SARATOGA SPRINGS — Skidmore’s hockey team entered this past weekend with a pair of games against Norwich and New England. At 5-0, Skidmore was having its best start in decades. 

But historically, the Thoroughbreds have struggled to beat Norwich at home. Three out of the last four contests between the teams played in Saratoga ended in ties. So the question was, could Skidmore keep its undefeated streak alive? 

It turned out that history would repeat itself as the contest against Norwich ended in a tie, leaving Skidmore still undefeated but a tad imperfect. 

“[Norwich] play a very defensive brand of hockey,” said Skidmore coach Rob Hutchison. “It came down to finding a way to put a puck in the net in a meaningful moment and we weren’t able to do that, but we had our opportunities.” 

The following night, however, the Thoroughbreds beat New England 2-0. Goalie Tate Brandon finished with another shutout, while Everett Wardle and Kevin Urquhart put Skidmore’s two points on the board.

Coach Rob Hutchison credits his squad’s early success this season with player experience and preparation. “We’ve got experience like we’ve never had,” Hutchison said. 

The team’s core group of juniors and seniors have played a lot of games together, including championship bouts. “They’ve been able to have those experiences and grow from those experiences,” Hutchison said.

The Thoroughbreds are now 6-0-1 on the year. The team will next compete in the Thanksgiving Invitational this weekend.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — The Saratoga boys’ varsity volleyball third annual DiFusco Family Foundation Trust Scholarship Award was presented to Parker Wilcox by Coach Robert DiFusco.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — The Saratoga Central Catholic boys basketball team is coming off a winning season in a competitive league. According to Coach Shea Bromirski, every game this year will be a rivalry and a challenge.

“I think it’s the best small school basketball league in the state,” Bromirski said, “and if it’s not the best, it’s in the top three.”

Last season was Bromirski’s first as coach of the Saints, and his goal was to have his team “understand me and what I’m about and ultimately what our program was going to be about, like a culture change.”

The Saints finished 12-8 in the regular season and were the third seed in the Class C sectionals. “We tasted some success,” Bromirski said. “I felt like last year we kind of created a little buzz around here because we played really hard and we play a fun style of basketball.”

This season, the roster is bolstered by a handful of new transfer students, as well as five returning players. “We have a really deep team,” Bromirski said.

Returning players include senior Aiden Crowther, and juniors Ryan Gillis, Hunter Fales, Tyler Weygand, and Ronan Rowe.

“This year, I just think that this is gonna be a spot to come and watch a really high level basketball team play every Tuesday and Friday night,” the coach said. “This team is going to be very fun to watch and really play basketball the way I think it’s supposed to be played.”

The season kicks off on Friday, November 24 at 7:30pm against Galway at home.

Coach Bromirski shared his team’s roster for the season…

Bryce Peterson 1 So G 

Pierce Bryne 25 So F 

Kihl Kelly 12 So G 

Ryan Gillis 3 Jr F 

Hunter Fales 2 Jr G 

Tyler Weygand 23 Jr G 

Ronan Rowe 22 Jr G 

Tyler Hicks 30 Jr G 

Taamir Koslik 33 Sr F 

Aiden Crowther 11 Sr G 

Jace Alfarone 14 Sr G 

Head Coach – Shea Bromirski 

Assistant Coach – Adam Britten

WILTON — A devastating blaze in Wilton derailed the lives of Skidmore men’s basketball coach Joe Burke and his family. Although no one was hurt, much of the family’s home was destroyed. 

The Skidmore community quickly rallied together to show their support. As of November 20, more than $70,000 had been raised for the Burke family on GoFundMe.

To learn more or to donate to the cause, visit www.gofundme.com/f/9kmru-burkes-family.

TROY — During halftime, the sun began to set, cooling off the field and turning an afternoon game into a Friday night contest under the lights. The crowd busted out their blankets and hand warmers. But as the air chilled, the intensity on the field began to boil.

At the half, Fonda-Fultonville led the Schuylerville Black Horses 18 to 14. With just 22 seconds left in the second quarter, Fonda completed a short pass into the endzone to put them ahead. But a two-point conversion attempt failed, keeping Schuylerville within just one touchdown of the lead.

The Section 2 Class C title game was a contest between two contrasting offenses: Fonda’s pass game, and Schuylerville’s run game. But the Black Horses’ strategy suffered a major blow in the third quarter when running back Martin Flanders Jr. was sidelined with a knee injury. 

“Martin is a critical part of who we are on both sides of the ball,” said Coach John Bowen. “Losing him there was a huge loss.”

Landen Cumm scored a rushing touchdown in the third quarter to put the Black Horses ahead by three. But Fonda fired back with a long pass completion that set up a touchdown of their own, putting them ahead once again, 25 to 21, with only four minutes left in the third. 

In the final quarter, Schuylerville’s defense was able to force a punt, giving them one more opportunity to reclaim the lead. With a little over six minutes left in the game, the Black Horses went for it on fourth down. The grandstands rumbled in support of both teams. But Schuylerville couldn’t reach the markers and faced a turnover on downs.

A long pass attempt by Fonda resulted in a pass interference call that was loudly protested by fans of the Black Horses. With less than a minute left on the clock, Fonda then sealed Schuylerville’s fate with a rushing touchdown. The final score: Fonda 31, Schuylerville 21.

“We really love this group of kids,” Bowen said. “They gave us everything they had.”

Although Schuylerville’s season has come to an end, the focus is already shifting towards next year.  

“We’ll get back to the drawing board,” Bowen said, “and hopefully start working on taking that next step in 2024.”

SARATOGA SPRINGS — The following student-athletes from Saratoga High School participated in a National Letter of Intent signing ceremony on Wednesday, Nov. 8.  

Cross Country & Track

Anya Belisle – University of New Mexico

Emily Bush – Providence College

Genevieve Duchaussee – Northeastern University

Amelia McBain – Penn State University

Baseball

Michael Mack – Northeastern University

Christian Mello – University of Albany

Camden Rhude – Indiana 

University of Pennsylvania

Rowing

Catherine Fox – University of Washington

Madelyn Nolan – Rutgers University

Ava Voorhies – University of Massachusetts-Amherst

Lacrosse

Carter Hills – Quinnipiac University

Carly Wise – Clemson University

Football

Rodell Evans – Cornell University

Softball

Ryann Soltis – Goldey-Beacom College

Field Hockey

Mia Bolster – Wagner College

Crew

Paul Cuneo – Syracuse University

Diving

Angelina Damiano – Indiana State University

Golf

Kellen Dean – Xavier University

SARATOGA SPRINGS —Art and Linda Kranick have been re-hired as coaches of the Saratoga Springs girls varsity indoor track team. The Board of Education’s decision on Thursday, November 9 to re-appoint the Kranicks came in the midst of an ongoing investigation into allegations of abuse in the cross-country program led by the Kranicks. It’s unknown when exactly the results of the investigation will be announced.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — The Saratoga varsity wrestling team is preparing for another season, and aiming for “lofty but realistic goals,” according to coach Jake Zanetti.

“I feel like last year was a really good year for us as far as putting ourselves on the map,” Zanetti said. 

The Blue Streaks faced some fierce competition last season from Burnt Hills and Ballston Spa. Although Saratoga couldn’t quite beat those opponents, they lost by only one match.

“We were on the wrong side of it, but we were right there with them,” Zanetti said. “That kind of put us on the map, and this year we’re looking to kick the door in and be on the winning side of those duels.”

The team has some returning success stories, as well as promising newcomers. Two Blue Streaks wrestlers competed in the state tournament last year. Junior Taylor Beaury finished seventh, and senior Pat McKinley qualified. This year, McKinley will return as a heavyweight. 

Coach Zanetti said that junior Gianni Delgado will “make waves.” He also praised a group of sophomores that have been wrestling since seventh grade; Danny Dacey, Luke Stoutenburg, Hayden Passaretti, and Trey Edwards.

Zanetti praised his assistant coach and youth head coach Brendon Polcare for doing “a great job with our feeder program, the youth kids… he’s pumping those kids out year after year.”

“I do think we’re going to have a pretty tough lineup, start to finish, lightweights to heavyweights,” Zanetti said.

“We just want to compete every time we’re out there, whether we get the win or not. We want to put our best foot forward and at least compete to the best of our ability.”

Coach Zanetti also shared a preview of this year’s tentative lineup…

101 — Brendan Stoutenburg (7)

108 — Jayden Burke (9)

116 — Kyle Edwards (12)

124 — Chase Matter (10, 4th at Sectionals)

131 — Taylor Beaury (11, Section Champ, 7th in NYS)

138 — Luke Stoutenburg (10)

145 — Danny Dacey (10)

152 — Hayden Passaretti (10)

160 — Trey Edwards (10)

170 — Gianni Delgado (4th in the Section)

215 — Pat McKinley (12, Section Runner-Up,  NYS Qualifier)

285 — Logan Devizzio (11)