Displaying items by tag: Volleyball

Thursday, 21 March 2019 13:04

Grace O'Reilly: Athlete of the Week

Photos provided.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Saratoga Catholic’s Junior athlete Grace O’Reilly takes the values instilled in her at home onto the playing fields.

“I grew up in a family of three kids…both my parents played sports in high school. It’s in the family,” said O’Reilly.

O’Reilly participates in cross-country, track and field, volleyball, basketball and softball. Her father is also the Varsity coach for Spa Catholic’s softball team, of which both O’Reilly and her sister are players for.

Sometimes being the coach’s kid isn’t easy as the standards her father sets for her at home are also expected of her on the field.

“He (her father) knows me at home, so he knows the potential I have in the sports that I play, so he pushes me that much harder,” said O’ Reilly. “He does it with my sister, also. He knows our potential and he wants us to succeed.”

After some deliberation, O’Reilly would say that Yankee’s Derek Jeter would be her favorite athlete because she believes him to be a humble as well as a phenomenal athlete.

“He reminds me of the morals in my family, which are faith, courage, and strength. My dad has engraved that into the family - into our daily lives,” said O’Reilly.

Faith, courage, and strength are certainly at the forefront of the O’Reilly family’s minds, and it is evident in the way 17-year-old O’Reilly believes her parents to be the biggest inspiration in sports and in life.

“They’re (her parents) both constantly working and providing for us. They take time out of their day to make sure that we’re okay, to make sure that we’re happy. Even if they’re not happy.”

O’Reilly’s favorite sport is volleyball, and it’s because she enjoys being an independent part of a team, where each player has their part to assist each other in reaching an overall success.

Much like on a sports team, a family operates the same way. O’Reilly notices that balancing school work and sports can be challenging, but with her family's support, she is able to flourish.

“My family supports me a lot so they can tell when I’m feeling down and they’ll say ‘hey, you need a mental day, or you need to not go to practice.”

For O’Reilly, family and fitness are one in the same. She hopes to continue to be a part of teams through college.

Published in Sports

Saratoga Central Catholic Saints Undefeated

[All photos by www.PhotoAndGraphic.com]

SARATOGA SPRINGS – On Friday, Oct. 20 the Saratoga Central Catholic Saints varsity volleyball team defeated Cambridge 3-0, making the Saints the undefeated Wasaren League Champions, with a 16-0 season.

Coach Maria Izzo started the evening with honoring all of the seniors on the team, including Cambridge’s seniors, with flowers and kind words.

“This group of eight people has been a fun group. They get along so well, laughs are nonstop, and there’s nothing better than a team that connects. If they connect off the court, they’ll connect on the court,” Izzo said of the team.

Each senior girl has a buddy on the team, who is either a sophomore or junior that they mentor for the season.

The seniors are Grace Fornabia, Ani Crocker, Olivia Lawrence, and Mandy Bartoszek. Fornabia and Crocker are co-captains of the team.

Fornabia now holds the season and school record for number of kills. Fornabia makes it look effortless in her abilities, seeming to take her opponents by surprise every time.

“Grace is a one of a kind and has been a catalyst for the past couple of years. These girls have been a pleasure to coach and even more to watch them play very well together. I’m very proud of them and I will miss them,” Izzo said.

Published in Sports