WILTON — Four Section 2 gymnastics teams competed to raise money and awareness for domestic violence on Friday, as the Saratoga Springs varsity gymnastics team hosted the 17th annual Purple Passion Meet.
The four competing teams were: Saratoga Springs, Bethlehem, Shaker, and Guilderland. Athletes from all four teams wore purple gear, helping raise awareness and funding for Wellspring of Saratoga.
See below for top finishers from each event of Friday’s meet:
SARATOGA SPRINGS — The Saratoga Springs varsity wrestling team honored its seniors on Thursday, rounding out the night with a strong 35-28 victory over Shenendehowa.
The Blue Streaks have 13 seniors: Isaac Coffin, Jack Dacey, Alex Julian, Damian Maura, Shawn Mergen, Andrew Monroe, Gordon Murray, Lorenzo Paleschi, Dylan Przedwiecki, Connor Saltzgaver, Victor Santabar, Cam Smith, and Vito Spadafora.
See below for results from the Blue Streaks’ victory over the Plainsmen:
Saratoga Springs 35, Shenendehowa 28
102: Isaac Jaynes (Shen) def. Kyle Edwards by pin at 1:58
110: Chase Matter (Saratoga) def. Joe Donatelli by pin at 1:52
118: Greg Green (Shen) def. Luke Stoutenburg by 11-2 maj. decision
126: Brandon Deuel (Shen) def. Danny Dacey by 5-1 decision
132: Vincent Grembocki (Shen) def. Taylor Beaury by 3-1 decision
138: David Emsminger (Shen) def. Trey Edwards by pin at 1:36
145: Davin Leavey (Shen) def. Hayden Passaretti by pin at 1:12
152: Gordon Murray (Saratoga) def. Anthony Harbour by 17-12 decision
160: Gianni Delgado (Saratoga) def. Max Woolums by 17-4 maj. decision
172: Vito Spadafora (Saratoga) def. Anthony Kennedy by 10-1 maj. decision
189: Lorenzo Paleschi (Saratoga) def. Dante Maiello by pin at 5:07
215: Patrick McKinley (Saratoga) def. Erik O’Toole by pin at 1:34
285: Jack Dacey (Saratoga) def. Colin Thompson by pin at 6:54
SYRACUSE — The Ballston Spa varsity wrestling team competed at the NYSPHSAA Dual Meet State Championships in Syracuse over the weekend, defeating East Islip in the opening round before falling to Hilton in the third round.
The Scotties clinched a spot in the Dual Meet Championships by capturing the Section 2 Dual Meet crown on Jan. 17, defeating Saratoga Springs and Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake.
Connor Gregory, Darrien Insogna, Ralph Keeney, and Cameron Hinchcliff combined to win all of their individual matches for Ballston Spa. The Scotties will next compete at the Section 2 Class B Tournament on Feb. 7 at Burnt Hills.
See below for results from the Dual Meet Championships:
1st Round: Ballston Spa 35, East Islip 32
(102) Quinton Warlikowski (B-Spa) def. Rocco DeStefano by pin at 4:00
(110) Ralph Keeney (B-Spa) def. Anthony Liedtke by pin at 3:04
SARATOGA SPRINGS — This season marks an important milestone in the legacy of Saratoga Springs High School sports: it is the 50th anniversary of the Blue Streaks wrestling team winning the program’s first-ever Section II team title in 1973.
Coming into the season-ending crowning tournament from a two-and-a-half year run that included just one loss and two conference championships, the Blase Iuliano-coached grapplers entered the Class A division showdown in Burnt Hills as one of three favorites to take the crown.
After two days of single elimination action, Saratoga’s undefeated team captain – and future All American – Jay Mulligan was joined in the final round by fellow seniors Bob Millis and Keith Potter, along with underclassmen standouts Kevin Mulligan, Jay Winchester and Korey Dismus.
Three champions emerged, with the elder Mulligan also taking the tourney MVP award.
Additional team points from earlier rounds were contributed by Tom Evans, Bob Perkins, Roy Lusk, Todd Henning and John Greenleaf.
The result was a narrow win over the competitive teams sent from Mount Pleasant, Shenendehowa, Scotia-Glenville and Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake.
This breakthrough title achievement set the standard and paved the way for the local wrestling program, as succeeding classes repeated the accomplishment on several occasions and put even more hardware into the Blue Streak trophy case in the decades since.
Amber Cook (left), Paige Cook (middle), and Rachel Wilbur (right) qualified for the 2023 National 4-H Shooting Sports Championships in Grand Island, Nebraska. Photos provided by Kim Wilbur.
BALLSTON SPA — Three local teens are heading west in June, competing at the National 4-H Shooting Sports Championships in Grand Island, Nebraska.
Amber Cook, Paige Cook, and Rachel Wilbur, members of the 4-H Program of Cornell Cooperative Extension of Saratoga County, all qualified for the National Championships after competing at the New York State 4-H Shooting Sports Championships. Amber Cook will compete on New York’s Shotgun team, while Paige Cook and Wilbur will each compete on New York’s Archery team.
Paige Cook said it is “overwhelming, but exciting,” to clinch a spot at nationals.
“Yeah, it’s definitely overwhelming. But we’re all definitely blessed to have this opportunity and be able to experience this,” Wilbur added. “Very excited. We’re all working pretty hard at everything.”
The girls are also the first group from Saratoga County to even compete at the state championships, much less advance to nationals. Wilbur and Amber Cook competed at the state level in 2019, and all three girls competed in 2021 before qualifying for nationals at the 2022 State Championships.
“(In) 2019, we were the first ones to go out to the state competition, and now we’re the first ones from Saratoga County to go out to nationals,” said Amber Cook.
Kim Wilbur, mother of Rachel, said she is “so proud” of the girls, a sentiment that was echoed by the Cook’s parents. Renee Janack, mother of Amber and Paige Cook, pointed out that the girls are competing in fields that have been traditionally male-dominated.
“Proud just keeps coming to my mind,” said Kim Wilbur. “It’s exciting to see what the future holds.”
“It seems like such a cliche, I just keep saying how proud we are,” said Janack. “Not only are they the first going from Saratoga County, they’re young women. … It’s very male-dominated, so it’s thrilling to watch them grow as a team.”
Wilbur and Paige Cook both qualified for nationals at the New York State Championships in September. However, neither were certain they would make the cut.
“I didn’t think I was going to make it,” said Paige Cook.
“Honestly, I didn’t think I was going to make it either,” added Wilbur. “I really just went in there with an open mind, like, ‘Whatever happens, happens.’”
Of course, both qualified for nationals, with Wilbur finishing second and Cook third overall.
Amber Cook, however, initially qualified for nationals in May 2022, but didn’t discover this until after her teammates had clinched their spots.
“I didn’t find out until after they did, in September. I was very surprised,” said Amber Cook. “I really did not think I was going to qualify, so it was just very exciting and I’m very proud of myself for being able to.”
Amber Cook will be joined on New York’s Shotgun team by qualifiers from Dutchess and Chemung counties, while Paige Cook and Wilbur will compete alongside a qualifier from Wyoming County on the New York Archery team.
Competitors will be scored individually, with their scores added up to generate overall county and state scores.
“We all go out there and shoot individually,” said Wilbur. “So we’re scored individually, and then all together as a team at the end.”
The group is currently in the process of fundraising for the trip, with Wilbur saying it will cost about $3,000 per girl for the travel alone. The National 4-H Shooting Sports Championships will be held from June 25 to 30 in Grand Island, Nebraska.
“(We’ve been) getting together and just making sure everything is very precise, so we can go out to different stores and even just individual people and do group fundraising,” Wilbur said. “We’ve been in the process of that for a few months now. It is a lot of work to do fundraising, especially this big.”
“It’s a long process,” added Paige Cook. “We’re mostly preparing to start in the next couple weeks, because getting the names and the emails and all that has taken quite a long time.”
The girls’ parents are also chipping in any way they can. Jeff Breedon, father of Amber and Paige, is an instructor at Saratoga County 4-H along with Janack and Kim Wilbur.
“Every one of us brings a different strength to the team,” said Breedon. “That’s how we’ve succeeded, I think, so well. If something needs to happen, one of us knows how to do it.”
And the time spent in 4-H has also helped the trio become closer, which Janack emphasized as one of the strengths of the program.
“That’s the beauty of 4-H, it’s a county-wide thing,” Janack said. “You have youth coming from all over who would have never met each other, would never have known how awesome their friendships are going to be. This is truly going to be a lifelong friendship between these three.”
Wilbur agreed, saying that while the girls knew each other before joining 4-H, the club has “really sparked that friendship in all of us.”
“I don’t even consider them my teammates, they’re just my family now,” said Wilbur. “That’s what 4-H has brought to us. It’s definitely a blessing.”
WILTON — The Saratoga Springs varsity gymnastics team celebrated its seniors and picked up a win on Tuesday, defeating Guilderland 174.1-153.95.
The Blue Streaks honored two seniors prior to the win: Erika Sudigala and Olivia Allen.
Saratoga’s Ellie Ott had the highest overall score (36.20), placing first in the bars and vault while finishing second in floor events. Guilderland’s Addison Seebode (34.60) and Miranda Putorti (34.35) finished second and third overall, respectively.
Allen finished fifth all-around (33.65) while Sudigala placed eighth (32.65).
Below is a list of the top five finishers for each event, as well as all-around:
BALLSTON SPA —The Ballston Spa varsity boys basketball team suffered its first loss of the season on Friday, falling 62-54 to Bethlehem at home.
Neither team was able to gain separation in the opening quarter, with the squads battling to a 13-13 tie after one. Bethlehem used strong perimeter shooting to pull ahead in the second, and never relinquished the lead.
The Eagles led 33-26 at halftime, and pulled out to a 10-point advantage at the end of the third quarter. The Scotties went on a run early in the fourth, pulling within three points, but Bethlehem was able to hold off the home team, using strong free-throw shooting to lock up a 62-54 victory.
Nick Verdile had 17 points to lead Ballston Spa in the loss. Blaine Zoller had 10 points, while Ben Phillips and Nico Savini each scored eight points. Mike Miller had six points, and James Haughton added five points.
Cameron LaClair led all scorers with 23 points for Bethlehem. Christian Franchini had 12 points, with Logan Yohe adding nine points and Jay Felio adding seven. Kieran Barnes had six points, and Caden Bernardo had five points for the Eagles.
Ballston Spa (12-1 overall, 7-1 Suburban Council) travels to face Columbia at 7 p.m. on Friday.
WILTON — Immerse yourself in some of the world’s greatest golf courses. The YMCA’s Adult team 9-hole Golf League will have you playing a schedule that tour players can only dream of.
Over the course of seven weeks, the league will take you to the origins of the game at St. Andrews, battle the burn in Carnoustie, and have you competing for the league title as you make a back nine charge at the scenic Pebble Beach. This league is for ages 15 and up.
The league runs from Feb. 6 to March 20.
League Format:
• 2-person scramble.
• There will be no age group or gender restrictions.
• Teams can mix and match gender and age variations.
• Teams have the opportunity to play a maximum of two league rounds per week.
• League rounds can be made up the following week, but keep in mind that you can only play two rounds per week.
• Teams must make the simulator reservation themselves with no additional charge. We suggest that you reserve the simulator for two hours to complete your nine holes.
Scoring:
• Teams will receive a scorecard with weekly guidelines when checking in at the front desk and will be responsible for taking a picture of their scorecard with a signature attesting to their score and sending it to an assigned email.
• Scores will be cumulative, and a winner will be crowned after seven league weeks.
Rules:
• Women and seniors (60+) will have an assigned color tee box to play on their scorecard to ensure that you are not at a disadvantage.
• There will be an assigned gimme range, and the simulator will limit scores to double bogey or better.
To join, please reach out to Tim LaSarso with your team at Tim.Lasarso@srymca.org
Pictured above, from left, are: Cathy Haight, President of the COA, Coach Rich Johns, and Tiffany Beam, Athletic Director at Trumansburg Central School District. Photo provided by Rich Johns.
VERONA — Coach Rich Johns was recently the Keynote Speaker for the NYS AHPERD Annual Conference at the Turning Stone Casino in Verona, New York. The conference brings teachers, coaches and administrators from all over New York State for three days. Coach shared his five Key Components to be a better person and true leader.
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.
