fbpx
Skip to main content

Author: Lori Mahan

All-Star Moments

Written by Lori Mahan on . Posted in Sports.

Gymnasts from Stepping Star Gymnastics Compete in the World Class Spring Challenge
BALLSTON SPA — Gymnasts from Stepping Star Gymnastics in Ballston Spa competed in the World Class Spring Challenge on February 29. The Level 5 and Level 6 teams from Stepping Star both placed first and several gymnasts took first place on individual events. Gymnasts Competing: Ayla Skinner, Lucy Rubinstein, June Amiteye, Juliana Judge, Angie Pierre, Juliana Marchesielle, Priya Raso, Julia Gillson, Ali Maguire, Cailyn Bodkin, Amelia Anderson, Gianna Milo INDIVIDUAL PLACING GYMNASTS: LEVEL 5S Ayla Skinner: 3rd place vault, 1st place bars, 2nd place floor, 3rd all around. Lucy Rubinstein: 1st place beam June Amiteye: 3rd place vault, 2nd place beam, 2nd place floor, 2nd place all around Julia Gillson: 2nd place vault, 1st place bars, 1st place floor, 1st place all around Angie Pierre: 2nd place bars, 1st place beam, 1st place floor, 2nd place all around LEVEL 6S Juliana Judge: 2nd place vault, 2nd place beam, 2nd place floor, 3rd place all around Juliana Marchesiello: 1st place vault, 2nd place bars, 1st place beam, 1st place floor, 1st place all around Priya Raso: 3rd place vault, 1st place bars, 3rd place floor, 2nd place all around

Blue Streaks Hockey
SARATOGA SPRINGS — On Wednesday, Feb. 26, the Blue Streaks played Shenendehowa and won, 3-0. Andrew Blanchard, Charlie Leary, and Mack Ogden each had three goals; goalie Brad Blake had 19 saves. On Saturday, Feb. 29, the Blue Streaks played CBA and won, 4-2. Will Detora had two goals and Michael Montague and Luke Shapiro each scored a goal as well; goalie Brad Blake had 21 saves.

SRYMCA/Saratoga Honda Youth Basketball Scores
JR DIVISION: PBA v. Blend Realty PBA-56: Nick Scalo-16, Isaac Ryan 12 Blend Realty-29: Jacob Alexander-12, Riley Baumeister-7 Olsen Associates v. Cudney’s Cudney’s-26: Ben VanValkenburg-10, Ian O’rourke-9 Olsen’s-23: Xavier Rusico-8, Lilly Mauer-5, Jacob Hernadez-5
SR. DIVISION: Spa Café v. Vahanian & Associates Financial Planning Spa Café-67: Brian McCarthy-17, Charlie Didonato-16 Pashley’s Construction v. Village Photo Pashley’s -58: Raymond Garcia-16, Nate Siewert-15 Village Photo-54: Jacob Krygowski-20, Patrick Deshane-14

Saratoga Recreation Department Happenings
• Gearing Up for Summer Fun: The Saratoga Springs Recreation Department will begin registration for summer camps and programs March 16. • Department Intro to Ice Skating Program: Learn ice skating basics or improve your skills. Everyone age 3-Adult is welcome. • Year Round Skating Fun: Visit SaratogaRec.com for the schedule. • Get in the Ring with the Boxing Program: Everyone age 8-15 is welcome. Learn proper boxing technique and receive conditioning tips. • Meet at the Net with the Volleyball Program: Everyone age 8-14 is welcome. Develop your skills and learn the rules and strategy of the game. • It’s Batter Up with the Tiny T-Ball Program: Everyone age 3-5 is welcome. Participants learn basic hitting, throwing, and base running. •Play Ball with the Jr. Sluggers Baseball Program: Everyone in grades K-7 is welcome. Learn baseball fundamentals and build your skills for the spring season. • Spend Spring on the Pitch with the Soccer Program: Everyone age 3-Adult is welcome. Learn soccer fundamentals and progress to game play. • Leave no Pin Standing with the Bowling Program: Everyone age 5-14 is welcome. This co-sponsored program with Saratoga Strike Zone will introduce participants to bowling fundamentals and techniques through discussion, demonstration, and practice. Rental ball and shoes will be provided. Online program registration: Instructions for registering for programs can be found by visiting SaratogaRec.com. Contact 518-587-3550, ext. 2300 or recreservations@saratoga-springs.org. with questions.

SARATOGA YOUTH WRESTLING Finishes 2020 CDYWL Season in Impressive Fashion
SARATOGA SPRINGS — In just their second year in the Capital District Youth Wrestling League, Saratoga finished the season with a 4-1 record. Coached by Brendan Polcare and Lance Matter, Saratoga has the best record in the league (8-2) over the last two years and is the only team to finish in the top 5 in each of the last two seasons. Saratoga lost only to eventual champion, Shenendehowa, by a three-point margin, and defeated Ballston Spa and Burnt Hills to finish 2nd in the North Division and advance to the championship rounds. They defeated Corinth 30-12 and cruised past the defending champions from Cobleskill 37-6. Brendan Stoutenburg earned the most team points for Saratoga and Jackson Wood won the Scholar Athlete Award.
Photo

Athlete of the Week: Orion Anderson

Written by Lori Mahan on . Posted in Sports.

SCHUYLERVILLE —
Orion Anderson, a 2018 graduate of Schuylerville High School who took Saratoga County by storm when he was a NY state wrestling champion not once, but three times and a four-time state finalist, is a sophomore wrestler at University of Maryland where he has a full scholarship. Anderson was Maryland’s primary starter at 133 pounds and in his freshman year he: tallied six wins, including two in dual competition; secured a win by fall at Princeton Open; won first dual bout by decision against Central Michigan; and represented Maryland at the 2019 Big Ten Championships. “Last year, starting as a freshman, was definitely a struggle but with the new coach change things have improved a ton this year. I think it’s hard as an 18-year-old when you’re going up against 25-year-old guys, just because of the strength and everything else. The weight cutting I’ve done a lot better with this year and my strength is definitely way better, it’ll just keep getting better. It was nice to get a lot of competition in this season, though. The practices are a lot more intense this year, the team is just a different culture already. People are living better and I think it’s showing,” Anderson said. Coach Kerry McCoy stepped down as head coach in May of last year and was replaced by Alex Clemson, a decision that Anderson said was for the best of the team. “I loved coach McCoy, he’s a great guy, but I think just the coaching and the way the team is living this year, it’s making a big difference,” he said. Anderson is declaring Family Science as his major. “[Family Science] has a wide variety of things you can do with it and I’m not that good at math,” he laughed. “So, that limits a lot of the majors for me here because it’s a big math school, so I think this major is the best option because there is just so much you can do with it,” he explained. Anderson said Maryland is a tough school, but he has all the resources he needs if he finds himself in a tough spot. “My favorite part is how big the school is, there is always something to do on campus. I meet new people almost every day and that’s what I like most about it,” Anderson said.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — On Saturday, February 29, the Saratoga Varsity Cheer Team won the NYS Sectional Championship Title. They will be traveling to Rochester to compete for the State Championship Title on Saturday, March 7 at RIT. The team, coached by R

Written by Lori Mahan on . Posted in Sports.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — On Saturday, February 29, the Saratoga Varsity Cheer Team won the NYS Sectional Championship Title. They will be traveling to Rochester to compete for the State Championship Title on Saturday, March 7 at RIT. The team, coached by Ricardo Smith, Jr., has five seniors: Kaylee Ferro, Perras Allen, Mckenna Carley, Jenna Bourgeois, Hannah Reese. Scholar athletes on the team include: Kaylee Ferro, Skylar Kent, Adam O’Connor. These athletes maintained a minimum of 90+ overall average.

National Museum of Racing Announces 2020 HALL OF FAME FINALISTS

Written by Lori Mahan on . Posted in Sports.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Six racehorses, four trainers, and one jockey account for the 11 finalists that will comprise the National Museum of Racing’s 2020 Hall of Fame ballot, as chosen by the Museum’s Hall of Fame Nominating Committee. The finalists are racehorses Blind Luck, Game On Dude (first year of eligibility), Havre de Grace, Kona Gold, Rags to Riches, and Wise Dan (first year of eligibility); trainers Mark Casse, Christophe Clement, Doug O’Neill, and David Whiteley; and jockey Corey Nakatani. Finalists were whittled down from 91 initial candidates. Hall of Fame ballots will be mailed to the voting panel on Monday, March 2, 2020. The results of the voting on the contemporary
candidates will be announced on Wednesday, May 6, 2020. That announcement will also include this year’s selections by the Museum’s Historic Review and Pillars of the Turf committees. The Hall of Fame induction ceremony will be held at the Fasig-Tipton Sales Pavilion in Saratoga Springs, on Friday, Aug. 7, 2020 at 10:30 a.m. The ceremony will be open to the public and is free to attend. Chaired by Edward L. Bowen, the Hall of Fame Nominating Committee is comprised of Bowen, Steven Crist, Tom Durkin, Bob Ehalt, Tracy Gantz, Teresa Genaro, Jane Goldstein, Steve Haskin, Jay Hovdey, Tom Law, Neil Milbert, Jay Privman, John Sparkman, Michael Veitch, John von Stade, and Charlotte Weber. 

CAMP ABILITIES SARATOGA Receives Alfred Z. Solomon Charitable Trust Grant

Written by Lori Mahan on . Posted in Sports.

Camp Abilities Saratoga and the Saratoga Springs Lions Club are very pleased to announce the receipt of a $12,100 grant from the Alfred Z. Solomon Charitable Trust. Camp Abilities will be back this summer for their seventh year. The camp, held at Skidmore College, is a weeklong overnight camp for children and teens who are blind, visually impaired, and deafblind. This camp is a service project of the Saratoga
Springs Lions. The camp has been operating annually since its inception in 2014 and serves 26 campers. The Camp is staffed with 20 counselors residing on-site, a number of sports specialists, 24-hour RN coverage, and various other staff as needed during a week filled with fun and exciting activities. The monies will enable Camp Abilities Saratoga to purchase a second trailer which will be used for storage of the specialized equipment needed for the variety of educational activities the campers are able to experience. The trailer should be fully customized and ready by this May or June, well before the campers arrive at Skidmore College for their big week the first part of August. “The generosity of Alfred Z. Solomon or of the Alfred Z. Solomon Charitable Trust should not be a surprise to anyone in the Saratoga Springs area,” says John McDonald, Board President of Camp Abilities Saratoga. “In fact, a previous gift from this same Trust enabled the purchase of our first trailer which now is used to house a variety of equipment and the twenty tandem bikes that the campers like so much,” McDonald said. Over the years the Alfred Z. Solomon charitable Trust has been a very generous supporter of CAS. Camp Abilities of Saratoga is one of 26 Camp Abilities in the world, it is the only one that is run by a Lions organization, which aids in the fundraising and organization of the camp. Camp Abilities is completely free for its campers, and the counselors, who are graduate and undergraduate students studying adaptive sports technology and education, participate as a form of service, only for a moderate stipend. Donation and fundraising opportunities to support the Camp Abilities Saratoga are available all year. For further information visit campabilitiessaratoga.org/donate.
“Lions serve. It’s that simple, and it has been since we first began in 1917. Our clubs are places where individuals join together to give their valuable time and effort to improving their communities, and the world. The Lions Club aims to empower volunteers to serve their communities, meet humanitarian needs, encourage peace and promote international understanding through Lions Club,” the Lions website said.
Photos

Inspiring and Challenging the Nation’s Future Leaders in Science and Technology

Written by Lori Mahan on . Posted in Education.

The National Science Bowl® is a nationwide academic competition that tests students’ knowledge in all areas of science and mathematics. Middle and high school student teams from diverse backgrounds are comprised of four students, one alternate, and a teacher who serves as an advisor and coach. These teams face-off in a fast-paced questionand-answer format, being tested on a range of science disciplines including biology, chemistry, Earth and space science, physics, energy, and math. The U.S. Department of Energy Office of Science manages the National Science Bowl® and sponsors the NSB finals competition. DOE’s Office of Science is the single largest supporter of basic research in the physical sciences in the United States and is working to address some of the most pressing challenges of our time. For more information, please visit www. energy.gov/science.
Inspiring and Challenging the Nation’s Future Leaders in Science and Technology
SARATOGA COUNTY — Middle school and high school students begin competing this month in the 2020 National Science Bowl,® sponsored by the Department of Energy and managed by DOE’s Office of Science, leading up to the National Championship in April 2020. Buzzers, not bells, will ring in the New Year for thousands of middle- and high-school students all across the U.S. That’s because they’ll soon be pitting their math and science knowledge — and their reflexes — against one another in regional competitions of the Department of Energy’s (DOE’s) 30th National Science Bowl® (NSB). Students from Saratoga Springs High School and Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake High School will be participating, among several other schools in the Albany area. The competitions start this month, with four students from each team facing off in a fast-paced, question-and-answer format. (More information about the date and location of specific regionals can be found through the NSB Homepage). The winning team from each of the 50 middle- and 65 high-school regions will compete in the National Finals, held in Washington, D.C. from April 30 to May 4, 2020. At the Finals, winning teams can score exciting adventure trips to Alaska and national parks across the country to learn firsthand about science in the field, as well as trophies, medals, and supplies for their schools’ science departments. But to many, the ultimate prize simply wou ld be the prestige of winning the National Championship. Each year, the NSB draws more than 14,700 middle- and high-school competitors. More than 305,000 students have faced off in the NSB Finals since the first competition in 1991. The knowledge that former NSB competitors have acquired – and more importantly, the habits of study that they’ve learned along the way – have led them to success in a variety of fields. Many have become researchers; others are science and math professors at some of our nation’s most prestigious universities. While those career paths might seem intuitive, the math and science knowledge students need to be successful in the NSB also can lead to successful careers in other fields. The 2020 NSB competitors will follow in the footsteps of previous National Science Bowl® contestants, and will blaze a trail for students in science, math and engineering for the next quarter-century.

Saratoga Sponsor-A-Scholar Appoints Cindy Hollowood as Co-Executive Director

Written by Lori Mahan on . Posted in Education.

Saratoga Sponsor-A-Scholar Appoints Cindy Hollowood as Co-Executive Director
SARATOGA COUNTY — Cindy Hollowood was recently named Co-Executive Director of Saratoga Sponsor-A-Scholar (SSAS), current Executive Director Jim LaVigne announced. Hollowood will serve alongside LaVigne for one year before becoming the new Executive Director. LaVigne will continue with the organization as a board member concentrating on program development and fundraising. “This is a bittersweet decision for me, but I believe it’s time. The past 13 years have been wonderful, and I have loved every aspect of this job, but I needed to put a succession plan in place. For the past three years, the board has discussed finding a suitable replacement, and we’ve spent countless hours reviewing the key requirements of the position and potential candidates,”
LaVigne explained. Hollowood said the she has been impressed with the work of SASS since they first began. “Anything we can do as a community to help deserving students overcome the barriers that prevent them from getting a college education, we should do. The program has done a remarkable job. There are participants of the SASS program succeeding in high school, college and in life because of the effort and commitment of the program’s board, mentors and volunteers. These young people will change the world, and they have the program to thank for that. I am humbled and very happy that Jim and the SASS board think I can continue to grow what they have so successfully nurtured for these 13 years,” she said.
Hollowood just finished a 38-year career as Managing Partner of the Saratoga Holiday Inn. While at the Holiday Inn, Hollowood served in a variety of leadership roles in the community and the hospitality industry. Her community involvement includes serving on the Saratoga Springs Zoning Board, the Special Assessment District, the boards of the Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce, Saratoga Economic Development Corporation, Hudson Valley Community College Foundation and the Saratoga Race Course Community Advisory Committee. She was a founding member and three-time chair of the board of the Saratoga Convention Bureau and Chaired the New York State Hospitality and Tourism Association, the Saratoga America Red Cross and the Saratoga Next Step Downtown Redevelopment Committee. Saratoga Sponsor-A-Scholar’s ninth class graduated from Saratoga Springs High School in 2019. All 84 graduates have been accepted into college. For more information go to the Saratoga Sponsor A Scholar website: www. saratogasponsorascholar.org

Saratoga Independent School Open House

Written by Lori Mahan on . Posted in Education.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Saratoga Independent School (S.I.S.) provides an excellent education to students in Pre-K through Middle School and enrollment is now open for the 2020/2021 school year.  On Saturday, March 14, 2020 at 10 a.m., S.I.S. will host an Admissions Open House. 

During the open house, prospective families will have an opportunity to meet Lisa Brown, Head of School, as well as other faculty and staff. Ms. Brown will welcome families and provide a brief history and overview of S.I.S.  Members of the faculty will take families on tours of our campus, discuss the curriculum, and answer questions about the school.

For more information and to register, visit www.siskids.org/admissions/open-house.cfm.

S.I.S Highlights:

• Rigorous academic curriculum,following the state standards of education
• Two dedicated science labs
• Small class sizes
• Curriculum-based field trips throughout the Capital Region and beyond
• After-school enrichment programs, including engineering, computer programming, team sports, piano, French language, and Odyssey of the Mind
• Specials including art, music, and Spanish starting in Pre-K
• Physical Education utilizing our playing fields and expansivewooded campus
• Safe and Secure 60-acre campus for hiking, snowshoeing, outdoor learning, and sleddinghill for recess fun
• Wholesome lunch program in partnership with Healthy Living Market
• Interscholastic soccer, cross-country, and track opportunities
• Before-Care daily from 7:30 a.m.  
  After-Care daily until 5:30 p.m.
• 5 minutes from I-87 Exit 14and 5 minutes from downtown Saratoga Springs

Shrek the Musical at Saratoga Springs High School

Written by Lori Mahan on . Posted in Education.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — The Saratoga Spring High School Drama Club will present Shrek the Musical on Thursday, March 12 at 7 p.m., Friday, March 13 at 7:30 p.m., and Saturday March 14 at 1 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. The performances will be held in the Loewenberg Auditorium at
Saratoga Springs High School. Based on the Oscar-winning animation film, Shrek the Musical is a Tony-award-winning fairytale adventure, featuring all the beloved characters you know from the film. Shrek is a musical joy children and adults will love. Ticket prices are $15 for reserved seats, $12 for adult general seating, and $7 for students and senior general seating. Seats are available online starting March 1 at brownpapertickets.com or at the door one-hour before the performance. Reserved seating is only available online. “Rehearsals are going great! It’s a wonderful show about acceptance and accepting people for who they are. The musical itself is a great musical,” said director Bob Berenis.
Berenis has directed for Saratoga Springs Drama Club for the last 21 years. “When I announced the show, I was a little ambivalent, I thought some kids would like it and some
wouldn’t, but they screamed so loudly I had to cover my ears. They were so excited,” he laughed. Parents and community members have been on hand to help build the sets, which are massive.

THE CAST:

Shrek – Kai Farr Donkey – Spencer Boyce Fiona – Katy Hawthorne Lord Farquaad – Liam Epstein Pinocchio – Phineas Goodman Gingy/Sugarplum Fairy – Maria Sablich Dragon – Tessa Rivenburg Dragon at Saturday Matinee – Sarah Trimmings Young Fiona – Ainsley Martell Teenage Fiona – Mira DeGregory Young Shrek/Dwarf – Kylee Martin Papa Ogre – Teddy Vandeven Mama Ogre – Maddy Mergl King Harold – Ethan Crowley Queen Lillian – Tessa Rivenburg Wolf – Ethan Crowley 3 Blind Mice – Sarah Trimmings, Mira DeGregory, Maddy Mergl Ugly Duckling – Molly Egan Fairy Godmother – Margaret Scala Humpty Dumpty – Skye Vilca Wicked Witch – Izzy Pipino Mama Bear – Grace Davis
Papa Bear – Teddy Vandeven Baby Bear – Sabrina Martin Mad Hatter – Alex Lippincott 3 Pigs – Ainsley Martell, Maddie Cook, Sofia Bolier Elf – Lucas Pelletier Peter Pan – Eli Jaques Bishop – Max Novik Pied Piper/Dance Captain – Sophia Sulkin Thelonius – Amelie Przedwiecki Captain – Siobhan Rogers-Harrigton

ENSEMBLE: Madeline Slavett Trinity Taylor Amelia Winn Max Novik Kate Lindley Anabelle Brueggeman Samantha Corrigan Graciella Dorsey Yliana Syed Fiona Taylor Amy Vich Elle Wilcox Naava Wilson

Athlete of the Week: Orion Anderson

Written by Lori Mahan on . Posted in Sports.

SCHUYLERVILLE — Orion Anderson, a 2018 graduate of Schuylerville High School who took Saratoga County by storm when he was a NY state wrestling champion not once, but three times and a four-time state finalist, is a sophomore wrestler at University of Maryland where he has a full scholarship.

Anderson was Maryland’s primary starter at 133 pounds and in his freshman year he: tallied six wins, including two in dual competition; secured a win by fall at Princeton Open; won first dual bout by decision against Central Michigan; and represented Maryland at the 2019 Big Ten Championships.

“Last year, starting as a freshman, was definitely a struggle but with the new coach change things have improved a ton this year. I think it’s hard as an 18-year-old when you’re going up against 25-year-old guys, just because of the strength and everything else. The weight cutting I’ve done a lot better with this year and my strength is definitely way better, it’ll just keep getting better. It was nice to get a lot of competition in this season, though. The practices are a lot more intense this year, the team is just a different culture already. People are living better and I think it’s showing,” Anderson said.

Coach Kerry McCoy stepped down as head coach in May of last year and was replaced by Alex Clemson, a decision that Anderson said was for the best of the team.

“I loved coach McCoy, he’s a great guy, but I think just the coaching and the way the team is living this year, it’s making a big difference,” he said.

Anderson is declaring Family Science as his major.

“[Family Science] has a wide variety of things you can do with it and I’m not that good at math,” he laughed.

“So, that limits a lot of the majors for me here because it’s a big math school, so I think this major is the best option because there is just so much you can do with it,” he explained.

Anderson said Maryland is a tough school, but he has all the resources he needs if he finds himself in a tough spot. 

“My favorite part is how big the school is, there is always something to do on campus. I meet new people almost every day and that’s what I like most about it,” Anderson said.