SARATOGA SPRINGS — The Saratoga Springs varsity hockey team continued to roll on Friday, winning its fifth straight game with a 5-1 victory over Albany Academy at home.
The Blue Streaks scored in the opening minute and never looked back en route to the win, powered by a hat trick from senior forward Charlie Oke. Oke scored the game’s first goal just 38 seconds in, assisted by Payton Borak and Jake Badar, to give Saratoga a 1-0 lead.
Just over five minutes later, Oke finished another chance, also assisted by Badar and Borak, to make it 2-0. In the second period, Andrew Nelsen beat Cadet goaltender Jackson Bissell to extend the lead to 3-0. Oke quickly followed that up with his third goal, extending the Blue Streaks’ lead to 4-0.
With 4:51 left in the second period, Max Flik broke in and scored to get the Cadets on the board, cutting Saratoga’s lead to 4-1 after two. The Blue Streaks responded, however, with a third-period goal by Patrick Temple pushing the lead back to four. Saratoga held strong in the final minutes to seal a 5-1 victory.
Oke scored three goals in the win, recording his first high school hat trick. Borak had three assists, while Badar and Daniel Klochaney each had two assists. Temple and Nelsen scored goals, while Frank Klaus added an assist. Matt Barber made 10 saves on 11 shots in goal, earning the win for the Blue Streaks.
SCHENECTADY — Five local runners took home Suburban Council Indoor Track Championships in their respective events at the Suburban Council Championship Meet at Union College on Saturday.
Saratoga’s Emily Bush won the Suburban Council Girls’ Championship in the 1500-meter run, while McKinley Wheeler won the league title 3000-meter run. Genevieve Duchaussee took home the crown in the shot put, and Amelia McBain earned the league title in the pole vault.
Ballston Spa’s Isaiah Hannah won the Suburban Council Boys’ Championship in the 45-meter dash and the 50-meter hurdles.
As a team, the Saratoga girls’ squad placed second, with the boys’ team in 14th. The Ballston Spa girls’ team placed ninth, while the boys’ team finished 5th.
See below for top 10 finishers from local schools:
Saratoga girls (2nd place, 86 points)
Emily Bush won the 1500-meter run (4:49.59), and also placed second in the 3000-meter run (10:32.39). McKinley Wheeler won the 3000-meter (10:16.39). Genevieve Duchaussee won the shot put (32’ 5”), placed second in the 300-meter dash (43.59), and sixth in the 45-meter hurdles (7.98).
Anya Belisle placed second in both the 1000-meter run (3:08.34) and the 1500-meter run (4:51.32). Amelia McBain won the pole vault (11’ 6”), with Claire Braxton in third. McBain also placed eighth in the 45-meter hurdles (8.27) and 10th in the 45-meter dash (6.74).
Leah Harden took third in the high jump (4’ 8”) and was also a member of the 4 x 200 relay team that placed fifth (Lily Collins, Annabelle Schuck, Harden, and Tess Shields recorded a time of 2:04.74). Collins also placed seventh in the 300-meter dash (47.49), while Schuck took eighth in the 45-meter dash (6.71).
Saratoga boys (14th place, 4 points)
Michael Briscoe placed fourth in the pole vault (9’ 0”). In the 1600-meter run, Othmane Kerroum (4:59.21) took seventh, while Walker Chapman (5:00.42) placed eighth.
The team of Ian Hancock, Gianangelo Lanza, Alex Lansford, and Gurkaran Singh finished seventh in the 4 x 400 relay (4:13.23). The team of Briscoe, Matt Salway, Parker Wilcox, and Orion Lansing placed 10th in the 4 x 200 relay (1:52.45). Billy Thobae finished 10th in the shot put (38’ 5”).
Ballston Spa girls (9th place, 10 points)
Petrina Zborovsky placed fourth in the 45-meter dash (6.53), while Gabrielle Bozeth finished fourth in the 300-meter dash (45.62) and seventh in the 45-meter (6.57). Zborovsky and Bozeth, along with Anna Zito and Candace Warlikowski, placed seventh in the 4 x 200 relay (2:05.24).
Madalyn Wilson took sixth in the 3000-meter run (11:38.39). Wilson was also part of the 4 x 800 relay team, along with Kate Taylor, Lee McKinley, and Ashley Beck, placing sixth (11:31.76). Beck also placed ninth in the long jump (13’ 7.5”), while Olivia Winters took ninth in the weight throw (21’ 1.5”).
Ballston Spa boys (5th place, 44 points)
Isaiah Hannah won the 45-meter dash (5.77) and the 50-meter hurdles (7.41). Hannah was also a member of the 4 x 200 relay team, along with Zachary Simmons, Kala’l Makanani, and Michael Stamper, taking third place (1:45.96).
Makanani placed second in the 300-meter dash (40.09), and fifth in the long jump (17’ 9.5”). Joseph Fodera took third place in the 3200-meter run (10:29.60), with Evan Wattie eighth (11:10.22). Wattie, along with Andrew Peet, Michael Miller, and Matthew Meerdink, placed seventh in the 4 x 800 relay (9:49.17).
Brandon Russell took sixth in the weight throw (40’ 7.5”), while Joseph Sabatino took seventh in the high jump (4’ 9”). Silas Bashant was sixth in the 600-meter run (1:36.49), with Jacob Armer seventh (1:38.79). Armer, Wattie, Zachary Simmons, and Miller placed 10th in the 4 x 400 relay (4:23.27).
Simmons also placed 10th in the 300-meter dash (42.19). Michael Stamper finished 10th in the 45-meter dash (6.09).
BALLSTON SPA — To say the Ballston Spa varsity wrestling team had a good week would be quite the understatement.
The Scotties captured their first-ever Section 2 Dual Meet Championship on Tuesday, beating Saratoga Springs and Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake for the Division 1 team crown and a spot at the Dual Meet State Championships. The following day, Ballston Spa honored its six seniors, and retiring coaches, during a 56-14 win over Bethlehem.
The Scotties’ six seniors are: Darrien Insogna, Connor Gregory, Cameron Hinchcliff, Tristan Hinchcliff, Anthony Prastio, and Brennan Livingston.
“Honestly, I think we couldn’t have had it at a better time, being that we just won the sectional championship,” said Insogna of the Senior Night festivities. “We all had our white championship shirts on, we all were getting hyped behind the mat. The JV started off strong, the varsity finished it, and I think we all just put it together tonight.”
Head varsity coach Harvey Staulters said the team’s seniors are “wonderful people” who have stepped up as leaders for the Scotties’ squad.
“And that’s what’s helped us so much this year, is their leadership,” Staulters said. “They made everybody in the program better. They’ve made us, as coaches, better.”
But the Senior Night victory was not only the final home match for the Ballston Spa seniors, but also for coaches Harvey and Gene Staulters.
The duo both wrestled at Ballston Spa under Vince Johnson, who coached the varsity team for 29 years and was inducted into the Section 2 Hall of Fame in 2011. Harvey Staulters coached the Scotties’ JV team under Johnson for 13 years, eventually taking over the varsity role after Johnson’s retirement. He has served as the Ballston Spa varsity coach for 22 seasons.
Staulters said entering the Ballston Spa gym for the final time was “a wonderful feeling.”
“Doing things in Ballston Spa, giving back to Ballston Spa, which gave me so much, gave my family so much,” said Staulters. “It’s just a wonderful feeling to be back here and finish off.”
The team’s seniors also had plenty of praise for their coaches, with Tristan Hinchcliff saying they are “the best coaches I could’ve ever wanted.”
“They’re everything and more. They’re great role models, they taught us respect,” said Tristan Hinchcliff. “They’ve been really the best, most respectful people I’ve ever met in my entire life. They’re amazing. I love them. I couldn’t ask for better coaches.”
“They’re more than just coaches,” added Cameron Hinchcliff.
Insogna said the Staulters’ have made “a tremendous impact” on him, saying Gene Staulters suggested pulling Insogna up to the varsity squad as an eighth-grader.
“They pulled me up, I was in the lineup back and forth,” Insogna said. “I had like a 50-50 record, but still, I was getting matches, getting mat time. They definitely made me the man I am today.”
Harvey Staulters emphasized that the program is “all about the kids,” saying he was surprised to see a large number of former wrestlers in attendance on Wednesday.
“See all the alums that were here? It surprised the heck out of me,” said Staulters. “We really are about the kids. We want to see them do well. We want to see them become great citizens and productive members of society. That’s really what we want, and wrestling is the vehicle with which we can get them there.”
And it only seems natural that Staulters’ final season as coach is with one of his strongest teams yet. Staulters said he’ll walk out of the Scotties’ gym with “very little regret.”
“Knowing that I’ll walk out of this building with very little regret, because we’ve done so many great things this year,” Staulters said. “But we’ve done them throughout the years. You take young men and women, and you just get them to become the best they can possibly be.”
The emotionally-charged night for the Scotties came just one night after the team won its first-ever Section 2 Division 1 Dual Meet Championship, at their home gym, no less.
“This place was rocking (that) night. It was so loud,” Staulters said. “I’ve never heard it this loud before. When we finally finished them off, Burnt Hills, and we knew we couldn’t lose, this place was just on fire. There was no one sitting. It was amazing.”
Cameron Hinchcliff said “everything planned out great” during the Scotties’ Dual Meet victories.
“The match couldn’t have gone any better,” said Cameron Hinchcliff of the Dual Meet. “We got pins where we weren’t supposed to, we got big wins from that match.”
“And everyone played their part,” added Tristan Hinchcliff, noting that a major decision victory by junior Jacob Perkins gave the Scotties an extra point in what was an eventual one-point victory.
“Every little piece of that mattered,” Tristan Hinchcliff continued. “Gavin’s pin, Cameron’s pin, Ralphie’s pin. All the pieces connect, and that’s really what the coaches do. They put all the little pieces together to form a great team.”
And Ballston Spa followed up the monumental win with another victory the following night, defeating Bethlehem 56-14. Staulters said he worked on getting the team refocused after the events of the previous night.
“Trying to get them re-focused after last night, because last night was a mindblower,” said Staulters. “I couldn’t even speak last night. To get them refocused, take care of this business.”
And with the night honoring both the team’s seniors and coaches, it was a night of reflection for the Scotties squad.
“I moved here in ninth grade, and it felt like where I was always supposed to have been,” Cameron Hinchcliff said. “It just feels like my home. I want to do everything I can for this program.”
“This team, and I say it all the time to everyone that asks me, it’s the dream team,” said Insogna. “Last year, we had no seniors, so we had the same kids coming up. We were all around each other. … We just had that bond, we all wanted to win and we all wanted to get better, and we do it every day in the practice room.”
Tristan Hinchcliff added that “it’s awesome” to be involved with the community that surrounds the Scotties’ wrestling program.
“It’s just so amazing to be involved in this community, and involved with the coaches and all my teammates, and just work with them every single day,” Tristan Hinchcliff added. “I love it. It’s awesome, it’s amazing.”
But while Wednesday was a celebration of seniors, coaches, and champions, there is still more work to be done for the Ballston Spa team. The team competed at the Commodore Wrestling Tournament in Vergennes, Vermont, and took first place over the weekend, with Connor Gregory winning Most Outstanding Wrestler.
The Scotties traveled for another match against Burnt Hills on Thursday, and will take the squad to Syracuse on Saturday for the NYSPHSAA Dual Meet State Championships.
Then, the team will compete in the Section 2 Class B Tournament at Burnt Hills on Feb. 4. Staulters said the team will look to continue improving, and said he is excited to take the team to Syracuse.
“I want to take those guys out to Syracuse, and let’s give it a run, see what happens, right?,” said Staulters. “We’ve got to keep improving, and we’ve got to keep adjusting and getting better, so that everybody contributes something to our success.”
“I think we all are getting the hang of it now, and we’re all going to start working on little technique stuff,” Insogna said. “We only go an hour in practice now, just get things done.”
“I’m just purely excited,” said Tristan Hinchcliff. “I’m ready for it, our team’s ready, our coaches are excited. I’m just happy to be taking that next step as a team.”
SARATOGA SPRINGS — Saratoga Springs High School junior Theresa Prehn is currently a competing member of the USA Luge Junior Candidate Team. Having first been named to the Olympic Development team in seventh grade, she has been diligently training over the years to move up the ranks.
Due to her efforts and persistence, Theresa was invited last summer to train with the Junior National Team. She lived at the Olympic Training Center in Lake Placid through all of July and August, while working at the Big Slide Brewery to help offset local training costs.
Theresa’s winter season began in November, with relaxed COVID travel restrictions making overseas travel finally possible. In order to make the international travel team, lugers needed to finish in the top 5 places at an Olympic venue race.
On day two of competition, Theresa produced a personal best time on her final run, which resulted in a 3rd place finish for the day. A true underdog, she earned her spot and left for Europe two days later, just before Thanksgiving.
The team spent two weeks in Sigulda, Latvia, trying to learn their first foreign luge track. The technical track put them through their paces, and ultimately only two men were able to compete on race day. The five women individuals and three doubles teams did not make the cut.
The Youth ‘A’ level teams as a whole fared much better in Bludenz, Austria during the following two weeks. After participating in two training sessions a day, all of the American individuals qualified to slide against the 10 other nations in the European Continental Cup race.
Prehn was the USA womens’ best finisher, in 14th place. The team travels next to Whistler, British Columbia and then Park City, Utah before the February break in training.
In addition to sliding down the mountains, Prehn also runs with the Saratoga Springs’ immensely successful girls track and cross-country teams.
WILTON — The Saratoga Springs varsity gymnastics team took first place in the bars, vault, and floor events on Tuesday, earning a 166.6-148.35 victory over Guilderland at home.
The top four all-around finishers were Blue Streaks, with Ellie Ott in first (33.5 points) and Ayla Skinner (33.2 points) in second place. Angie Damiano placed third (32.2), with Maddy Austin (31.65) in fourth.
Lily McKinley and Charlie Gleeksman tied for first place in the bars, with both recording a score of 7.9 points. Ott took first in the floor events (9.2 points) and the vault (8.7 points). Guilderland’s Miranda Putorti placed first in the beam events (8.65 points).
Below is a list of the top five finishers for each event, as well as all-around:
SCHUYLERVILLE — The Ballston Spa varsity girls basketball team won its fifth straight game on Tuesday, defeating Schuylerville 63-45 on the road in a non-league contest.
The Scotties held a 16-14 lead after one quarter, and took a 33-25 lead into halftime after a solid second quarter. Ballston Spa extended its lead to 15 points at the end of the third, and used a strong fourth to seal a 63-45 victory.
Olivia Verdile led all scorers with 25 points for the Scotties, making five three-point shots. Mallory Sprissler and Jessica Bowens each added 10 points in the win, while Payton Messina had five points. Chloe Roden and Sophia Lee each scored four points, with Aubrey Kramer adding three points and Mia Rath adding two.
Macey Koval led Schuylerville with 18 points in the loss. Amanda Pflieger had 10 points, while Lauren King added nine points. Sophie Bodnar scored three points, Keira Rogan and Adrianna Vidot each added two points, and Anika Buff had one point.
Ballston Spa (7-5 overall, 2-4 Suburban Council) travels for a league matchup with Bethlehem today at 7 p.m. Schuylerville (5-7 overall, 4-4 Foothills) hosted Queensbury on Thursday, in a game that ended after press time.
SCHENECTADY —Some younger wrestlers stepped up for the Ballston Spa varsity wrestling team this weekend, as the Scotties earned a seventh-place finish at the Schenectady Invitational on Saturday.
With several of the team’s top wrestlers competing at the Eastern States Classic, the Scotties were led by several underclassmen who put together strong outings at the invitational.
Freshman Tyler Perkins (132 pounds) and sophomore William O’Connor (138 pounds) both earned fourth-place finishes in their respective weight classes. Jacob Perkins, a junior, earned a fifth-place finish at 172 pounds, while eighth-grader Quinton Warlikowski (102 pounds) and freshman Gavin Whipple (110 pounds) also earned fifth-place finishes.
See below for results from point-earning wrestlers from Ballston Spa:
Quinton Warlikowski (102 pounds)
1) First Round: Def. Issac Jaynes (Shenendehowa) by pin, 1:58
2) Quarterfinals: Loss to Aiden Schurr (Corinth/Hadley-Luzerne) by 6-4 decision
3) Consolation: Def. Connor Aloisi (Greenville) by 10-2 maj. Decision
4) Consolation: Def. Landen Welcome (Averill Park) by pin, 1:51
5) 5th Place Finals: Def. Isaac Jaynes (Shenendehowa) by pin, 1:52
Gavin Whipple (110 pounds)
1) First Round: Def. Giuseppi Hanrahan (Amsterdam) by pin, 0:56
2) Quarterfinals: Loss to Jahiem Harris (Schenectady) by 12-8 decision
3) Consolation: Def. Joe Donatelli (Shenendehowa) by pin, 2:31
4) Consolation: Def. Michael Rose (Corinth/Hadley-Luzerne) by 7-2 decision
5) 5th Place Finals: Def. Eron Hozanovic (Averill Park) by 11-2 maj. decision
Tyler Perkins (132 pounds)
1) First Round: Def. Jacob Morgans (Averill Park) by pin, 3:29
2) Quarterfinals: Def. Jaequan Jones (Ravena-Coeymans-Selkirk) by 9-1 maj. decision
3) Semifinals: Loss to Dylan Devine (Schalmont) by pin, 0:58
4) 3rd Place Finals: Loss to Jamie Bartlett (Averill Park) by pin, 0:48
William O’Connor (138 pounds)
1) First Round: Def. Jack Upton (Guilderland) by 6-0 decision
2) Quarterfinals: Def. Angelo Dellaporta (Schalmont) by pin, 5:20
3) Semifinals: Loss to Cayden Bouvia (Saranac) by pin, 0:40
4) 3rd Place Finals: Loss to Nick Dimonda (Shenendehowa) by 10-4 decision
Jacob Perkins (172 pounds)
1) First Round: Def. Hunter Eimers (Mohonasen) by pin, 1:40
2) Quarterfinals: Loss to Dante Maiello (Shenendehowa) by 3-1 decision
3) Consolation: Def. Ethan Green (Ravena-Coeymans-Selkirk) by pin, 2:52
4) Consolation: Def. Grady Dennin (Colonie) by 11-2 maj. decision
5) 5th Place Finals: Def. Devin O’Connor (Greenville) by 5-3 decision
SCHENECTADY — The Saratoga Springs varsity wrestling team kept its strong season rolling on Saturday, claiming first place as a team at the Schenectady Invitational.
The Blue Streaks, with 212 total points, finished well ahead of second-place Shenendehowa (165 points).
Saratoga sent a wrestler to the championship round in 7 of 13 weight classes at the tournament. Four Blue Streak wrestlers took home individual championships in their weight classes: Chase Matter at 110 pounds, Taylor Beaury at 126 pounds, Gordon Murray at 152 pounds, and Gianni Delgado at 160 pounds.
Lorenzo Paleschi, Vito Spatafora, and Patrick McKinley all advanced to the championship round in their weight classes for Saratoga as well, earning second-place finishes.
See below for full results from point-earning Saratoga wrestlers:
Chase Matter (110 pounds)
1) First Round: Def. Owen Stiles (Saranac) by pin, 2:56
2) Quarterfinals: Def. Michael Rose (Corinth/Hadley-Luzerne) by pin, 0:48
3) Semifinals: Def. Jahiem Harris (Schenectady) by 5-3 decision
4) Championship: Def. Xavier Vargas (Schenectady) by pin, 3:39
Taylor Beaury (126 pounds)
1) First Round: Def. Michael Splunge (Mohonasen) by pin, 3:13
2) Quarterfinals: Def. Arcangelo Losee (Shenendehowa) by 9-0 major decision
3) Semifinals: Def. Ben Taylor (Burnt Hills) by pin, 0:41
4) Championship: Def. Frank Broadhurst (Ravena-Coeymans-Selkirk) by 8-1 decision
Gordon Murray (152 pounds)
1) First Round: Def. Nasir Fazli (Albany) by pin, 1:19
2) Quarterfinals: Def. Drew Loucks (CBA) by pin, 2:49
3) Semifinals: Def. Howard Bearce (Burnt Hills) by pin, 4:40
4) Championship: Def. Kyber Henry (Cobleskill-Richmondville) by 11-5 decision
Gianni Delgado (160 pounds)
1) First Round: Def. Andrew Martin (Burnt Hills) by pin, 4:21
2) Quarterfinals: Def. Dylan Gallagher (Cobleskill-Richmondville) by pin, 3:46
3) Semifinals: Def. Logan Cyr (Colonie) by pin, 3:04
4) Championship: Def. Hamidullaha Faqeer (Albany) by pin, 2:54
Vito Spatafora (172 pounds)
1) First Round: Def. Joey Parisi (Niskayuna) by 7-1 decision
2) Quarterfinals: Def. Grady Dennin (Colonie) by 6-0 decision
3) Semifinals: Def. Dante Maiello (Shenendehowa) by 10-4 decision
4) Championship: Loss to Malachi Moore (Shaker) by 3-1 sudden victory decision
Lorenzo Paleschi (189 pounds)
1) Quarterfinals: Def. Derick Sy (Guilderland) by pin, 1:39
2) Semifinals: Def. Paul Harley (Shaker) by pin, 0:36
3) Championship: Loss to Michael Cavanaugh (Schalmont) by pin, 1:19
Patrick McKinley (215 pounds)
1) First Round: Def. Ben Hotaling (Schenectady) by pin, 1:19
2) Quarterfinals: Def. John Geary (Corinth/Hadley-Luzerne) by pin, 3:46
3) Semifinals: Def. Jayden Morales (Lansingburgh) by injury default, 2:19
4) Championship: Loss to Jaydon Aguirre-Hamlin (Colonie) by 3-1 decision
SARATOGA SPRINGS — The Saratoga Springs High School wrestling team will be hosting its Alumni/Senior Night prior to their dual meet on Wednesday, January 25 at 7:00 p.m. at the high school Blue gymnasium on the West Avenue campus.
The event will recognize alumni wrestlers from the past and honor the dedication, contributions, and leadership of the current senior team members. The event will feature the Blue Streaks taking on rival Shenendehowa High School in a regular season match. All former Blue Streak wrestlers are invited to attend.
TROY — The Ballston Spa varsity boys and girls indoor track teams each came away with hardware over the weekend, as both teams claimed first place at the Viking Invitational on the campus of Hudson Valley Community College on Sunday.
Boys Results:
On the boys side, Isaiah Hannah took first place in both the 55-meter dash (6.89) and the 55-meter hurdles (8.46). Kala’l Makanani won the 300-meter dash (40.12), while Joseph Fodera took second place in the 1600-meter run (4:59.97), with Matthew Meerdink in fifth (5:06.34).
Evan Wattie placed third in the 1000-meter run (3:01.01), while Jacob Armer finished fourth in the 500-meter run (1:36.83). Michael Stamper placed sixth in the 55-meter dash (7.07), and seventh in the 300-meter dash (41.17). Joseph Sabatino took seventh in the high jump (5’ 2.0”).
Michael Miller was eighth in the 500-meter run (1:38.64), while Andrew Peet finished 12th in the 1000-meter run (3:24.70). The Scotties’ 4×200 relay squad placed second (1:44.68).
Girls Results:
Harriet Healey finished first in both the 300-meter dash (44.18) and the 600-meter run (1:45.82) for the Scotties. Gabrielle Bozeth took second in the 300-meter dash (45.64), behind only Healey.
Livia Wiltsie won the 55-meter dash (7.66), with Petrina Zborovsky in second (7.68). Madalyn Wilson won the 1500-meter run (5:37.25), while Lee McKinley took fourth (5:55.24). Alexis Eisler placed third in the 1000-meter run (3:29.01), with Kate Taylor (3:33.61) in fifth.
The team of Zborovsky, Wiltsie, Anna Zito, and Healey placed first in the 4×200 relay (1:54.17). The Scotties’ distance medley relay team finished second (14:46.52). Ashley Beck placed fourth in both the 600-meter run (1:59.69) and the long jump (13’ 5.0”).
Zito took fifth place in the 55-meter hurdles (10.73), while Olivia Winters finished ninth in the shot put (26’ 3.75”). Lauren Schock placed 24th in the shot put (18’ 11.0”).
