CANTON — The Saint Lawrence University Classic is a weekend tournament that brings numerous college tennis teams from New York State together to compete. Former Saratoga Springs tennis standout Nick Grosso won the “C” Flight Singles Championship playing for Hobart College. 

Grosso impressed in his college debut, winning 8-1 to move to the quarterfinals, an 8-3 win in the quarterfinals, an 8-4 win in the semifinals, and 8-2 win in the championship match. 

BALLSTON SPA — Camp Abilities Saratoga is inviting the public to join them and learn more about adaptive sports for the blind and visually impaired youth during an open house on Sept. 25 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the “Lion’s Den” at the Saratoga County Fairgrounds (162 Prospect Street, Ballston Spa). 

Camp Abilities Saratoga (CAS) is a one-week educational sports camp for youth who are blind, visually impaired, and deafblind, and is a service project of the Saratoga Springs Lions Club. The Camp Director and specialists will be demonstrating adaptive sports equipment that is used throughout the camp with an opportunity to try it firsthand.

CAS’s first camp was in 2014 and has been held every year since. Due to COVID, they dedicated themselves to continue to hold camps in 2020 and 2021 to provide services and continue a sense of family/normalcy by holding virtual camps. Virtual Camp and Virtual Mini Camps are held via Zoom. They are prepared to hold in-person camps in 2022. CAS camps are held at Skidmore College. 

For more information visit: www.CampAbilitesSaratoga.org. Learn more about the new, virtual CAS Mini Camps at www.campabilitessaratoga.org/apply/vcas-mini-camp-sessions 

WAYNE, NJ — Athletes from the Glenville-based Jason Morris Judo Center won eight total medals at the Garden State Judo Classic Championships on Sept. 12. 

Melissa Myers (25) continued her success winning a gold in the 70kg women’s elite division. The JMJC athletes made a clean sweep of the men’s 60kg category with Julien Crisostomo (18) taking the gold, Zach Judy (28) winning silver, and Kyle Tran (16) coming in third. Kyle won a gold in his regular division, Cadet 60kg (under 18). Ari Berliner (23) won a silver in the men’s 66kg division while his brother Kell (27) picked up a bronze in the 90kg men’s elite weight class. Will van den Broeck (28) also won a bronze in the 90kg division. Burnt Hills High School junior, Thomas Pawlinga (16) played well in his first event, winning a bronze in the Cadet (under 18) 66kg category. Burnt Hills 6th grader, Dani Morris (11), was a double medalist, winning a gold in the 11-12 yrs. heavyweights; then moved up a division but still managed a bronze medal in the 13-14 yrs. heavyweight category. Dani’s twin sister and Burnt Hills 6th grader, Randi Morris, picked up a silver in the 11-12 yrs. middleweight division. Burnt Hills High School graduate, Victoria Ferrante (24), took a silver in the women’s brown belt 57kg category and picked up a bronze in the 57kg women’s elite to close out the JMJC medal count. 

Congrats to a repeat Athlete of the Week – John Dellavilla!

John competed in the Empire State Senior Games in August 2021 at Cortland, NY. Competing at 82 years old in the 80-84 yr. old division of events, John won 3 silver medals for the 50 meter, the 100 meter, and the shot put. 

John is from the Hungry Hill section of Schenectady. He attended school at C.B.A. and Mount Pleasant in the 1950s where he played football, ran track, and wrestled. At Mount Pleasant he played two years of football for Coach Larry Mulvaney. 

John took night classes in engineering for a year at Hudson Valley Community College and then did a tour in the military while attending a mason trade school at night for four years, turning masonry into a lifelong career. 

After a 60-year hiatus, at 79-years-old, John started to compete in the New York and Vermont Senior Games. Unfortunately, due to health reasons, this was his last year competing. Every event John has entered he has won a medal in, and he has given them all to his children and grandchildren. 

In 2018, he earned a bronze medal at the Vermont Senior Games; a gold in the 50 meter and silver in the hammer at the Empire State Senior Games.  In 2019, he earned a gold in the 50 meter and a silver in the hammer throw at the Vermont Senior Games; a gold in the 50 meter and a silver in the shot put and hammer throw in the Empire State Senior Games. In 2021, he earned a gold in the 50 meter, silver in the long jump, shot put, and 100 meter at the Vermont Senior Games; a silver in the 50 meter, the 100 meter, and shot put in the Empire State Senior Games.

With the books recently closed on the 2021 racing season, I have had some time to reflect on this year’s racing meet.

My thoughts took me back to opening day where after two years of darkness things were back to normaI. It was a cinch that I would make the pilgrimage to the Spa for the opening day festivities. The adrenaline began flowing as my wife Kathi and I prepared to leave for the track. We picked up our great friends John and Joan Brophy and made the familiar drive through the quaint streets of our hometown.  We parked a couple of blocks from the track at the lot of our old pal and handicapper par excellence, Bob Loeffler.

Walking down Wright Street towards the clubhouse entrance, my mind became flooded with memories  of my youth and the events that molded a lifetime love of the “Sport of Kings.”

I remembered walking over to Union Avenue as a kid, not far from my parent’s home on George Street. I looked at the luxury cars lined up in the Reading Room parking lot. I marveled at the Cadillacs, Lincolns, and the ornate Chrysler Imperials of the early sixties. I ran home and asked my dad if we could get a Caddy. He said, “Sure Joe, we’ll get two.” That’s when I realized what wishful thinking meant.

I thought about the Racing Museum. I would go there every Tuesday morning during August. In a room adjacent to the main entrance they showed films of the racing greats of the fifties and early sixties. I watched in awe as Nashua, Swaps, Bold Ruler, Round Table and Kelso came roaring to life on the screen.

They raced at places like Arlington, Hialeah and Hollywood Park. I envisioned that I would someday go to every racetrack in the country. At last count I have made it to at least thirty and still have fallen way short of that goal.

Then the big event of my early life flashed through my mind. It was 1965 and closing day of the four week meet of that era. My mom was preparing lunch when my dad walked into the kitchen. I will never forget his words. He said “Josie, I am taking Joe to the track today.” I was finally going. I remember mom pressing a short sleeve button down shirt and a pair of long pants for my big day. Dad grabbed his season’s pass and the New York Daily News and with that we were off to the races. We headed up Union Avenue and I felt taller than a mountain. We walked by Lenny Smith, one of the colorful newspaper vendors at the main gate. You could hear him barking out loudly “Get your Racing Form and scratch sheet.” My heart was beating a mile a minute as we approached the admission window. Dad handed the pass to the clerk and stuck my head under the turnstile. I was on a racetrack.

We headed towards the end of the grandstand. It was a meeting spot for many of Saratoga’s Italian

Americans. They worked hard all week and Saturday was their day to get together at the track. My Uncle Joe and his many cronies were there. Most were neatly dressed in white short sleeve shirts and black pants. You could see the bullseye of the old Lucky Strike cigarette packs through some of their shirt pockets. All the buzz that day was about one of their own, Saratoga legend Vince DeGregory, a jockey agent who had just landed an up-and-coming star, one Angel Cordero Jr. Vince came from the old neighborhood and his success made them proud of their heritage.

After a few races my dad said “Come with me son. Let’s take a walk.” He took me over to the mainline on the first floor of the grandstand. He said “Joe, I want you to take a look at this.” The lines at the betting windows were enormous. There were hordes of gamblers making their wagers. After the race, dad took me back to the same area. There were only a few people at the cashier windows . It was my dad’s way of letting me know that winning bets come few and far between. “Enjoy horse racing, but don’t think for a second that you can beat the game.” The lesson came hard for me. I chased losers for a good portion of my early adult life. Eventually, his advice sunk in. My father was the smartest man I ever knew.

Finding myself at the Clubhouse Gate, my mind was fluid again. Those memories of sixty years ago had vanished in a second. I was back at the track for the first time in two years. Any thoughts of making big scores were a thing of the past. I was there with friends to have lunch, make a few bets and to enjoy the surroundings. I ran into race goers that I hadn’t seen since the Spa last saw fans in attendance. The porch was abuzz with old friends. Dave Borisenok and his wife Patti were at their usual spot. It’s always been a highlight for me to enjoy a fine cigar on the rail with Dave. I maneuvered over to another familiar table. My pals Dominic and Cheech were there. I interrupted their handicapping session for twenty solid minutes of laughs. Then there was “Ziggy.” He has been a main cog of the Porch Restaurant for over a half century. He has a habit of making your day brighter with his warm and personable greeting. We were all in our element, and nothing compares with it. Enthusiasts of the Turf that I have known for a lifetime made their way to our table. Saratoga was back and so were they.

The meet is over now. I didn’t make it there as often as I would have liked, but when I did, every time was a winner. I don’t mean it in a gambling sense. Saratoga is also about the camaraderie of seeing old friends and witnessing great racing on a world class level. It’s about walking on grounds that are steeped in the history and lore of the sport… and so much more.

Many of us that make the trek up historic Union Avenue have memories of this special place. They differ from one person to another, but you can be sure that mostly they are fond ones. A famous French song affectionately conveys that “Paris will always be Paris.” The same can be said of this grand old sports venue. For all of us, past, present, and future generations to come “Saratoga will always be Saratoga.”

SARATOGA SPRINGS — The New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) presented more than 120 pounds of Dunkin’ coffee to the Backstretch Employee Service Team (B.E.S.T.) at Saratoga Race Course on Monday, Sept. 6 – closing day of the 2021 racing season. 

The 126 pounds of coffee was donated based on a pledge from Dunkin’ to supply B.E.S.T. with one pound of coffee for every win by the leading owner, trainer, and jockey of the 2021 Saratoga meet. 

Klaravich Stables was the meet’s leading owner with 21 wins, while Chad Brown claimed the H. Allen Jerkens training title with 41 wins. Luis Saez captured the Angel Cordero Jr. riding title with 64 wins. 

NYRA Community Relations Manager Vanessa Rodriguez Payne presented the coffee to B.E.S.T. Saratoga Program Director Nancy Underwood and numerous volunteers from the non-profit organization during a special winner’s circle ceremony on Monday. The presentation followed the day’s second race named “The Backstretch Employee Service Team runs on Dunkin.’” 

“What is special about running,” said Hislop “is that these women are balancing work and families and still make time for it.” 

ALBANY — The elite field for the Freihofer’s Run for Women is beginning to take shape, with Ballston Spa native Megan Hogan among the pack. 

The 43rd Freihofer’s Run for Women is set to take place on Saturday, Sept. 25 starting at 9 a.m. The elite field is typically made up of about 15-25 runners and the masters, for women 40+, is about 10 runners. Kristen Hislop, Event Director of the Freihofer’s Run for Women, said that this year they are looking at a more regional group of competitors. 

“The course is fun and enjoyable for a variety of women,” said Hislop. “Its strategic though, as it starts on a hill and finishes on a downhill. Its not a record-setting course, but it will have a great finish.”

Megan Hogan, a two-time NCAA All-American and two-time Atlantic 10 Cross Country Performer of the Year at George Washington University, will be competing in the race. The Ballston Spa native and Saratoga Catholic graduate was the first American to finish the race in 2014, and finished 11th at the 2015 race with a time of 16:18. 

Hogan has previously spoken alongside Benita Willis and Melody Fairchild in an elite runners panel hosted by Hislop. All three women are well-known runners, with career heights at different stages throughout life. Hogan now lives in Boston, MA. She is working as a full-time interior designer and strategist, studying to be a wine sommelier, and runs on the side. 

“What is special about running,” said Hislop “is that these women are balancing work and families and still make time for it.” 

Hislop mentioned that they have already started planning the 44th Freihofer’s Run for Women for June 22, hoping that before next year’s race they can resume having these collegiate and post-collegiate competitors visit and speak with local high school athletes. 

“The Freihofer’s race sheds a light on runners from this region.” Hislop continued, “out of all the sports, this region produces some of the most successful runners.” 

New Fall ’21 – Challenger Soccer 

Following the tremendous success of Saratoga Little League’s Challenger Baseball Program and the Saratoga Springs City School District’s Unified Athletic programs, Saratoga Rec. is excited to announce that it will be introducing an adaptive Soccer Program that gives players with specialized needs a place to join in and play the game of soccer in our community. 

This program, for ages 4 to 22, is structured to educate participants about the game of soccer, develop the physical skills needed to play the game, and compete against their peers in a weekly game. 

Challenger Soccer will be held on Saturdays from Sept. 11 to Oct. 30 from 10:45 to 11:45 a.m. at the Saratoga Casino & Hotel (34 Jefferson St, Saratoga Springs). Players will need to bring water and wear sneakers/cleats – no jewelry or watches. Fees are $45 for city residents and $65 for non-city residents, and a t-shirt is included in the fee.

Volunteer coaches are needed. 

Field Hockey 

Drive up your skills! The Field Hockey League is geared towards the individual looking to learn the sport through drills and team play. Tuesday’s session will focus on skill development and Saturday’s sessions will focus on team play. 

The Field Hockey League is for ages 8 to 14. The league will run from Sept. 14 to Oct. 23 on Tuesdays from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. and Saturdays from 12 to 2 p.m. at the Rec. Center Field (15 Vanderbilt Ave). Players will need a water, stick, shin guards, and mouth guard; the Rec. Department will supply each participant with the necessary equipment if they do not own it. 

Fees before Sept. 6 are $55 for city residents and $65 for non-city residents. Fees after Sept. 6 are $80 for City residents and $90 for non-city residents.

Coordinator is Jenna Cappezutti, Elmira College four-year starter and former Scotia-Glenville coach.

Volleyball

Serve up your best! The Volleyball Program focuses on skill development and the teaching of rules and strategy in order to become a better volleyball player. Two sessions will be offered, one for 8 to 12 year-olds and another for 13 to 16 year-olds. 

The Volleyball Program will run from Sept. 15 to Oct. 20 at the Rec. Center (15 Vanderbilt Ave). Ages 8-12 will play on Wednesdays from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. and ages 13-16 will also play on Wednesdays from 6:45 to 7:45 p.m. Participants will need a water and sneakers. 

Fees before Sept. 6 are $55 for city residents and $65 for non-city residents. Fees after Sept. 6 are $80 for city residents and $90 for non-city residents. 

Pickleball Workshop

This fall, the Rec. Department will be hosting four workshops on Sept. 16. Two are geared towards Beginners, one is geared towards Advanced Beginners (those with knowledge of the game and who have some playing experience), and one geared toward those players at an Intermediate level.

The Beginners workshop for ages 16+ is from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. The Beginners workshop for ages 18+ is from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. The rest of the workshops are for ages 18+ with the Advanced Beginners from 12 to 12:30 p.m. and the Intermediate from 9 to 11:30 a.m. The workshops will be held at the East Side Rec Pickleball Courts (226 Lake Avenue). Fees before Sept. 13 are $45 for city residents and $65 for non-city residents. Fees after Sept. 13 are $70 for city residents and $90 for non-city residents. 

Participants will need a paddle, water and sneakers. Coordinator: Ken Henderson, Traveling Pickleball Pros.

Contact the Recreation Department at 518-587-3550 x2300 or recreservations@saratoga-springs.org with questions. 

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Rotary Clubs throughout the Capital Region are sponsoring the 23rd annual Gift of Life International Golf Tournament on Monday, Sept. 20 at Pinehaven Country Club in Guilderland.

The fee is $130 for individuals or $500 for a foursome. The tournament will follow a handicap scramble format with a 10 a.m. shotgun start. Players may pick up a box lunch on the patio. Happy Hour begins when each player finishes golfing. Prizes will be awarded for low and net scores, putting, longest ball, and closest to the pin. Awards and raffle winners will be named after Happy Hour. 

The golf tournament raises money for pediatric heart patients. People and companies can help raise money for this cause by being a lunch sponsor, golf cart sponsor, purchasing a tee sign, and/or by golfing. You may sign up as a single or a foursome. To register to play, or support the event through sponsorships or program advertising, go to events at www.giftoflife7190.org. 

Rotary District 7190 includes 41 local clubs and stretches from Albany to Warren Counties to the north, and east to west from Rensselaer to Montgomery and Fulton Counties. 

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Saratoga Blue Knights is hosting a Try Hockey for Free Day on Sunday, Sept. 19 from 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. at the Weibel Avenue Ice Skating Rink. 

Do you have family, friends, or neighbors who have wondered what participating in youth hockey is all about? The Saratoga Blue Knights invites boys and girls between the ages of 4-9 to a Try Hockey for Free Clinic where they can experience ice hockey for the first time and learn the basics of the sport in a fun, safe environment. Equipment and skates will be provided; if you have your own bring them along too. 

To register go online to tryhockeyforfree.com/event_detail/249. For more information about Saratoga Blue Knights and Saratoga Youth Hockey visit www.saratogayouthhockey.org and follow their Instagram page @saratogablueknights, or Facebook page @saratogayouthhockeyinc.