SARATOGA SPRINGS — The doubles team of Clare Dooley and Addison Jones capped off an impressive season for the Saratoga Springs varsity girls tennis team, bringing home the Section 2 Doubles Championship on Oct. 23.

As the top seed, Dooley and Jones earned a bye in the first round of sectionals, and proceeded to cruise their way to the championship round, where they captured the Section 2 girls tennis doubles championship with a 6-0, 6-0 win over Bethlehem’s Hope Brown and Rayka Kogut.

The duo’s results were the culmination of a year that saw the Blue Streaks go undefeated as a team in the regular season, and earn the #1 seed in the Section 2 Class AA team tournament. Saratoga’s only loss as a team eventually came in the Section 2 Championship, 5-4 against Bethlehem.

Head coach Tim O’Brien said it was one of the team’s best seasons in his time as coach, adding that the Blue Streaks’ squad “always played hard.”

“It was just an amazing year, from the standpoint of the regular season and going into sectional play,” said O’Brien. “Then to get Clare and Addison together as a doubles team, and to have them have the success that they had, it’s been one of my best seasons as a coach, along with Coach Crotty and Coach Nizzi, that we’ve had in the last 14 years.”

O’Brien also had praise for the doubles team of Dooley and Jones, saying they were “an incredible combo” throughout the postseason.

“They’re two very young players,” O’Brien said. “The way they attacked the tournament, it was awesome to see.”

The sectional win was made even more impressive considering Jones is a sophomore, while Dooley is in seventh grade. 

“I think we played really well,” said Dooley of the doubles sectional tournament. “Especially in the semifinals and finals, we played our best.”

Last season, Jones was on a doubles team with senior Kate Lindley, and O’Brien said that partnership helped prepare her to partner with Dooley this fall.

“I think Addison really took after Kate, learned from her,” O’Brien said. “Both her and Clare, they developed a friendship, but they also developed a great rapport of working together on the court. It really showed.”

This was emphasized by Jones, saying that she and Dooley “barely knew each other” at the start of the season before eventually growing close.

“We just grew that bond, being on the courts next to each other,” said Jones. “We would cheer each other on. Now, we’re like great friends.”

Dooley and Jones advanced to the NYSPHSAA tournament, defeating Fayetteville-Manlius’ Selena Chen and Shreya Bhattacharya in their opening match. The Blue Streaks’ duo lost in the Round of 16 to Westhampton Beach’s Matila Buchen and Julia Stabile, who went on to win the state championship.

In addition to the doubles team, the Blue Streaks were powered all season by strong depth throughout the roster. O’Brien said that although the team fell just short in the sectional finals, it was still a season to remember for Saratoga, particularly for graduating seniors.

“To go undefeated as their last year, it was just an outstanding accomplishment, and something that they’ll have forever,” O’Brien said. “It didn’t work out the way we wanted it to in the finals, but it was very close. We were right there, and unfortunately it didn’t go our way. But, I’m proud of the way the girls represented the school.”

Molly Beauregard, a senior, said it was “great” to finish her high school tennis career with the strong season that the Blue Streaks had.

“It was so great to have an undefeated senior year,” said Beauregard. “I also thought that we worked so well together this year. I was really happy with how it all turned out, and how we all worked together.”

“Obviously, it was sad to leave,” added senior Taylor Plue. “I’m sad to leave this whole group that I’ve loved every time I come here. But I had nothing to lose, I guess, was kind of my mindset. I just wanted to play as long as I could.”

And while the Blue Streaks graduate a strong group of contributing seniors this year, they are also set to return many impactful athletes to next year’s team.

“I think next year, going into it, we’ll know what we’re capable of,” said sophomore Savannah Winter. “We’re going to fight for every match. Knowing our bonds, we already have an advantage of us all being super close.”

“A lot of other teams in the (Suburban) Council and the section are young as well, but I think that depth, and the fact that our girls are going to put the work in, hopefully we’ll have a chance to get back and have success again next year with the young group, core group that we have,” O’Brien added.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — The Saratoga-Wilton Warriors youth tackle football team has earned a spot in the NYFL Super Bowl this Sunday, Nov. 5, at 10 a.m. The game will be held at the Granville High School football field, located at 58 Quaker Street in Granville.

In a competitive game on Saturday evening, the Warriors secured a victory over the previously undefeated #1 seed Brunswick Bulldogs, with a final score of 13-6. This win propelled them into the Super Bowl, where they will face the Vermont Vipers.

The Saratoga-Wilton Warriors are a part of the NYFL Football Association, a youth tackle football program serving children in grades third/fourth and fifth/sixth. The Warriors’ roster comprises 18 dedicated third and fourth-grade players from the local Saratoga community.

Warriors’ head coach Dustin Hoffman expressed his admiration for the team’s competitive spirit, saying, “What the Warriors lack in size, we make up for in heart and determination.”

“Our motto all year has been ‘18 Warriors Strong,’ and we look forward to an unforgettable final game this Sunday in Granville,” said Hoffman in a press release.

The coaching staff, including Assistant Coaches Matthew Cinquanti, Chris Venezia, and Shawn Lescault, have played a pivotal role in guiding the team’s progress, the release states. The Warriors extend an invitation to the community to join in supporting these young athletes as they compete for the championship title.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Prior to October, Saratoga Springs senior Lira Bonitatibus had never played 18 holes of golf competitively. But many wouldn’t have been able to guess, after watching the Blue Streaks’ golfer earn a 14th-place finish at the 2023 Section 2 Girls Golf Championships.

Bonitatibus was the Saratoga girls team’s top finisher at sectionals, capping off her first and only season of varsity golf in style. She had played from a young age in competitions and for fun, but said her experience this fall led her to discover a passion for the sport and goals of playing at the next level.

On the first day of sectionals, Bonitatibus shot a 90, and followed that up with a 95 on the final day, earning a 14th-place finish out of 61 competitors. It was an impressive finish for the senior, especially considering nearly all of her prior competitive match experience came this fall season with the Blue Streaks.

“The day before the first day (of sectionals) was the very first time I played 18 holes all at one time,” Bonitatibus said, noting she played the Edison Club the day prior as preparation. 

“I told myself to just go out there and just do the best that I could,” she said of her mindset. “I mean, everybody’s going to have a bad shot or a bad day, a bad hole, whatever it is. All I can do is bring my best, and that’s what I did.”

Lexie Bonitatibus, Lira’s mother, said her ability to stay mentally focused and balanced was one of the keys to her success all season.

“I think that mental piece was really what got her all the way through to this high level of sectionals,” said Lexie Bonitatibus.

Bonitatibus first began playing golf around age three, and had competed in PGA Jr. League scrambles and advanced to the sub-regionals four times in the Jr. League’s Drive, Chip, and Putt tournament. She has also competed in numerous other sports, including basketball and tennis, and is a black belt in tae kwon do. 

However, Lira’s first full-time foray into competitive golfing wasn’t until this fall, when she returned to the Saratoga Springs district after completing her sophomore year at Laurel Springs School, an online school. 

She had also begun playing tennis at age five, and said choosing between the two this fall was “a back and forth decision.” However, at the end of her time enrolled in Laurel Springs, Bonitatibus realized she would have enough credits to graduate early, and decided to take advantage of the opportunity.

The 16-year-old would currently be in her junior year, but instead will join the Class of 2024 at their graduation ceremony in June. She said this was a factor in her decision to pursue golf this fall.

“But I ultimately was like, ‘I’m going to be a senior, so I might as well just try it out,’” said Bonitatibus of her decision to join the golf team.

Bonitatibus said graduating early will allow her to “see more of the world,” noting she traveled often during her year enrolled in Laurel Springs School.

“I think what made me push skipping is the fact that I can see more of the world,” said Lira Bonitatibus. “(While in Laurel Springs School) I traveled a lot, and so I got to see different environments and how the people were there. It really just taught me a lot about the world.”

After deciding to try out for the golf team, Bonitatibus said that Saratoga head coach Karen Cavotta made a strong impression on her. However, entering the start of the season, Bonitatibus admitted she didn’t necessarily have high expectations for herself.

“I wasn’t expecting anything, honestly, because I didn’t play consistently,” she said. “I was just like, ‘I’m just going to go out and play.’”

In addition to her finish at sectionals, Bonitatibus recorded low nine-hole scores of 43 and 44, and also said one highlight of the fall was shooting an eagle on the first hole at McGregor Links in a practice round.

Now, Bonitatibus has hopes of golfing at the next level, saying she is hoping to join a Division II or III team in the South. Naturally, the process of applying to colleges is moving quickly for a student who will be graduating a year early.

“It’s going really fast. I’m trying to keep up in writing everything,” Bonitatibus said. “But I’m looking for colleges in the south, where it’s warmer. Like Florida, Texas, the Carolinas. I’d like to play DIII or DII golf.”

Bonitatibus credited her teammates for an enjoyable season, saying, “We’ve had some really fun moments out on the course.” She also credited Cavotta for “constantly” giving and receiving feedback, and assisting with her college search.

“She was going around the course constantly, getting feedback from us,” said Bonitatibus. “She wants to help us in our journeys after. She wants to know how she can help me post-graduation, for college and stuff, and where I want to play in the future. She’s really great.”

And thanks to her experience this fall, Bonitatibus says she has found a new passion.

“Golf, it just used to be a hobby,” Bonitatibus said. “I’d do it on weekends, play with my dad, and just be outside. But now, it’s a passion.”

SARATOGA SPRINGS — The Saratoga Regional YMCA hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Oct. 26 to celebrate the grand opening of its newly expanded space on their West Avenue campus.

The 23,000 square foot expansion includes a new gymnasium to accommodate expanded youth and childcare programs, an indoor adventure center, a 14,000-square foot wellness center, and three new studios for group exercise and evidence-based health initiative programs, according to a press release from the Saratoga YMCA.

The space also includes an intergenerational lobby connecting the YMCA to the newly constructed Saratoga Senior Center, which is now located on the Y’s campus.

The Saratoga Regional YMCA credited donors, community members, volunteers, and YMCA members for their support in the project. Over $8 million was raised to help offset the cost, with $3 million coming from Stewart’s Shops and the Dake Family, and $1 million being donated by the Robert and Lisa Moser Family Foundation, Inc., the release states.

“Today represents a milestone in our organization’s history and a significant investment in our Saratoga Springs facility to better serve the growing needs of YMCA members and the community at large,” said Saratoga Regional YMCA CEO Scott Clark in the release. “The Saratoga Regional YMCA has been an integral part of the community for over 150 years, providing a wide range of programs and services to promote youth development, healthy living and social responsibility.”

SARATOGA SPRINGS —Founded to help grow and increase opportunities for local youth basketball participation, Saratoga Battle Basketball has quickly picked up steam in the Capital Region youth basketball circuit.

Originally established in 2019, Saratoga Battle plans to offer 12 to 13 teams this season between boys and girls teams at a variety of grade levels, said president Adam Britten, who noted the program has grown “a thousand percent” since its inception. There are roughly 150 kids participating this year across all of the Saratoga Battle teams.

“We have two fourth-grade teams, we have one fifth-grade team, two sixth-grade teams, one seventh-grade team and one eighth-grade team on the boys side,” said Britten. “And then we basically double that on the girls side as well.”

The league is open to all kids who reside inside the Saratoga Springs City School District, whether they attend a district school or otherwise.

The boys teams compete in the Capital District Youth Basketball League (CDYBL), while the girls teams compete in the Capital District Girls Basketball League (CDGBL). Teams play a schedule of roughly 16 to 18 games, plus an end-of-season tournament. Games are played from the first weekend of November to the first weekend of March, Britten said.

The program has seen strong results early on, with three of its boys teams winning CDYBL championships at their respective age levels last season, said Britten.

“We’re really trying to act as a feeder program for middle school, freshman, JV, varsity basketball, no matter what school you go to in the Saratoga district,” said Britten. “I’m happy to say that my entire eighth grade team last year, they were all playing on the modified team at Saratoga. That’s the ultimate goal, is to make the high school-level teams.”

One major perk for the program are the annual games played on the hardwood at MVP Arena in Albany. In the week leading up to Christmas, the Saratoga Battle teams have an opportunity to play in the arena, with Britten saying “It’s probably the number one thing that the kids and parents look forward to.” The teams also attend a Siena College game at the arena.

“It’s just something really cool,” Britten said. “The night of the game, we do reserve a banquet hall, and get the whole program in there, and have some food. … It’s just definitely a very cool experience.”

Saratoga Battle is registered as a 501(c)(3) non-profit, and is entirely funded by donations and sponsors, with Britten saying they aim to keep fees as low as possible for families and kids who wish to play. He noted Saratoga Battle will work to sponsor families who may need financial assistance, and offer carpools to help transport kids to games and practices. Britten also credited the organization’s sponsors for their support.

“Our goal is to always be cost-effective for the families to play, and to keep fees as low as we can,” said Britten. “We want to keep families interested, and we think the number one factor in that is keeping costs to a minimum. That’s always our goal there.”

Saratoga Battle’s teams will play their home games this season at Gavin Park in Wilton. Britten noted the organization has to pay to reserve gym time, which he said is currently the program’s “biggest challenge.” 

“We’re raising money and spending it on the kids,” said Britten. “There’s no man, no adult or coach making any money on the program.”

Britten, who was born and raised in Saratoga Springs, said he “grew up in these programs,” and noted it is meaningful to offer a strong opportunity for local kids to get involved with basketball, and also to build a presence and connections in the community.

“A lot of what we do is making sure that every kid has an opportunity to play,” Britten said. “At the end of the day, there’s probably four or five hundred kids playing basketball in Saratoga. We’re happy with our presence.”