SCHUYLERVILLE — The Schuylerville boys varsity soccer team launched into the new season with four straight shutouts last month, demonstrating impressive play on both sides of the ball.
“Playing team defense and limiting opportunities on our goal is what we are always looking to do,” Head Coach Dave Gauci told Saratoga TODAY. “It’s a pretty versatile group that has knowledge of the game.”
Gauci called first-year keeper Asher Harrison “tremendous” and also praised Nate Lanfear and Willem Foster. “We have some young guys in some important positions so we are looking for them to develop fast,” Gauci said.
The team’s shutout streak began with a September 18, 4-0 victory against Scotia-Glenville. In that contest, Alex Renner and Nate Lanfear both earned a goal and an assist to lead the Black Horses. Colden Harrison and Dom Letzring also found the net.
That game was followed by a 1-0 win at South Glens Falls. The lone goal came during the second half, when Justin Nolazco-Lopez found a streaking Alex Renner for the winning score. Harrison had 6 saves.
The next two shutouts against Corinth and Hudson Falls were both dominant victories. The Black Horses won 6-0 and 7-0, respectively. Against Corinth, Nolzco-Lopez had a hat trick within the first 25 minutes of play. In the Hudson Falls game, Nolzco-Lopez scored another two goals while Harrison notched his fifth total shutout of the season.
The Horses’ four-game shutout streak ended on September 30 when they tied Queensbury, 1-1. The team then lost twice in back-to-back games against Colonie Central and Amsterdam, but rebounded with yet another shutout, 5-0, on October 7 against Stillwater.
In the latest shutout, Harrison picked up 3 saves while Matt Delassio, Tazio Helmig, Alex Renner, Willem Foster, and Luke Abrami all scored goals.
Schuylerville is next scheduled to play Glens Falls on the 9th, Gloversville on the 11th, and Greenwich on the 12th.
Schuylerville competes against Stillwater in what would become a shutout victory for the Black Horses. Photos by Super Source Media.
A plaque honors former Saratoga Springs athlete and current coach Jake Zanetti as a 2024 inductee into the Blue Streak Hall of Fame. Photo via Saratoga Athletics X account.
SARATOGA SPRINGS — The Saratoga Springs City School District inducted six former Blue Streak athletes into its Hall of Fame last Friday, including current Physical Education Teacher and Coach Jake Zanetti.
The ceremony, held in the Meade Teaching Auditorium at Saratoga Springs High School, welcomed Kelsey Briddell, Lindsey Frank, Derrick Legall, Tina Villa-Gac, Charles “Chip” Williams, and Zanetti into the Blue Streak Hall of Fame.
“It was a special night for sure. My whole family was there,” Zanetti told Saratoga TODAY.
“[I’m] so happy and lucky to have been raised, coached, and surrounded by great Saratoga people.”
Zanetti, a 2005 Saratoga Springs High School graduate, made significant marks in both wrestling and track & field. In track & field, he lettered in five varsity seasons, finished 3rd in the 2005 NYSPHSAA Track and Field Championships, placed 5th in the NYS Federation in pole vault, and set a school record with a height of 14’9”. He also won numerous invitationals and dual meets throughout his career in the vertical jumps at the Suburban Council Championships, Colonie Relays, and Hudson Falls Invitational. In wrestling, Zanetti earned 108 career wins, was a Class A Sectional Champion at 145 pounds, and was a three-time champion of the Saratoga Invitational Tournament. In both sports, he was named to multiple All-Section, All-Conference, and All-Saratogian honors.
After high school, Zanetti continued his pole vaulting career at the State University of New York at Cortland, where he became a Division 3 collegiate athlete. His career at SUNY Cortland culminated in a NCAA National Championship victory in Pole Vaulting in 2009. Currently, Zanetti is a physical education teacher at Lake Ave Elementary, and also coaches high school golf and wrestling.
Kelsey Briddell, class of 2014, played both field hockey and track & field at Saratoga Springs High School. During her career, Briddell was a four-year varsity field hockey player, earning All-State honors in 2013 and serving as co-captain that same year. A versatile attack/midfield player, she also helped lead the ADK Club Field Hockey team to victory at the U16 National Indoor Championship. In track, she was a key member of the undefeated 4×100 Suburban Council Championship relay team (2013-2014) and placed 6th in the state in the 4×100 relay in 2014.
Briddell continued her athletic journey at the University of Albany, where she became a four-year starter for the field hockey team. Her accomplishments included selection to the All-Rookie Team, winning the America East Conference Championship, and earning America East All-Tournament Team honors. Her talent extended to the international stage as well, representing the U.S. National Teams and competing in the World Championships with the FIH Pro League.
Lindsey Frank, class of 2019, made her mark as a dual-sport athlete in both field hockey and lacrosse. A four-year varsity starter in both sports, she set numerous records at Saratoga Springs, including 60 career assists, 82 career goals, 21 single-season assists, and 29 single-season goals. Her lacrosse skills earned her US Lacrosse All-America honors in both 2018 and 2019, as well as being named the Times Union Girls Lacrosse Player of the Year in back-to-back seasons. She was also a 1st Team All-New York selection and a Suburban Council First Team All-Star.
After high school, Frank continued her lacrosse career at the University of Richmond, where she had a historic 2023 season, tallying 90 points (3rd in program history) from 67 goals (a program single-season record). By the end of her Richmond career, she ranked in the top 10 in program history in points (234), goals (164), assists (70), and draw controls (182). She later joined Northwestern University as a graduate student, where she contributed to the Big 10 Lacrosse Championship and earned Honorable Mention USA Lacrosse Division 1 Preseason All-American honors in 2024. She also played one year of field hockey at Northwestern, helping the team achieve a National Division One NCAA runner-up finish in 2023.
Tina Villa-Gac, class of 2004, is a track & field athlete known for her achievements in shot put and discus. Over her six years of varsity competition (1998-2004), she earned numerous accolades, becoming a three-time Suburban Council and Section 2 Champion in both indoor and outdoor track & field events. She ranks 3rd all-time at Saratoga Springs High School in both discus and shot put, and she holds the distinction of being 10th all-time in Section 2 for discus. She qualified for the New York State Outdoor Championships from 2000 to 2004. In 2003 and 2004, she qualified for the Indoor National Championships in both discus and shot put, finishing 9th in the nation in 2003 and 8th in 2004.
After graduating, Villa-Gac attended the University of Buffalo as a Division 1 scholarship athlete, where she not only won a MAC Championship in shot put but also served as team captain and President of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee.
Derrick Legall has dedicated over 30 years to supporting the youth and sports programs in Saratoga Springs, both within the city and the school district. His efforts have made a lasting impact on the community, from serving as head of the Saratoga High Booster Club to leading the West Side Little League. Under his leadership, the West Side Little League flourished, and he played a pivotal role in the rebuilding of the West Side Little League Field and Ballpark. In 2011, Legall was named Outstanding Citizen of the Year by the Saratoga Wilton Elks #161 Lodge. He also serves on the Saratoga Springs Recreation Commission.
Charles “Chip” Williams, class of 1974, played football, basketball, and baseball. As a guard on the basketball team during the 1973-1974 season, Williams earned Foothills Council All-League honors. In baseball, he helped lead the team to the Foothills Council League Championship in 1974, finishing the season with a batting average of over .300. On the football field, he earned All-American honors.
The 2024 Blue Streak Hall of Fame inductees were selected by a committee composed of current and former coaches, high school administrators, community members, and current and retired athletic directors. A trophy case in the lobby of the blue gym holds plaques in honor of the Hall of Fame members.
Photo of the Skidmore College 2014-2015 men’s basketball team via Coach Joe Burke.
Blue Streaks Football Narrowly Defeats Niskayuna
The Saratoga Springs varsity football team narrowly defeated Niskayuna last Friday night, 31 to 28. The Silver Warriors fired the first shots, scoring the lone touchdown in the first quarter, then notching another TD in the second quarter. But the Blue Streaks fired back, tallying 16 points in the second to make the score 16-14 at the half. Niskayuna came roaring back in the third, scoring two touchdowns and limiting Saratoga to 8 additional points. After three, the Silver Warriors held the lead, 28 to 24. But then the Blue Streaks clapped back in the final quarter, scoring one more touchdown to seal the deal at home.
Saratoga is now 3-1 on the season. Their next game will again be at home against Colonie Central on Friday night.
Schuylerville Slaughters Granville/Whitehall
The Schuylerville Black Horses varsity football squad destroyed Granville/Whitehall at home last Friday, with a nice score of 69 to 27. The Horses dominated early, scoring 48 points in the first half. Their rushing game was unstoppable, with Landen Cumm totaling 221 yards on only 13 carries and Ollie Bolduc adding 137 yards on 11 carries.
Schuylerville is now 3-1 on the year, and will next face off against Voorheesville in a Saturday afternoon away game.
Last month, Schuylerville High School sophomore Gavin Winacott won the varsity boys 5000 meter run at the Broadalbin-Perth Invitational with a time of 17:17. Other Black Horses with strong showings at the event included Natalie Hoffman (1st in the JV girls 5000 meter run), Adeline Ballou (5th in the varsity girls 5000 meter run), and the varsity boys 5000 meter run team (2nd place).
Saratoga Girls Golf Team Beats Shen and Queensbury
On October 1, the Saratoga Springs girls golf team beat both Shenendehowa and Queensbury in a non-league match at the Hiland Park Country Club. Saratoga shot a 143, Shen 150, and Queensbury 177. For the Blue Streaks, Sophia Jackson (47) and Chloe Lawrence (47) were both medalists.
Blue Streaks Field Hockey Team Beats Niskayuna
The Saratoga Springs field hockey team defeated Niskayuna 4 to 0 on Monday, notching their third victory in a row. For the Blue Streaks, Maddie Miller earned a hat trick off assists from Esther Lodico, Mia Khazin, and Charlotte Drabek. Khazin also scored for Saratoga.
Skidmore 2014-2015 Men’s Basketball Team to be Inducted Into Hall of Fame
The Skidmore College 2014-2015 men’s basketball team will be inducted into the Skidmore Hall of Fame on Saturday, October 5 (homecoming weekend). The team won 20 games, went 14-2 in the Liberty League, won the school’s third Liberty League title in a five-year span, and competed against New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) champions Wesleyan University in the NCAA Tournament. The team’s induction will take place during a ceremony at the Williamson Sports Center.
The Hall of Fame team included players Doolun Anyam ‘16, Martin Bedulskij ‘18, Isaac B. Carp ‘16, Vavrinec Cermak ‘17, Marcus A. Jackson ‘19, Perun Kovacevic ‘15, Benjamin H. Louchheim ‘18, Eric J. Lowry ‘15, Aldin Medunjanin ‘17, Connor D. Merrill ‘15, Royce Paris ‘17, Erik J. Sanders ‘16, Tyler S. Victoria ‘17, Nicholas J. Volpe ‘16, Nanribet D. Yiljep ‘15; and coaches Joseph D. Burke (head coach), John Mantas (assistant coach), and Matt Chatham (strength and conditioning).
Skidmore Women’s Tennis Duo Win Regional Title
Skidmore College women’s tennis players Konika Dhull and Grace Truong defeated Victoria Wang and Siona Vallabhaneni of New York University in straight sets to capture the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) Northeast Regional Championship last week. As a result of the victory, Dhull and Truong became the first Skidmore doubles pair since 2018 to earn All-America honors. They are also the 12th and 13th players in program history to garner the distinction. The duo will next compete in the Middlebury Panther Challenge, October 11-13.
Skidmore Riding Team Finished 4th in Pre-Season Classic
The Skidmore College riding team finished fourth in the Tournament of Champions Pre-Season Classic hosted by Otterbein University last week.
The day started with senior Kenya Sanders finishing third in the Open Fences. Sophomore Isa Jensen rode next in the Intermediate Fences, putting another third-place finish on the board. Sanders, along with senior Harper Sanford, also competed in the first phase of the High Medal, with Sanders receiving a call back for the jumping phase. Another smooth ride over the jumps brought Sanders to a Reserve Champion finish in the High Medal.
The team competition continued with sophomore Ani McIntyre riding to fifth place in the Limit Fences and second in the Limit Flat. McIntyre also finished fifth in the Low Medal. Jensen returned to take the win in the Intermediate Flat, and sophomores Stella Allen and Alice Wrede won their Novice Equitation and Introductory Equitation, respectively.
The team begins regular season competition on October 26 at Dutch Manor Stable/Siena College in Guilderland, New York.
Photo of Intercollegiate Tennis Association Northeast Regional Champions Konika Dhull and Grace Truong via Liberty League Athletics.
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Kristi Wagner and Lauren O’Connor, both members of the Saratoga Rowing Association who competed in the 2024 Paris Olympics, visited the White House on Monday along with the rest of the Olympic and Paralympic teams.
President Joe Biden spoke to the athletes on the White House South Lawn.
“Yes, you’ve sacrificed,” Biden said, “but you have to look at who you lift up. Your families wept with joy, filled with pride. Your hometowns honor you. And to your fellow Americans, most of whom have never known…you’ve become their heroes.”
Wagner and O’Connor both finished ninth overall in their respective events in Paris. Wagner and her partner Sophia Vitas competed in double sculls, while O’Connor was part of the quadruple sculls team.
Wagner and Vitas were fifth in double sculls at the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo. O’Connor made her Olympics debut in Paris.
Photo provided by the Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce.
WILTON — Alliance Jiu Jitsu opened a second location in the Wilton Mall last Friday. The new 4,800-square-foot training center will be dedicated entirely to Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.
For the past 13 years, Alliance’s original location has been housed within the Ndakinna Education Center in Greenfield Center.
Alliance has won the International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation world team title 14 times. The company says that its teaching methodology has produced “hundreds of champions and improved countless lives.”
The new training center is located in the Wilton Mall across from Old Navy.
Photo of Skidmore College alum Jackson Hornung via the Vancouver Canadians website.
VANCOUVER, CANADA — Jackson Hornung, a Skidmore College alum who plays in the Toronto Blue Jays’ minor league baseball system, was named to the Northwest League All-Star Team last week.
In his first full season with the Vancouver Canadians, Toronto’s High-A affiliate, Hornung led the team with 105 hits in 112 games. He also had 27 multi-hit games, a team high for the season. He finished the year with a .714 OPS, 25 doubles, 6 homers, and 47 RBI. Usually a catcher, Hornung also saw playing time at first base, left field, and designated hitter.
Hornung was selected in the 16th round (484th pick) of the 2023 MLB Draft by the Blue Jays. He was the first Skidmore alum to be drafted by a professional team.
SARATOGA SPRINGS — The 22nd annual Saratoga Hospital Golf Invitational, held earlier this month at the Saratoga National Golf Club, raised more than $191,000 in support of nursing education and professional development.
“Through this event, we aim to cultivate valuable relationships and provide lifelong professional development opportunities for our nurses,” said Toni Bishop-McWain, Vice President of Patient Care Services and Chief Nursing Officer, in a statement. “Investment in education directly enhances the quality of patient care and ensures a brighter future for the Saratoga region.”
Photo of the Ballston Spa varsity football team after defeating South Glens Falls 56 to 0 via the Ballston Spa Booster Football Club.
Ballston Spa Varsity Football Obliterates South Glens Falls
The Ballston Spa varsity football team easily defeated South Glens Falls, 56 to 0 last Friday night in a homecoming matchup. The Scotties dominated throughout the contest, scoring 14 points in the first quarter, 21 in the second, and 14 more in the third before tallying one final touchdown in the fourth. Ballston’s run game carved through South Glens Falls’ defense, scoring touchdowns off of 86-yard, 70-yard, and 49-yard runs.
With this W, the Scotties improve to 2-1 on the season after defeating Brewster 22-2 in week one and then losing to Averill Park 41-21 in week two. Their next scheduled game is on Friday, September 27 at Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake.
Blue Streaks Football Wallops Queensbury
The Saratoga Springs varsity football squad defeated Queensbury 29 to 8 last Friday. The Blue Streaks’ touchdowns came via a fumble recovery, two 13-yard runs, and a 5-yard run. With their second win of the season, Saratoga improved to 2-1 on the year. In game two, they beat Schenectady 48 to 14. They fell to Christian Brothers Academy 28 to 0 in week one.
Saratoga is next scheduled to play at home against Niskayuna on Friday, September 27.
Schuylerville Golfers Break School Record
The Schuylerville varsity golf team broke the school record for the lowest score in a match (146), while defeating South Glens Falls at the par 36 Airway Meadows. The record-breaking team included Adam DeGregory (-1) 35, Ryken Riper (-2) 34, Kadin Converse (-1) 35, and Jackson Dunbar (+6) 42.
Schuylerville Boys Soccer Team Earns Three Shutout Victories
The Schuylerville High School boys soccer team won three games recently, beating Scotia-Glenville 4-0 on September 18, defeating South Glens Falls 1-0 on September 20, and then earning another shutout victory, 6-0, against Corinth on September 23.
Against Scotia-Glenville, Alex Renner and Nate Lanfear each tallied a goal and an assist to lead the Black Horses. Colden Harrison and Dom Letzring also found the net.
Against South Glens Falls, Renner scored the lone goal with an assist from Justin Nolazco-Lopez.
Against Corinth, Nolzco-Lopez recorded a hat trick in the first 25 minutes. Willem Foster, Renner, and Lanfear also scored for the Black Horses.
Saratoga Lacrosse Players Commit to UConn and Longwood
Saratoga Springs varsity lacrosse junior midfielder Sarah Berls has committed to the University of Connecticut (UConn). Berls plays with the Salt City Snipers lacrosse club in Syracuse. She’s also played soccer and basketball.
Saratoga’s senior defender Averill Zimmer has committed to Longwood University, located in Farmville, Virginia. Zimmer is from Ballston Spa and plays lacrosse with the Lake Effect Storm Elite club. In addition to lacrosse, she also plays field hockey and has a black belt in Tae kwon do.
Skidmore Alum Drafted by National Lacrosse League
The Saskatchewan Rush of the National Lacrosse League (NLL) have selected recent Skidmore College graduate Charlie McFadden in the third round of the 2024 NLL Draft with the 37th overall pick.
McFadden is the first Thoroughbred to be drafted by an NLL franchise. The NLL is a professional box lacrosse league comprised of 15 teams, including nine in the United States and six in Canada.
In 2022, McFadden helped lead his Miners Lacrosse Club team to the Minto Cup final. In 2023, he played for the Coquitlam Adanacs of the Western Lacrosse Association. This past summer, he played for the Edmonton Miners Sr. B team and won the Rocky Mountain Lacrosse League championship and reached the President’s Final.
One of the most prolific scorers in program history and a two-year team captain, McFadden finished his Skidmore tenure ranked fourth all-time in career scoring with 179 points and fifth with 117 goals. He became the seventh player to reach the 40-goal plateau when he did it as a junior in 2023. As a senior, McFadden scored 33 goals and made it to 50 points for the second year in a row.
With one season of NCAA eligibility remaining, McFadden is attending (Division I) Fairfield University where he will play with Stags next spring. The Saskatchewan Rush will retain his NLL rights.
Photo from the 2023 Strides for CJD Awareness and Fundraising Walk provided by Darlene Chorman
SARATOGA SPRINGS — The annual Strides for CJD Awareness and Fundraising Walk on Oct. 5 hopes to spread the word about Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (CJD), a rare brain disorder that can cause dementia-like symptoms.
The event’s organizer, Darlene Chorman, an associate broker at Roohan Realty, lost her father Charles Hildenbrand to CJD nearly three decades ago.
“The medical community is still not as aware of this disease, and it goes undiagnosed too frequently,” Chorman told Saratoga TODAY. “My dad was hospitalized several times by different doctors who made diagnoses that were wrong, so this is why I work every year to raise funds for awareness, support the families affected, and in memory of my dad.”
According to the Mayo Clinic, symptoms of CJD can be similar to those of Alzheimer’s, but CJD usually gets worse much faster and leads to death. The clinic estimates that 1 to 2 cases of CJD are diagnosed per million people worldwide each year. But Chorman suspects that rates might be higher than reported because CJD can often go undiagnosed, and if the disease isn’t listed on a death certificate as a cause of death, it isn’t calculated into the stats.
“Over and over, when I talk to people even in the medical community, they don’t know about it,” Chorman said. “It’s not on their radar, they weren’t really educated on it.”
Chorman said that when her father was diagnosed 27 years ago, the only diagnostic test available to confirm the disease was a brain biopsy, which was considered a risky procedure because hospitals didn’t have an effective way to sterilize equipment that came into contact with infectious tissue.
Since then, sterilization, a spinal tap procedure, and, most recently, a pharmaceutical trial by Ionis, have all become significant breakthroughs in the treatment of CJD.
“These are all advancements since my dad died from this,” Chorman said, “and the CJD Foundation has been instrumental in raising funds to educate the medical community.”
The Strides for CJD Awareness and Fundraising Walk is on Oct. 5 at the Veterans Memorial Park on Adams Road off of Geyser Road.
NOTE: This article was changed to make clear that the brain biopsy was a diagnostic test, not a “treatment” as originally stated.
A QR code links to a Google Form where fans can request season tickets for the upcoming 2024-2025 debut season of the Saratoga Racers, a professional basketball team based in Saratoga Springs. Image via the team.
SARATOGA SPRINGS — The Saratoga Racers, an American Basketball Association (ABA) team, unveiled the schedule for its debut season last week. Season tickets, which cost $50, recently went on sale as well.
The regular season schedule, while still tentative, includes home games against Poughkeepsie’s New York Lights, the Albany 518 Ballers, Buffalo Xtreme, and Binghamton Bulldogs. The team is also working on scheduling a special event for Martin Luther King Jr. Day weekend. Exact locations for each game will be announced closer to the dates.
Saratoga Racers 2024-2025 Schedule
October 8 — Saratoga Racers at Redemption, 5:30 p.m. at Sage College (exhibition game)
October 19 — Saratoga Racers at Word of Life, 7 p.m. (exhibition game)
October 27 — Connecticut Flyerz at Saratoga Racers, 3 p.m.
November 2 — New York Lights at Saratoga Racers, 7 p.m.
November 3 — Herkimer Originals at Saratoga Racers, 3 p.m.
November 16 — Saratoga Racers at Rochester Royals, 7 p.m.
November 23 — Saratoga Racers at Binghamton Bulldogs, 7 p.m.
December 1 — Saratoga Racers at Herkimer Originals, 3 p.m.
December 7 — Connecticut Surge at Saratoga Racers, 7 p.m.
December 14 — Albany 518 Ballers at Saratoga Racers, 7 p.m.
December 28 — Saratoga Racers at Buffalo Xtreme, 7 p.m.
January 4 — Saratoga Racers at Herkimer Originals, 7 p.m.
January 5 — Bennington Martens at Saratoga Racers, 3 p.m.
January 18 — Buffalo Xtreme at Saratoga Racers, 7 p.m.
January 19 — Rochester Royals at Saratoga Racers, 3 p.m.
January 25 — Herkimer Originals at Saratoga Racers, 7 p.m.
February 1 — Saratoga Racers at 518 Ballers, 7 p.m.
February 2 — Saratoga Racers at Bennington Martens, 3 p.m.
February 8 — Saratoga Racers at New York Lights, 7 p.m.
February 16 — Binghamton Bulldogs at Saratoga Racers, 3 p.m.
February 22 — Saratoga Racers at Connecticut Surge, 7 p.m.
