COLONIE — The Saratoga Springs varsity football team secured the Section 2 Class AA title last Saturday in a barnburner threatened by lightning and soaked with rain.
The Blue Streaks eked out the win against reigning champions Christian Brothers Academy (CBA), 14 to 13, relying on standout running back Benjamin Coryea, who rushed for 68 yards and a touchdown after a season in which he led all of New York State with more than 2,100 yards for an average of nearly 200 yards per game and nearly 9 yards per carry. Quarterback Bobby Morris also found the endzone, racking up 72 rushing yards of his own on just 7 carries.
After the game’s start time was delayed due to lightning, both of Saratoga’s touchdowns came quickly in a rainy first quarter. With less than six minutes left, Morris faked a handoff to Coryea and then scrambled 45 yards into the endzone. Then with just a tad over a minute left, a direct snap to Coryea on third and short resulted in a 46-yard rushing score.
A successful two-point conversion on a short pass from Morris, followed later by a missed extra point by CBA in the fourth quarter, added up to the decisive one-point difference that put Saratoga over the edge.
On the defensive end, Blue Streak senior Josh Simon earned 2 sacks while Caleb Brilling added another. Eliot Moglia led his unit with 16 total tackles.
Saratoga’s victory over CBA was decidedly an upset. CBA won the title last year and defeated Saratoga 40 to 21 earlier in the season. The last time Saratoga beat CBA was in 2018. The 2025 section title was also the Saratoga football program’s first in a decade.
Next up for the Blue Streaks is a Saturday, Nov. 22 state tournament quarterfinal game held at Colonie High School against Section 9’s Middletown.
Saratoga Springs girls varsity swim and dive seniors pose with the Section 2 championship plaque. Photo provided by Joshua Muldner.
SARATOGA SPRINGS — In the career of an athlete or coach, moments of pure ecstasy can be few and far between, if indeed they happen at all. Perhaps someone who has devoted much of their life to baseball will experience the otherworldly sensation of a walk-off home run in the bottom of the ninth of a championship game. Maybe a football star will feel the thrill of catching a game-winning Hail Mary pass in the endzone as the final seconds of the fourth quarter tick off the clock. For many, these are just dreams. But for the Saratoga Springs girls swim and dive team, the fantasies have been fulfilled.
“There were points where we questioned whether we’d ever be able to bring home a championship for Saratoga,” said the team’s Head Coach Joshua Muldner. “Many of us were pretty teary after that… It was really, really emotional.”
The seemingly impossible moment arrived last weekend, when the swim and dive squad won its first Section 2 championship in 23 years after an undefeated regular season. The Blue Streaks defeated Niskayuna with a total score of 434, 70 points better than the runners-up. After securing the title, Muldner and his staff of volunteer coaches lept into the pool to join their victorious athletes.
It was the culmination of a season that opened with back-to-back victories against Niskayuna and Shenendehowa, two schools that historically have been tough challengers for Saratoga. Throughout the year, records were shattered and names were added to the history books, with eight athletes making the list of all-time top times.
“This was a magical team season,” Muldner said in a statement. “Although there are a lot of individual and relay highlights, I really believe the biggest accomplishment was getting contributions from every team member. We don’t beat Shen or Nisky in dual meets or at sectionals without extraordinary contributions from each member of the team. We did not focus on going undefeated or winning a sectional title. In fact, we never spoke about these things as a group. Instead, these athletes zeroed in on what they could control. They trusted the process, focusing on the little things, and the results followed.”
At sectionals, the Blue Streaks earned state-qualifying times in the 200-yard medley relay, the 100 backstroke, the 100 breaststroke, and diving. Victoria Lill will head to states after finishing second in the backstroke with a time of 58.95 seconds. Saturn Cogan will also make the trip to the state championship thanks to her 100-breaststroke time of 1:08.51. The medley relay team of Lill, Cogan, Cadhla Weil, and Catherine Kim also qualified. These four athletes joined divers Gianna DiMaggio and Amelia Covey in qualifying for the New York State Championship meet scheduled to take place on Nov. 21 and 22. (The last time Saratoga sent two divers to states was in 2019.)
Also at the sectional meet, senior DiMaggio scored a 531.70 at the 11-dive, which was more than 45 points higher than the diver who finished second. Covey scored an impressive 465.25, earning fifth place.
During the regular season, DiMaggio broke school records at both Schenectady (6-dive meet) and Bethlehem (11-dive meet). This is in addition to her shattering her own Saratoga Springs High School record. DiMaggio is now ranked 4th in the state for 6-dives and tied for 7th in New York for 11-dives. She has been recruited by the University of Richmond, where she will continue her diving career next fall as part of a Division 1 NCAA program.
“It’s funny, there weren’t as many nerves as I thought there would be with a brand new group of girls,” Muldner said. “They really stepped up. I think they were excited. I think they trusted each other.”
Trust is a crucial part of Muldner’s program, and his mantra is “trust the process.” He credited this “positive and team-oriented mindset” with helping the Blue Streaks acquire both their undefeated season and a sectional title.
“Throughout this season, the coaching staff was continually impressed by our team’s exceptional work ethic, their ability to listen and learn, and their willingness to trust the process,” Muldner said. “This was one of the most fun and rewarding teams [the coaches] ever had the privilege to coach.”
Muldner added: “The 2025 season will be remembered by coaches, athletes, and families as one of the most extraordinary in Saratoga Springs swim and dive history. A dynamic blend of experienced, high-performing veterans and a talented group of new athletes came together to form a unified, driven, and record-breaking team—one that truly embodies the best of what high school student athletics can be.”
Highlights from the 2025 swim and dive season included:
5 new freshman records
200 Medley Relay: 10/11/25 at Albany – Time: 1:59.64
Victoria Lill: 29.19
Skylar Panetta: 34.93
Catherine Kim: 28.87
Maeve Moynahan: 26.65
200 Free Relay – 09/30/25 at Skidmore – Time 1:48.16
Victoria Lill – 26.41
Maeve Moynahan – 27.38
Skylar Panetta – 28.01
Catherin Kim – 26.36
400 Medley Relay – 10/8/2025 at Schenectady – Time: 3:57.31
Skylar Panetta – 1:00.27
Victoria Lill – 59.32
Catherine Kim – 59.39
Maeve Moynahan – 58.33
100 Backstroke – 11/8/25 at Shen – Time: 58.95
200 IM – Skylar Panetta – 11/7/25 at Shen – Time: 2:15.29
SARATOGA SPRINGS — The Saratoga-Wilton Elks Lodge No. 161 will hold its annual Hoop Shoot basketball free throw shooting competition on Saturday, Dec. 6 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Saratoga Springs Recreation Center at 15 Vanderbilt Avenue.
This event is free and open to boys and girls ages 8-13. Boys and girls will be divided into separate age groups of 8-9 year olds, 10-11 year olds, and 12-13 year olds. Participants’ eligibility will be determined as of their age on April 1, 2026. Pre-registration is not required.
Prizes will be awarded for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place winners in all groups. Local winners will advance to the district championship and have the opportunity to advance to regional, state, and national championship competitions. All national champions will be enshrined in the National Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield, Massachusetts.
For more information, please contact the Director of the Saratoga-Wilton Elks Hoop Shoot, Steve Dorsey, at (518) 369-1985.
Photo provided by the New York Race Track Chaplaincy.
SARATOGA SPRINGS — Kim Weir, the director of strategic growth for Therapeutic Horses of Saratoga, received on Tuesday the first-ever Nancy Kelly Volunteer Award for her efforts with the New York Race Track Chaplaincy. Weir was presented with the award at a luncheon held at the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame.
“I am deeply honored and humbled by this kind gesture from the chaplaincy,” Weir said. “As a volunteer, I am inspired by the legacy of Nancy Kelly’s life of service. I hope that this award and celebration will shine light on the lasting impact that we can each make, every day, in the lives of our neighbors and our community when we share our time and talents.”
“Our organization could not serve all the people it does without the exceptional assistance we receive from volunteers and Kim really exemplifies what this award is all about,” said Hall of Fame jockey Ramón Dominguez at the luncheon. “She gives generously of her time and is most deserving of this honor.”
The prize is named in honor of the late Nancy Kelly, a former president, vice president, and longtime volunteer with the New York Chaplaincy. Kelly passed away in February of last year. The chaplaincy created the award to honor her memory and recognize an individual who supports the organization with their volunteerism.
Weir is a resident of Saratoga Springs and is actively involved with numerous racing-related organizations in the area, in addition to her work with the chaplaincy.
Photo of Brett Beckwith via the Saratoga Casino Hotel.
SARATOGA SPRINGS — Brett Beckwith, a Saratoga Springs High School graduate and Wilton resident, is currently representing the United States at the 2025 World Driving Championships in New Zealand. The championships include more than 20 heats run at five different racecourses across the country.
On Sunday, Beckwith earned a second-place finish from two drives at the Kaikoura Trotting Club, placing him fourth overall in the opening round of competition. He also finished third in a Nov. 2 race. As of Nov. 4, Beckwith was 7th in the championship standings with 28 total points.
“It’s been a blast so far,” Beckwith told Harness Racing New Zealand earlier this week after his second-place finish.
Beckwith launched his career as a driver at the Saratoga Casino Hotel’s harness track when he was only 18 years old. In 2021, he won 69 of 625 starts, earning the Johnny Page Driver Breakthrough award. In 2024, he was the leading driver at Saratoga with 306 wins. In his career thus far, Beckwith has accumulated at least 1,399 first-place finishes in 8,353 starts for a total purse of nearly $14 million.
The World Driving Championships will continue with additional race days scheduled for Nov. 7, 9, and 11.
The Spa Catholic girl’s soccer team poses for a team photo after defeating Germantown 2-1 at Skidmore College on Sept. 19. Photo provided by Assistant Coach Tony Nucera.
SARATOGA SPRINGS — The Saratoga Central Catholic girl’s soccer team finished its 2025 fall season with an overall record of 7-10-1. The squad earned a 2-0 class D quarterfinal sectional win over Germantown before falling in the semis to Fort Ann.
The team was led by top scorers and captains Addison Quail and Allison Fuller, as well as defensive standouts Ava Brown (another captain), Emma Gilchrist, and Maggie Durfee.
The Saints’ momentum shifted mid-season when Grace Schaefer began playing goal full time. During that stretch, the defense gave up 17 goals over their final 12 games and earned 4 shutouts.
Highlights of the season included nighttime wins at Skidmore College over Germantown and Gloversville, as well as a sectional win over Germantown at Saratoga Springs High School. The Saints earned the section’s 4th seed entering the postseason.
After starting 0-5-1 with a challenging early schedule that included games against Bolton, Berlin, and Cambridge, the Lady Saints piled up 7 wins in their last 12 games, which also included tough road losses to Whitehall (1-0 in double overtime) and Corinth (2-1, after leading 1-0 at halftime).
The team expects a breakout season in 2026 despite losing four seniors: Fuller, Brown, Isabella Hutter, and Anna Fitzpatrick. 13 players are set to return next year including a core group of talented starters in Schaefer, Quail, Lily Guidon, Jill Venn, and Sophia Ryan. 8th grade star Sophia Brunner, sophomore Julia Dejnozka, and juniors Ryan and Venn will work collectively to make up for the lost offensive production due to Fuller’s graduation.
The team also recently held its end-of-season banquet, and the following awards were presented:
• Team MVP: Addison Quail
• Coaches Award: Ava Brown
• Dan Cogan Award: Allison Fuller
• Most Improved: Lily Guidon
Head Coach Brian Venn and Assistant Coach Tony Nucera said they would like to thank the Lady Saints players for another “magical ride” in 2025, as well as the players’ parents for the “incredible support they provided to the team all season long.”
Coach Rich Johns, founder of “Act With Respect Always” (AWRA) and a former Saratoga Springs tennis coach, recently spent a day at the Oppenheim-Ephratah-St. Johnsville (OESJ) Elementary School, delivering two presentations and recognizing a number of students and teachers with the AWRA Starfish Award. Pictured here are the students in Mrs. McNulty’s class, with Coach Johns, prior to signing the school banner. “Act With Respect Always” presentations are designed to build respect and leadership, teach positive and constructive behavior, and stop bullying before it starts. Photo provided by Rich Johns.
Photo of Skidmore riding team junior captain Ani McIntyre via Eye Was Here Photography/Skidmore College Athletics.
GUILDERLAND — The Skidmore College equestrian team won their second show of the season, which was hosted by Siena University at Dutch Manor Stable on Nov. 1. Junior Captain Ani McIntyre rode away with the High Point Rider prize and was also awarded the Ride of the Day. The team added 5 blue ribbons to their tally for the Blue Ribbon Challenge.
The riders’ first blue ribbon of the day was won by Ian Guadio, in his Intercollegiate Horse Shows Association (IHSA) debut in the Intermediate Fences on Skidmore’s Stella. Penelope York also showed for the first time in the IHSA, winning her Limit Fences classes. McIntyre soon followed with another blue in the Limit Fences.
The Open riders were back to their winning ways for the second half of the day, with Isa Jensen winning her Open Flat on Skidmore’s Milan. McIntyre returned to win her Limit Flat class, earning her the High Point Rider honors. Sierra Wiser rode to second place in her first IHSA competition, and Catherine Epstein finished the day with a blue ribbon in the Introductory Equitation.
The team next competes in the Skidmore College Show doubleheader on Nov. 15 at the Van Lennep Riding Center.
Hannah Paynter, winner of the Women’s Open 1x at the 2025 Head of the Fish regatta. Photo via ARION Rowing.
SARATOGA SPRINGS — Athletes from the Saratoga-based ARION (Advanced Rowing Initiative of the Northeast) program excelled at the 2025 Head of the Fish regatta at the end of October, with Hannah Paynter winning the Women’s Open 1x and the team of Sophia Ortega and James Schmidt winning the Mixed Open 2x.
“ARION athletes raced hard, worked all over the regatta, and even put together some great costumes,” ARION said in a social media post. “Grateful for the [Saratoga Rowing] community and to all the competitors who came out.”
The ARION program has sent some of its athletes to the Olympics, including Kristi Wagner and Lauren O’Connor, who both finished ninth overall in their respective events at the 2024 games in Paris, France.
Head of the Fish is one of the largest regattas in the country, bringing more than 160 teams and 1,600 crews from across the northeast to compete in Saratoga Springs.
SARATOGA SPRINGS — Saratoga Springs field hockey player Mia Khazin shattered her school’s single-season scoring record in a brutal 3-2 overtime loss to Guilderland on Oct. 28. In that contest, Khazin netted her 30th goal of the year, surpassing Lindsey Frank’s record of 29, which was set in 2018.
By surpassing Frank, a Blue Streak Hall of Famer who now works as a marketing coordinator for the Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation, Khazin catapulted herself into the ranks of all-time great Saratoga athletes.
“[Mia] always looked up to people like Lindsey Frank,” said the field hockey star’s coach, Jo-Anne Hostig. “She said, ‘It’s a nice feeling to be amongst them but I never thought I would.’ But then I say to her, ‘it’s your hard work. It’s what you did in the offseason, your determination…’ I’m really proud of her to have done that, and I think there’s a lot more to come, to be honest. I think it’s just the beginning for her.”
Khazin has already committed to play field hockey for the Division 1 Quinnipiac University, which just wrapped up their 10-8 season on Halloween. Khazin was interested in the school not just because she wanted to play Division 1 field hockey, but also because Quinnipiac boasts a strong academic reputation. Prior to the start of the 2025 season, the school’s field hockey team received the BIG EAST Team Academic Excellence Award thanks to a team GPA of 3.8, the highest among all BIG EAST field hockey programs. All 21 Quinnipiac field hockey players were also named to the 2024-25 BIG EAST All-Academic Team.
“She’s always been a scholar-athlete,” Hostig said. “I think that she’ll fit in well there.”
Khazin has made the Saratoga Springs High Honor Roll multiple times during her high school career, and according to her recruiting profile, she’s also served on the student council and the Women’s Empowerment Club.
“She’s a person that, as far as being a great role model, she’s been inspiring to the younger players because she set herself up two years ago to say, ‘I’m going to improve. I want to get better.’ She doubled her scores from her sophomore year to her junior year,” Hostig said. “She set herself in the offseason to really work hard at trying to improve everything about what she was as an athlete, as a player, mentally and physically. It was hard and she had things that she had to overcome, and she did.”
