Saratoga Springs — A new social media campaign, Coaches vs. COVID, is urging Section II coaches to #LeadLocal by supporting local business and hospitals. 

“It encourages all high school, middle school and youth coaches, and community members, to continue serving as community leaders, even as the pandemic has limited practices and games. This is a way for coaches to continue leading and positively impact our communities and schools, regardless of the state allowing us to compete.” said organizer Chris Cottrell, the boys’ varsity basketball coach at South Glens Falls High School.

To raise awareness and support the campaign, just snap a pic of yourself wearing a Coaches vs. COVID shirt at a local business and post it on social media. 

All proceeds from sales will be distributed between Glens Falls Hospital, Saratoga Hospital and the Albany Medical Center COVID-19 Response Funds. 

To purchase a shirt, make a donation, or for additional information, find them on Twitter or Facebook @Coaches_vs_Covid or email cottrellc@sgfcsd.org

Saratoga Springs Varsity Boys Swim Team. Photos by Melissa Cartier.
Team Photo: Saratoga Springs High School Varsity Boys swim team seniors at their first meet of the season

The Saratoga Springs High School Varsity Boys Swim Team is still finding their sea legs after being thrown into a season unlike any other. 

The Saratoga Springs High School Varsity Boys Swim Team’s versatility is their best asset for navigating the murky waters created by the COVID pandemic. 

“We’re playing it by ear and doing a week-by-week evaluation of where we’re at,” said Coach Bill Asay.

“It’s a work-in-progress,” he continued. “In a lot of ways, I’m experimenting, and if it’s not working, I adjust.”

NEW POOL, NIGHT OWL PRACTICES & ADJUSTING TO CHANGE
Adjusting to a season with a start date that was delayed until December 14, (a month and a half later than usual), the team is also swimming in a new location this year – at the Saratoga Regional YMCA on West Avenue.

“Everybody is trying to make-up for time lost. No one’s been in the water as much this year, so we’re trying to get as much time in now as we can, get everyone in shape, and go from there,” said Asay.

Fitting in practice time at the gym means training after hours. The team has only 18 swimmers (instead of their usual 22-24 because they cannot have divers compete) and is practicing for two hours, four days a week, from 8 to 10 p.m. 

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“It’s not easy, that’s for sure, but it’s a pool, the Y has been very generous, and it’s working out pretty well. I’m thankful for the season as a whole,” he said. 

Coach Asay is adjusting practices by balancing high intensity swims with long recovery laps. He’s also using their meets as additional training time for the exhibition swimmers. 

FORCES TO BE RECKONED WITH
In the quest to find their way, the Blue Streaks aren’t afraid to mix things up.

Competing in meets virtually, for now (a decision which may be reevaluated by the Suburban Council in time for next month’s championships) means that they have no way of knowing what they’ll be needing to swim to beat their opponents’ scores. 

Instead of letting it get them down, Asay is using his 20 years of coaching experience with the team to lead them on a different path – he’s changing things up and using their versatility to their advantage – a strategy that could give them an edge over the competition.

Seniors Jason Zheng and Luke Beringer are strong competitors in any event the coach decides to have them swim on meet day. 

Meanwhile, sophomores Conner and Calvin Baird are a dynamic duo – twin brothers whose different styles complement one another.

While Calvin likes the distance swims, Conner is more of a sprinter. Together, they are creating a real underclassman force to be reckoned with on the Blue Streaks’ team.

So far, they’re 1 in 1 – Saratoga won their first meet against Schenectady High School but lost to Bethlehem. This week they compete against Shaker and next week will be swimming against both Burnt Hills and Niskayuna.

“I have a really dedicated group of boys who are working hard and enjoying the sport. I’m sure they miss some things this year, but I think their spirits are up pretty good,” said Asay.

SARATOGA SPRINGS —You can join the Y for just $1. Now through January 31, the Saratoga Regional YMCA is waiving the join fee and only charging a $1 membership fee for the entire month of January. 

All Saratoga Regional YMCA memberships now include virtual fitness options including live stream classes, and a variety of On-Demand workouts taught by Y instructors.

The Virtual Y features a variety of workouts including Pilates, Total Strength, Cycling, Yoga, and workouts specifically for active older adults. 

Some restrictions apply. Regular membership fees begin in February 2021. For more information, call 518-583-9622 or visit srymca.org.

SARATOGA SPRINGS —You can join the Y for just $1. Now through January 31, the Saratoga Regional YMCA is waiving the join fee and only charging a $1 membership fee for the entire month of January. 

All Saratoga Regional YMCA memberships now include virtual fitness options including live stream classes, and a variety of On-Demand workouts taught by Y instructors.

The Virtual Y features a variety of workouts including Pilates, Total Strength, Cycling, Yoga, and workouts specifically for active older adults. 

Some restrictions apply. Regular membership fees begin in February 2021. For more information, call 518-583-9622 or visit srymca.org.

Organizers of the 43rd Freihofer’s Run for Women, which is set for Saturday, June 5, have launched a new 10-week fitness program designed to keep Capital Region families moving over the winter, while also providing much needed financial support to Freihofer’s Run for Women’s non-profit partners.

“Through the Ready, Set, Snow Challenge we hope Capital Region families will engage in favorite and new activities whether it’s running, walking, skiing, shoveling the sidewalk, or taking in-person or Zoom fitness classes. The challenge runs through March 15, allowing women to segue seamlessly into the 11th Freihofer’s Run for Women Training Challenge,” said Freihofer’s Run for Women Event Director Kristen Hislop.

“Many non-profits have had their fundraising efforts severely curtailed as a result of the COVID pandemic. The Ready, Set, Snow Challenge is partnering with three charities that promote women, women’s health and an active lifestyle — Girls on the Run Capital Region, Strong Through Every Mile, and Black Girls Run Albany. We plan to split 100 percent of our profits equally among these charities,” added Hislop. 

“Donations will also go to each respective non-profit and participants can opt to make additional donations to these organizations and/or create a personal fundraising page.”

Registration is $25 and is open through Jan. 15. All participants will receive a Ready, Set, Snow hat and gaiter along with a $15 Athleta shop card, one free class and body scan at Orangetheory Fitness Capital Region, $5 off the ZOOMA run club, a Mary Kay gift certificate for $25 off a purchase of $50 or more, and a BOGO 50% off code at Active Pacific.

To register, go to www.zippyreg.com/register/ready-set-snow.  For additional information, please email runninginfo@freihofersrun.com.

Cover Photo: Saratoga Springs Gymnastics Team Seniors Ava Dallas, Megan Wishart, & Sophia Damiano.
Photos provided.

The Saratoga Springs gymnastics team got off to a record-breaking start this weekend, led by senior Sophia Damiano’s historic vault performance at the World Class Gymnastics Academy in Latham.

Damiano scored a 9.65 out of 10 total possible points. It was an astonishing feat for the first Suburban Council meet of the season, which was also a charity event for Hatsgiving, which provides hats to pediatric cancer patients. 

This isn’t the first record the Blue Streaks gymnastics team has broken since being led by Coach Deborah Smarro. 

Last year, Damiano and teammate, Ava Dallas, burst past the previous records when they both earned a vault score of 9.475 – which was the third time Dallas had delivered a performance for the record books during her high school gymnastics career. 

EXHILARATION, BEAUTY & GRACE
Each of the seniors on the Saratoga Springs team has grown and progressed through the years, upping their game, on and off the mat, with unparalleled beauty and grace. 

“From my perspective, it’s exhilarating and I think they are just as excited to break a record every single time it happens,” said Coach Smarro.

Smarro was a gymnast in college and has been the Saratoga Springs coach for 15 years, during which time she’s helped countless athletes develop and perfect their skills. Last year, Saratoga received their 19th consecutive Section II championship title. (Because of the pandemic, all winter sports sectional and state competitions have been cancelled this year. Saratoga will be competing only in Suburban Council meets with Bethlehem, Guilderland, and Shaker High Schools, within the stringent safety protocols that have been put in place.)

ALL FOR ONE AND ONE FOR ALL
This year’s seniors have grown in their leadership roles as well as in their athletic prowess, thriving through the knowledge they’ve gleaned by helping others. 

“It’s always team first and individual accolades second. While they achieve individual accomplishments, it’s the team accomplishments that they pride themselves in most. The girls are part of a team with a set of core values and it’s those core values that they adhere to,” said Smarro.

 This year, the team has chosen to focus on three goals – to achieve team totals, their individual progression, and to support one another to stay safe and healthy throughout their six-week season.

EMPOWERED TO EXCEL
These gymnasts are able to achieve this high level of success because they are organized, dedicated and task-oriented. 

“It travels over into their regular, daily lives. They are all very good students and are volunteers out in the community,” said Smarro. 

All three seniors on this year’s team have 90 and above grade point averages academically. 

In addition to her record-breaking achievements, Ava Dallas has also shared her enthusiasm for the sport as a coach at the Wilton YMCA. Sophia Damiano was last year’s Section II all-around champion and holds the balance beam record of 9.425. Senior Megan Wishart has earned a spot on the state team twice, is a team captain, works an afterschool job at Home Goods and has an internship at the Town Court. 

Smarro, who has been struggling the last three years with the illness and then death of her father, has experienced first-hand how being a part of this team can build an invaluable sense of resilience within all those who are part of it. 

“It empowers them when things are not going so well. It gives them the strength of mind that they can do anything when they put their mind to it and they know they have coaches, siblings, teammates, and family members to support them,” she said. 

On Friday, Jan. 8, the Saratoga Springs team will be competing against Shaker. They will also be honoring their seniors with a presentation, gifts, words of wisdom, and treats prepared by the younger members of their team. Because no spectators are allowed, parents and others will be able to view the ceremony via live-stream. 

QUEENSBURY — West Mountain opened this weekend for its 2020-21 season of skiing and riding.

The snow tubing park, with 10 lanes of fun for all ages, will open on December 26.

West Mountain has added several new, safe programs season, including a new Mogul Freestyle Development Program, a 6-week program on Tuesdays and Thursdays, with a coaching staff that includes 7x World Cup Mogul Freestyle Champion, John Witt; and an Alpine Racing Academy for advanced athletes. 

They’ve also added outdoor eating and seating areas, warming tents, grab-n-go food and beverage windows, outdoor restrooms and controlled capacity at the Main Base Lodge and Northwest Base Lodge areas.

New Monday and Tuesday (non-holiday) 4-hour ticket and meal specials are being offered.  Their 2020-2021 After School Programs begin in early January and run for six weeks (not including holiday break weeks); all participating schools come one day a week on their designated day of the week. 

For more information for all that West Mountain has to offer this winter, visit www.WestMountain.com

Season Four of the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame’s popular live webcam series Foal Patrol will debut online on Tuesday, December 29.

Foal Patrol is a one-of-a-kind collection of live cameras following the daily activities of in-foal mares. Millions of people throughout the world have viewed the popular webcam program since its initial launch in late 2017.

This year’s participants include: 

Janae, a mare from Safari North at Pauls Mill Farm, Versailles, KY, has an expected due date of April 12, 2021. In foal to Malibu Moon, 5-year-old Janae won two of seven career races and was in the money two other occasions.

Miss Always Ready, a mare from Three Chimneys Farm in Versailles, KY, is expected to deliver her foal in late March/early April 2021.

In foal to Palace Malice, 8-year-old Miss Always Ready won once from five starts, earning her racing career’s lone victory in October 2014 at Belmont Park.

Miss Chapin, a mare from Mill Ridge Farm in Lexington, KY, has an expected due date of February 18, 2021.

In foal to Oscar Performance, 19-year-old Miss Chapin won her lone career start at Del Mar in 2004. 

To the Moon Alice, a mare from Old Tavern Farm in Saratoga Springs, is expecting her fourth foal on April 20, 2021.

In foal to Uncle Mo, 7-year-old dark To the Moon Alice made only two starts in her brief racing career in 2016. She finished third in her career debut at Gulfstream Park and was sixth in her only other race, which took place at Belmont.

Tapit, this year’s featured stallion from Gainesway Farm in Lexington, KY, is one of the most influential and breed-shaping stallions of the past half-century. Tapit has sired 27 Grade One winners, 31 yearlings to bring $1 million or more at auction, and earnings of more than $162 million on the racetrack. 

To date, Tapit has sired 23 percent black-type horses, 138 overall stakes winners (86 graded), eight Eclipse Award winners, and six Breeders’ Cup winners. His 2020 standouts include undefeated Breeders’ Cup Juvenile winner, Essential Quality. Tapit has been North America’s leading sire three times. 

Tune to all the Season 4 action at www.foalpatrol.com 

The absence of a live audience is weighing heavily on college players this year, including local basketball superstar Catherine “Dolly” Cairns.

While aggressive and noisy jeering can sometimes be unsettling, it can also be what motivates a team toward victory. Boisterous cheering from the crowd can boost players’ performances and turn the sport into a joyful experience for everyone. 

“In high school, I knew most of my fans and everyone in the stands. This year it feels so different because there are no fans,” she said.

To help maintain COVID-19 safety precautions, spectators are not allowed at games this season.

HOME-GROWN SUPPORT KEEPS ME GOING
Before she graduated from Saratoga Springs High School, Cairns became the Blue Streaks all-time leading scorer. 

Cairns began playing varsity basketball in the middle of her 7th grade year and earned a record-breaking 2000+ points in her career. After being highly sought-after by recruiters, she is now playing NCAA Women’s Division 1 basketball for the University of Rhode Island and the Atlantic 10 Conference.

Hearing from her high school coaches and others in the high-school program makes her day.

“It’s really nice because it makes me happy,” she said. 

Her biggest fans during her freshman year at college are her parents.

“My parents keep me going. We’re best friends and talk every single day. That home-grown support means the world.”

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TAKING IT DAY-BY-DAY
During this unpredictable time, when two games have already been cancelled and the rest can only be penciled-in, building trust has become essential.

“It’s the mental part that’s the hardest for me. Not knowing if someone in Tier 1 will test positive, I just have to take everything day-by-day and not be able to look forward to anything,” said Cairns.

The Rhody Rams record is showing this uncertainty – they are currently 0-4. With teamwork however, Cairns thinks things could still turn around. 

“The biggest thing is having support around me. I work with great trainers every day, supportive coaches and teammates who have each other’s backs,” she said. 

In a recent game against the University of Maine, Cairns put in a strong start and a solid 40-minutes of play.

“My goal is to win. It hasn’t been going well yet here, but I still have hope.”

GETTING THE KINKS OUT
Cairns is hopeful that the URI team will be able to iron out the kinks.

“We have some things to figure out but I have a lot of trust in my coaches that they can make this change happen for us. My goal (and the rest of the team’s goal) is that we want to win and to play the best that we can,” she said. 

If anyone has proven that when things seem impossible, it doesn’t mean they are, it’s Cairns. 

“It can only get better. We’re in the middle of the hardest part right now. Slowly, it’s going to get better and there’s not going to be as much adversity.”

Mini Active Kids Club (2-3 years) Experience a variety of games and activities in a small group setting. One parent only can accompany their child. Saturdays, 11:15-11:45 a.m. Members $40/Non-Members $60.

Tiny Tutus (3-5 years) Build on the basics of ballet through imaginative and creative movements, positions and combinations. Saturdays, 10:10-10:55 a.m.; or 11:05-11:50 a.m. Member $60/Program Member $100.

Twinkle Toes (4-6 years) Improve on the fundamentals of ballet while establishing tap basics to develop balance, coordination, and rhythm. Saturdays, 12:05-1:05 pm. Member $60/Program Member $100.

Soccer (3-4 years) Intro to soccer games and drills. Parental involvement is encouraged. Thursdays, 4-4:30 p.m. Members $40/Non-Members $50.

Soccer (5-7 years old) Play on a co-ed team. Thursdays, 4:35-5:15 p.m. Members $50/Non-Members $50.

T-Ball (4-6 years) Learn the basic skills and game play. Saturdays, 12-12:30 p.m. Members $40/Non-Members $70.

Little Rookies (3-5 years) Learn and play a variety of different sports each week. Parents participation is encouraged. Saturdays, 11:15-11:45 a.m. Members $40/Non-Members $70.

Basketball (4-5 years) Introduction for boys and girls. Mondays, 4-4:30 p.m. Members $40/Non-Members $60.

Basketball (6-7 years) Learn the fundamentals.  Mondays, 4:40-5:20 p.m; Saturdays 12:45-1:25 pm. Members $40/ Non-Members $80.

Basketball (8-10 years) Develop fundamental skills. Tuesdays 4:15-5 p.m.; Saturdays 1:35-2:20 p.m. Members $55/Non-Member $90.

Beyond the Basics: Next level skills. 10-13 years, Saturdays, 3-4 p.m.; 14-17 years, Saturdays, 4-5 p.m. Members $70/Non-Member $100.

Custom Basketball Training. One-on-one or training in groups is available. 

Youth Intermediate Volleyball (10-14 years) Co-ed. Wednesdays 4:15-5 p.m. Members $60/ Non-Members $90.

Leadership Club: Teens (8th through 12th grade) plan and organize projects with an emphasis on community service. 1st and 3rd Monday of the Month. 6-7 p.m. Free with Family or Youth Membership.

All winter programs run Jan. 4 to Feb. 21. For more information, go to srymca.org.