Blue Streak Athletic Hall of Fame committee member Matt Jones presents the plaque to Joey Santamoor and family
SARATOGA SPRINGS — The Saratoga Springs City School District honored six former student-athletes for their contributions to athletics during the 2023 Blue Streak Athletic Hall of Fame Ceremony on Oct. 20. 2023 inductees include Kerri Burgess (Clark), Doranne Mullan (Kelly), Jay Mulligan, Jay Navin, Joey Santamoor, Mickey Walczak, and the 2004 field hockey team. The inductees were selected by a committee including current and former coaches and athletic directors, administrators, and community members, according to a release from the district. Plaques in honor of the inductees will be placed in a trophy case in the lobby of the school’s blue gym.
SARATOGA SPRINGS — With less than two weeks until sectionals begin, the Saratoga Springs varsity girls swim and dive team has certainly been enjoying a season to remember.
Entering this week, the Blue Streaks have dropped just one meet all season, remaining undefeated until a narrow 94-92 loss to Niskayuna on Oct. 3. Saratoga head coach Josh Muldner said that the team’s current group “has really stepped up to the occasion” this year.
“This group has just been a dynamic, fun, enthusiastic group of girls,” said Muldner. “Our seniors this year have really stepped up. But what has been really cool to watch is that we’ve got a lot of girls who’ve put in the work in the offseason, and our depth is as good as it’s been in years.”
He credited the team’s three seniors, Jillian Ferrie, Hannah Szymanski, and Angelina Damiano, for “leading the charge” this season, and emphasized the Blue Streaks have also received contributions from many of their athletes, also including Addison Kenney, Gianna DiMaggio, Saturn Cogan, Ella Nacheman, and Maggie Trautner, among others.
“I’ve been able to move girls around and put them in different events throughout the course of the season, and still win meets,” Muldner said. “That’s, in large part, due to the fact that we’ve got a lot of depth from our younger girls, who can swim almost anything. That’s really, really cool.”
Ferrie qualified for the NYSPHSAA state tournament in the 100-yard breaststroke on Oct. 7 at the Shen Breast Cancer Invitational, with a time of 1:07.81. Ferrie is one of several Blue Streaks with returning states experience, having competed along with Trautner, Kenney, and Victoria Gvozdeva in relay events at last year’s state tournament.
“There’s been so many kids who have taken that next step,” said Muldner.
Muldner also emphasized how the team has come together during the season, saying the Blue Streaks’ squad is full of “great human beings.” The Saratoga team is set to host a Swim-A-Thon event on Saturday to raise money for the Sloan-Kettering Memorial Cancer Center and 2023 Saratoga graduate Olivia Allen, Muldner said.
“This group has just been a dynamic, fun, enthusiastic group of girls,” Muldner said. “Not only are they all-stars in the classroom, they’re great human beings who give me everything that they’ve got when they’re at that pool.”
The Section 2 Championships are set to begin on Nov. 2, with the start of diving events. Preliminaries for swim events begin on Nov. 3, with the finals taking place the following day.
Muldner noted the Blue Streaks’ competition will be challenging, saying the Suburban Council consists of “some of the best competition in the state.”
“Niskayuna, Shen, Bethlehem, amongst others, will be very tough competitors at sectionals,” Muldner said. “We’re going to go in and try to put together our best game.”
Throughout the season, the Blue Streaks have been focused on the process, with Muldner saying “the outcomes will be there” if the team is able to do the little things correctly.
“If you focus on good turns, if you focus on the approach on the board, the outcomes will be there. But you’ve got to trust the process,” Muldner said. “That’s kind of been our mantra this year, ‘Trust the process.’”
SARATOGA SPRINGS — The Head of the Fish Regatta returns this Halloween weekend, drawing in thousands of rowers to compete on Fish Creek. But the largest rowing event in Saratoga Springs initially had humble beginnings upon its establishment in 1986.
The regatta was originally founded as a way for Tom Frost and his fellow members of the Saratoga Springs Rowing Club to raise money to purchase a boat and other equipment for the club. 37 years later, the event has grown more than anyone imagined.
Kate Mastrangelo, daughter of Tom Frost, said it is “pretty amazing” to see how the regatta has grown over the years.
“They didn’t expect it to end up being a big thing, you know? They just needed to make enough money to buy a boat,” said Mastrangelo. “They just didn’t have the equipment, and that was the whole beginning of the race. Just so that they could actually go places and row. And boy, did that take off.”
Held on Oct. 28 and 29, the Head of the Fish will welcome Frost back to this year’s event to honor him for his part in establishing and running the regatta. Now operated primarily by the Saratoga Rowing Association, this year’s event is expected to attract between five to eight thousand participants, said regatta director Kristi Wagner.
“It is really a very meaningful experience to have so many people love this area, and have such a good time, and enjoy coming back year after year,” said Wagner. “It gives us a lot of pride, obviously in the rowing aspect of it, but more in the community. … There’s something for everyone. It makes me happy that we can show off Saratoga in such a positive light.”
Through the years, one major draw to the Head of the Fish has become its trophies, which began as literal heads of fish. Today, they are made with plaster molds of fish heads, but the trophies originated from Frost himself, who would bake and mold real fish heads onto plaques each year. Frost would also draw and design shirts and posters for the regatta each year.
“He would talk to fishermen all over the eastern seaboard, and find out what kinds of fish they could get him, and how could they get it to him,” said Mastrangelo. “He had people delivering coolers full of fish heads. … He just would get so excited about what he could find.”
The Head of the Fish offers nearly 100 events for a variety of age groups, ranging from middle school to adults, ensuring numerous rowers the opportunity to take home a fish head trophy of their own.
“We have a lot of different options, so there’s really something for everyone,” said Wagner. “There’s an opportunity for everyone to race if they wanted.”
The regatta offers single races, doubles, triples, quads, eights, single-gender, mixed-gender, and more, Wagner said. Saturday will consist of primarily college and adult events, while Sunday will consist of middle and high school-age events.
The races take place on Fish Creek, lasting 3,200 meters. Wagner said visiting teams will typically launch from the Saratoga Lake State Boat Launch or the Lee’s Park boat launch, traveling up Fish Creek as a warmup before racing back down.
37 years after the inaugural Head of the Fish, Mastrangelo said it will be “a really cool honor,” for her father to attend the regatta and be recognized for his work in creating it, and said he will appreciate the honor. She was also sure to credit his fellow members of the Saratoga Springs Rowing Club for their efforts in creating the regatta as well.
“I think it’s pretty awesome to have him honored for what he did,” Mastrangelo said. “There were a lot of other people involved too, though, and I do hope at some point that’s recognized.”
Chris Chase, founder of the Saratoga Rowing Association who ran the regatta for almost 20 years, emphasized the Head of the Fish has become a strong community event, crediting local police departments and Lee’s Park and Campground among others for their support through the years. The regatta is also supported by a sizable number of volunteers each year.
“I can’t say enough about the job the Saratoga Sheriff’s Department did for us,” said Chase. “They would send out units for the water, and they would send out units for the road. … Lee’s Park, he’s got 200 acres over there. This never happens without his 200 acres.”
Wagner also emphasized the regatta’s goal of working with local vendors and companies.
“I want to keep things as local as possible, and give business as best we can to other local companies,” Wagner said. “I think we’ve been developing and continuing some cool relationships.”
Over the years, the regatta has helped grow the presence and participation of rowing in Saratoga Springs, with Chase saying Saratoga “became quite the rowing town.”
“People who came here loved Saratoga,” Chase said. “It became like a mini-rowing town. It was on your calendar somehow. … We were lucky to have such an embracing community.”
With the regatta taking place on Halloween weekend, Wagner added that some rowers will dress up, saying, “It’s just definitely a fun event.”
“And in the fall, rowing races are competitive, but really, our main racing season is in the spring,” said Wagner. “… Obviously, it’s competitive, and we do have a lot of really competitive teams that come and race, and everyone’s trying to win and trying to go as fast as they can, but there’s also this air of, ‘This is a really fun sport, and this is why we all do it.’ It’s a really cool combination of everything.”
Ballston Spa boys and girls varsity soccer 2023-24 seniors. Photo by Dylan McGlynn
BALLSTON SPA — The Ballston Spa varsity boys and girls soccer teams celebrated their seniors with a pair of wins on Saturday, as both teams earned victories over Schenectady at home.
The Scotties’ boys team honored 16 seniors: Alex Bailey, Jaime Barrionuveo Vivancos, Peter Burdick, Sam Carioto-Savoie, Casey Clarke, Devon Duggan, Will Frankford, Josiah Harmon, Max LaVoie, Carter Lundin, Nicholas Mascardi, Justin Miller, Jacob Nagengast, Dylan Nickson, Brennan Snyder, and Connor Tuohy.
The B-Spa boys team cruised to a 9-1 win over the Patriots, with eight different players scoring goals. Nagengast scored twice, while LaVoie, Clarke, Burdick, Frankford, Nickson, Bailey, and Cole DiNuzzo all added goals. Harmon had three assists in the win.
The Ballston Spa girls’ team honored 11 seniors: Keira Barnes, Abby Carpenter, Meya Caruso, Alex Conneally, Harriet Healey, Eleanor Kentz, Makayla Krusinski, Lindsay LaPlante, Mia Rath, Emma Ye, and Isabella Sacci.
The Scotties’ girls team also took care of business, earning a 6-1 victory. Rath scored twice, while Healey and Krusinski each added a goal and an assist. Conneally and Ye also scored goals for Ballston Spa, while Kenzie Dolan had two assists. Carpenter and Ayla Hathaway each added assists in the victory.
BELGRADE, Serbia —Olympian rowers Kristi Wagner and Sophia Vitas won the Bronze Medal at the World Championships and qualify a women’s double boat for the 2024 Summer Paris Olympics.
Kristi Wagner is a local podcaster and Olympic rower who raced in the Tokyo Olympics and is striving to go back in 2024 to represent the USA in rowing. She is documenting her journey in a new podcast called ‘The Other 3 Years,’ where she covers everything from training, nutrition, tribulations, and achieving her goals.
Kristi’s most recent podcast episodes cover the World Champs and what goes on in the life of a professional athlete. The episodes also offer tips and motivation for anyone to achieve big goals.
From left: Kadin Converse, Adam DeGregory, Ben Gulick, Ryken Riper & head coach Matthew Steinfort. Photo provided
HALFMOON — The Black Horses hit the links last week and came away with hardware, as the Schuylerville varsity boys golf team captured the Section 2 Class C/D Team Championship at the Fairways of Halfmoon.
The team posted a combined score of 244, led by Ryken Riper’s 78. Adam DeGregory shot an 81 for Schuylerville, while Kadin Converse shot an 85 to help the Black Horses win their second sectional title in the past three seasons.
“These kids are really competitive, and they absolutely love the game of golf,” said head coach Matthew Steinfort. “They’ve had really low rounds before, so it’s just a matter of trying to recreate that mindset, that attitude, and that mood, and go execute on that day. A credit to them, they went out there and they performed well.”
Steinfort credited the team for their commitment, saying the Black Horses’ golfers have been “constantly” on the course throughout the season. He said his message ahead of sectionals was “to take advantage of the opportunity, and to be the best version of themselves.”
“It’s about just trying to stay focused, and stay diligent about how you approach your game,” Steinfort said.
The Black Horses also captured the team title in 2021. Riper’s 78 was good for a third-overall finish individually, while DeGregory placed fifth and Converse tenth. The trio all earned spots at the state qualifier match, where the top nine golfers advanced to the state tournament.
Steinfort praised the trio’s consistency throughout the fall, and said his mindset entering state qualifiers was simply to let the golfers “do their thing.”
“These guys are good,” Steinfort said prior to state qualifiers. “It’s just a matter of me to be smart enough to stay out of their way, to let them go out there and do what they’re capable of doing. My part is to simply try to help instill confidence, and try to shape a loose and relaxed but focused frame of mind.”
DeGregory and Converse each advanced to the final round of state qualifiers, finishing in the top 20. DeGregory finished 10th in the final round, just missing the cut for a trip to the state championships, though he was named the first alternate. Converse finished 19th overall.
“They’re a competitive group. They play so much, and they put so much time into it, and they have the ability,” Steinfort said of the Black Horses’ team. He also pointed out that Riper, DeGregory, and Converse are all only juniors.
“So they do have one more year, and I’m just happy for those guys that they were able to get a second one in this three-year stretch,” continued Steinfort. “Hopefully they’ll have a good season next year as well, and put the work in.”
SARATOGA SPRINGS — The Saratoga Central Catholic varsity baseball team is teaming up with the Principessa Elena Society to offer an Italian dinner, with proceeds going to support the Saints’ annual trip to Disney’s ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in Orlando, Florida.
The meal will be offered on Oct. 29 from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Principessa Elena, with dine-in and take-out options available. The meal is $15, and includes ziti, meatballs, sausage and peppers, Italian bread, salad, and desert.
SARATOGA SPRINGS —The Saratoga Springs City School District has announced it will honor six individuals for their contributions to athletics during the 2023 Blue Streak Athletic Hall of Fame Ceremony on Friday, Oct. 20 at 5 p.m.
The 2023 inductees are Kerri Burgess (Clark), Doranne Mullan (Kelly), Jay Mulligan, Jay Navin, Joey Santamoor, and Mickey Walczak. The ceremony will be held in the Meade Teaching Auditorium at Saratoga Springs High School, according to a release from the district.
A committee composed of current and former coaches; high school administrators, community members, and current and retired athletic directors reviewed the nominations and selected the honorees. A trophy case in the lobby of the blue gym will hold plaques in honor of the Hall of Fame members.
More details on the accomplishments of the 2023 inductees is available in the online edition of this story at saratogatodaynewspaper.com.
The Saratoga Springs varsity field hockey team celebrates after Claire Frasier’s overtime goal against Shenendehowa on Friday.Photo by Dylan McGlynn.
SARATOGA SPRINGS — The Saratoga Springs varsity field hockey team earned a win on Friday that was meaningful in more ways than one.
An overtime goal scored by Claire Frasier propelled the Blue Streaks to a 1-0 win over rival Shenendehowa during the team’s annual Pink Game, held this year in support of Saratoga field hockey alum Olivia Allen.
Allen, a 2023 graduate, was diagnosed with leukemia in June, and on Friday, the team was able to pick up a momentous win in Allen’s presence. She said the support shown “means a lot.”
“It means a lot for them to be playing for me,” said Allen. “And I love the sport, so it’s nice to be here.”
Allen said she made some of her best friends during her time with the team, and said it was “awesome” to see the victory.
“I made my four best friends on the team. Some of which were from elementary school, but we played together all through high school,” Allen said. “So the friendship and the competitiveness is the best part for me.”
Saratoga head coach Jo-Anne Hostig said the exciting victory puts “a little icing on the top” of a meaningful day.
“That’s what the game’s about,” Hostig said.
Hostig said it is meaningful to support Allen, saying she was “our sunshine” on the field hockey team.
“I want to give to her now, because she gave to us. And that’s how all the kids feel,” said Hostig. “She was our ray of sunshine, so we’re going to help her through it, whatever it takes. It’s good to see her.”
Saratoga also held its Pink Game several years ago in memory of former assistant coach Beth Roberts, who died of cancer. Hostig noted that Allen “always checked in” on her following Roberts’ passing.
“Like it’d be my birthday, and she’d be like, ‘How are you doing, Coach?’” Hostig said. “And I’m like, ‘OK, this is way out of the season.’ Because she knew that I was hurting, because I was so close to my assistant coach.”
Hostig credited the team and its community for their support, saying that her players were selling ribbons in school throughout the week to raise money, and that several coaches and alumni returned for the game.
“We’ve rallied around it, and we’ve rallied around Liv, and her family,” Hostig said. “I know that they appreciate it. And I know that if anything happens to any other, we’d do the same thing. That’s the best part.”
Frasier’s game-winner came following a penalty corner, off an assist by Charlotte Drabek.
“It was definitely not what I expected,” said Frasier of the goal. “I was intending to pass it off, but it was a great opportunity.”
Hostig said the team has been consistently improving as the season has continued, with Friday’s victory avenging an earlier 2-1 loss to Shen on Sept. 18. Frasier also added that the win gives the team confidence as they prepared to enter the final week of the regular season.
“We are maturing leaps and bounds each game that we’ve had, and our confidence level has gone up so much,” said Hostig. “And they are trusting their teammates more, and that’s what the best part is. You can only hope that this time around, when you get toward sectionals, you want to be peaking.”
And ultimately, the win was about more than just field hockey.
“It’s an experience that’s really important,” Drabek said.
“They’re realizing that there’s more than them. There’s an outside world, and we need to make sure that we remember that,” Hostig added. “I’m glad that (Olivia) was able to make it, and that we are able to share this with her.”
