Competitive swim sign-ups Apr. 1

March 13, 2012 By Leave a Comment

The Ballston Area Recreation Commission (BARC) will open on-line registration for competitive swimming on Apr. 1. The program is for students grades K-12 or a June, 2012 BSHS graduate. These ARE NOT swim lessons. To be eligible, children must reside in the Ballston Spa School District and be able to swim one length of the pool without flotation devices and without stopping.

Team attire will be cap, goggles, and swimsuit. A team suit is optional, but may be ordered online through the link provided in your post purchase notice or from the link provided on the BARC website.

Practices are tentatively scheduled for two times a week, afternoons, May 29-Jun. 21. Morning practices will be held four times per week Jun. 25-Aug. 1. Most meets will be held Thursday evenings. The Suburban League Championship Meet will be held Aug. 3 and Aug. 4. Diving Championships will be held Aug. 1.

For information about this event and other BARC programs, visit ballstonarearec.org.

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Youth baseball registration

March 13, 2012 By Leave a Comment

The Round Lake/Malta Youth Baseball League is accepting registrations for those interested in T-Ball ages 4-6 and Roberto Clemente ages 7 to 8.

Registration forms may be obtained from the Malta Community Center, 1 Bayberry Drive, Malta or by email to roundlakebaseball@gmail.com. Parents may also call 944-5025.

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On top of the world

March 12, 2012 By Leave a Comment

BY RYAN SCHUETTE
news@theballstonjournal.com

This past weekend saw the winter high school sports season come to a close with the 2012 Girls’ Alpine Skiing Eastern National Championships, held in Attitash, N.H. Three members of the Burnt Hills-Ballston Spa ski team represented New York State in the national competition. All three finished in the top-20. Demi Feder took 2nd place, while Rebecca Stodgell raced to a 5th place finish and Taylor Manderson earned a 16th place finish out of 120 girls.

“I felt like I really had an off day the first day, but the second day I pulled it together to be able to finish 16th,” said Manderson. “I think that it is a huge accomplishment for the three of us to represent New York State so well.”

Manderson, Stodgell and Feder are no strangers to carrying a banner. In February they represented their school and their section by winning the second consecutive state girls alpine skiing title for Burnt Hills-Ballston Spa. Feder was the individual state champion.

“We’ve only had the ski program for two years and we’ve won two state championships,” said Manderson. “It feels incredible to represent our school so highly.”

For some it is probably exciting to have the spring sports season so near, especially given the unusual lack of snow sprinkling from the sky. But for Manderson it comes as a shock to see the season already behind her. “It feels like the season has just begun,” she said. “It’s really hard to believe that nationals are already gone.”

The next step for seniors Manderson and Stodgell is picking a college. Stodgell is still weighing her options, trying to pick a good school that would lead her to a sports broadcasting career. Manderson is leaning toward going to Clarkson in the fall of 2012. “Now that college is the next step, I will most likely be attending Clarkson University,” she said, “and I hope to continue to ski and race competitively on the Clarkson team.”

Far from basking in her own accomplishments, most of Manderson’s comments were very team-oriented. “The thing that has helped our team dominate this year was knowing that each teammate was there to cheer you on,” Manderson said. “Whether you fell or got hurt or just had a bad run, we were always there to bring each other up.”

Someone once said that “talent wins games, but teamwork wins championships.”  The girls Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake alpine ski team would know something about that. “Our ski season was the definition of what a team should be; every time we stepped into the starting gate we tried our hardest not for ourselves or our parents, but for our teammates,” Manderson said.

And when Manderson was asked for the difference between being cocky and being confident, she had an answer. “To be confident is to know you are good and to believe in yourself every step of the way,” she said, “but to be cocky is to think you are the best and you are above your team. For me it was never about being the best at ski racing, it’s about laying it on the line for the people that would do the same for me, my teammates.”

Ryan Schuette is a student at Ballston Spa High School and the sports intern at The Ballston Journal.

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The Strikers keep on rolling

March 6, 2012 By 1 Comment

BY RYAN SCHUETTE
news@theballstonjournal.com

Ballston Spa soccer is heating up, much like the weather at this time of year. And no team is hotter than the Ballston Spa girls U-10 soccer team, the Strikers. Simply put, the Strikers have been on a roll this year.

The mother of one player on the team put it simply. “They have an impressive record,” Allyson Iovinella-Ostrander said. “They are a tough team to beat.”

That may be an understatement. In the fall of 2011 the Strikers posted an undefeated record on the outdoor scene. Over the winter they were undefeated over two sessions at the Sportsplex of Halfmoon. Continuing on their hot streak, they made it to the championship game of the St. Valentine’s Day Massacre Tournament at the Syracuse Indoor Soccer Center on Feb. 26, where they finally suffered their first loss of the season. The Greater Binghamton Soccer Association team topped them in a 2-1 nail-biter.

A second place finish certainly does not detract from an otherwise unblemished season. And the tournament experience has only helped the team to improve. “Going to the tournament gave the girls an opportunity to get exposed to different competition and made them better for it,” said Iovinella-Ostrander.The girls faced teams from much bigger areas, such as Rochester and Syracuse, and beat them.

The Ballston Spa Strikers have now set their sights on bigger goals for the rest of their season. This month they will begin outdoor play for the New York State Cup tournament. In the spring they will play in Division I of the Capital District Youth Soccer League. The rigorous fall and winter schedule and the tournament experience have them well-prepared to take on the competition for the rest of the year.

Ryan Schuette is a student at Ballston Spa High School and the sports intern at The Ballston Journal. 

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Mat Rats host a day at the Spa

February 28, 2012 By Leave a Comment

BY RYAN SCHUETTE
news@theballstonjournal.com

Wrestling will occupy center stage at Ballston Spa Middle School on Saturday March 3 as the 10th Annual Ballston Spa Mat Rat Pee Wee Wrestling Tournament hits the mats. The tournament is divided into five divisions, with competitors ranging in age from 5- to 15-years-old. High school wrestlers (either varsity or junior varsity) are not eligible to compete.

“First the administrators weigh everybody in bright and early,” said Ballston Spa varsity wrestling coach Harvey Staulters. “This usually takes place around 7:30 in the morning, then we break up the wrestlers into different groups based on age, weight, and ability.”

The tournament is hosted by the Ballston Spa Mat Rats, the pee wee wrestling team here in Ballston.

The tournament is in the round robin format, where everybody wrestles everybody. The field is broken up into four-man pools, and everyone wrestles at least three times, win or lose. Kids wrestle all day until a winner is determined. “Pins are worth the most points, then next would be what’s called a technical fall which is when you win by 15 points or more,” Staulters said. “A major decision is anywhere between 8 and 14 points and a decision is a win by 7 or less.”

The Mat Rats have three first-place finishes and a second in recent meets.

Along with the pee wee tournament, the varsity and junior varsity squads both host tournaments every year. Next year Ballston Spa will host the Class A tournament, which will mean having 11 of the biggest schools in Section II in Ballston’s gym. “This is very exciting for us,” Staulters said. “This is a big opportunity.”

Ballston Spa wrestling has taken a turn for the better in the past few years and with promising young talent coming up should remain on an upswing for years to come. Saturday is a big day, the perfect chance for Ballston Spa to get a glimpse of the future of its already flourishing program. And for the Mat Rats it’s the perfect chance to showcase exactly what they can do.

The tournament starts with weigh-ins for the first three divisions at 7:30 a.m. Divisions IV and V weigh-in at 10 a.m. High school rules are in effect. The entry fee is $20.

For information call Lee Staulters at 518-885-5420 or email coachstault@aol.com.

Ryan Schuette is a student at Ballston Spa High School and a sports intern at The Ballston Journal.

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BHBS Girls Alpine Ski Team is taking care of business

February 23, 2012 By Leave a Comment

BY RYAN SCHUETTE
news@theballstonjournal.com

For most people, Feb. 14 is a date reserved for loving and caring for others even more than usual. But for the Burnt Hills-Ballston Spa Girls Alpine Ski Team it was business as usual instead on Valentine’s Day as they took to the slopes in sectional competition. The team has successfully taken care of that business all year, with five girls consistently finishing in the top 20 throughout the season.

It was no different at the sectionals, where the girls finished in first place as a team for the second year in a row. “This is quite an accomplishment for the girls,” said Mary Ellen Manderson, mother of team members Kylie and Taylor Manderson. “We also have three of the girls moving on to represent Burnt Hills-Ballston Spa at the New York State Championship at Whiteface on February 27th and 28th.”

The BHBS Girls Alpine Ski Team. From left to right top row: Quin Feder, Kylie Manderson, Taylor Manderson, Demi Feder; Left to right bottom row: Nora Munsey, Cassie Blazejeski, Rebecca Stodgell (Photo courtesy Mary Ellen Manderson)

Manderson was referring to seniors Taylor Manderson and Rebecca Stodgell and junior Demi Feder. “This is also the second year in a row that these three girls will be representing us at states,” Manderson said.

It should come as no surprise to see the girls excelling on the slopes. All three have made a habit of having their names in the paper for achievements on the athletic playing field. Feder is a soccer star and an excellent runner on the track team. Manderson is the senior keeper for the soccer team and a two-year starter on the softball team. And Stodgell has been delivering punishing hits on the volleyball court for three years now. The trio have overcome all obstacles put in front of them.

Whether on the ski slopes or a soccer field or a volleyball court or a softball diamond, the girls continue to put forth the kind of effort that enables them to succeed at a very high level. As members of the ski team the girls have trained hard and honed their skills to make themselves as fast as possible. The result has been a consistent string of success as their team has notched victory after victory. And even though the trio are at the center of attention, the rest of the team have done their part to help speed the program to the top of the podium and stay there.

The community has been behind the team from the beginning of the season and surely will remain so for the State Championships at Whiteface on Feb. 27 and 28. Feder, Manderson and Stodgell will all take to the hill again on those dates to once again try and push their squad and themselves still further along the path of Alpine Skiing brilliance, and gain another trip to the podium.

Ryan Schuette is a student at Ballston Spa High School and serves as a sports intern at The Ballston Journal.

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Three cheers for the Scotties

February 14, 2012 By Leave a Comment

BY RYAN SCHUETTE
news@theballstonjournal.com

This past weekend marked a milestone in the history of Ballston Spa High School as the varsity cheering squad placed first at the state competition in Utica, N.Y. “This was the first time we’ve ever gone to a competition like this,” said senior captain Emily Stalions. “It was a really nice change, and we came home with some big results.”

Competition season is much different from football season. During football season the team goes to all of the football games to cheer the team; during competition season the team does basketball games and cheerleading competitions. In competitions participating teams show off dance and cheerleading routines and are judged based on moves, synchronization, and overall performance.

“Football season is much more laid back,” said sophomore Lexy Davis. “Competition season requires much more focus and hard work; this year we have really come together well and put out routines that have made us successful.”

Building a routine is the hard part. It involves creating many different dance moves and mixing them together to make one smooth body of work. “When you build routines, you just have to take it in sections and build it piece by piece,” said junior Kayla LaFrank. “We all contributed parts of the dance and coach threw in some stunts and that became our routine.”

It all fell into place for the Scotties in Utica when they took first place in the statewide competition. “I was shocked,” said LaFrank. “It was very exciting to get that result.”

For Stalions the placing meant that much more as a senior. “I felt really pleased because we went against teams we’ve never seen before,” she said, “and they were some of the top teams in western New York.”

Stalions, who has been cheering for ten years, is looking at cheering in college. “It’s going to be so sad,” she said, when asked how it will feel to leave the Ballston Spa cheerleading squad behind. “These past four years have been amazing. I’m going to have to try not to cry when we take the mat for the last time.”

But the future is bright for the Scotties and they will have new leadership stepping up. “I feel like I’m going to need to be more of a leader now that this season is winding down and next season is coming,” said LaFrank. “We’ve all worked so hard and I feel I will need to step up even more soon.”

Although taking first feels like something out of a story book, it is certainly not the ending. There are still some competitions left this season and the majority of the team will be back next year to try and keep the success rolling. “I’m really glad that this year’s team has been able to put our differences aside and get a lot accomplished,” Davis said. “But one thing that I would like to see is more male cheerleaders. It would be nice to have more on the team next year!”

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Denied coach asks board to reconsider

February 9, 2012 By Leave a Comment

BY RICHARD HALLETT
richard@theballstonjournal.com

Dennis Hogan wants his job back.

When district school board president Keith Stewart opened the floor for public comment at the beginning of its Feb. 1 meeting, Hogan stepped to the microphone and, for nearly 15 minutes, expressed his disbelief and disappointment at being passed over for the position of assistant varsity track coach, a job he had held for eight years but vacated last year due to the sudden death of both parents.

Hogan said he was most upset during the final job interview by the reason the district gave for not hiring him.

“They said they did not think I was here for the kids,” said Hogan.

Hogan, who currently is a swim and dive coach for the high school’s highly successful swimming program, took offense at that remark and proceeded to offer several examples to the contrary: his at-home workout facilities open to student athletes for extra training, for example, and the home-cooked meals during team-building get-togethers, his success and expertise as a pole vault instructor, his willingness to make phone calls to coaches and set up interviews for students at prospective colleges, and more.

Hogan did not come to the meeting alone.

At his side were about a dozen or more supporters, including parents and several athletes presently under the tutelage of swim coach Hogan, a handful of whom paraded to the podium during the two public comment portions of the meeting to offer emotional words of praise and support.

Hogan said the job interview took place about three weeks ago and when word got out that he hadn’t been hired, letters of support began streaming in.

“Within 14 hours, 40 letters—some of them two or three pages long—were posted on Facebook,” said Hogan who, when not coaching, is general manager of the Harmony Group, a local building rehabilitation company.

And as for what he thought his chances were of getting his old job back?

“Not good,” said Hogan.

In addition, Hogan said he might consider resigning his position as coach of the swim and dive team if he were not reinstated as assistant track coach.

And while it is the policy of the board not to respond to public comments during a meeting, board president Stewart said the day after the meeting that in such cases it is not the board’s job to micromanage a teacher’s or coach’s decision making.

“It is the board’s job to conduct a review of the process, which we are doing,” said Stewart. “We look to see if everything in the hiring process has been fair, equitable and all the rules have been followed and, so far, it appears that everything in this case has been on the up and up.”

Stewart also wanted to commend the many people who took the time to come out and support Hogan.

“We appreciate the interest and level of involvement shown by the parents,” said Stewart. “We love to see that, whether it’s for athletics, academics or extracurricular activities, because in the end, it’s all about what’s best for the kids.”

It is expected the appointment of the new assistant varsity track coach will be announced at the next meeting of the school board on Wednesday Feb. 15 at 7 p.m. at the high school library.

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Coaches vs. cancer basketball events

January 30, 2012 By Leave a Comment

Ballston Spa High School Girl’s Basketball teams raise money for the Coaches Vs. Cancer Efforts

For all remaining home games to be held on Jan. 31, Feb. 7 and Feb. 14, the Ballston Spa High School girl’s basketball team will be offering a 50/50 raffle with half of all proceeds going directly to the Coaches vs. Cancer Foundation.

Coaches vs. Cancer is a program that supports the American Cancer Society by leveraging the dedication of student-athletes and the leadership of coaches. By participating in Coaches vs. Cancer, teams can fundraise in a number of different ways, and then donate to the American Cancer Society towards cancer research, advocacy, and patient services.

On Feb. 14, there will be a special a “Pink Out” game to raise awareness for breast cancer.  All spectators are asked to wear pink at this particular event.

For more information, contact Joan Libby, Director of Physical Education, Health, & Athletics, jlibby@bscsd.org.

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Local girls represent Ballston Spa in national soccer tourney

January 24, 2012 By Leave a Comment

BY STAFF REPORTS
news@theballstonjournal.com

The Lime Green Extreme soccer team of Ballston Spa successfully competed in a national three-on-three (3v3) championship soccer tournament held at Disney World in Orlando, Fla. over the Martin Luther King Day holiday weekend. Attending the national championship at Disney’s ESPN Wide World of Sports was the culmination of two years of intense training and competition for the girls.

“It’s an experience they’ll never forget,” said Scott Ostrander, whose daughter plays on the team. “Just to see the complex itself is an unbelievable experience. It’s gigantic. The look on their faces when we walked in was just priceless.”

Placing sixth overall in their 32-team division, Lime Green Extreme’s quest for the championship ended in the quarterfinals against the eventual second-place finisher.

The Lime Green Extreme soccer team (Photo courtesy Lime Green Extreme)

The highlight of the girls’ “magical experience” at Disney was meeting players from around the country who share their passion for soccer, according to a statement from the team.  Along the way they met and played against girls from Pennsylvania, Illinois, Arkansas, Texas and Georgia.

But Ostrander wouldn’t discount the trip to Disney World itself. “There wasn’t a lot of down time,” he said, “but the girls did get to go to Disney World and EPCOT. And they got to see the Magic Kingdom.”

While the 3v3 soccer format is uncommon in this area, it is widely played in the southern and midwestern areas of the United States. 3v3 soccer is played on small fields with an emphasis on fast-paced pass-and-shoot play.

Lime Green Extreme is a team of talented nine-year-old female soccer players from within the Ballston Spa School District. During 2010 and 2011, the team competed in local and regional tournaments in New York, Connecticut, Massachusetts and Pennsylvania.

Coached by Paul Kelley and Jason Miller, Lime Green Extreme placed in the top three during Northeast Regional 3v3 tournaments in Lancaster, Pa. in 2010 and Niagara Falls in 2011.  The tournaments qualified team members Grace Foti, Mikayla Kelley, Madison LeRoy, Morgan Miller, Jordyn Ostrander and Sarah Rule for play in the national championship tournament.

“The girls have been together for the last three years,” Ostrander said. “Hopefully they’ll stay together right through high school.”

Lime Green Extreme is sponsored by the Ballston Spa American Legion, Cole’s Spa Body Works, Saratoga International Group, the Ballston Spa Police Benevolent Association, Sunset Cafe, Vantage Point Bank/Matt Hickey, Collins Turfs Services, Mid-Town Wine and Spirits, Union Fire Company, O’Brien’s Pharmacy, Ballston Spa Elks Club, M&K Construction, Healthy Hart Fitness/Steve Hart, Ballston Spa VFW and Powmat Ltd.

“The sponsorships were just incredible,” Ostrander said. “We couldn’t have gotten a better response, just phenomenal.”

 

 

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