SARATOGA COUNTY — Horse racing fans will have the opportunity to give and receive the gift of world-class thoroughbred racing this holiday season with a special offer of NYRA Bets Gift Cards available exclusively at Stewart’s Shops. 

On sale now through Dec. 26, NYRA Bets Gift Cards will be available at nearly two dozen participating Stewart’s Shops locations in Saratoga County in partnership with the New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA). 

NYRA Bets Gift Cards can be used to fund both active and new NYRA Bets accounts to bet online at hundreds of racetracks worldwide. The cards are available in $50 denominations. 

A NYRA Bets Gift Card is preloaded with $50 to deposit in a NYRA Bets account, America’s leading online betting platform. Each card includes a unique four-digit PIN. After purchasing the gift card, fans enter the PIN into their new or existing NYRA Bets account. The funds will be available immediately to use when betting with NYRA Bets. 

There are no processing fees or premiums applied when purchasing or using a NYRA Bets Gift Card. NYRA Bets Gift Cards are available for purchase by cash only; credit cards are not accepted. For a complete list of participating Stewart’s Shops locations, visit StewartsShops.com/NYRABets.com. 

PORTER CORNERS — Brookhaven Golf Course’s Head Golf Professional Anthony Therrien has been named one of the “top 10 PGA Jr. captains” by PGA.com.

The website, which represents the national golf professional association of more than 29,000 golf professionals and the leading experts on the game of golf, identified Therrien in its article “Ten PGA Jr. League Captains Who Inspired a Decade of Dominance” on Nov. 3. 

The article, written in celebration of the PGA Jr. League’s 10th Anniversary, celebrated the “rock star coaches who are the lifeblood of the program” that involved more than 64,000 kids nationally this year. Therrien’s PGA Jr. League had two teams with 24 kids this year, boys and girls ages 8-13 years old. The teams participated in 12 tournaments at Brookhaven and throughout the region. The Town of Greenfield also held “Learn to Golf” weekly sessions for approximately 100 kids over four weeks this summer. Brookhaven is one of the only local courses to offer free golf for ages 17 and under. 

Sign-ups for the 2022 PGA Jr. League and summer lessons begin in February. Therrien plans to add a PGA Jr. U17 program, for children 4-17, as well as adult clinics and a number of both recreational and competitive tournaments. For more information, visit www.brookhavengolfcourse.com or call 518-893-7458. 

Read the full story on Saratoga Business Report (www.saratogabusinessreport.com).

IVRING, TX — Kell Berliner (27) from the Glenville, NY based Jason Morris Judo Center (JMJC) enjoyed a stellar weekend at the 55th Annual Dallas Invitational Judo Championships on Saturday, Nov. 20, and then the USA Judo’s Presidents Cup on Sunday, Nov. 21, both held at the Irving Convention Center. Berliner went 5-1 to take an 81kg bronze at the Dallas Invitational, then climbed to the top of the podium the next day at the Presidents Cup, going 5-0 to capture the 81kg gold. Max Alaynick (21) had a great day going 4-1, losing only in the 81kg final to JMJC teammate Kell Berliner, to take silver in the Presidents Cup. Ramon Hernandez (20) took 5th place at the 81kg as the JMJC were represented well at that weight class. Melissa Myers went 3-1 at the Presidents Cup to win a bronze medal at 70kg. JMJC’s Zach Judy (28) went 2-2 each day to place 7th in both events at 60kg. Next up for the JMJC athletes is an in-house competition held at the Jason Morris Judo Center starting at noon on Saturday, Nov. 27 that all are welcome to check out. 

Black Horses Head to Semi-Finals

The Black Horses Varsity Football Team had another shutout win in post-season play – a 52-0 defeat against Ogdensburg Free Academy in the Class C State Quarterfinals on Saturday, Nov. 20. 

In the first quarter, R. Dow got the scoring started with a 1 yd. TD run, followed by a pass from O. Sherman to Z. Bowen for the 2 pt. conversion. 

O. Sherman threw five TDs to Dow – a 46 yd. pass and 34 yd. pass in the first quarter, a 34 yd. pass (2 pt. conversion completed by L. Sherman) and a 14 yd. pass in the second quarter (2 pt. conversion completed by O. Sherman to L. Cumm), and a 30 yd. pass in the third quarter (2 pt. conversion completed by Cumm). 

N. Abruscato rounded off their scoring in the fourth quarter with a 2 yd. TD run. 

Schuylerville had 434 total yds. (244 rushing). Top rushers for the Black Horses were: Cumm had 9 carries for 67 yds., M. Flanders had 14 carries for 55 yds., L. Sherman had 9 carries for 50 yds., and O. Sherman had 4 carries for 33 yds. Dow and Abruscato both rushed for TDs also. 

Quarterback O. Sherman was 8 for 9 for 190 yds. with 5 TDs. Lead receiver was Dow, with 7 receptions for 187 yds. and 5 TDs. 

On defense, Abruscato and C. Nastacie had fumble recoveries. 

Ogdensburg had 139 total yds. (65 rushing). Top rushers were A. Calton who rushed for 26 yds. on 3 carries, and K. England who rushed for 14 yds. on 2 carries. 

QB T. Lovely was 5 for 17 for 74 yds. 

D. Costello had 2 receptions for 39 yds., Calton had 1 reception for 20 yds., and J. McIntyre had 2 receptions for 15 yds. 

Schuylerville advances to the Class C State Semifinals on Saturday, Nov. 27 at noon at Middletown High School. They will face Dobbs Ferry, who beat James I. O’Neill 56-28. 

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Burnt Hills Falls to Somers 

Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake Varsity Football Team fell to Somers in the Class A State Quarterfinals. Final score: 48-14. 

D. Marcus scored the first TD of the game in the first quarter on a 4 yd. run. Marcus also opened up the scoring in the second quarter for the Tuskers with a 32 yd. TD run. M. Kapica added a 1 yd. TD run, and M. Fitzsimons also scored on a 1 yd. TD run to make the score 28-0 at halftime. 

In the second half R. Dass scored on a 36 yd. TD run and a 52 yd. punt return. S. Swee scored on a 44 yd. TD run to round off the scoring for Somers in the fourth quarter. L. Savino was 6 for 7 on extra point attempts.

Somers kept BH-BL off the board until the fourth quarter, when R. Mareno scored the first TD for the Spartans on 25 yd. fumble recovery. J. Joseph followed up with a 38 yd. TD run with less than three minutes remaining in the game. 

Tuskers QB Fitzsimons was 11 for 12 in the first half alone and ended the game 14 for 19 for 164 yds. and 1 TD. RB Marcus had 8 carries for 51 yds. and 2 TDs. 

BH-BL’s Head Coach Shell was on the sidelines for the game after his ejection during the Section 2 Class A Superbowl against Queensbury was rescinded; officials determined that Shell was not the individual who provoked the 2 unsportsmanlike conduct penalty flags. 

Somers advances to the Class A State Semifinals, a rematch against Rye. 

BH-BL v. Queensbury

Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake had a 21-0 shutout victory over Queensbury to be named Class A Section 2 Champions – the program’s 10th Section 2 title. 

BH-BL scored their first two TDs following forced fumble recoveries. In the first quarter, R. Mareno scored on a 28 yd. TD pass from T. Manning, after Mareno forced the fumble and it was recovered by S. Cable. In the second quarter, Cable had a 69 yd. fumble recovery, which was finished by a 3 yd. run from J. Joseph to make the score 14-0 at halftime. 

In the third quarter, Manning scored on a 10 yd. TD run; M. Sbuttoni was 3 for 3 on extra point attempts. 

In the fourth quarter, two unsportsmanlike penalties were called on the BH-BL coaching staff, which resulted in the ejection of Head Coach Matt Shell per NYSPHSAA rules; NYSPHSAA rules also state that after an ejection a one-game suspension will be assessed for the following game. 

BH-BL’s (9-1) next game is the NYS Regional Championship against 10-0 Somers, the Section 1 Class A Champions. The game is set for Friday, Nov. 19 at 6 p.m. at Mahopac. 

Schuylerville v. Fonda-Fultonville 

Schuylerville claimed the Class C Section 2 title for the third year in a row after an undefeated season. Schuylerville defeated Fonda-Fultonville in the championship game 26-16. 

Fonda scored the first TD of the game in the second quarter off J. Cusack’s 8 yd. pass to B. Melious, and O. Hick’s successful 2 pt. conversion. 

The Black Horses came back to score three times before the half. L. Sherman had a 20 yd. TD run and a 5 yd. run. TD. O. Sherman threw a 49 yd. TD pass to O. Bolduc, and the 2 pt. conversion was completed by L. Sherman to Bolduc. 

Fonda scored once more in the third quarter off G. DiCaprio’s 4 yd. TD, and the 2 pt. conversion was completed by Cusack. 

Schuylerville battled back with another TD in the fourth quarter, a 7 yd. run from L. Sherman. 

The Black Horses had 316 total yards. Top rushers were L. Sherman with 22 carries for 113 yds. and 3 TDs, L. Cumm with 2 carries for 14 yds., O. Sherman with 6 carries for 10 yds., and R. Dow with 4 carries for 9 yds. 

 Quarterback O. Sherman was 7 for 19 for 170 yds. and 1 TD. Receiving, Bolduc caught 3 for 66 yds. and 1 TD, and Dow caught 4 for 104 yds. 

Fonda had 220 total yards. Top rushers were Cusack with 16 carries for 108 yds., and DiCaprio with 13 carries for 27 yds. and 1 TD. 

Passing, Cusack was 8 for 24 for 59 yds. and 1 TD. C. Weaver was 2 for 5 for 13 yds. Lead receiver was Melious who caught 4 for 31 yds. and 1 TD. 

Greenwich v. Stillwater 

Greenwich’s 16th straight win was the Class D Section 2 Championship over Stillwater with a final score of 31-7. 

Greenwich got the scoring started in the first quarter on A. McPhail’s 2 yd. TD run. They scored again at the end of the first quarter on M. Conlin’s 11 yd. TD run. 

Stillwater’s only TD was in the first quarter, a 2 yd. run from J. Mueller and an extra point from L. Brady. 

Greenwich continued to score in each quarter. In the second quarter, J. Kuzmich scored on a 41 yd. TD run. In the third quarter, D. Kelleher kicked a 30 yd. field goal. In the fourth quarter, after a short delay for thunder, Conlin scored on a 16 yd. TD run. 

Greenwich had 372 total yards, 337 of them rushing. Conlin and Kuzmich was the Witches top rushers – Conlin had 21 carries for 185 yds. and 2 TDs and Kuzmich had 11 carries for 90 yds. 

Stillwater had 167 total yards. C.J. McNeil was the Warriors lead rusher with 24 carries for 155 yds. 

Greenwich is headed to the state quarterfinals on Friday at 7 p.m. at Mechanicville High School, and they will face Section 1 Champions Tuckahoe (8-1). 

TROY — Organizers of the 105th anniversary Troy Turkey Trot on Thanksgiving morning have released a series of guidelines to ensure a safe and enjoyable Troy Turkey Trot for participants, spectators, and volunteers. 

“Since the pandemic is still with us, it’s important we take additional steps to keep everyone safe,” said Troy Turkey Trot Event Director George Regan. “At this year’s event, we will be implementing several measures to create a healthy environment for runners, spectators, and event volunteers.” 

Precautionary measures for the 2021 Troy Turkey Trot include: 

Packet Pick Up 

A drive through packet pick up will be held on Saturday, Nov. 20, Sunday, Nov. 21, and Wednesday, Nov. 24 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Italian Community Center, 1450 5th Ave, Troy, NY 12180. In person packet pick up will take place at the Troy Atrium on Thanksgiving morning (6 a.m. to 15 minutes before each event) in a “one way” format. Participants will enter the Troy Atrium on Third Street and exit onto 4th Street to their start corral. All runners will receive a bottle of hand sanitizer in their packets. 

Race Day 

Masks will be made available to participants and spectators in the Troy Atrium; they must be worn at the starting line, but can be removed out on the course, and must be worn again in the finish area. Spectators are required to wear a mask at all times. Limited baggage check will be offered in the Troy Atrium. Running in groups is discouraged unless you are from the same household. Eight-ounce water bottles are available to runners at the Trot’s water stop; the water stop tables will be extended to ease congregation. Limited refreshments will be offered in the finish chute area; upon exiting the finish chute, all participants are urged to leave the event site. There will be no finish line gathering, awards ceremony, or warm-ups. All age group and team awards will be mailed. 

“We are expecting thousands of runners, walkers, and spectators at the event and we must remain vigilant to keep ourselves and our families safe,” Regan continued. “By social distancing, wearing a mask, and getting vaccinated we can all do our part to stop the spread of the virus.” 

For more information and to register for the 5K, 10K, Grade School Mile, Turkey Walk, and costume contest, visit TroyTurkeyTrot.com. 

GLENS FALLS — For the first time in over two years, World Wrestling Entertainment makes its return to Cool Insuring Arena. Come see your favorite WWE Raw and Smackdown Superstars in action live on Saturday, Jan. 8, 2022, at 7:30 p.m. 

Tickets start at $20 and go on sale Friday, Nov. 19 at 10 a.m. and can purchased online using the SeatGeek app, CoolInsuringArena.com, or at the SeatGeek Box Office at Cool Insuring Arena. 

SARATOGA SPRINGS – The Saratoga Springs Figure Skating Club is offering a Learn to Skate Program open to all from ages 3-adult. The program will meet on Saturday mornings from 10 to 11 a.m., and the next 6-week session starts on Jan. 8. 

The Saratoga Springs Figure Skating Club is the only area club to offer the US Figure Skating sanctioned program. Their instructors are experienced and approved through USFS. 

Registration is open now and additional information can be found at www.SaratogaLearnToSkate.com. 

GALWAY — After winning their conference and sectional tournaments, the Galway Girls Volleyball Team won the Regional Championships on Nov. 13 against Chateguay, sweeping all three sets. They will play in the NYS Semi-Finals on Saturday, Nov. 20 at Cool Insuring Arena at 3 p.m. The team’s awards and accolades this season include: 

AVCA High School All-Region Team and All-America Team 

The American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) is excited to announce the second annual AVCA High School All-Region Teams. A total of 10 regions represent our nation’s 50 states. The number of athletes on each All-Region team is determined by the number of AVCA High School All-America nominations each region receives. The top 50% of nominated athletes, as selected by the AVCA High School Regional Committees, are named to their respective All-Region team. The All-Region teams also include the athletes that will be named to the AVCA High School All-America First Team, Second Team, Third Team, and Honorable Mention All-America as well. 

Galway Central School District is proud to announce that Julia Reedy was selected to the AVCA All-Regional Team for the Northeast States. She was also selected as All-America Honorable Mention. Only nine young women in NYS were selected for the All-America Teams. A record of 1,176 nominations were submitted to the 16th annual AVCA Girls High School All-America Team from the entire nation, resulting in 300 All-Americans and Honorable Mention All-American selections. 

AVCA Best & Brightest Awards

The American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) is proud to announce the first ever AVCA Best & Brightest Awards for high school senior student-athletes. The AVCA Best & Brightest Award is an award meant to honor individual high school senior student-athletes who excel on and off the court. To be eligible for the Best & Brightest Award, senior student-athletes must have earned at least a 3.0 Unweighted/3.5 Weighted GPA (or the equivalent if using a different GPA scale) during their junior year AND play in 50% of their varsity team’s sets during their senior season. 

Anna Dabrowski made 2nd team, achieving a 3.3 Unweighted/3.8 Weighted GPA or above during the high school junior year. 

Julia Reedy made 3rd team, achieving a 3.0 Unweighted/3.5 Weighted GPA or above during the high school junior year. 

WAC

Galway volleyball athletes dominate the Western Athletic Conference 2021 All-Stars, with Julia Reedy at the top of the list as Section 2 WAC MVP. 

In the Hudson Division, the 1st Team All-Stars are Julia Reedy, Jayden DeVellis, Amber Kolpakas, Kylee Decker, and Grace O’Brien. Trishelle Oliver made 2nd Team All-Stars. 

Honorable mention: Anna Dabrowski, Sadie Underwood, and Sophia Fasolino. 

Exceptional Seniors: Julia Reedy, Kylee Decker, Trishelle Oliver, Anna Dabrowski, and Sadie Underwood. 

Coach: Mike Glenn. 

WAC Coaches

Recognition Awards

Overall MVP: Julia Reedy

CO-MVP Hitter: Julia Reedy 

MVP Setter: Kylee Decker 

Defensive Player of the Year: Jayden DeVellis