SCHUYLERVILLE — Schuylerville High School varsity golfer Adam DeGregory has qualified for the state championships occurring in June of 2025. To qualify, he shot a round one of 69 and then a round two of 77 for a 146 (+2) total score.

DeGregory was also part of the Schuylerville varsity golf team that won its second-straight Section 2 Class C/D championship earlier this month.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — The annual Head of the Fish Regatta returned to Fish Creek in Saratoga Springs last weekend, attracting more than 160 teams and 1,600 crews from across the Northeast. Both men’s and women’s rowing teams from Skidmore College competed, finishing with some impressive performances.

Skidmore sophomore Sam Boogeart and junior Grant Steinberger captured the team’s first win of the day, placing first in the collegiate double with a time of 12:03, ahead of the University of Rochester and Gordon College.

Afternoon racing featured the women’s varsity 8+, which achieved Skidmore’s highest placement in recent history with a fifth-place finish overall and second among Division III teams. Coxswain Hayden Harlow led the crew, with senior captains Maddie Aho and McKenna Otey setting the pace in the stern pair. Joining them were sophomore Delaney Miller, senior Molly Sullivan, junior Camilla Johnson, and first-year Ava Holthoff in the engine room, with sophomore Britta Arvold and first-year Ella Plosky in the bow. The women’s second varsity 8+ then took to the course, finishing in 13:14, earning third among DIII teams. Coxswain Brie Chricco led the boat, with senior Al Yi in the stroke seat and a strong mix of first-year and upper-class rowers.

“This weekend really showed how hard our team worked this fall,” Delaney Miller said in a statement. “Both the men’s and women’s teams have come such a long way, and crossing under the bridge with the whole boat smiling back was such a great feeling. We’ve really proven ourselves this fall, and I’m so excited to see what more we can accomplish in the spring.”

The men’s varsity 4+ continued Skidmore’s success with a win, completing the course in 11:49. The boat included coxswain Emma Laquinta, Thomas du Four, Grant Steinberger, Sam Boogeart, and Ryan Capozucca. Two additional entries in the same event, Skidmore C and Skidmore B, finished with times of 12:35 and 13:50, respectively.

In the women’s varsity 4+ event, Skidmore’s A entry placed third among Division III entries and ninth overall with a time of 13:43. The crew included coxswain Hayden Harlow, stroke Camilla Johnson, and rowers Molly Sullivan, Britta Arvold, and Norah Jankey.

The day concluded with the men’s 1V and 2V events, both boats achieving third-place finishes overall. The men’s 1V crew completed the course in 10:49, just five seconds behind Liberty League champions Ithaca College. The men’s 2V finished in 11:31, outperforming entries from Ithaca College C, the University of Rhode Island, Hamilton College, and UMass.

“The leadership team took a critical look at areas for improvement coming into this season, and the athletes responded fantastically,” said Coach Manny Valentin. “They embraced new ideas and methods and worked to make the boathouse an enjoyable place to train. As a result, we consistently had strong practices, pushed to new levels, and are entering the winter season with significant momentum. I am especially happy for our seniors, who close the fall with some of Skidmore’s best finishes in recent years.”

NISKAYUNA — The Saratoga Springs varsity girls soccer team has advanced to the sectional finals after a 1-0 win in overtime against Shenendehowa on Monday. Saratoga standout Ava Goodman scored the lone, winning goal at the semifinals matchup played at Niskayuna High School.

The Blue Streaks, who finished the season with an 11-4-2 record, will next take on Shaker (9-3-4) in the finals. The two teams last played each other on September 28, when Shaker bested the Streaks 2 to 1. Despite the loss, the squads were evenly matched, with Saratoga taking 14 shots and Shaker taking 12. Defensively, the Blue Streaks’ Olivia Goodman had 7 saves compared to Shaker’s 6.

The finals showdown will occur on Monday, November 4 at Niskayuna High School at 7 p.m. 

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Historically, first-year teams tend to finish near the bottom of their leagues. It’s difficult to recruit talented players to a new franchise, especially when there’s no guarantee that the team will be successful. 

But the Saratoga Racers of the American Basketball Association (ABA) have managed to defy the odds, adding talented veterans and All-Stars to their roster before winning their first-ever game last Sunday afternoon.

The Racers, led by two-time ABA All-Stars John Ryals and Tobias Holmes, looked surprisingly sharp during their first game, demonstrating unselfish play and making smart passes for easy layups when defenders from the Connecticut Flyeerz were caught sleeping. About 200 spectators watched as Saratoga held an early 34 to 19 lead at the end of the first quarter.

The Racers looked good defensively as well, racking up 18 steals and 4 blocks. They were especially aggressive on inbound passes, putting pressure on Connecticut across the entire court.

Towards the end of the first half, Shaheem Sanders (an ABA rookie) excited the crowd with two back-to-back dunks. Sanders was also active on the glass, reeling in 14 rebounds. The Schenectady High School alum’s efforts helped keep Saratoga comfortably ahead at halftime, 65 to 49.

But the Racers looked a bit shaky coming out of the halftime break, committing some unforced errors like ill-advised passes into double or triple coverage. The team also struggled mightily at the line, missing 15 foul shots throughout the contest.

In the fourth quarter, Connecticut seized upon Saratoga’s mistakes and went on a hot streak, swishing one shot after another from beyond the arc. With 8 minutes left in the game, Connecticut pulled to within 7 points of the Racers. A minute later, they trailed by only 5 points.

But that’s as close as the Flyeerz would come. High IQ plays and easy buckets by big men Casey Hall (who was 6 for 8 from the floor) and Todd Spottswood (who finished with 14 points and 16 rebounds) helped dig Saratoga out of trouble. Despite the last-minute threat from Connecticut, the Racers sealed the deal with a 119 to 107 win.

The Racers will next play two more home games on Saturday, November 2 against the Rochester Royal Ballers at 7 p.m., and on Sunday, November 3 versus the Herkimer Originals at 3 p.m. All Racers home games are played at Saratoga Central Catholic at 247 Broadway in downtown Saratoga Springs.

Game Notes:

Holmes led all Saratoga scorers with 31 points, making 8 of 14 2-pointers and 3 of 9 3-pointers. Holmes also led the team in assists, with 5. Ryals was the second-highest scorer with 19 points.

The intensity of the final quarter got to some of the players. A pair of technical fouls were called after some trash-talking went too far in the refs’ eyes.

The ABA has some of its own rules and practices that differ from the NBA, including the use of its signature red-white-and-blue ball, and the “3D light,” which, when on, means that 2-pointers become 3-pointers, 3-pointers become 4-pointers, and half-court shots are worth 5 points.

Joey Harden and Luke Perez each had 4 steals apiece for Saratoga.

Saratoga’s Dominique Threatt made a splash with his pair of mismatched blue and orange Nike sneakers. 

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Drop by a Saratoga Racers game or practice and you’ll hear the same sentiment expressed again and again: this team will do whatever it takes to make their ambitious new venture a success.

“I’ll play whatever position they need me to play; point guard all the way down to a big,” said John Ryals, a two-time American Basketball Association (ABA) All-Star who joined the Racers after averaging more than 20 points per game for the Bennington Martens. “I’ll make sacrifices for our team.”

“My goal is to win the conference and then compete in the final four,” said Tobias Holmes, another ex-Bennington two-time ABA All-Star who joined Saratoga this year. “I don’t got no personal goal, I have a team goal.”

“My goal is just to help build the organization,” said Casey Hall, an ABA veteran who came out of retirement to play for the Racers. “To help the younger guys grow, look for better opportunities, and just put a good brand out here.”

The Racers are about to dive head-first into their inaugural ABA season. Launching a new team in a semi-professional league hasn’t been easy, but with proven talent on the floor, the Racers aim to be competitive and make a playoff run. Their first game, a home opener, is this Sunday.

“I went and watched the [ABA] playoffs last year, I went to the All-Star game, so I know what kind of players are in this league,” said Head Coach Bob Catherwood. “I’m looking forward to doing my homework and having these guys as best prepared as we can.”

The Racers will compete in the ABA’s East Region White Division, which also includes fellow Capital Region team the Albany 518 Ballers. The season will consist of around 20 games, starting this Sunday and finishing up at the end of February. Single elimination playoff games will follow in March.

“I’m excited for this opening weekend; I hope we can bring a great big crowd,” Catherwood said. “If you want to go see a professional team, you either have to go up to Glens Falls or you gotta go to Albany. Nothing against either one of those cities, but right here in town, we’re the place to be in the winter time.”

The Racers will face off against the Connecticut Flyeerz on Sunday, October 27 at 1 p.m. in the Saratoga Central Catholic High School gym at 247 Broadway in downtown Saratoga Springs. Tickets will cost $10 for adults and $5 for kids. Team merchandise will also be available.

Blue Streaks Football Wins 6th Straight Game

After a game one loss to Christian Brothers Academy, the Saratoga Springs varsity football team has won six straight games to claim a 6-1 record on the season. On October 18, they defeated Guilderland 28 to 19. The game was close through the first three quarters, with the Blue Streaks ahead by only one point. But in the final quarter, Saratoga exploded for two touchdowns to seal the deal. After the win, the Blue Streaks were ranked third in Section 2 AA, behind only Shaker and Christian Brothers Academy. They’ll next attempt to dethrone the second-place Shaker on Friday night at home.

Schuylerville Boys Soccer Defeats Broadalbin-Perth

The Schuylerville boys varsity soccer team traveled to Broadalbin-Perth on October 18 for a rematch of an early-season game. This time, the Black Horses were victorious with a 4-1 win. Tazio Helmig scored 2 goals while Dominic Letzring added 2 assists. Willem Foster and Colden Harrison tallied the other two goals.

Blue Streaks Field Hockey Rattles Shaker

The Saratoga Springs field hockey team defeated Shaker 3-0 on October 18. Mia Khazin scored all three goals for the Blue Streaks, with two assists from Maddie Miller. The team improved to 8-6 on the season and will next face the 3-12 Niskayuna on Thursday, October 24.

Saratoga Soccer Ties Bethlehem

The Saratoga Springs girls varsity soccer squad tied Bethlehem 1-1 on October 17. Lucia DeVito scored the lone goal for the Blue Streaks in the ninth minute of the second half. On the season, the soccer team is now 10-3-2 overall and 7-3-2 in their league. They’ll next play a home game against Broadalbin-Perth on October 23.

Skidmore Rowing Team Places 5th in Prestigious Event

The Skidmore College Men’s Collegiate 4+ team took 5th place with an overall time of 16:57 in the prestigious Head of the Charles Regatta in Boston last weekend. Skidmore earned the highest finish among Division III programs, trailing only Division I crews from La Salle University, UCLA, Stetson University, and the University of San Diego. Skidmore Rowing will conclude its fall season next weekend with its signature event, the Head of the Fish, on October 26 at Fish Creek in Saratoga Springs.

Skidmore Soccer Team Remains Undefeated on the Road

The Skidmore College men’s soccer team improved its road record to 4-0-4 after defeating Ithaca 2-0 on October 19. The Thoroughbreds are now 4-2-6 overall and 3-1-2 (11 points) in the Liberty League. David Garvin and Colin Goodhines were the goal-scorers for the victorious Thoroughbreds. Both goals were unassisted. Will Devall made three saves for his second shutout of the weekend and fifth of the year. The junior keeper has surrendered just one goal over his last five starts. Skidmore will next play its final three regular season games at home starting next Saturday, October 26 against St. Lawrence.

SARATOGA SPRINGS – The Skidmore College women’s soccer team was ranked No. 18 on week six of the United Soccer Coaches Top-25 National rankings after remaining undefeated in their first 11 games of the season.

It’s the first time the Thoroughbreds have appeared in the national rankings since 2013, when they peaked as high as No. 16 in the nation after starting out 10-0-2, before ultimately settling in at No. 18 leading into that year’s Liberty League playoffs.

This season, Skidmore’s unbeaten streak was snapped on Saturday, October 19, when they lost 2-1 to No. 9 Ithaca in a top-25 conference matchup. The Thoroughbreds’ next game will be on Saturday, October 26 at St. Lawrence University. The team’s season record currently stands at 8-1-3 overall. 

QUEENSBURY — Hayden Knapp of South Glens Falls captured the Girls Golf Section 2 Individual Championship last week at the Hiland Park Country Club with a two-day combined score of 143 (71 & 72), or one under par. Knapp’s victory was decisive; the second-place finisher shot a 151 (78 & 73), or seven over par.

The top nine finishers of the event qualified for the Girls Golf State Championships to be held June 7-9 at the Wild Wood Country Club outside of Rochester. The girls who qualified were Knapp, Sienna Wheeler (Colonie), Maria Glavin (La Salle Institute), Zorah Williams (Emma Willard), Maddie Oliver (Glens Falls), Avery Minkiewicz (La Salle Institute), Morgan Oliver (Glens Falls), Lilla Zeevalk (Shenendehowa) and Mya Young (Bethlehem). Two alternates were also named: Jane Fanning (Guilderland) and Nina Torra Codina (Queensbury).

Individual Saratoga Springs competitors included Lily Collier, who shot a two-round total score of 193, and Sophia Jackson, who shot a 105 in the first round.

Bethlehem won the Team Championship with a score of 379 and will represent Section 2 at the state tournament. The Saratoga Springs team shot a 433, placing them 7th out of 9 teams.

LOUDONVILLE — Congressman Paul Tonko hosted a roundtable discussion last Thursday at Siena College to solicit feedback from student-athletes and coaches on the impact of sports betting. Gerry McNamara, Siena’s new head men’s basketball coach, attended the event, along with other coaches, student-athletes, and school administrators.

Although the roundtable was meant to promote Tonko’s recently introduced SAFE Bet Act, the discussion turned more towards the issues of mental health and online harassment of college athletes.

“Personally, I have had some [direct messages], and it could be related to sports betting now that I see the bigger picture, but I’ve had a lot of friends on men’s teams who get hate mail and death threats, which is crazy because all athletes are just human at the end of the day,” said Valencia Fontenelle-Posson, a graduate student and guard on the women’s basketball team.

Jennifer McClintock, a cross-country and track runner, said a friend of hers had to turn off his social media accounts because he was receiving so many messages from sports betters putting additional pressure on him to play well.

Brendan Coyle, a forward on the men’s basketball team, said that college athletes are especially vulnerable because they live on campuses, where they can be easily tracked down. Coyle said he’d been approached a number of times by strangers, resulting in both positive and negative exchanges.

“A pro athlete, they go home to their own place where nobody really knows where it’s at,” Coyle said. “We’re on a college campus, people know where we are.”

Earlier this month, the NCAA released the findings of a pilot study that examined online harassment of college athletes. It found that 12% of all abusive online messages were related to sports betting. As betting markets increased, so did the prevalence of harassment, with 19% rates in men’s basketball and football.

Tonko’s SAFE Bet Act includes a nationwide ban on proposition bets that involve college athletes. The ban aims to curb online abuse targeting student-athletes.

“To me, the mental health aspect of this is the most important thing because it impacts [student-athletes] directly,” said McNamara. “Protecting mental health has always been a key issue for student-athletes, now this component has taken on even greater importance.”

Women’s Head Basketball Coach Terry Primm said that gambling’s impact on online harassment “has incentivized me to add this component to athlete education.”

In addition to prohibiting all proposition bets featuring college athletes, Tonko’s SAFE Bet Act would, among other things, prohibit sports betting advertising during live sporting events; prohibit reckless or purposeful targeting of problem gamblers, individuals suffering from gambling disorder, or individuals ineligible to place a bet; prohibit operators from accepting more than 5 deposits from a customer in a 24-hour period; and prohibit the use of artificial intelligence to track individual player’s gambling habits.