SARATOGA SPRINGS — Saratoga Shredders, a local 501c3 nonprofit whose mission is to empower kids by getting them on mountain bikes, is hosting their second annual Bike Swap on Saturday, April 29 in the Saratoga Spa Park, Hawthorn Pavilion. 

The Swap is an event to buy and sell gently-used bikes and cycling-related items – for kids and adults. There will be bikes, bike racks, cycling clothing, wheels, tools, and other cycling-related accessories. Swing by to drop off items to sell from 10 to 11 a.m., and then come shop from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. 

Proceeds from the event will go toward getting more kids on bikes. Saratoga Shredders runs programming for kids on bikes in the Spring and Fall, with summer camps in the Summer. Program registration for Summer Camp is now open. 

There are 4 different programs running this Spring between Albany and Queensbury – girls-only programs and coed programs for kids grades K-12. Their aim is to remove as many barriers to entry for the sport of mountain biking. They provide full program scholarships and bikes to kids in need. 

To learn more about Saratoga Shredders and to register for mountain bike Summer Camp, visit saratogashredders.com.

Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake — Athletes from the Jason Morris Judo Center were busy competing all over the world on April 1.

Two-time Olympian and Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake graduate Nick Delpopolo looked sharp, winning a 73 kg Gold Medal at the Pedro’s Challenge in Danvers, MA, going 5-0 on the day. JMJC teammate Melissa Myers also performed well on her way to winning a Gold in the 70 kg category, going 4-0. 

While Delpopolo and Myers were competing in Danvers, Ari Berliner, Kell Berliner, Hannah Martin and Nicole Stout were participating at the Antalya, Turkey Grand Slam event, which is an Olympic qualifier. Ari and Kell both made it to the round of 32, gaining 120 points. Ari boosted his world ranking to #45 in 66 kg and Kell, who competes at 81 kg, jumped up to a career high #71. Hannah (63kg), who is also a BH-BL graduate, sits at #35. Nicole reached a career high #67 at 78 kg.

DAYTONA BEACH, Fl. —After a storied high school gymnastics career, Ava Dallas (Saratoga Springs High School – Class of 2021) traded in her leotards for cheer pom-poms as a member of the University of New Hampshire Cheer Team.

Dallas and her Wildcat teammates recently won the NCA College Cheer National Championship in the Advanced All-Girl Division I category held in Daytona Beach, Florida from April 6 to April 8. UNH scored 97.49 points, besting six other teams in their division from all across the country.

On the last day of the competition, UNH shared the bandshell stage with the likes of Navarro and Trinity Valley of Netflix series “CHEER” fame, as well as the other National Championship teams. UNH was victorious again, scoring 97.78 points and taking home the 2023 All-Girl Grand Champion title, a first in school history.

Dallas was a four-year letter winner for the Blue Streaks gymnastics team as well as captain both her junior and senior year. She was a Section 2 All-Around Champion and the leading Section 2 all-around gymnast each year that she competed at the NYSPHSAA Gymnastics Championships (2018, 2019, 2020). She currently holds the school record on the balance beam (9.60).

The UNH cheer team is a powerhouse in college cheer circles. They previously won the NCA College Cheer National Championship in 2017. Dallas’ tumbling skills were a key component to the Wildcat’s winning routine.

Dallas said, “It was a little bit of an adjustment going from high school gymnastics to competitive college cheer, but I worked really hard on my jumps and this year was incorporated as a base on some stunts and pyramids. All the hours spent at practice and going to exhibitions leading up to Nationals feels so worth it now. I will covet the memories I have made with my teammates this magical year.”

Dallas is no stranger to National Championships. As a 12-year-old, she won the 2015 YMCA National Gymnastics Championship (Wichita, Kansas) in the Level 4 Senior Division.

IRVINE, CA — The Adirondack Northstars 14U AA girls hockey team traveled west last week, and returned home as national champions.

The Northstars beat Team Colorado 2-1 in the championship game of the 2023 Chipotle-USA Hockey Girls Tier II 14U 1A National Championship, the first national title won by the program. Head coach Ben Marcantonio said the win was “surreal.”

“Honestly, it still feels surreal,” said Marcantonio. “The past week has been a whirlwind.”

The team played six games in total from March 30 to the championship on April 3, winning all six. The Northstars defeated teams from Wyoming, Texas, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, and Tennessee prior to the championship victory over Colorado.

Marcantonio said entering the tournament, he told the team to simply “play their game.”

“They’ve been playing great all year long, and I didn’t want to put any added pressure on them to feel like they had to perform,” Marcantonio said. “So they just went out there and played their style of play, and force what we know and what we do best on other teams.”

Marcantonio said the team plays a very similar style to the Adirondack United varsity girls high school team, who are coached by Northstars 16U head coach Jeff Willis. 11 of 18 players on the 14U team were members of the United squad this winter, Marcantonio said.

“(Jeff) and I kind of have the same philosophy. We don’t really stop playing offense,” said Marcantonio. “The best defense is a good offense. We pressure other teams to make mistakes when they’re in their defensive zone and capitalize on those. When we are in our own zone, we don’t give the team time and space to actually make a play or make a decision.”

In the title game, Queensbury’s Emily MacAuley scored both goals for the Northstars, initially giving Adirondack a 1-0 lead in the first period before making it 2-0 early in the second. 

Team Colorado responded with a strong third period, and cut it to 2-1 with 3:36 remaining, but the Northstars held strong defensively in the final minutes to lock up the national championship. Marcantonio said the win was “a total team effort.”

“Emily was the goal scorer for both of our goals in that championship game, but our team really rallied around each other and made a commitment to each other to finish out the game as strong as we started,” said Marcantonio. 

Marcantonio said Adirondack’s ability to buckle down defensively in the final moments “says a ton” about the character of the team.

“We have seventh-graders, eighth-graders, and ninth-graders on the team,” Marcantonio said. “Their ability to adapt to adverse situations, it just shows me how much heart (they have) and how much they wanted this for each and every one of those girls on that team.”

The team was recently honored at Cool Insuring Arena during the Adirondack Thunder’s 4-1 win over the Maine Mariners on April 7. Marcantonio said the championship is “very special” for the squad.

“It’s a special group of girls. They worked hard all year long,” Marcantonio said. “They constantly came to work. … They definitely were all-in when it came down to the commitment to the game and to each other.”

SARATOGA SPRINGS — The Saratoga Central Catholic varsity softball team enters 2023 on a mission. The Saints did not field a varsity team last season, but have their eyes set on a sectional appearance this year.

“It’s a young group, but I think a very talented group,” said head coach John Dowd. “We’re up in the varsity waters, so we’ll see what happens. But I’m expecting good things.”

The Saints are led by junior catcher and team captain Ryan McDonald, who homered in a season-opening loss to Tamarac on April 5. Dowd also said the team will feature a strong pitching trio of Grace Schaefer, Hailey Ogniewski, and Paige Bujno.

“Our pitching, although it’s young, we have three very good pitchers,” Dowd said. “All travel pitchers.”

“I think the team is definitely really young, but I think we’re strong,” said McDonald. “Coming up, I think we’re going to be pretty good this year.”

Dowd said that while the team has a very young lineup, with no seniors on the roster, he feels the offense will “come to fruition” as the season progresses.

“We lost a couple players from last year, but I’m expecting the offense to pick up as the season goes along,” said Dowd.

“We’re just trying to grow a lot as a team,” added Ogniewski, a sophomore. “I think, by the end of the season, we’re going to be pretty good.”

The Saints’ goal this season is to reach sectionals and “make some noise,” Dowd said. While many of the current varsity squad spent last season at the JV level, that team lost only two games in 2022.

“We had a couple girls that had to play varsity the year before, that came back down to play JV, which is obviously a huge ask for them,” said Dowd. “I told them that if they made that commitment, that our goal was to get to sectionals. Our goal is not only to get to sectionals, but to get to sectionals and make some noise.”

GLENS FALLS/IRVINE, CA — The Adirondack Northstars 14U AA girls hockey team captured the 2023 Chipotle-USA Hockey Girls Tier II 14U national championship in Irvine, CA, on Monday, April 3. The Northstars beat Team Colorado 2-1 in the championship game.

Adirondack was 6-0 overall in the tournament, defeating teams from Wyoming, Texas, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, and Tennessee before the title matchup with Team Colorado.

Hall of fame trainer John Veitch passed away on the 14th of February. He was 77 years old. Recently I asked his cousin, Saratoga’s resident horse racing writer and historian Michael Veitch to share some of his thoughts and recollections of him with our readers at Saratoga Today. He will take it from here.

“John Veitch was born to be in thoroughbred racing. His grandfather Silas Veitch was a very accomplished horseman who trained jumpers and flat horses in Canada and the United States for leading owners of his time such as Joseph Seagram, George Hendrie and Walter Salmon. His father, Sylvester Veitch, son of Silas, is a Hall of Fame trainer who developed five national champions for owners C.V. Whitney and George D. Widener. I have strong memories of them getting together after training hours on many mornings during the Saratoga meetings of the 1970s and 80s. It was Alydar who put John on the national scene in 1977 and 1978 with his gallant performances against the great Triple Crown winner Affirmed. Alydar was owned by Calumet Farm. John hoped he could play a role in restoring the famed establishment to its former glory. He did, by developing champions Our Mims and Before Dawn, along with Alydar.

One of my favorite memories of John concerned the dilemma he faced during the 1977 Saratoga meet. Our Mims was going to run in the Alabama Stakes on August 13, the same day Alydar was slated for the rich Sapling Stakes at Monmouth Park. So John asked his father to saddle Our Mims for him at Saratoga while he would saddle Alydar in the Sapling. He won them both. Later in his career he trained for Darby Dan Farm and guided Sunshine Forever to a national title as champion turf horse. As did his father, John preferred training for a private stable, and I believe he was happiest in that role. He had deep respect for the history and tradition of thoroughbred racing, and he did his best to honor it with sportsmanship.”

Edward Bowen, former editor of Bloodhorse magazine and past President of the Grayson Foundation, was John’s great friend. He has also agreed to share some reminisces of him with our readers.

“John Veitch was a product of a former era which he revered, but he was also a horseman for his own day. I first got to know John in the spring of 1972, when he came to Kentucky with Key to the Mint, Paul Mellon’s Kentucky Derby Prospect. John was assistant to Elliott Burch. There was John, the son of a highly acclaimed trainer Sylvester Veitch and he was working for the son of another great trainer, Preston Burch.

In that situation, John thought that it was not appropriate to call his boss “Elliott,” but somehow Mr. Burch didn’t seem comfortable either. So, when speaking of Burch, John referred to him as the “The Man.” Talked to the Man this morning. The Man will be here soon, etc.”

Five years later, Alydar came into the picture. Veitch was on his own and had managed to land a job that harkened back to the old days for an owner who stressed sportsmanship and wanted a private trainer. This was Calumet Farm, the former powerhouse under Warren Wright Sr. that was now run by Wright’s widow. Calumet had fallen in lean times and Veitch’s first year as head trainer brought little success. Mrs. Markey was patient and understood that she had not turned over a lot of talent to the young man.

Then Alydar entered his rivalry with Affirmed. What seemed a key moment in the series came in the Champagne Stakes. Racing a mile for the first time, Alydar laid off the pace and came running in the stretch to win by 1¼ lengths. The suggestion that Alydar would have the edge as the distances got longer was proven to be false. Still, the impression held for some time.

I was always impressed by the way John handled those close, grinding losses to Affirmed. Even the morning after the Belmont Stakes, there he was in the Belmont backstretch sitting on the fender of his Jaguar eating a fudgesicle and in his friendly manner saying, “I still think I can beat Affirmed.”

Once while participating on a panel, John went so far as to say he would sometimes just look at Alydar and remark to himself about how God had given that horse the powers that he had. Certainly, in one way the career of Alydar was a repetition of grim stanzas. He was cast in a role of the “ almost horse” time after time against Affirmed. Then out from under that martinet, Alydar would win the Bluegrass by 13 lengths, the Arlington Classic by 13 and beat older horses in the Whitney by 10!”

Thanks to Mike and Ed for sharing their personal accounts and memories of John.

Now, let’s take a look at the extraordinary rivalry between two great racehorses that made the sporting world hold its breath forty-five years ago.

Alydar’s duels with Affirmed are the stuff of legends. On ten occasions from June of 1977 to the following August, the two thrilled racing fans across the country with one superb display of talent after another.

Putting this into perspective, recently crowned Horse of the Year Flightline’s entire career spanned just six races. Unfortunately, the star of Alydar never quite matched that of his nemesis. In their ten confrontations, Affirmed got the best of the Calumet runner seven times.

Their storied duels in the Triple Crown Series of 1978 stand high in the lore of the sport. On the first Saturday in May they met in the Kentucky Derby. Affirmed got this one by 1½ lengths. Two weeks later they were at each other’s throats at the Preakness. Affirmed was best again by just a neck. Then came “The Test of Champions,” once around Belmont Park’s one- and one-half mile oval. This one more than lived up to all the hype surrounding it. Affirmed and Alydar hooked up in a duel that materialized near the halfway point of the race. From there on to the finish line they raced as one. At the wire it was Affirmed by a head. The brilliant colt had again denied Alydar the winner’s circle.

Affirmed was named the tenth Triple Crown Champion. Alydar, with his gutsy performances in defeat had gained the respect of horse racing fans everywhere.

There would be one more chapter in the Affirmed vs Alydar series. Both parties pointed their colts for the Travers Stakes here at Saratoga. It was time to settle old scores. Where better than the Historic Spa for the race to take place. Veitch chose the Whitney Stakes for Alydar’s Travers prep.

He responded with an easy ten length romp.

Affirmed’s camp entered him in the Jim Dandy a few days later. He got the job done in a tougher than expected outing. Both were fit and ready for the showdown. This Travers had all the earmarks to be one for the ages.

A massive crowd of over 50,000 racing fans converged on the grounds to witness the event. At 5:45 in the afternoon, the horses entered the starting gate. Affirmed, despite his mastery over Alydar was only a slight favorite. The bell rang and both horses were off to a good start. The race began to materialize on the backstretch. Affirmed took the lead on the outside of Alydar. With powerful strides Alydar closed the gap on his opponent. Lafite Pincay Jr. aboard Affirmed chose to shift closer to the rail at the exact moment that Alydar was gaining ground on that path. The mishap caused Alydar to hit the rail and drop back a good six lengths behind his foe. He was able to compose himself and miraculously get within two lengths of Affirmed at the finish line.

The blinking lights went up immediately after the race. Affirmed’s number was taken down and Alydar was named the winner. What should have been John Veitch’s shining moment had become a bittersweet day. The rivalry was over. The two would never meet again.

John Veitch got that shining moment in 2007. He joined his late father Sylvester and his star  pupil Alydar as a newly elected member of horse racing’s Hall of Fame here on Union Avenue. A master of his trade, he will long be remembered for his part in the Alydar vs Affirmed rivalry, and as a champion in his own right.

SCHUYLERVILLE — The Schuylerville varsity softball team enters 2023 with a strong group of returning players, and strong team chemistry as they look to compete in the Foothills Council.

The Black Horses return seven starters from last year’s team and enter this season without any seniors on the roster. Head coach Katie Bottisti said she is “excited for this year, and this group.”

Despite graduating six seniors from 2022, junior Sophia Wahl said the team’s chemistry has been “really good already.”

“We all just have a lot of fun together,” said Wahl. “I love them all, and I feel like they all feel the same. It’s kind of like family that way.”

Bottisti said Wahl and sophomore Kenna Hart will be the Black Horses’ main pitchers this season and will be backstopped by the catching duo of sophomore Taylor Dennis and junior Cat Carpenter. Bottisti said the team is full of “athletes who are going to make plays,” and emphasized the team’s chemistry.

“They want to be here, they’re really good friends,” said Bottisti. “Just the team chemistry is going to be great. Our bats are hitting the ball like crazy already, so I’m excited to see them pull it all together.”

Junior Gracelyn Kilburn also said the team is “like a family,” saying she is excited for the season to begin.

“There’s a lot of us who have played together throughout modified up to now,” Kilburn said. “We have a really great group of girls here, so I hope we go far in sectionals.”

Bottisti said the Foothills Council is “anybody’s this year,” saying the Black Horses have the ability to “go far” in the postseason.

“We play a lot of really good teams, so the competition’s always going to be difficult,” said Wahl. “If we can keep working together the way we have been, and play our best each day, I really think we can do well.”

“I think that we’re going to give everybody a good run on any given day,” said Bottisti. “I keep it simple for them, I say, ‘Have fun. Pitchers throw strikes. Fielders make plays. Hitters make good contact, and good things will happen.’”