Saratoga Springs High School (SSHS) varsity soccer bested Guilderland High School 4 to 3, on Saturday. Highlights from SSHS team included sophomore Evan Hallett netting his 1st varsity goal off a long-range pass from Garrett Farr; Zach Colangelo scoring a shot from the top of the box assisted by Lucas Varghese, a goal-scoring penalty kick converted by Jack Donnelly, and the game-winning goal by Garrett Hedge off an assist by Evan Hallett.

Two Guilderland goals were made by Shaun Francis, assisted once by Bugra Karaca. A goal was also scored by Guilderland’s Illia Tyrkus.

On Tuesday, the SSHS soccer team won again, this time against Albany High School, 1 to 0, with a long range shot from Evan Hallett assisted by Jack Donnelly.

Photos by SuperSource Media.

For more than one reason, this is an accelerated year for the Saratoga Springs High School varsity golf team.

In a typical two-and-a-half-month season, the team would complete numerous practice rounds while also competing in a dozen matches. In 2020, that game schedule has been condensed into just a month, creating a lot less opportunity to fit in practice time. 

This year’s team however, has proven they can keep up with the pace.

“The season’s been great. We knew coming in, it was going to be a weird season. Our guys are up for it, though. They’re happy to be out here at all,” said boys varsity coach Jake Zanetti.

PROMISING YOUNG TALENT
During this unprecedented year, preparation has been key.

“The high-level of competition, professionalism, and sportsmanship that the team has built up to by former Head Coach Steve Emler. He (and the golfers’ year-round instructors) is responsible for getting this team to the caliber it is at, and I couldn’t be more appreciative of his guidance and support,” said Zanetti.

It has also set the stage for a promising young talent to emerge.

Saratoga Springs 8th grader, Carter Sica (whose age would typically place him on the Junior Varsity team) has been playing on the varsity team and has a respectable 5th place standing.

“Even though he’s young and new to the varsity golf experience, he’s had golf training and experience playing, so he was ready for competition early on. He’s just coming out, doing his thing. He’s comfortable and not over thinking it because it has a varsity tag,” said Zanetti.

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PLAYING A MIND GAME
Young Sica’s success out on the green stems from what’s going on inside his head.

Before he was keeping pace with the accelerated season, he had to prove he could handle the pressure of being the youngest member on the varsity team.

“I’ve been playing for a while, so I was just playing and just trying to score what I usually do. That was enough to make the team,” said Sica.

Getting used to longer bus rides to the courses, getting to know his new teammates, and his competition, are all things that Sica’s been able to take in stride.

“I just don’t really worry about what other people are doing. They’ll make their mistakes and I’ll make my mistakes,” he said. 

EVERYONE’S GAME
With so many reasons to feel the pressure, it’s also important to remember that high school is a time for building comradery and that school sports like golf are about more than competition, they are a chance to have some fun.

“I like that it is slow and I like playing with everyone, not by myself,” said 9th grader Emily Landau, the youngest player on the Saratoga Springs girls’ varsity team.

The Saratoga Golf & Polo Club golfers defeated the Saratoga National Golf Club team this past weekend in the 11th Annual “Ryder Cup” rivalry. The 72-hole, two day event is held each fall at both golf clubs. Saratoga Golf & Polo Club leads the series 6-5. 

Designed by Roger Rulewich, one of the most renowned golf architects in the world, the Saratoga National Golf Course was rated one of America’s Best Golf Courses by Golf Digest.

Founded in 1896, the Saratoga Golf and Polo Club is a private, nine-hole golf course with a charming 1914 Victorian-era club house. 

While some school sports teams are experiencing their first weeks of fall play, others are noticeably absent. Football, volleyball and cheerleading have been deemed “high-risk” and have been relegated to a new Fall II Season, planned to run from March 1 until April 30, 2021.

“It’s really disappointing. We’re frustrated. We feel certain sports are being discriminated against. When professional teams and other states says its OK, but as a public school, we’re not permitted to – it’s hard to explain that to the kids,” said Terry Jones, Saratoga Springs High School Coach since 1999, and Head Football Coach since 2007.

MOVING THE GOALPOSTS

The proposed move is resulting in a lot of details that still need to be sorted out. 

“There are a number of concerns and everyone is tasked to be as creative and as flexible as possible right now to come up with solutions but there certainly is unpredictability,” said Saratoga Springs Athletic Director Nicholas McPartland.

The combination of concerns spans everything from safety protocols to scheduling conflicts. 

Wearing masks and social distancing has worked great for other fall sports, but football is fundamentally hands-on, so limiting contact between players poses a problem. For volleyball, being played indoors and the shared use of a ball are hurdles. Partial solutions, like wearing gloves without directly impacting the integrity of the game, just haven’t been researched enough to be feasible options yet, said McPartland.

DISJOINTED GAME PLAN

As it now stands, the Fall II Season will overlap the start of spring sports, which are scheduled to begin April 19, 2021. 

“Ideally, I would love to see the state move spring sports later to allow football to play a regular 10-week season with a two week pre-season,” said Jones. 

The possibility of cutting out competitive games and tournaments is another concern.

“How many kids want to practice a sport only and not compete? It’s like what we saw when the spring sports were cancelled this year. These athletes worked years and years playing and perfecting that sport and then to have that taken away from them, I think in some cases, it’s devastating for a lot of them. High school sports are such a vital part of student athletes’ lives – you feel for them,” he said.

KEEPING AN EYE ON THE BALL

What Mother Nature decides to do will also have a considerable impact. 

In some regions of the state, there may still be a foot of snow on the ground in early March, where in others, athletes can be out on the field running actual practices.

“It’s a great concern. Football usually starts in the warm weather and plays into the cold weather so athletes are conditioned by the time it gets cold. Starting out playing in the snow and cold weather, we’ll have to wait and see, but there is a potential for injuries,” said Jones.

For now, some SSHS athletes are waiting while others are staying active by joining other fall sports. 

“Sports is the hook that brings some students to school every single day. School is not as attractive for them when we don’t have sports. There are so many rewards connected to athletics, it’s worth trying to come up with a plan,” said McPartland.

“Life’s better with your knees in the breeze.”

The colorful leaves scurry behind your tires when you take a ride through the North Country in fall. 

“That’s the great thing about where we live; we’re surrounded by great places to ride,” said Roger Goldsmith, owner of Saratoga Motorcycle Center.

It’s a beautiful ride to Sacandaga Lake, said Goldsmith. Another nice trip is around Saratoga Lake, going through Stillwater, Schuylerville, and into Washington County. 

“It doesn’t matter if you’re going for an hour or for the whole day, it’s all right here for you. My friend commented once after he just moved up here, ‘I can’t believe it, I just pull out of my garage and it’s beautiful countryside everywhere I go’,” he said.

CRAFTING A BUSINESS

Roger Goldsmith is a motorcycle enthusiast who grew up riding. Although his favorites are the Japanese bikes from the 1980’s, he’s experienced Harley Davidsons, Ducati’s and more. 

“I tend to keep more than I should. I love them all,” he said. 

Goldsmith was the original owner of the Crafter’s Gallery on Broadway. After 24 years, he sold it in 2017 to pursue his hobby. Now, he’s turned that hobby into a business, the Saratoga Motorcycle Center.

It hasn’t come without a few bumps in the road, however.

After receiving a building permit on January 10th this year, the anticipated April shop opening was pushed back when the town shutdown construction for six weeks to prevent possible COVID transmission. The 8000 sq. ft. building was finally completed this fall. It includes a 3,000 sq. ft. retail shop and service center as well as a 2,000 sq. ft. RB1-zoned retail space still available for lease.

GETTING TRACTION

Already getting good traction and seeing a steady flow of customers, Saratoga Motorcycle Center is a retail shop selling motorcycle and ATV parts and accessories. They also provide installation and other services. 

Now is a good time to get a general check of fluids, brakes and to pick up stabilizer before storing your bike for the season, advised Goldsmith. If you have a project in mind, like adding extended handlebars or installing saddlebags, the fall is a much better time to do it than in the spring when you’re raring to get out on the road. 

On September 23rd, the official ribbon cutting for Saratoga Motorcycle Center was held with the Saratoga Chamber of Commerce and others in attendance. Certificates of Recognition from Senator Daphne Jordan and Assemblywoman Carrie Woerner were handed out.

GRAND OPENING CELEBRATION

On Saturday, October 3, from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. stop into the Saratoga Motorcycle Center, 4284 NY Route 50, Saratoga Springs for their Grand Opening Celebration.

Enter to win giveaways from Parts Unlimited, Drag Specialties, Western Powersports, Hard Drive, and Power Racing. Sweet Caroline’s Pies will be offering pie and pastry samples and sales. 

From 12 to 3 p.m., grilled hot dogs, snacks and desserts will be served. Live music will be performed by Jeff Brisbin.

This event is FREE and COVID compliant. Please wear masks and maintain social distancing. 

For more information, find Saratoga Motorcycle Center on Facebook or call 518-886-8319.

GALWAY — A local memorial 5K has been asking for a different kind of donation this year in honor of a Galway High School student who took his life in 2003.

The sixth annual Andrew C. Izzo memorial 5K has the mission to not only preserve the memory of Andrew C. Izzo, but to raise awareness for suicide and mental health issues in high school age kids and young adults. 

“We want to help spread the message of suicide awareness. It’s okay to talk about it, and it’s very important to deal with mental health issues and not put them aside or sweep them under the rug,” said John Izzo, Andrew’s father. 

The 5K-memorial run has not only gone virtual this year, but is asking for an unusual fee: an act of kindness.

“Everyone is struggling out there and not everyone has the extra money to go donating to different places and a lot of people are in need,” Izzo said. “The cost for the 5k this year is there is no actual monetary cost. The cost is to go out and do good for somebody. Perform an act of kindness for someone and let us know about it. And that’s the cost.”

Participants are encouraged to share their 5K “fee” via email or online and responses will be shared at the end of the event. While the 5K began on Sept. 18, interested community members can participate until Oct. 1, which is the last day. 

Izzo is paying his 5K fee by walking or hiking each day the two week event is happening. 

“Granted its not running, but I’m walking in different places in the capital district or doing hikes in the Adirondacks. Each one I do at least 3.1 miles, which is a 5K,” Izzo said.

Tuesday marked the fifth day Izzo has supported the event. As his act of kindness and to help raise awareness, he ventured out to Saratoga where he met up some friends in the military. As a former military member, Izzo spoke with them about the importance of mental health awareness and completed a 5K.

Izzo has shared videos each day on the event’s Facebook page as well. In them he shares encouraging words along with ideas for your own act of kindness. 

Last year the event attracted over 300 participants, and while they hoped for a bigger year, the family and committee knew moving the 5K online along with changing their fee was the best decision. 

Memorial committee members created the event one year after Andrew Izzo committed suicide at the age of 17. Izzo said his son was well known in the community as an outstanding athlete.

“He was very well known in the community, primarily sports and athletics in school. As a result, that’s where the 5K came from. A lot of the people involved with sports programs got together and wanted to do something,” Izzo said. 

Izzo wanted to highlight the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. He said their resources, programs and support helped him and his family cope with Andrew’s passing and recommends AFSP for anyone in the community.

To find out more about the 5K event visit www.fund4andrew.org or their facebook page at  www.facebook.com/andrewizzomemorialfund. AFSP can be visited at afsp.org.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Since their first and final week of practice this past spring, high school varsity tennis players stepped back onto the court after waiting six long months since the Tennis Program at Saratoga Springs was forced to close down.

Tim O’Brien, coach of the program, said their first practice this past Monday went well and players were eager to abide by safety precautions put in place in order for them to play. 

“[The practice] went well. It was nice to see the kids on the court,” O’Brien said. “It’s obviously a little different than what we are used to with the face coverings and [safety precautions], but we know that this is a great opportunity and the kids know that it’s something that we have to do and something that will allow us to get on the court and get a season in.”

He added: “We have a lot of safety measures put in place to make sure that distancing is maintained and that practices are successful. We had separated practice [Monday] and we are going to continue to do that.”

The 2020 team consists of both junior varsity, ranging students in eighth grade up through tenth grade and the varsity program, which carries tenth to twelfth. 

“Some schools have only been approved for varsity tennis so we were fortunate to maintain our JV program through all this,” O’Brien said. 

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The program is no cut, meaning any student who wishes to play in the program, can. O’Brien said about fifty kids signed up, and separating the practices allows the players to remain socially distanced. 

The team will play their first match is Saturday, Oct. 3 and will play Monday, Fridays and Saturdays through Oct. 31. The varsity will play a 13-match season while the junior varsity will play seven. O’Brien expressed gratitude that not only could students play tennis, but the seniors would get this last chance to play a sport they enjoy at a high school level.

“The seniors are excited,” O’Brien said. “[At practice] we talked about the fact that the kids in the spring had one week of play before everything got shut down. They really can’t take one practice for granted…just take everything as it goes and be appreciative that we have a chance to do this.”

As the season progresses, O’Brien is positive the precautions put in place will keep the team safe, and he looks forward to the Oct. matches. 

He added: “Both my other coaches are real excited to be out as well. It’s really a great part of our day to be able to work with the kids and we are looking forward to a nice season ahead.”

SARATOGA SPRINGS — The 2020 Cantina Kids Fun Run, which supports children’s healthcare at Saratoga Hospital, is going virtual. The annual event will be held Friday, Oct. 2 through Sunday, Oct. 4. Registration is $10 for this year only.

Now in its 13th year, the Fun Run was the brainchild of Cantina restaurant owners Jeff and Heath Ames, who wanted to express their gratitude for the lifesaving care their daughter has received at Saratoga Hospital. The couple teamed up with Saratoga Hospital Foundation to bring families and organizations together for a healthy outdoor activity and a worthy cause.

“The event is so popular, we knew we had to find a way to hold it this year,” said Mary Solomons, executive director of Saratoga Hospital Foundation. “Going virtual will help keep our community safe without disappointing young runners and their families.

“Despite the change, sponsor support has remained strong,” she added. Returning as presenting sponsor is New Country Motor Car Group, which will host the Fun Run’s packet pickup.

Since its inception, the Fun Run has raised more than $560,000 and made a difference for every pediatric patient treated at a Saratoga Hospital facility. Last year, the run raised over $70,000 and attracted more than 1,000 race participants.

For more information or to register, visit www.cantinakidsfunrun.org or call 518-583-8789

• Form a New Skate of Mind with Intro to Ice Skating:
Learn ice skating basics or improve your skills. Ages 3-Adult welcome. Fees for the Early Fall session through Sept. 29 are city $60, non-city $80. Early Fall fees after Sept. 29 are city $85, non-city $105. Fees for the Fall session through Oct. 31 are city $60, non-city $80. Early Fall fees after Oct. 31 are city $85, non-city $105

• Go for the Goal – Kickers Program & Soccer League:
Program runs Sept. 26 – Oct. 31. Ages 3-Grade 12 welcome. Kickers programs introduce basic soccer skills through games and activities and guides you into team play. League is separated into grade appropriate divisions to expose players to skills based upon level of play. Kickers registration fees through Aug. 31 are city $40, non-city $60. Kickers registration fees after Aug. 31 are city $65, non-city $85. League registration fees through Aug. 31 are city $55, non-city $75. League registration fees after Aug. 31 are city $80, non-city $75.

• It’s Batter Up with Fall Baseball:
Program runs Sept. 16-Oct. 21. Ages 3-5 and Grades K-3 welcome. Participants in parent/child Tiny T-Ball program for ages 3-5 learn basic hitting, throwing, and base running. Participants in Jr. Slugger Grades K-3 program are introduced to the skills necessary to move into team play. Registration fees through Sept. 9 are city $50, non-city $60. Registration fees after Sept. 9 are city $75, non-city $85.

• Drive Up Your Skills with the Field Hockey League:
Program runs Sept. 15-Oct. 24. Ages 8-14 welcome. Skill development for team play is taught through practice and scrimmages. Registration fees through Sept. 4 are city $50, non-city $60. Registration fees after Sept. 4 are city $75, non-city $85.

• Serve Up Your Best with the Volleyball Program:
Program runs Sept. 30-Nov. 4. Ages 8-14 welcome. Develop your skills and learn the rules and strategy to be a successful volleyball player. Registration fees through Sept. 16 are: city $50, non-city $60. Registration fees after Sept. 16 are: city $75, non-city $85.

• Ace the Court in the Pickleball League:
Program runs Sept. 28-Nov. 19. Ages 18+ welcome. Pickleball League follows a ladder style system. Players will play a double round-robin with others of similar skill level in a recreational setting. Registration fees through Sept. 14 are city $35, non-city $45. Registration fees after Sept. 14 are city $60, non-city $70.

Visit SaratogaRec.com for more information and to register. Contact 518-587-3550, ext. 2300 or recreservations@saratoga-springs.org with questions.

SARATOGA SPRINGS —Over $35,000 NET was raised at Saratoga Bridges’ 17th Annual J. Michael Fitzgibbons Memorial Golf Classic. Held on Monday, Aug. 31, it was a perfect day for the record number of 136 golfers who played at the beautifully designed Edison Club in Rexford. 

A portion of the proceeds raised benefit the J. Michael Fitzgibbons Memorial Scholarship Fund. Annually, one of their staff members is awarded an educational scholarship in Michael’s memory. The scholarship was established to honor their long-time Board Member who passed away unexpectedly in 2005. This year, Assistant Director of Information Systems Edward Hughes Cormie was the recipient. Edward extended his utmost thanks for the financial assistance he is applying towards tuition at SUNY Empire for a Bachelors in Computer Science. 

Prizes were awarded to: 

1st Place: Mandy D’Andrea, Rick Matteson, Brandon Risler, Ann Fostock
2nd Place: Jim Snyder, Jim Cox, Matthew Harrison, Bill Moore
3rd Place: Chris Spratt, Rob Spratt, Stanley Drosky, Randy DeVaney
4th Place: Chad Kiesow, Geof Kelley, John Connally, Ryan Faville
Last Place: Jane Foley, Tricia Morris, Tiffany Foley, Kathleen Kimball

Men’s Closest to The Pin on Hole #5 – Kyle Boland 1’6”
Women’s Closest to The Pin on Hole #23 – Nancy Hyman 8’
Men’s Straightest Drive on Hole #26 – Mark Holiday
Women’s Straightest Drive on Hole #26 – Megan Riley