Skidmore College junior Hakeem Daphnis finished with a team-high three steals. Photo by Matt Milless/Skidmore Athletics.
GREENSBORO, NORTH CAROLINA — The Skidmore College men’s basketball team opened play at the Springhill Suites Guilford Holiday Classic with an 83-60 defeat to Concordia-Moorhead on Dec. 29.
The Thoroughbreds (4-4) came out firing, scoring 40 points on an efficient 15-of-28 shooting in a high-scoring first half, but couldn’t sustain the production as the Cobbers (8-2) strung together a decisive 27-7 run midway in the second half to turn a back-and-forth contest that featured eight lead changes and eight ties into a lopsided result.
“I thought for 20 minutes we competed hard and it looked like we might be okay coming off the layoff. But in the second half, we looked like a team that hasn’t played in 23 days,” said Head Coach Joe Burke. “That’s a good basketball team we lost to. They played a tough physical style just as you would expect, and I thought they wore on us. It was a great opportunity, but we just didn’t compete hard enough for the entire game. I’m confident we will learn from it and build on it.”
Siena University women’s basketball player Garrisen Freeman with two members of the Wesley Community. Photo by Super Source Media for Saratoga TODAY.
SARATOGA SPRINGS — Members of the Siena University women’s basketball team visited the Wesley Community on Dec. 17 to “help spread joy this holiday season.” The players were accompanied by Head Coach Terry Primm and visited the senior living facility for an ice cream social event one day after the team’s final home game of 2025.
SARATOGA SPRINGS — Saratoga Casino Holdings LLC (SCH) announced on Dec. 22 that it was granted a gaming license by the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board.
In March 2025, SCH announced that it had signed a framework agreement to develop and manage a Category 4 casino to open near the Nittany Mall in State College, Pennsylvania. That casino, named Happy Valley, is currently being built and is scheduled to open sometime around spring of this year. The casino is expected to include slot machines, table games, a full-service restaurant, and several quick-serve dining options.
“As a third-generation, family-run business with more than 80 years in the horse racing industry and 20 years in casino, hotel, and entertainment operations, we are extremely proud to receive our Pennsylvania gaming license,” said Sam Gerrity, CEO of SCH. “This milestone further expands our diversification within the gaming industry and reflects our long-standing commitment to operating best-in-class gaming facilities. Our strategy is centered on building strong relationships with our customers, team members, and the communities we serve.”
SCH now holds gaming licenses for non-tribal casinos in four states, including New York, Mississippi, Colorado, and Pennsylvania. The company owns and operates the Saratoga Casino Hotel in Saratoga Springs; Saratoga Casino Black Hawk in Black Hawk, Colorado; and Magnolia Bluffs Casino Hotel in Natchez, Mississippi.
Combined, SCH properties include approximately 175,000 square feet of casino gaming space with over 2,100 slot machines, table games, a poker room, and a sportsbook. SCH also offers multiple entertainment options including restaurants and bars, a harness track, two hotels, over 6,000 sq. ft. of meeting and event space, and a nightclub.
To celebrate a year of racing on the New York Racing Association (NYRA) circuit, the NYRA Press Office checked in with a selection of trainers, owners, jockeys and racing personalities to share their reflections.
In June, trainer Miguel Clement earned his first Grade 1 victory a short time after the untimely passing of his father Christophe, the winner of more than 2,500 races and $184 million in purses. In the months since, the Clement family has supported each other to carry on with Miguel at the helm.
The 34-year-old trainer reflected on his first Grade 1 win, and stressed the importance of family, both personally and professionally.
NYRA’s interview with Clement has been edited for length.
Q: Your first stakes victory came this summer at Saratoga with Deterministic in the Grade 1 Resorts World Casino Manhattan, a race your father won three times with Forbidden Apple [2001], Gio Ponti [2009] and Winchester [2010]. What do you remember most about that experience?
Miguel Clement: Without a doubt, the Manhattan was meaningful as the stable’s first Grade 1 win, and Dad always loved that race. To get a big victory like that right after Dad [passed], it was tough emotionally, but it was needed.
There’s nothing like winning a big race at Saratoga. His three victories this year I think are enough to be considered for the Eclipse Award, but I am biased.
Q: As you reflect on this year, what are some other key milestones you and the team are proudest of?
MC: As everyone knows, it’s been a very challenging year. Dad played a big role in all our lives and had a larger-than-life personality. He is greatly missed, and fortunately the horses are running well, so they are a much-needed distraction. I thought we had a very strong season, and it’s really great they are running well. The stable needed it, the family needed it. The horses did more than their fair share.
Q: What role does family play in the stable’s success?
MC: My wife was there for me through all of it. My sister and my mom sacrificed everything to try to find Dad a cure, and my mother tried her best to be there at Saratoga this summer as many days as she could to show support for the stable. My sister redirected much of her work towards working on the finances of the stable so I could focus as much as I could on the horses. In that regard, my wife did the same.
My family is a very big deal, maybe more so for me than any other outfit. They protect me, they help me, and they don’t get any recognition. The family put me in this position and they support me. A lot of the outreach and affection went towards me and not them, but it hit them as bad as me. So much of the credit goes to them.
Q: What are some lessons or pieces of advice from your father that have stuck with you?
MC: That it’s a very humbling game. You try to be as consistent as possible, which is tough in this profession because you deal with so many ups and downs and a lot of volatility. You just try to work as hard as possible. If you have a strong work ethic, that takes care of a lot of it.
The Grinch and Santa Claus compete in an exhibition harness race on Dec. 14. Screenshot of the race via the Saratoga Casino Hotel.
SARATOGA SPRINGS — In an annual tradition that perhaps foretells whether this Christmas will be a jolly or mean one, Santa Claus and The Grinch aired their grievances with a feat of strength: a harness race at the Saratoga Casino Hotel.
The mile-long race on Dec. 14 circled several inches of packed snow. The Grinch opened up an early lead, bursting ahead of Claus at the start of the contest. Claus was stuck on the inside, trailing by about two-and-a-half lengths as the foes entered the backstretch. Santa kept his cool, biding his time for a comeback as children across Saratoga feared their presents might be stolen by a victorious Mean One. The anxiety heightened as The Grinch expanded his lead to three lengths. As the ill-tempered, pot-bellied Christmas ruiner passed the grandstands in the stretch, he seemed to be almost taunting those in attendance.
But then, The Grinch went wide on a turn, opening up space on the inside. Claus attempted to squeeze into the gap as if it was a chimney, but The Mean One kept him at bay. Still, St. Nick gained ground and cut his enemy’s lead to about two lengths. Sensing that his chance of victory was narrowing, Santa snapped the reins as he does every Christmas when beckoning his reindeer toward the heavens. With that, Santa’s horse came so close to the reclining Grinch that the Mean One could’ve kissed its nose.
But as they entered the final stretch, centuries of a milk-and-cookies diet seemed to slow down St. Nick. The mean Green One insulted Claus and all of polite society as he cruised across the finish line with a commanding four-length victory.
It was the second-straight year that The Grinch defeated Santa in Saratoga. In 2024, The Grinch won by an inch.
BALLSTON SPA — The Ballston Spa School District’s Adult Fitness Program will start again in January 2026. Offerings will include soccer, basketball, self-defense, yoga, DanceFit, and aqua zumba. No experience is required to participate. Each program includes a 10-class session.
Pre-registration is required for all programs, and fees are due prior to the start of each course. Due to safety regulations, aqua zumba registration will close at 25 participants.
If interested in learning more about the adult fitness programs or to register, visit www.bscsd.org. Registration forms can be dropped off in person and/or mailed to:
BSCSD
c/o Office of Community Relations and Program Support
Saratoga Racers guard Juwan Malone in a Dec. 7 game against the Herkimer Originals in Mechanicville. Malone has emerged as one of Saratoga’s top scoring threats this season. Photo via the Saratoga Racers.
MECHANICVILLE — The Saratoga Racers entered their sophomore season with new ownership and a new home court, ready to capitalize on their 13-7 inaugural year that ended in the American Basketball Association’s (ABA) playoff semifinals.
On Dec. 7, the Racers put on a show at Mechanicville’s Riverside Center. It was their second regular season contest played at their new home base. In that game against the Herkimer Originals, whom the Racers previously defeated by just one point on Nov. 9, new standouts emerged amongst a roster populated with familiar faces.
Saratoga entered the contest 3-1, having won three straight after a season-opening loss to the New England Lightning in Rhode Island on Nov. 2. The first two stanzas were evenly matched, with the score tied 64 to 64 as the decisive second half began.
In a nod to the Saratoga Race Course, the third quarter started with a “call to post” bugle sound effect—and they were off. Guard Juwan Malone impressed early, draining a three before grabbing a quick steal and easy layup. His teammates followed suit, pressuring Herkimer relentlessly on defense and racking up a series of interceptions and quick buckets. The points soon piled on, with Saratoga taking an 84 to 71 lead with 8 minutes remaining in the quarter.
The Racers moved the ball efficiently on offense, creating open looks for practically everyone donning one of the team’s redesigned minimalist, red-and-white uniforms. With a healthy double-digit lead deep in the third quarter, Saratoga slowed down the game’s pace before erupting with two triples to end the stanza. After three, it was Racers 109, Herkimer 92. (Seemingly in a celebratory mood, a couple Racers danced to “Cotton-Eyed Joe” on the sideline prior to the fourth quarter).
In the final quarter, Saratoga steamrolled the opposition with a pretty swish from beyond the arc by forward John Ryals, who was one of the top scorers on last year’s squad. But Herkimer didn’t relent, narrowing the lead to just 8 points with around 9 minutes left in the game. Saratoga countered by doing what they did well throughout the contest: draining triples and forcing turnovers.
RJ Rosa, another returning standout, had a series of big moments in the closing minutes. Both last season and against Herkimer, Rosa consistently demonstrated high basketball IQ, making smart plays and getting open looks at the basket. Malone joined with Rosa to help seal the deal in the game’s final moments, hitting a big three-pointer to grow Saratoga’s lead back up to 13 points. As Herkimer scrambled for a last-minute comeback, Rosa and company remained disciplined, keeping Toga on top to secure a 147-136 victory. The win was Saratoga’s fourth in a row.
Malone led all Racers with 29 points, though six of his teammates finished with double digits: Donavan Williams (22), Rosa (21), Ryals (20), Cam Thomas (15), Isaiah Grandison (13) and Tyler Mithell (10). Forward Joey Harden led his squad in both rebounds (12) and assists (6). Rosa added 4 steals.
Malone, who has also played for the Albany Patroons, has emerged as one of Saratoga’s most lethal offensive weapons this season. In the Racers’ first game against Herkimer in November, he racked up 27 points. The team has also been bolstered by impressive offensive outputs from Tobias Holmes, Harden, and Rosa.
Collectively, Saratoga has excelled from beyond the arc, shooting 17 for 32 (53%) in the first game against Herkimer and hitting 19 of 44 triples (43%) against the Vermont Coyotes on Nov. 23.
The Racers will return to the Riverside Center in Mechanicville on Jan. 24, which will be the first of six straight games played at home.
Prior to the start of this season, former Racers owner Keith Harrington sold the team to an ownership group led by Frank Polsinello, a Mechanicville native who relocated the team from its former home court at Saratoga Central Catholic.
The Skidmore College riding team placed second at the Holiday Tournament of Champions, hosted at Centenary University on Dec. 6. Photo via Skidmore Athletics.
LADY SAINTS UNDEFEATED
The Saratoga Central Catholic Lady Saints rallied past the Hoosic Valley Hawks 50-39 on Dec. 11. Sophia Ryan had a game-high 14 points, while Addison Whitbeck chipped in 12. With her 14 points, Ryan officially surpassed her school’s all-time scoring record that was set in 1980. Only a junior, Ryan has already amassed 1,041 points in her high school career.
The Lady Saints followed up on the historic game against Hoosic Valley with their fourth-straight win of the season against Cambridge on Dec. 15. In their 53-31 victory, Whitbeck earned a game-high 23 points, and Ryan added 11. The Lady Saints are now an undefeated 4-0 this season.
ADIRONDACK UNITED START SEASON WITH A WIN
In Adirondack United’s home opener at the Harding Mazzotti Arena on Dec. 6, they defeated Beekmantown 4-2. Emerson Lochner-Fehl opened the scoring just over 2 minutes into the game. In the second period, Gianna Marcantonio made a rush to score unassisted. In the third period, Lochner-Fehl added another goal assisted by Marcantonio and Aubrey Lozier. Following Lochner-Fehl’s second, Maeve McCarty finished the United’s scoring, assisted by Ella Carner and Lochner-Fehl. Aurora Graham-Hayes contributed to Adirondack’s win with 23 saves. Adirondack will next travel to Skaneateles on Dec. 19 for a rematch of last year’s state title game.
SKIDMORE RIDING TEAM PLACES SECOND IN HOLIDAY TOURNAMENT OF CHAMPIONS
The Skidmore College riding team traveled to Centenary University to compete in the Holiday Tournament of Champions on Dec. 6. The team rode to reserve champion out of 16 schools, scoring 32 points behind champion team Savannah College of Art and Design.
Isa Jensen started the day with an outstanding ride in the Open Fences, placing second behind current Individual Open Fences National Champion Alex Alston. Ian Gaudio rode to second place in the Intermediate Fences, and a minor hiccup at the beginning of an otherwise beautiful trip kept Ani McIntyre out of the ribbons in the Limit Fences.
Jensen returned for the Open Flat with a strong ride to third place. Lillard Preschlack took second place in the Intermediate Flat, and McIntyre returned for the Limit Flat, placing second. Isa Washburne made her first tournament appearance, placing third in the Novice Equitation, and Catherine Epstein had a smooth ride to place third in the Introductory Equitation.
Gaudio also competed in the Low Medal and was called back on top after a beautiful ride on the flat. He finished in eighth place after a small error in the jumping phase. Avery Johnson competed in the High Medal, and despite a strong ride on the flat, was not called back over fences.
After winter break, the team will travel to the next Tournament of Champions at Savannah College of Art and Design on Jan. 24. Regular semester competition begins on Feb. 21 at Siena University/Dutch Manor Stable.
Photo of the 2025 Saratoga Springs High School football team at the JMA Wireless Dome in Syracuse via player Cam Toomey’s X account.
SYRACUSE — It was a bittersweet title game; a loss that ended a season that some will remember for years to come.
For only the second time in program history, the Saratoga Springs varsity football team competed in a state championship game. Their opponent, Syracuse’s hometown Christian Brothers Academy (CBA), hadn’t lost a game in more than two years. Yet, at the JMA Wireless Dome last Saturday night, the Class AA championship was within Saratoga’s grasp.
The first glimmers of hope emerged in the second quarter, when the Blue Streaks put together a 7-minute drive against CBA’s relentless defense, battling ferociously to move the chains. The concluding play of the drive, a fourth down pass into the end zone that slipped through the intended receiver’s fingers, left Saratoga scoreless heading into halftime.
With a 21-point deficit, the Blue Streaks entered the third quarter determined not to be summarily dispatched by two-time title-winners CBA. A 23-yard pass to wideout Gavin Lafrance signaled a momentum shift, resulting in a series of plays that inched the Blue Streaks closer to the goal line. After a pass was deflected, Saratoga was faced with 4th and 7. Going for it, the squad’s state-leading rusher Benjamin Coryea caught a pass and found the end zone, putting the first points on the board for Toga. Kicker Olivia Mancini missed the extra point kick—had the ball sailed between the goalposts, Mancini would’ve become the first girl to score a point in a New York State championship football game.
Saratoga’s defense then emphatically entered the chat. Defensive end Cam Toomey came up with a big sack in the third quarter, forcing CBA to punt on 4th and 17 and giving the Blue Streaks another shot at narrowing the Brothers’ lead.
Quarterback Bobby Morris did his best Josh Allen impression when he recovered a fumbled snap, evaded three CBA defenders, and then hurled the pigskin to receiver Jaden Lockrow for a first down that landed Saratoga back in the red zone.
In the opening moments of the final quarter, Morris connected with Lafrance once again, this time for a touchdown. An attempted two-point conversion resulted in a completed pass that fell short of the end zone, leaving the score 21-12 with less than a dozen minutes left to play.
This 9-point deficit, however, was as close as Saratoga would come to evening the score. After a huge defensive stop yielded another turnover on downs, the Blue Streaks struggled to maintain their offensive momentum. Morris got sacked at the 1 yard line, narrowly avoiding a safety. Then a completion to Lockrow was brought back after a personal foul was called on the receiver. Faced with 4th and 17 on their own 5 yard line, Saratoga was forced to punt.
A subsequent 4-yard touchdown run by CBA would prove to be the fatal blow. The Brothers began to widen the gap, later earning a pick-6 and walking away with their third-straight championship. The final score: CBA 41, Saratoga 12.
Overall, CBA’s dominant defense proved insurmountable for Saratoga, even with the state’s leading rusher in a Blue Streak uniform. The Brothers have won 41 straight games, and it’s a small miracle that Saratoga held its own against a high school football juggernaut.
After the loss, some Blue Streaks took to social media to share their thoughts.
“[The] state championship game didn’t end how we wanted, but I am very thankful to my teammates, coaches, and community for getting us here and being one of the best teams in program history,” said Toomey.
“Unfortunate ending to my Saratoga football career last night with the State Championship loss to CBA, but extremely grateful for all my coaches and teammates who I was able [to] make history with,” added tight end Josh Simon.
Overall, the Blue Streaks finished the season 11-3, their best record in years.
Coryea concluded his standout season with more rushing yards than any other running back in the state. Perhaps unsurprisingly, he was also named Section 2’s Player of the Year.
