-11 Coyotes. They’ve beaten the Vermont squad in three out of four contests this season.
Now ranked #24 nationally among all ABA teams, Saratoga will hope to make a dent in their second-ever postseason appearance.
The Racers also have two players up for ABA All-Star contention: Ryals and Williams.
Williams, a point guard, averaged 15 points on 57% shooting this year, adding an average of 4 rebounds, 6 assists, and 2.5 steals per game. He accumulated 3 double-doubles and 1 triple-double this season.
Ryals averaged 21 points per game on 53% shooting. He also averaged 5 rebounds, 3 assists, and 2 steals per contest. He scored more than 30 points three times this season, including an impressive 36-point performance against Buffalo.
Jockey Dylan Davis shows off his Hildebrandt Ice Cream-branded gear. Photo via Davis’ Facebook page.
SARATOGA SPRINGS — Hildebrandt’s Ice Cream recently announced that it will sponsor jockey Dylan Davis, who is making his return to horse racing after incurring a host of injuries following a frightening spill at Aqueduct Racetrack late last year.
Davis is a graduate of Saratoga Springs High School and regularly competes at The Spa.
“Hildebrandt’s is honored to support one of horse racing’s most respected riders at such a pivotal moment in his career,” the ice cream maker said in a press release. “This partnership reflects the brand’s commitment to perseverance, excellence, and standing behind individuals who embody resilience both on and off the track.”
“Thank you for the support with me returning back to ride today,” Davis wrote in a Feb. 28 social media post.
On Nov. 14, Davis racked up a slew of injuries, including nine fractured ribs, a collapsed left lung, and a broken right collarbone. His brother Robbie Jr. created a GoFundMe to help pay for medical bills, physical therapy, rehab, and living expenses. The horse racing world responded to this call for aid by contributing $18,190 in just a handful of days, far surpassing the requested $12,000 goal.
Davis, who earned 21 first-place finishes and more than $2.6 million in earnings riding at Saratoga Race Course in 2025, belongs to a family that has been prominent in the New York horse racing scene for decades. He and his sister Katie, a jockey who was featured in the Netflix docuseries “Race for the Crown,” grew up near the Saratoga Race Course, where they fell in love with the sport thanks to their father Robbie, a popular jockey in the 1980s. In addition to Dylan and Katie, the Davis family also includes Jacqueline (aka Jackie, a jockey based in the Finger Lakes) and Edmund (aka Eddie), a rising horse trainer.
