NEW YORK — Discovery Bicycle Tours has just announced their new Empire State Trail Bike Tour on the recently completed Empire State Trail. The Discovery route is a six day, 200-mile tour on the Hudson Valley Greenway section, starting in New York City and ending in Albany. The gentle ride on mostly paved trails, passes through historic villages and has scenic views of the Hudson River, the Catskill Mountains, and more. 

The tour is being offered on five different dates from June through October 2021. A small group of 13 riders will be accompanied by two leaders, and the trip includes most meals and five-star hotel lodging. As well, Discovery Bicycle Tours provides free parking at the starting point, detailed directions, and a helmet. You can bring your own bike, or they will provide one. The price for double occupancy is $2,495 per person.

For those interested in this tour, visit discoverybicycletours.com or call 800-257-2226.

BOYS:

SARATOGA SPRINGS — The Varsity Boys’ Basketball Team at Saratoga Central Catholic School is adjusting to a new coach and playing basketball during a pandemic. 

Bill Haskell, Head Coach of the Varsity Boys’ Basketball Team at Saratoga Central Catholic School, has been coaching for 41 years, with most of his career spent as head coach at SUNY Adirondack. When he retired, he was asked to come help the program, and this is his first year as head coach at Saratoga Central Catholic School. According to Coach Haskell, this season has been the most difficult in all of his 41 seasons. However, his assistant coach, Bill Luciano, and the JV boys’ coach, Daniel Kumlander, along with the boys on the team, have made the transition and COVID adjustments easier to handle. 

The team’s season started Feb. 1 after getting clearance from the Saratoga County Department of Health, and within six days they had their first game. They have a 14-game schedule within the makeshift league formed by Saratoga County, and are finished playing by March 13. They play Tuesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays. Coming up this weekend (Friday, Feb. 26 and Saturday, Feb. 27) is a tough series with Mechanicville, one of the top teams on their schedule.

The team is fairly young, but has varsity experience, with three seniors, one sophomore, and some juniors who played on varsity last year as sophomores. The team’s leading scorers are senior forward Hayden Day (#14), junior guard Robbie Bolen III (#3), and junior guard Anthony Barile (#5). Day, who is also the team’s leading rebounder, and senior forward Aiden Lambert (#24), a rebounder and 3-point shooter, are team captains who contribute greatly and keep the team’s spirits high in their leadership positions. 

Versatility is the team’s greatest advantage, as they have players skilled at multiple positions and their offensive skills are spread out amongst the team. As well, based on percentages, their 3-point shooting is strong. The team is working on Coach Haskell’s slower style of play and how to overcome being outmatched physically.

“The formula we try to follow is our shooting percentage, offensively, and defensively, to rebound and have fewer turnovers than the other team,” said Coach Haskell. “That overcomes the discrepancy in size.” 

Other new challenges for the coach and the team include: being able to hear each other from opposite sides of the court through their masks, drawing up plays on the whiteboard while being socially distant at time outs, dealing with mental and physical fatigue from back-to-back games, and also the lack of fans in the bleachers.

“I tell my guys, you have to create your own energy, because the way that you warm up and the way that you prepare for the game makes up for the lack of fans,” said Coach Haskell. “I think they are just so thrilled to be out there playing that it doesn’t matter if there are people watching or not.”

However, he does believe that these games are providing a sense of normalcy during the pandemic. And, although there are no sectional or state championships at the end of the season, he still expects his team to put in the effort and enthusiasm. 

“I never talk to our team about winning,” said Coach Haskell. “I always feel that if you execute offensively, play together, communicate, really work hard on defense, battle on the boards, and do all the right things, then you have a chance at the end of the game [to win].”

You can check out the team’s website for their schedule, record and stats, player profiles, and more at www.sccbasketball.com.

GIRLS:

SARATOGA SPRINGS — The Saratoga Central Catholic School Varsity Girls’ Basketball Team is proving that they can adapt to this season’s adverse conditions.

The team’s season started on Feb.12 and ends on March 13, with only a week of full-contact practice before they had their first game. They have a 14-game schedule, and are playing three games a week – Tuesdays and back-to-back home and away games on Friday and Saturday. The Varsity Girls’ Basketball Coach, Regan McFerran, believes that their biggest challenge so far this year has been the limited time frame to prepare for games. 

The girls’ program has also seen some limitations with numbers, and they have no JV team this year. 

Their roster includes six varsity returners (four seniors and two juniors), as well as three more juniors, sophomore, and freshmen. They have six strong starters, and strong players coming off the bench. Junior guard Ashley Upson (#4) is their leading scorer, and senior forward Molly O’Reilly (#30) brings great defensive energy. As a team, their strengths are defense, and something else you can’t necessarily teach in practice. 

“Our greatest strength with these girls is their resilience,” said Coach McFerran. “They are a group that is highly motivated, and their work ethic is unbelievable.”

Per a decision made by Section 2, there are no spectators allowed at the game, resulting in an unfamiliar gym atmosphere that might be hard to overcome for some teams – but not for these varsity girls.

“With a sport like basketball, energy in the gym is something you look forward to, something that can play a role in a close and competitive game,” said Coach McFerran. “The girls have done a great job of providing their own energy and understanding that they have to bring it every single day for themselves and their teammates.”

Even with no sectional or state championships this year either, the team is still looking on the brighter side of this season. 

“These girls are happy to be here and to be playing a season they were not sure they were going to get,” said Coach McFerran. “So, my biggest expectation for them, and our biggest emphasis has been, don’t take these games for granted…leave it all out on the court and get better every day.”

Meet the Team: Varsity Basketball Seniors

Escape the ordinary, get connected, and join the next generation of fitness. 

My 12-year-old son worked up a serious sweat and woke-up sore the next day after playing Rec Room on his Oculous Quest 2 – the virtual reality headset that was on the top of all his friends Christmas lists a couple of months ago. 

After a year spent mostly at home because of the pandemic, I’ve learned that there are only so many YouTube video workouts and walks around the neighborhood that one can do. 

It’s time to get out of the workout rut with the mental stimulation that technology provides. 

ALWAYS INTERESTING
I’m the type of person that gets bored easily and am always trying out new activities and fitness ideas. 

When I saw my son take off his VR headset, smiling, exhilarated, and his forehead drenched in sweat, I knew it was my turn to try the virtual reality workout for myself. 

In VR, your body becomes the controller. There are a number of different brands of headsets available, but after some research, we decided on the Oculous Quest 2. 

You’re sure to find something that interests you because there are loads of games and workouts available through the Oculus app, as well as both free and paid VR compatible games through online platforms like STEAM. 

VR gaming has come a long way in the last few years but the first step to having a good VR experience is a high-quality gaming computer to plug it into. An open area 6 1/2’ in diameter is recommended to play in, and gamers must remember to be careful of getting tangled in the cord. 

For these reasons and more, I recommend playing VR with someone else nearby at first to help guide you. Playing VR games is an opportunity for the younger generation to teach the older – a refreshing and empowering role reversal.

EXERCISE BY ACCIDENT
Besides being fun, one of the real benefits of the VR workout is that you forget you’re working out. 

Entering the VR world is like being taken somewhere else. It’s an immersive escape where you can completely block out the sights and sounds of what’s actually around you. It’s relatively easy to get the hang of it, convenient and private. 

A simple, free game like Rec Room includes the Stunt Runner obstacle course, bowling, rock-climbing, basketball, dodge ball, disc golf, and more. 

Because you can link up with others the online community, VR gaming is a fun way to connect with your friends while staying socially-distanced. 

After 45 minutes playing Rec Room, my shoulders are definitely feeling it, but I barely felt like time was passing at all – a far cry from watching the clock and counting down the seconds while planking. 

Will VR workouts completely replace other fitness activities for me? No, but adding more VR experiences into my life is definitely something I’m looking forward to. 

SARATOGA SPRINGS — The Saratoga Springs High School gymnastics team beat Bethlehem 173.025 – 161.95 at the Wilton YMCA to end their dual meet season with a record of 6-0.  It was the 14th consecutive undefeated dual meet season for the Blue Streaks. Saratoga was led by senior Ava Dallas who finished first in the all-around with a score of 36.8 followed by fellow senior Sophia Damiano who finished second with a score of 36.3.  Bethlehem’s top finisher in the all-around was Ali Gray who finished 3rd with a score of 34.6. The season ends on Sunday, Feb. 14, with the League Championship meet hosted by Shaker. 

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Registration for the Spring One Session of classes offered by the Saratoga Regional YMCA opens up on February 16. Classes begin on March 1 and end on April 24. Available programs include: 

• Soccer (Ages 3-4 years) Wilton Branch. Thursdays, 4-4:30 p.m. Members $40/Non-Members $50

• Soccer (Ages 5-7 years) Wilton Branch. Thursdays, 4:35-5:15 p.m. Members $50/Non-Members $50

• T-Ball (4-6 years) Saratoga Branch. Saturdays, 11:30-12 p.m. Members $40/Non-Members $70

• Little Rookies Baseball (3-5 years) Saratoga Branch. Saturdays, 10:45-11:15 a.m. Members $40/Non-Members $70

• Basketball (4-5 years) Saratoga Branch. Mondays, 4-4:30 p.m. Members $40/Non-Members $60

• Basketball (6-7 years) Saratoga Branch. Mondays, 4:40-5:20 pm, Saturdays 12:10-12:50 p.m. Members $45/Non-Members $80

• Basketball (8-10 years) Saratoga Branch. Tuesdays, 4:15-5 p.m., Saturdays 1-1:40 p.m. Members $55/Non-Members $90

• Beyond the Basics Basketball (10-13 years) Saturdays, 3-4 pm. (14-17 years) Saturdays, 4-5 p.m. Members $70/Non-Members $100

• Youth Intermediate Volleyball (10-14 years) Saratoga Branch. Wednesdays, 4:15-5 pm. Members $60/Non-Members $90

• Leadership Club: Teens (8th-12th grade) 1st and 3rd Mondays of the Month. 6-7 p.m. Free with Family or Youth Membership. 

For more information, go to srymca.org

SARATOGA SPRINGS —The Upstate New York Basketball Hall of Fame is pleased to announce that Tony Izzo has been chosen for induction into the Class of 2021. 

Izzo is a longtime Section 2 basketball broadcaster for Saratoga High School and the playoff games at the Glens Falls Civic Center. He is currently the host of the Saturday Sports Hour on Saratoga’s Star Radio, 93.3 FM and has received the Dutch Hollard award for promoting sports throughout the Capital District.

His dedication to, and love of the game has made an impact in the area through his 47 years of broadcasts, including his coverage of the memorable battles between Sonny Gooden of Saratoga and Jim Town of Glens Falls.

The Hall of Fame induction will take place this Fall.

Staying active when you’re not able to go places and gather together is tough enough, now add not being able to see well into the equation, and you’ve got an even trickier problem to solve. Camp Abilities Saratoga (CAS) has figured out a solution.

“Everyone is struggling with isolation due to COVID. This issue is compounded for children who are blind or visually impaired.  CAS is focused on reducing isolation by keeping these children connected with their peers and counselors,” said Joe Brady, Vice President of Communications. 

TRANSFORMING VACA’S INTO VCAS
The week-long CAS educational sports camp, sponsored by the Saratoga Lions Club, is like a very special and educational, vacation. 

It’s a one-on-one VACA that typically offers guided activities including baseball, soccer, horseback-riding and more to its campers. To comply with social-distancing guidelines, they decided to adjust their program and instead go virtual this past summer – transforming a VACA into a VCAS (Virtual Camp Abilities Saratoga).

“In 2020, we had a couple months to prepare, develop programs, send equipment and technology to the campers and counselors so we could conduct our annual camp – transforming it from a physical camp to a virtual camp while keeping and strengthening CAS’s mission,” said Brady. 

“Our camp directors and counselors did a masterful job of creating a wonderful, meaningful, and educational experience for our campers.”

The online campers, ages 10 to 16, were invited to log-in three times a day for six days of activities including yoga, strength-training, and pound fitness (a high-intensity cardio workout that combines yoga with rhythmic drumming). 

“What I’m hearing from them is that their week with us it the highlight of their year, so I thought, why can’t we connect with our campers throughout the year and keep those relationships going?” said Camp Director Tiffany Suppes. 

MINI-CAMPS HAVE MAJOR IMPACT
The success of the August 2020 virtual camp was the impetus of the CAS mini-camps that are now happening every other month. 

The first, in December, featured a Body by Dottie workout, a yoga class, and as a special treat – cookie making. In addition to empowering the 16 campers to find ways to be physically active on their own at home, these activities are geared to help them improve upon their daily living skills. 

These activities are also a chance for families to get involved like never before. 

“Some things are a blessing in disguise. Now we’re able to work with families closely which we were not able to do before. We show campers’ parents and siblings how to adopt and modify activities for them, and the options they have at home,” said Suppes.

An easy, socially-distant outdoor activity that she suggests is disc golf – just have a sighted companion set up a cell phone or an inexpensive Bluetooth speaker at the target and you’re ready-to-play. 

The next mini-camp will be held on Saturday, February 6 and will include a HIIT workout, a virtual scavenger hunt, and a game of Family Feud. 

“I feel very fortunate to be able to connect with the campers and to find ways that we can all come together during this time,” added Suppes. 

Follow Camp Abilities Saratoga on Facebook for more information. 

SARATOGA SPRINGS — The Rotary Club of Saratoga continued their support of Act with Respect Always (AWRA), with a recent donation. 

“The Rotary is proud of their ‘circle of giving’ and we are proud to complete that circle by giving away AWRA T-Shirts whenever possible,” said AWRA founder Coach Rich Johns.

Act with Respect Always is a “pay it forward” movement that stresses the importance of one’s personal character. It is designed to build respect and leadership, teach positive and constructive behavior, and to help stop bullying before it starts. It emphasizes the importance of teamwork, kindness, empathy, courage and honesty.

Companies that would like to help further this message can have their group’s logo printed on AWRA shirts. For more information, email Coach Johns at acejohns@aol.com. 

SARATOGA SPRINGS — The Saratoga Springs High School gymnastics team continued their winning ways with two more victories this week. 

Last Thursday, they won against Shaker at the Wilton YMCA with an overall score of 169.525 – 146.75. Saratoga was led by senior Sophia Damiano who finished first in the all-around with a score of 36.1, followed by fellow senior Ava Dallas who finished second with a score of 35.80.  Shaker’s top finisher in the all-around was Alyssa Kearns who finished 3rd with a score of 32.775.

Then, on Sunday afternoon at the World Class Gymnastics Academy in Latham, the Saratoga team moved to 5-0 for the season when they bested Bethlehem 170.15 – 159.25.  Senior Ava Dallas finished first in the all-around with a score of 36.35, followed by senior Sophia Damiano who earned a score of 35.55.  Bethlehem’s top finisher in the all-around was Ali Gray who finished 3rd with a score of 34.85.

On Friday, February 5th, Saratoga will be competing in their last dual meet of the season against Bethlehem at the Wilton YMCA.  Saratoga has not lost a dual meet since 2007.