SARATOGA SPRINGS — “First of all, be a good teammate. Try to do anything that helps the team, then the teammate, then yourself. Team first. That’s something to go by,” Joe Amodio, a senior ice hockey player at Saratoga Springs High School said.

Amodio has been playing ice hockey since he was nine after playing soccer and baseball before that. 

“My dad was always a big Rangers fan, so I just gravitate towards the sport. Eventually, it took over as my number one and it’s all I ever do now,” Amodio explained.

Amodio is an assistant captain for the varsity team and plays center, wing, and “whatever coach tells me to.” Mostly, he plays forward.

Amodio takes his leadership position on the team, and in life, seriously. He is the oldest of five; he has four younger sisters that range from age 15 to six months.

“Being a leader is something that is hard to teach, it’s hard to learn. It is developed over time. I’ve had a lot of good mentors, former captains, coaches, my parents are really involved with me. I have a really big family that taught me a lot about being a leader by example and what it really takes to be a leader,” Amodio said.

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The two older sisters also play hockey and he thinks the two younger girls will also.

On the ice, Amodio is there to score and set his teammates up for success. He stresses being prepared for whatever the game throws at them.

“At the end of the day, you’re trying to put the winning effort out there,” he said matter of factly.

Amodio knows the team’s record this season so far but he really doesn’t think it shows how good of a team they are.

“Overall, the boys are going really well, we’re very happy and working hard every day at practice to get better,” he explained.

Amodio also plays travel hockey before and after the high school season, as well as participating in camps. He has been accepted into multiple colleges, including Sienna, which is his top choice, but he hasn’t made a decision yet. He wants to go for accounting and become a CPA, following in his dad, Charles’, footsteps. He has a girlfriend of a year and a half, Shannon Thomas. He is also proud to call Kimberly DeMarco-Amodio his mom. DeMarco-Amodio was a student at Saratoga Springs also and was an All-American player for soccer and lacrosse.

His advice to anyone thinking about trying ice hockey is “just get out there and have fun!”

We look forward to seeing how your season pans out, Joe!

Saratoga Springs vs. Albany Academy Hockey

SARATOGA SPRINGS — On Monday January 6, the Blue Streaks defeated Albany Academy, 4-1. Billy Leary and Devon Wormley each had a goal while Michael Montague had two goals. Goalie Brad Blake had 9 saves. 

SRYMCA/Saratoga Honda Youth Basketball Scores 

JR DIVISION:
PBA v. Blend Realty
PBA-53:  Stephon Lindsey-12, Isaac Ryan-9
Blend Realty-13: Mason Foster-6, Riley Baumeister-4

Olsen Associates v. Cudney’s Cleaners
Cudney’s-27: John Gerardi-13, Ben Van Valkenburg-6
Olsen’s-19: Xavier Ruscio-13 , Colin MacGreger -9

SR. DIVISION:
Spa Café v. Vahanian & Associates Financial Planning Inc.
Spa Café-55:  Brian McCarthy-15, Mark Early-12
Vahanian & Associates-47: Tommy Maurer-28, Cameron Fitzpatrick-12

Pashley Construction v. Village Photo
Village Photo-41:  Unique Steel-16, Jacob Krygouski-12
Pashley’s-27: Nate Siewert-12, Raymond Garcia-6

BALLSTON SPA — “More enduringly than any other sport, wrestling teaches self-control and pride. Some have wrestled without great skill, none have wrestled without pride,” said by Dan Gable, an American freestyle wrestler often considered to be the greatest amateur wrestler in American history.

Nicholas Palso, a junior at Ballston Spa High School, has just had his 100th win and recently won at the Saratoga Invitational. Palso is currently 25-2 and wrestling in the 106 bracket.

Palso has been wrestling on varsity since 8th grade after only spending one season before on modified. 

“Our team is doing great this year! I’m surprised at how well we’re doing,” he laughed.

“I was thinking we wouldn’t be as good as we are but the guys I’m wrestling with are really good.”

Their team is young, so expectations weren’t too high at first.

“We have a lot of freshmen,” Palso clarified.

Palso doesn’t think anything about wrestling is hard, even the eating to maintain his weight, which he maintains by eating “mostly chicken” and by working out.

He does admit to missing desserts and can’t wait to indulge in his favorite ice cream, mint cookie crumble from Stewart’s, once the season ends

Palso was immersed in the sport through going to some of the home matches when he was younger with his dad; his grandfather also wrestled.

“At those matches, I fell in love with the sport,” he said.

Palso does not play anything else, focusing solely on wrestling and in the off season he trains and lifts to stay in shape.

He still manages to keep up on his schoolwork by doing his homework before and after practice, whatever it takes as he would like to attend college and wrestle at a collegiate level also.

In his free time, he hangs out with his friends and they play video games.

He cites his dad, Nicholas Sr., as his biggest supporter, “he’s always at my matches and is always the one who brings me to my practices and tournaments.”

In regard to his 100th win, “I was super pumped!”

Palso is appreciative of his coaches and his teammates.

“My coaches are great, they’ve helped me get through some good and bad times,” he said.

Saratoga Gymnastics Takes Down Shaker
SARATOGA SPRINGS — Saratoga Gymnastics moved to 2-0 on the season by defeating Shaker 162.30 – 155.25 on Friday night at the Wilton YMCA. Saratoga secured 3 out of the top 4 all-around spots led by Sophia Damiano (1st all-around; 35.60) followed by Carly Ruschak (2nd all-around; 33.05) and Miranda Lynch (4th all-around; 31.20). Shaker’s top all-around performer was Gianna Aquino (3rd all-around; 32.75). Saratoga gymnasts captured the top spot in each of the four individual events with Sophia Damiano winning the vault (8.90), the beam (8.90), and the floor (9.00). Ava Dallas captured the bars (9.10). Saratoga Gymnastics next dual meet is on Wednesday, January 8th as they travel to Lynwood Elementary to take on Guilderland at 6PM. For more information, contact head coach Deb Smarro (dsmarro@bscsd.org) or assistant coach Tiffany Hogben (tiffany.hogben@gmail.com).

Blue Streaks Hockey
SARATOGA SPRINGS — The Saratoga Springs varsity hockey team played Shenendehowa on Wednesday, December 18 at Clifton Park Arena. Saratoga Springs won, 6-1. The win was a team effort with a goal each by: Joe Amodio; Andrew Blanchard; Will Detora; Anthony LaMonda; Charlie Leary; and Michael Montague. Goalie Brad Blake had 27 saves. On Saturday, December 21, the Blue Streaks played FayettevilleManlius and won, 4-1. Will Detora, Riley Lefebvre, Michael Montague, and Devon Wormley scored for Saratoga. Goalie Brad Blake had 13 saves.

Saratoga Springs Wrestling vs. Guilderland Guilderland at Saratoga Springs Sr. HS
On December 18, 2019. Saratoga Springs Sr HS (SSSH) 63.0 Guilderland (GUIL) 24.0 99: Lucius Anderson (SSSH) over Britt Francis (GUIL) (Fall 2:41) 106: Jacob Pratt (SSSH) over Myles White (GUIL) (Fall 3:24) 113: Kyle Griskowitz (SSSH) over Samuel Sosnovsky (GUIL) (Fall 3:02) 120: Antonio Encarnacion (SSSH) over Dylan Carl (GUIL) (Dec 8-3) 126: Zeph Watkins (SSSH) over Dylan Vadney (GUIL) (Fall 2:09) 132: Marcus Berroa (GUIL) over Gordon Murray (SSSH) (Fall 0:32) 138: Griffin Biviano (SSSH) over James Hough (GUIL) (Fall 1:00) 145: Patrick Spatafora (SSSH) over Zack Hagen (GUIL) (Fall 5:45) 152: Sachiel Chuckrow (SSSH) over (GUIL) (For.) 160: Eric Griskowitz (SSSH) over Dillon O`Brien (GUIL) (Fall 3:39) 170: Sean Collins (GUIL) over Justin Garfolo (SSSH) (Fall 0:50) 182: Jack Cooper (SSSH) over Kenneth Kryzak (GUIL) (Fall 1:15) 195: Cameran Durant (GUIL) over Austen Douglas (SSSH) (Fall 1:08) 220: David Jenks (SSSH) over Justin Lamb (GUIL) (Fall 0:55) 285: Zach Harrison (GUIL) over Andrew Monroe (SSSH) (Fall 3:01)You can find more details regarding this duel using the following link: www.trackwrestling.com/tw/seasons/ LoadBalance.jsp?pageName=DualMatches.jsp&dualId=5000567132.

SRYMCA/Saratoga Honda Youth Basketball Scores
JR DIVISION:
Cudney’s v. PBA
PBA-39: Nick Goliber-9, Stephon Lindsey-9, Isaac Ryan-8
Cudney’s-35: Ben Van Valkenberg-13, John Gerardi-11

Olsen Associates v. Blend Realty
Olsen’s-32: Xavier Ruscio-13, Colin MacGregor-9
Blend Realty-7: Aiden Karo-5, Finn Kelly-2

SR. DIVISION:
DECEMBER 4, 2019
Pashley Construction v. Spa Café
Pashley’s-65: Ziyair White-16, Quinn Frank-10, Nate Siewart-10
SPA Café-56: Charlie Didonato-28, Brian McCarthy-14

DECEMBER 15, 2019
Spa Café v. Village Photo
Spa Café-64: Brian McCarthy-34, AJ Cavotta-8

Photos provided.

MALTA — If you are a fan of the NBC hit television show, American Ninja Warrior, The Saratoga Ninja Lab was the place to be this past weekend.

Athletes young and old, from as far away as Canada, descended on a warehouse in Malta, NY in their quest to reach the winner’s podium and earn a spot at the National Ninja League World Championships in February. More than 150 competitors swung, climbed, jumped and hung their way through a series of challenging obstacles which tested their strength, agility and balance.

This was the first National Ninja League (NNL) competition to take place in our region. 

“It was a big honor for the Saratoga Ninja Lab to be a designated NNL gym” said Ninja Lab co-owner Dan Kirchner. 

“We put a lot of work into the gym, and this competition, and it paid off,” Kirchner continued.

While competition was at the forefront, comradery and teamwork stood out throughout the entire weekend. 

“The kids and the adults really support each other” said Bryce Bouchard, team coach at the Saratoga Ninja Lab.

 “We’ve created a really positive atmosphere at the Lab, and the Ninja community as a whole is a tightknit group. I am really proud of the growth, both personally and physically of all the kids on the competition team,” Bouchard stated.

The Saratoga Ninja Lab opened to local fanfare in August 2018. Building on their initial success, the Ninja Lab team opened their second location this past summer in Crossgate Commons in Albany. Both gyms offer classes, birthday parties, team training, theme nights, open gyms, competitions and private events.

To learn more, go to: SaratogaNinjaLab.com

Photos provided.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — In 1994, Jen Dryer (Pennell) ended her hoops career at Saratoga Springs with 1,518 points, 325 assists, 348 steals, and 228 rebounds. In 2019, Catherine ‘Dolly’ Cairns has broken that point record. 

Cairns only needed 10 points to break Dryer’s record, so she decided to score 29 points instead on Tuesday, December 10. The new record to break is 1,547 points.

“It felt really good. I’m proud of myself for it but it’s my role to score, so, I just do what it takes to win,” Cairns said.

Cairns has been a local basketball sensation since halfway through her seventh-grade year when she was pulled up to varsity. 

Her love of the game started young and stemmed from attending her older brother’s practices with their dad, Don. The two would do some dribbling and then during every water break for the team, she would shoot around, they would also practice form shooting and ball handling.

Cairns began to play organized basketball in third grade and has been playing “up” ever since.

With graduation fast approaching, Cairns is finally used to the idea of playing college basketball at Rhode Island University, where she will be studying kinesiology. She is very excited for this next chapter and will be at RIU in June and July for summer classes and practices.

“I think it’ll be a lot different. It’ll be a lot faster, a lot bigger and stronger kids. I think I’ll have to adjust but I’m up for it,” she said.

She has built good relationships with the coaching staff at RIU already and looks forward to playing with that team.

“I built a really good relationship with the head coach and just from talking to my head coach and the rest of the coaching staff, I actually wanted to commit there before I even visited campus. Then as I learned more and more about the campus, it just felt like the perfect spot for me,” Cairns explained.

Her coaches this year have helped her in the college recruitment process.

“Both of the coaches have handled most of the recruiting and talking to coaches for me. They have been my biggest help,” she said.

As far as this year’s basketball season, they are a young team after five seniors graduated last year, including Kerry Flaherty, who achieved 1,000 career points.

“We have two freshmen starters, who I think I’m doing a good job setting the tone for them. We’re all very close and we get along well and we’re having a lot of fun so far. We’ve got a lot of young kids on the team and they follow my lead. They know that when it’s time to work, it’s time to work,” Cairns stated simply.

It is clear that Cairns takes her leadership role on the team very seriously and it isn’t just a point scoring game to her.

“We would love to win a state championship, that’d be the goal, but I think short term we just want to win a sectional championship and make history for our school,” she explained.

Winning states would be the first time in Blue Streaks woman’s basketball history.

Cairns does not play any other sports, instead chooses to focus on basketball preparation in the offseason. She lifts four times a week to stay in shape and shoots around in the gym as much as she can.

Pro basketball has been on her mind here and there.

“I’m thinking about it and a couple people have told me that I could. I think playing in the USA would be cool, but I think playing overseas would be a very cool opportunity as well. I’ll just see what it comes down to when I get there,” she explained.

As far as her biggest supporters during her monumental high school hoops career, her parents Don and Kay and her grandparents Ron and Pat are at the top of the list.

With high school fading out and her starting over in college as a freshman, Cairns has advice for the younger girls on the team she’s leaving her legacy to.

“Keep working. Try to get in the gym as much as you can and work on the basic things; you can build on those basic foundations. It takes a lot of time and effort to be where I am.”

If I were them, I’d certainly be following that advice and in those footsteps. Congratulations on making Blue Streaks history, Dolly!