Author: Saratoga TODAY

CALGARY, Alberta — Nate Keeve and Hannah Martin from the Glenville-based Jason Morris Judo Center put together fantastic performances and earned bronze medals in the Pan Am/Oceania Judo Championships, Sept. 15-16 at the Calgary Olympic Park.

The win was Martin’s fourth 63 kg medal at Pan Ams in her career, having won bronzes in 2013, 2017, and 2019. Martin’s only loss was an overtime thriller to eventual champ, Katharina Haecker, in the semifinal. Martin also had a big win against longtime rival and two-time Pan Am Champ, Maylin Del Toro Carvajal, to tie up their head-to-head series 2-2. Martin gained valuable points on the Olympic qualifying list, moving up 8 spots to #32.

Keeve scored his second 100 kg overall bronze at the Pan Ams, finishing his run off with a significant first time win over Rafael Buzacarini in the bronze medal match. Keeve jumps 20 slots to #39 to qualify for the Paris Olympic Games.

Both Keeve and Martin are on remarkable comebacks. Keeve missed a year having to repair a torn ACL in August 2021, and Martin had a baby girl, Zoey, in May 2021.

Alex Knauf placed fifth at 90 kg and Ari Berliner took seventh for the JMJC at 66 kg to earn valuable world ranking points. Berliner is also on a successful comeback from ACL surgery he had in August 2022. Kell Berliner, Melissa Myers, and Nicole Stout all fought well but were eliminated in the first round to close out the JMJC participation at this year’s Pan Ams. 

Athletes from the Jason Morris Judo Center have now won 26 Pan Am medals in its 23-year history, as well as having now placed at least one athlete on the Pan Am team for 20 straight years. The JMJC has placed four athletes on the team 7 times and had three athletes 5 times. Ari Berliner, Keeve, Knauf & Martin also represent the New York Athletic Club. 

“All the kids performed well under high level pressure and I couldn’t be prouder of them” said four-time Olympian & JMJC Owner Jason Morris in a press release. Morris is also a long time member of the NYAC.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Registration is going on now for winter programs at the Saratoga Springs Recreation Department, and includes programs such as basketball, boxing, curling, ice skating and figure skating lessons, and volleyball.

Visit saratogarec.com for complete information and a registration link. Contact the Recreation Department at 518-587-3550,  ext. 2300 or recreservations@saratoga-springs.org with questions.

Pickleball Workshops

The Saratoga Springs Recreation Department hosts pickleball workshops throughout the year for a variety of interests and expertise. Everyone aged 18+ is welcome to participate. Visit SaratogaRec.com and click Programs, Pickleball Workshops for complete information and to register.

Begin Your Ice Skating Journey with the Saratoga Springs Recreation Department

Intro to Ice Skating introduces skaters age 3 to adults to the world of ice skating, and prepares a skater for advancement to figure skating, hockey, or speed skating. 

Begin Your Figure Skating Journey with the Saratoga Springs Recreation Department

Fundamentals of Figure Skating introduces skaters to the athleticism and artistry of figure skating, and prepares a skater for advancement to various figure skating disciplines. 

Visit SaratogaRec.com and click Programs, Ice Skating lessons for complete information and to register.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — The Saratoga Regional YMCA has announced that through its financial assistance program, over $80,000 was raised for youths attending the YMCA’s day camps throughout the summer.

Over 250 children attended the YMCA’s summer camps each week during the summer, according to a press release from the Y. The release thanks the YMCA’s donors for their support.

“The Y is happy to welcome children of all backgrounds into our summer camp and give them a sense of community and lighthearted fun with their peers. It is the most gratifying thing we can do,” said Scott Clark, CEO of the Saratoga Regional YMCA, in the release. “This is our mission–being a safe haven for all, regardless of their ability to pay. The diversity of our Y makes us healthier and stronger as a community and I’m so grateful to all our generous benefactors who are the ones who make this possible.”

In addition to the financial assistance program, the YMCA also partners with organizations including the Saratoga County Department of Social Services, the New York Race Track Chaplaincy, and the Franklin Community Center, the release states.

“We are so grateful for the ongoing partnership with the Saratoga Regional YMCA. The Y recognizes that the backstretch families are a vital part of the Saratoga community.” said Nick Caras, Program Director of the New York Race Track Chaplaincy, in the release. “This partnership provides our kids with a fun and new experience while spending their summer upstate. I cannot say enough about the Y and how they make our families feel welcome and included in not only their organization, but the greater community.”

The YMCA stated in the release it expects to give over $800,000 in financial assistance this year for a variety of services and programs. To learn more about its financial assistance program, visit srymca.org or call 518-583-9622.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — 45 years later, one of the best teams from Saratoga Springs High School to take the hardwood reunited.

A reunion of the 1977-78 Saratoga varsity boys basketball team was held Sept. 2, with several players and coaches gathering from the team that captured the Foothills Council Championship, and went unbeaten until a one-point loss to Niskayuna in the Section 2 Class A Championship game.

“What a wonderful group of men,” said then-Saratoga varsity assistant coach Rich Johns of the reunion in a Facebook post. “A ton of laughs and a closeness that can’t be matched. Thank you all for the great memories.”