The Grinch and Santa Claus compete in an exhibition harness race on Dec. 14. Screenshot of the race via the Saratoga Casino Hotel.
SARATOGA SPRINGS — In an annual tradition that perhaps foretells whether this Christmas will be a jolly or mean one, Santa Claus and The Grinch aired their grievances with a feat of strength: a harness race at the Saratoga Casino Hotel.
The mile-long race on Dec. 14 circled several inches of packed snow. The Grinch opened up an early lead, bursting ahead of Claus at the start of the contest. Claus was stuck on the inside, trailing by about two-and-a-half lengths as the foes entered the backstretch. Santa kept his cool, biding his time for a comeback as children across Saratoga feared their presents might be stolen by a victorious Mean One. The anxiety heightened as The Grinch expanded his lead to three lengths. As the ill-tempered, pot-bellied Christmas ruiner passed the grandstands in the stretch, he seemed to be almost taunting those in attendance.
But then, The Grinch went wide on a turn, opening up space on the inside. Claus attempted to squeeze into the gap as if it was a chimney, but The Mean One kept him at bay. Still, St. Nick gained ground and cut his enemy’s lead to about two lengths. Sensing that his chance of victory was narrowing, Santa snapped the reins as he does every Christmas when beckoning his reindeer toward the heavens. With that, Santa’s horse came so close to the reclining Grinch that the Mean One could’ve kissed its nose.
But as they entered the final stretch, centuries of a milk-and-cookies diet seemed to slow down St. Nick. The mean Green One insulted Claus and all of polite society as he cruised across the finish line with a commanding four-length victory.
It was the second-straight year that The Grinch defeated Santa in Saratoga. In 2024, The Grinch won by an inch.
BALLSTON SPA — The Ballston Spa School District’s Adult Fitness Program will start again in January 2026. Offerings will include soccer, basketball, self-defense, yoga, DanceFit, and aqua zumba. No experience is required to participate. Each program includes a 10-class session.
Pre-registration is required for all programs, and fees are due prior to the start of each course. Due to safety regulations, aqua zumba registration will close at 25 participants.
If interested in learning more about the adult fitness programs or to register, visit www.bscsd.org. Registration forms can be dropped off in person and/or mailed to:
BSCSD
c/o Office of Community Relations and Program Support
Saratoga Racers guard Juwan Malone in a Dec. 7 game against the Herkimer Originals in Mechanicville. Malone has emerged as one of Saratoga’s top scoring threats this season. Photo via the Saratoga Racers.
MECHANICVILLE — The Saratoga Racers entered their sophomore season with new ownership and a new home court, ready to capitalize on their 13-7 inaugural year that ended in the American Basketball Association’s (ABA) playoff semifinals.
On Dec. 7, the Racers put on a show at Mechanicville’s Riverside Center. It was their second regular season contest played at their new home base. In that game against the Herkimer Originals, whom the Racers previously defeated by just one point on Nov. 9, new standouts emerged amongst a roster populated with familiar faces.
Saratoga entered the contest 3-1, having won three straight after a season-opening loss to the New England Lightning in Rhode Island on Nov. 2. The first two stanzas were evenly matched, with the score tied 64 to 64 as the decisive second half began.
In a nod to the Saratoga Race Course, the third quarter started with a “call to post” bugle sound effect—and they were off. Guard Juwan Malone impressed early, draining a three before grabbing a quick steal and easy layup. His teammates followed suit, pressuring Herkimer relentlessly on defense and racking up a series of interceptions and quick buckets. The points soon piled on, with Saratoga taking an 84 to 71 lead with 8 minutes remaining in the quarter.
The Racers moved the ball efficiently on offense, creating open looks for practically everyone donning one of the team’s redesigned minimalist, red-and-white uniforms. With a healthy double-digit lead deep in the third quarter, Saratoga slowed down the game’s pace before erupting with two triples to end the stanza. After three, it was Racers 109, Herkimer 92. (Seemingly in a celebratory mood, a couple Racers danced to “Cotton-Eyed Joe” on the sideline prior to the fourth quarter).
In the final quarter, Saratoga steamrolled the opposition with a pretty swish from beyond the arc by forward John Ryals, who was one of the top scorers on last year’s squad. But Herkimer didn’t relent, narrowing the lead to just 8 points with around 9 minutes left in the game. Saratoga countered by doing what they did well throughout the contest: draining triples and forcing turnovers.
RJ Rosa, another returning standout, had a series of big moments in the closing minutes. Both last season and against Herkimer, Rosa consistently demonstrated high basketball IQ, making smart plays and getting open looks at the basket. Malone joined with Rosa to help seal the deal in the game’s final moments, hitting a big three-pointer to grow Saratoga’s lead back up to 13 points. As Herkimer scrambled for a last-minute comeback, Rosa and company remained disciplined, keeping Toga on top to secure a 147-136 victory. The win was Saratoga’s fourth in a row.
Malone led all Racers with 29 points, though six of his teammates finished with double digits: Donavan Williams (22), Rosa (21), Ryals (20), Cam Thomas (15), Isaiah Grandison (13) and Tyler Mithell (10). Forward Joey Harden led his squad in both rebounds (12) and assists (6). Rosa added 4 steals.
Malone, who has also played for the Albany Patroons, has emerged as one of Saratoga’s most lethal offensive weapons this season. In the Racers’ first game against Herkimer in November, he racked up 27 points. The team has also been bolstered by impressive offensive outputs from Tobias Holmes, Harden, and Rosa.
Collectively, Saratoga has excelled from beyond the arc, shooting 17 for 32 (53%) in the first game against Herkimer and hitting 19 of 44 triples (43%) against the Vermont Coyotes on Nov. 23.
The Racers will return to the Riverside Center in Mechanicville on Jan. 24, which will be the first of six straight games played at home.
Prior to the start of this season, former Racers owner Keith Harrington sold the team to an ownership group led by Frank Polsinello, a Mechanicville native who relocated the team from its former home court at Saratoga Central Catholic.
The Skidmore College riding team placed second at the Holiday Tournament of Champions, hosted at Centenary University on Dec. 6. Photo via Skidmore Athletics.
LADY SAINTS UNDEFEATED
The Saratoga Central Catholic Lady Saints rallied past the Hoosic Valley Hawks 50-39 on Dec. 11. Sophia Ryan had a game-high 14 points, while Addison Whitbeck chipped in 12. With her 14 points, Ryan officially surpassed her school’s all-time scoring record that was set in 1980. Only a junior, Ryan has already amassed 1,041 points in her high school career.
The Lady Saints followed up on the historic game against Hoosic Valley with their fourth-straight win of the season against Cambridge on Dec. 15. In their 53-31 victory, Whitbeck earned a game-high 23 points, and Ryan added 11. The Lady Saints are now an undefeated 4-0 this season.
ADIRONDACK UNITED START SEASON WITH A WIN
In Adirondack United’s home opener at the Harding Mazzotti Arena on Dec. 6, they defeated Beekmantown 4-2. Emerson Lochner-Fehl opened the scoring just over 2 minutes into the game. In the second period, Gianna Marcantonio made a rush to score unassisted. In the third period, Lochner-Fehl added another goal assisted by Marcantonio and Aubrey Lozier. Following Lochner-Fehl’s second, Maeve McCarty finished the United’s scoring, assisted by Ella Carner and Lochner-Fehl. Aurora Graham-Hayes contributed to Adirondack’s win with 23 saves. Adirondack will next travel to Skaneateles on Dec. 19 for a rematch of last year’s state title game.
SKIDMORE RIDING TEAM PLACES SECOND IN HOLIDAY TOURNAMENT OF CHAMPIONS
The Skidmore College riding team traveled to Centenary University to compete in the Holiday Tournament of Champions on Dec. 6. The team rode to reserve champion out of 16 schools, scoring 32 points behind champion team Savannah College of Art and Design.
Isa Jensen started the day with an outstanding ride in the Open Fences, placing second behind current Individual Open Fences National Champion Alex Alston. Ian Gaudio rode to second place in the Intermediate Fences, and a minor hiccup at the beginning of an otherwise beautiful trip kept Ani McIntyre out of the ribbons in the Limit Fences.
Jensen returned for the Open Flat with a strong ride to third place. Lillard Preschlack took second place in the Intermediate Flat, and McIntyre returned for the Limit Flat, placing second. Isa Washburne made her first tournament appearance, placing third in the Novice Equitation, and Catherine Epstein had a smooth ride to place third in the Introductory Equitation.
Gaudio also competed in the Low Medal and was called back on top after a beautiful ride on the flat. He finished in eighth place after a small error in the jumping phase. Avery Johnson competed in the High Medal, and despite a strong ride on the flat, was not called back over fences.
After winter break, the team will travel to the next Tournament of Champions at Savannah College of Art and Design on Jan. 24. Regular semester competition begins on Feb. 21 at Siena University/Dutch Manor Stable.
Photo of the 2025 Saratoga Springs High School football team at the JMA Wireless Dome in Syracuse via player Cam Toomey’s X account.
SYRACUSE — It was a bittersweet title game; a loss that ended a season that some will remember for years to come.
For only the second time in program history, the Saratoga Springs varsity football team competed in a state championship game. Their opponent, Syracuse’s hometown Christian Brothers Academy (CBA), hadn’t lost a game in more than two years. Yet, at the JMA Wireless Dome last Saturday night, the Class AA championship was within Saratoga’s grasp.
The first glimmers of hope emerged in the second quarter, when the Blue Streaks put together a 7-minute drive against CBA’s relentless defense, battling ferociously to move the chains. The concluding play of the drive, a fourth down pass into the end zone that slipped through the intended receiver’s fingers, left Saratoga scoreless heading into halftime.
With a 21-point deficit, the Blue Streaks entered the third quarter determined not to be summarily dispatched by two-time title-winners CBA. A 23-yard pass to wideout Gavin Lafrance signaled a momentum shift, resulting in a series of plays that inched the Blue Streaks closer to the goal line. After a pass was deflected, Saratoga was faced with 4th and 7. Going for it, the squad’s state-leading rusher Benjamin Coryea caught a pass and found the end zone, putting the first points on the board for Toga. Kicker Olivia Mancini missed the extra point kick—had the ball sailed between the goalposts, Mancini would’ve become the first girl to score a point in a New York State championship football game.
Saratoga’s defense then emphatically entered the chat. Defensive end Cam Toomey came up with a big sack in the third quarter, forcing CBA to punt on 4th and 17 and giving the Blue Streaks another shot at narrowing the Brothers’ lead.
Quarterback Bobby Morris did his best Josh Allen impression when he recovered a fumbled snap, evaded three CBA defenders, and then hurled the pigskin to receiver Jaden Lockrow for a first down that landed Saratoga back in the red zone.
In the opening moments of the final quarter, Morris connected with Lafrance once again, this time for a touchdown. An attempted two-point conversion resulted in a completed pass that fell short of the end zone, leaving the score 21-12 with less than a dozen minutes left to play.
This 9-point deficit, however, was as close as Saratoga would come to evening the score. After a huge defensive stop yielded another turnover on downs, the Blue Streaks struggled to maintain their offensive momentum. Morris got sacked at the 1 yard line, narrowly avoiding a safety. Then a completion to Lockrow was brought back after a personal foul was called on the receiver. Faced with 4th and 17 on their own 5 yard line, Saratoga was forced to punt.
A subsequent 4-yard touchdown run by CBA would prove to be the fatal blow. The Brothers began to widen the gap, later earning a pick-6 and walking away with their third-straight championship. The final score: CBA 41, Saratoga 12.
Overall, CBA’s dominant defense proved insurmountable for Saratoga, even with the state’s leading rusher in a Blue Streak uniform. The Brothers have won 41 straight games, and it’s a small miracle that Saratoga held its own against a high school football juggernaut.
After the loss, some Blue Streaks took to social media to share their thoughts.
“[The] state championship game didn’t end how we wanted, but I am very thankful to my teammates, coaches, and community for getting us here and being one of the best teams in program history,” said Toomey.
“Unfortunate ending to my Saratoga football career last night with the State Championship loss to CBA, but extremely grateful for all my coaches and teammates who I was able [to] make history with,” added tight end Josh Simon.
Overall, the Blue Streaks finished the season 11-3, their best record in years.
Coryea concluded his standout season with more rushing yards than any other running back in the state. Perhaps unsurprisingly, he was also named Section 2’s Player of the Year.
SARATOGA SPRINGS — Anthony Weaver, a Saratoga Springs native and member of the Blue Streak Hall of Fame, is among the NFL’s top head coaching candidates, says Dianna Russini, senior NFL insider for The Athletic/New York Times.
“Expect these assistant coaches to garner serious looks in the upcoming coaching cycle,” Russini wrote before listing Weaver, who is currently the Miami Dolphins’ defensive coordinator. “Since 2011, at least five head-coaching vacancies have popped up each cycle. Right now? Only two teams have openings: the Giants and Titans. That number will go up… Coaches have about a month left, maybe through the playoffs, to prove they can handle the big seat.”
The Dolphins are currently 6-7 this season but have won four straight games, keeping them on the brink of playoff contention alongside the Kansas City Chiefs, Baltimore Ravens, and Indianapolis Colts. Defensively, the team is roughly middle-of-the-pack in several key metrics: They’re ranked 19th in yards allowed per game, 15th in sacks, and 18th in turnover ratio. During their four-game winning streak, however, the Dolphins have limited their opponents to 17 points or less in each contest.
Before being hired by Miami, Weaver attracted interest from several teams (including the New Orleans Saints and Chicago Bears) for then-vacant head coaching jobs. His resume includes coaching stints with the New York Jets, Buffalo Bills, Houston Texans, and Baltimore Ravens.
Saratoga Central Catholic basketball player Sophia Ryan celebrates with her family after scoring her 1,000th career point in a game against Lake George on Dec. 4. Photo provided by Athena DiLorenzo-Ryan.
SARATOGA SPRINGS — It’s been 45 years since the 1,000 career points threshold was crossed, but Sophia Ryan didn’t do it alone.
From the sidelines, Saratoga Central Catholic basketball coach Athena DiLorenzo-Ryan witnessed history being made by a girl who is both her star player and her daughter.
“When she was going up for that last shot, I just had this exhilarating feeling come over me as a mother,” DiLorenzo-Ryan said. “As a coach, it’s great to see that big milestone for her… I didn’t want to show too much emotion as a mother. I think if I was out in the stands, I might have shed some tears.”
On Dec. 4, Ryan scored her 1,000th point as a high school basketball player in a victorious home opener against Lake George. The last time someone achieved that feat was in 1980, when Patti King finished her career with 1,031 total points. As of press time, Ryan was only 5 points away from breaking that all-time record. But don’t expect too much fanfare when it happens. Ryan and her coach/mom are laser-focused on winning.
“We’ll just pat her on the back and say, ‘Congratulations,’” DiLorenzo-Ryan said. “She knows she’s got bigger fish to fry now. We’ve got some big games coming up, so [we’ve] got to refocus.”
Ryan wants to ensure her team finishes the season with a winning record, stays competitive against bigger schools, and works hard in practice. Although adept at scoring, Ryan seeks to contribute to her team in other ways; some stat-driven, others more intangible. As a leader, she offers advice and inspiration. As a player, she contributes by racking up assists, rebounds, and steals. “I like to try to make the right play every single time,” she said.
Ryan admires basketball players who maintain their composure during tense or exciting moments. “Cool under pressure” seems to be her mantra. But another source of inspiration is closer to home. “[My mom] is definitely someone that I want to play like,” Ryan said.
Having a parent as a coach is “definitely hard at times,” Ryan said, “but she’s always there to support me, on and off the court.”
SARATOGA SPRINGS — Saratoga Springs field hockey player Mia Khazin was recently named a Section 2 All-Stater for the Suburban Council. She was the only Blue Streak to earn All-State honors.
In October, Khazin shattered her school’s single-season scoring record with her 30th goal, surpassing Lindsey Frank’s record of 29, which was set in 2018.
Post-graduation, the senior will play field hockey for Division 1 Quinnipiac University.
Saratoga Springs celebrates its 2025 Section 2 Class AA football championship, while Schuylerville repeats as 2025 Section 2 Class C champs. Photos via Section 2 Athletics.
MIDDLETOWN — For only the second time in the team’s history, the Blue Streaks football squad is headed to the JMA Wireless Dome in Syracuse to compete in a state title game.
Saratoga Springs will vie for the Class AA championship against the undefeated, Syracuse-based Christian Brothers Academy (CBA) on Saturday.
To earn their shot, the Blue Streaks first had to vanquish Mamaroneck in the semifinals. They did it, with a final score of 28 to 14, by earning three touchdowns in the first quarter, creating a deficit the Tigers couldn’t overcome. In that contest, quarterback Bobby Morris completed all 5 of his pass attempts for 94 yards and a touchdown. On the receiving end of the 55-yard touchdown completion was junior wideout Gavin Lafrance.
The run game, per usual with standout back Benjamin Coryea, was exceptional. Coryea rushed for 172 yards and 2 touchdowns on 19 carries. Morris added 5 carries, 35 yards, and a rushing touchdown of his own. Also clutch in the contest, nailing all four extra point attempts, was kicker Olivia Mancini, who is currently ranked 13th in the state in PAT kicks made and 20th in total kicking points.
The next hill to climb will be a steep one for Saratoga. CBA Syracuse hasn’t lost a game since Nov. 13, 2023. They are 12-0 this season and finished 14-0 the past two seasons. A Blue Streak victory would be unexpected, but then again, the team’s entire season has been one big, successful surprise.
Elsewhere in high school football postseason play, the reigning Section 2 Class C champion Schuylerville Black Horses were felled by the Bronxville Broncos, 49 to 16, in the state semifinals. The Horses mounted a fourth-quarter comeback attempt, racking up 16 points in the final stanza, but it was too little too late for a team overwhelmed by Bronxville’s steady stream of touchdowns.
For Schuylerville, quarterback Ben VanVegthen tossed for 126 yards and a touchdown, adding 42 rushing yards. On the ground, junior Blake Cumm led his team’s rushing efforts, scooping up 52 yards and a touchdown on 9 carries.
The loss to Bronxville snapped the Horses’ 22-game win streak. Their season ended with an 11-1 record.
