SCHUYLERVILLE — On Tuesday, Oct. 4, the Schuylerville boys’ and girls’ soccer teams hosted Queensbury High School for their annual “Kickin’ Out Cancer” game that doubles as a fundraiser to help those affected by the disease. This year, the funds were directed toward two long-time Schuylerville school employees. The event raised several thousand dollars.
The girls’ game featured two state-ranked teams in Schuylerville (ranked #6 in the Class B State rankings) and Queensbury (ranked #14 in the Class A State rankings). After a scoreless first half, Bayley Duffy scored two second half goals to seal the victory for Queensbury. Schuylerville had previously beaten Queensbury 2-0. Schuylerville and Queensbury are now tied for first place in the Foothills Council with one loss each – only beaten by one another.
The Queensbury boys beat the Schuylerville Boys 1-0 on a fantastic goal by Luke Eichen with one minute left in the game. While the game was back and forth all night, Eichen’s effort solidified the win for Queensbury. Both teams are also battling for the Foothills Council championship and will most likely meet again later in the season.
Second place finisher Kennedy Swedick in action at McGregor Links in Saratoga this summer. Photos: New York State Golf Association
REXFORD — On Monday, October 3, the Edison Club hosted the Section 2 Girls Golf Individual Championship. It was a one, two, three finish for the Albany Academy for Girls as they continue their remarkable string of results this fall season. Leading the field was Samantha Von Rohr, who shot a (-1) 71, the only girl in the field to shoot in the red figures. Close behind her was the 92nd New York State Women’s Amatuer Champion Kennedy Swedick who carded a 74. In third place was Nicole Criscone who signed for a three-over 75. The top nine individuals are listed below and have all qualified for the NYSPHSAA Girls Golf State Championships to be held June 3-5, 2023 at the Edison Club.
The Section 2 Team Championship will be held Sunday, October 9 at The Edison Club (12 p.m. shotgun start). The following teams qualified to compete for the Team Championship: Albany Academy, Saratoga, Guilderland, Shenendehowa, Shaker and Bethlehem.
Qualifiers – Samantha Von Rohr (Albany Academy) 71, Kennedy Swedick (Albany Academy) 74, Nicole Criscone (Albany Academy) 75, Hayden Knapp (South Glens Falls) 80, Jillian Rawson (Albany Academy for Girls) 80, Zorah Williams (Emma Willard) 80, Tekla Fine-Lease (Queensbury) 81, Sienna Wheeler (Colonie) 83, Maria Jackson (Saratoga Springs) 83.
Other scores – Cambell Kennedy (Shenendehowa) 91, Dannah Smith (Schalmont) 91, Mollie Kortz (Johnstown) 92, Hanna Mitchell (Guilderland) 92, Megna Naidu (Guilderland) 93, Jane Fanning (Guilderland) 95, Sophia Jackson (Saratoga Springs) 95, Peyton Hoblock (Shaker) 97, Clare Cunningham (Shaker) 98, Ella Cotter (Greenville) 99, Bayley Duffy (Queensbury) 100, Lizzie Ryan (Albany Academy) 101, Lillie Junco (Voorheesville) 101, Skylar Yeo (Shenendehowa) 102, Lilla Zeevalk (Shenendehowa) 105, Lily Gray (Bethlehem) 15, Colleen Carey (Academy of Holy Names) 106, Chloe Galvin (Duanesburg) 106, Sarah Byun (Shaker) 106, Mya Young (Bethlehem) 106, Hailey Drinon (Schoharie) 106, Sierra Borden (Saratoga Springs) 107, Morgan Hayden (Tamarac) 107, Taylor VanWie (Chatham) 109, Emily Landau (Saratoga Springs) 110, Mairead Marsden (Broadalbin-Perth) 110, Elle Lyda (Bethlehem) 111, Emma Duval (Ballston Spa) 112, Isabella Petrocci (Mohonasen) 113, Sofia Heiser (Canajoharie) 115, Alexis Palmeri (Fort Plain) 116, Allie Zieker (Saratoga Springs) 117, Emily Shim (Niskayuna-Schenectady) 119, Giayna Abel (Broadalbin-Perth) 129, Aubrey Nethaway (Amsterdam) 134.
SARATOGA SPRINGS — On Monday, October 3, the Saratoga Central Catholic girls volleyball team hosted Cambridge High School in what was a 3-0 sweep for the Saints. In game one, Saratoga took a commanding lead and never looked back, finishing the game comfortably with a scoreline of 25-12. However, games two and three were much closer as Cambridge found their stride – but both games finished 25-19 in favor of the Saints.
Highlights for the Saints:
Arden Buhrmaster – 8 service points, 3 aces
Gianna Fiordimondo – 7 digs
Jacqueline Fornabia – 6 service points, 11 aces, 6 kills
Juliana Montanino – 11 service points, 2 kills
Rylee Cornell – 7 service points, 4 aces, 3 assist
SCHUYLERVILLE —On Monday, Oct. 3, the Schuylerville Black Horses traveled to Hudson Falls to play under the lights at the newly renovated Moran-Derby Park. Schuylerville raced out to 6-0 halftime lead and saw the game out for the win.
Sam Tyler led the Horses with 2 goals and an assist while Nate Lanfear also chipped in 2 goals. Shawn Thompson scored for the Tigers on a well placed shot that beat Griffin Brophy. Owen Sullivan, Alex Renner, Ashton Morris, Corey Cotrell and Griffin Brophy all logged assists for Schuylerville. The shots on goal totaled 10 to 2 in favor of the Horses. This result improves Schuylerville’s record to 6-1-1 in league play, 7-3-1 overall, while Hudson Falls still remains winless at 0-7.
BURNT HILLS — On Sunday, October 9, the Jason Morris Judo Center will host the 19th annual Morris Cup Judo Championships after a 2 year hiatus. The tournament will be held at Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake High School and will feature over 500 of the best competitors in the Northeast US and Canada. The Judo action will start at 9:30 a.m. and continue nonstop until approximately 8 p.m. The event will feature many local stars including Burnt Hills students and graduates, 2x Olympian, Nick Delpopolo, Kyle Tran and Randi and Dani Morris.
Judo has been an Olympic sport since 1964. It is the most-widely practiced martial art in the world. In its competitive form judo involves throws, pins, chokes and arm locks but no kicking or punching. Many of the skills developed in wrestling are incorporated by judo players. People who practice judo develop high levels of physical fitness, discipline and an unshakeable respect for their opponents.
The Morris cup is the work of Jason Morris, a 4x Olympic competitor, 1992 Silver medalist and the USA’s 2008 Judo coach in Beijing. Jason is committed to growing the next generation of Judo champions through his own club and the state, national and international agencies with which he has become familiar.
SARATOGA SPRINGS — On Monday, September 26, the Saratoga Blue Streaks hosted the Schuylerville Black Horses in their senior night game. The contest was also their annual “Go Pink” game, which aims to raise money and spread cancer awareness. The two teams share a special link through Beth Roberts, who lost a battle to cancer last year. Roberts spent 22 years as a special education teacher in the Schuylerville Central School District. Along with teaching, she coached field hockey and lacrosse in the Saratoga Springs district and Schuylerville district respectively. Both programs won championships while Beth was on the sidelines.
“We purposely picked Schuylerville,” Saratoga coach Jo-Anne Hostig said in a statement. “We wanted to play each other because we both had a personal connection and some players have even more of a connection. There are so many people in our field hockey community that have unfortunately had to battle with cancer.”
To kick off the scoring in the contest, Viviana Nicastro scored a goal off a corner play, assisted by Allie Shamberger with a few minutes left in the first quarter. After Saratoga took the lead, they never looked back. In quarter two, Allie Shamberger scored a goal of her own with the assist coming from Aubrey Ide. And in quarter three, the Blue Streaks finally put the game out of reach with goals from Alyssa Smullen (assisted by Maddie Miller) and Aubrey Ide who scored unassisted. The penalty corners totaled 13 to 4 in favor of Saratoga, and the shots were lopsided as well, with the Blue Streaks logging 21 to Schuylerville’s 3. Schuylerville’s goalie, Petra Gemage logged an impressive 16 saves while Saratoga goalies Lily Wilborn and Alexis Georgeadis logged 3 and 1, respectively.
Saratoga moves to an 8-1 overall record this season.
SARATOGA SPRINGS — Saratoga Bridges invites the community to join them to run, walk or roll “Together Again” at the 22nd Annual Great Pumpkin Challenge on Saturday, Oct. 15.
After two years of being virtual due to the pandemic, the popular 5K & 10K and Kids Fun Run will start and finish at the Columbia Pavilion in the Saratoga Spa State Park and is NET Chip timed. The event begins at 9:30 a.m.
The fundraiser benefits Saratoga Bridges’ essential non-funded or underfunded services and assists with the ongoing unanticipated expenses incurred by COVID 19. Volunteers are needed as well.
Individuals, friends, families, coworkers and corporate teams can register at saratogabridges.org by Friday, Oct. 14. The $25 entrance fee for the 5K & 10K is $25 and Kids Fun (12 and under) is $10. The first 1,500 registered will receive a long-sleeve moisture wicking shirt. Prizes will be awarded to 1st, 2nd and 3rd males and females in each age group.
For more information on volunteering or about the event, contact Kelly Armer at karmer@saratogabridges.org or 518-587-0723 ext. 1266 or Laura Kenny at lkenny@saratogabridges.org or 518-587-0723 ext. 1242. To register visit give.saratogabridges.org/ge/gpc
SARATOGA SPRINGS — The Saratoga Blue Streaks continue their hot start to the season after another win against the Columbia Blue Devils.
The match was played under the lights on September 27 at Saratoga High School. Xavier Rusico, Ryan Farr and Lucas Varghese all netted goals for Saratoga. Assists came by way of Vincent DeVito, Riley Fowler and Ryan Farr. The lone goal for Columbia came from Kejhaune Lester. The match finished 3-1 in favor of the home team. The win on Tuesday makes for Saratoga’s sixth win of the season while Columbia falls to 2-2-3 overall. Looking forward, the Blue Streaks will travel to face Christian Brothers Academy (CBA) on Thursday, September 29 and then have a week off before they face Shaker High School on October 6, who handed the Blue Streaks their only loss of the season in a tight 1-0 contest.
16U and 19U New York State Championship Teams. Photo courtesy of Jeff Willis.
SARATOGA SPRINGS — This winter, Section II athletics are commissioning an inaugural girls’ ice hockey season. The team is called Adirondack United, and it will consist of six local school districts combining to offer one varsity team: Corinth Central School District; Glens Falls City School District; Hudson Falls Central School District; Saratoga Springs City School District; South Glens Falls Central School District and Queensbury Union Free School District.
Tryouts will begin on November 14 at the Glens Falls Recreation Center Ice Rink on Fire Road. The team will consist of students in grades 9 -12. Games will be played against teams in Section 7, Section 10, Section 3, and a few area programs out of Vermont. The districts are excited to provide a merged experience, bringing students from multiple area high schools competing together all under one umbrella. The team has a deep pool to choose from, with local youth hockey programs for girls exploding over the past several years. “We’re pulling from a talented group of girls that have won state titles at the club level. We’re going to compete immediately,” Adirondack United coach Jeff Willis said.
“Our goal is to generate so much excitement that within the next four to five years, we will start seeing additional teams pop up throughout the Capital Region. We ultimately want Section II represented in the state championships,” said South Glens Falls Central School District Athletic Director Matthew Griep. “We’re extremely excited and blessed to be in an area where the community embraces ice hockey. We have the infrastructure and support to make this a reality. All participating districts have administrations that support student extracurricular activities, and for them to allow us to pursue this endeavor, we’re very grateful for that,” Griep said. “We know it’s going to be a huge success. We’re already hearing the buzz. I’ve been fielding calls about schools wanting to join the merger, so we know it is generating interest.”
The team’s first game will be on November 23 on the road against the defending state champion, Skaneateles Central School District. The first home game will be at the Glens Falls Recreation Center on December 3 versus Beekmantown Central School District. For additional information regarding Adirondack United Ice Hockey, questions can be directed to the Athletic Director of each participating school.
SARATOGA — The Saratoga Springs City School District will honor seven individuals for their extraordinary contributions to athletics during the Blue Streak Athletic Hall of Fame Ceremony on Friday, October 7 at 4:30 pm. The ceremony will be held in the Teaching Auditorium at Saratoga Springs High School.
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 holds plaques in honor of the Hall of Fame members.
The program was established to recognize and celebrate the accomplishments of outstanding athletes, coaches, administrators, and supporters. The 2022 inductees are Kevin Chartrand ‘97 (football and basketball), Peter Dickens ‘73 (football, basketball, baseball, track) William Ford ’67 (football, basketball, baseball), Megan Mangano ’97 (soccer, basketball), Susan Ruggles ’76 (field hockey, basketball, volleyball, track) Courtney West ’98 (soccer, gymnastics, track) and Dr. John MacFadden who served as a coach, teacher, administrator and superintendent of schools for the district for 38 years from 1969 – 2007.
