Sudden Impact
Tri-Valley/Fallsburg Boys Soccer Game Terminated After Frightening Second Period Collision Of Players; Girls Game Postponed As Well Due To Safety Concerns; Fallsburg’s Arturo Perez Okay After Night’s Stay At CRMC; Hunter Kennedy Treated And Released From Hospital
Fallsburg 2, Tri-Valley 0
By RICHARD A. ROSS
rross@sportsinsightsny.com
A night of great soccer would change into a night of gloomy concern after a scary midfield collision between Fallsburg sophomore Arturo Perez featured in earlier action in the top left photo and Tri-Valley's Hunter Kennedy pictured next to Perez, again earlier in the game in the top photo at right as they observe a scramble in front of the T-V goal. Perez was seriously hurt and had to be transported by ambulance to CRMC where he remained overnight. He' and Kennedy are both okay. Bottom left: Sam Didinsky beats T-V keeper Mike Devault for the game's first goal. Another close encounter of the cerebral kind: Didinsky and Tom Monforte nearly bang heads as Patrick McHugh looks on.
GRAHAMSVILLE, NY—It only takes a second for life to suddenly shift from the routine to the starkly dramatic.
The dramatic faces of comedy and tragedy mirror life's starkly contrasting emotions.
Ask drivers or passengers who have ever been in accidents. One minute they were just going along and then out of nowhere comes that unforgettable moment of a collision, that terrifying sound of metal on metal and then the aftermath….
Lives can be changed or even lost in the space of a nanosecond and we rarely see it coming.
As I write this piece that can’t help but focus on the terrifying on the field collision between Fallsburg sophomore Arturo Perez and Tri-Valley senior Hunter Kennedy, I am reminded just how precious life is, how fragile we are.
In the blink of an eye the focus on this chilly night shifted without warning from a compelling soccer game between rivals teams to the grave concerns about what could have been a potentially life-threatening injury.
Before recounting what occurred, it is of paramount importance to report that both boys are okay.
Perez was assiduously attended to by the Grahamsville EMS team and covered with a cascade of donated jackets, sweatshirts and sweaters from concerned fans to prevent him from going into shock.
Fallsburg senior keeper Dustin Foertsch making one of his powerful punts. Foertsch and teammate Daniel Justiniano went to the hospital to look in on Arturo Perez.. The team is literally a band of brothers.
This transpired just moments following the head-to-head collision with the much larger Kennedy as the two boys raced with all the verve of their youth and determination for a ball that veered towards the near sideline, literally a few feet from my fixed attention, not to mention far too close to be photographed by my nearly 300mm zoom lens. .
Kennedy was clearly shaken up, but soon able to get up on his own power apply an ice pack to his aching head and looked over by EMS staff, before heading off to the hospital with his mom to be further checked out.
By stark contrast, Perez had fallen instantly to the field and immediately went into convulsions which then morphed into an even more frightening state of motionless as coaches and other personnel rushed to his aid.
As is the case with volunteer ambulance services in rural areas, it took awhile for the ambulance to arrive. Meanwhile Coach Herb Foertsch knelt over Perez, holding his hand and reassuring him that help was on the way.
The EMS team methodically assessed Perez’s vital signs, checking his pupils for dilation and rendering his neck and head motionless for the ensuing transfer to a backboard beforeh is trip to Catskill Regional Medical Center.
The collision had occurred in an area of the field partially darkened by a stubborn set of lights that had kept going out during the game. There was still sufficient light for the game to be played in but officials had already decided during the halftime that if any others had gone out they were going to call the game and the subsequent girls game slated to follow.
Tri-Valley's Anthony Beale nearly gets one by Dustin Foertsch. Operative word here: nearly.
The incident occurred with 18:55 remaining in the second period. Fallsburg led 2-0 at that juncture but the game was clearly no longer the focus at this point; only the safety and well-being of the injured players and by extension, the two teams who awaited news about their condition and what was to happen next.
Foertsch never thought twice about what he needed to do. He accompanied Perez to the hospital in the ambulance. Devoted to his players whom he regards as his own children just like he does his son Dustin who is the team’s keeper, he sped off in the ambulance, leaving things in the hands of his able assistant coach Mike St. Lawrence.
The latter expressed his reservations to the officials about putting his team back out there on the partially darkened field and told them that Fallsburg Athletic Director Tim Bult was on his way and that the decision would rest with him and the Tri-Valley Athletic Director as to whether the game should be resumed.
By now it was getting later and later and the girls game slated to start at 8:00 would have been delayed by more than a half-hour at the least. Bult conferred with Tri-Valley Athletic Director Derek Adams, the coaches and the officials and after a lengthy confab, the game was called.
“Safety is our principal concern, “ stated Bult who noted that the game was official having passed its halfway mark and that the girls game would be rescheduled as quickly as they could agree on a viable date/time.
Foertsch’s wife Winnie, who diligently photographs Fallsburg sports of every ilk and variety was visibly shaken by the scene. Like her husband, she is immeasurably close to her son’s teammates. She messaged me early the next morning to let me know the boys were okay and that Dustin Foertsch and Danny Justiniano had gone to the hospital to be on hand for their teammate.
Such brotherhood is part and parcel of teams like Fallsburg where the bond of playing together forges abiding friendship and love. Perez is the younger brother of the now –graduated Victor Perez. The family ties speak for themselves and by family I am referring to the entire team connection.
While Tri-Valley (1-13, 0-9 OCIAA) is no longer in contention for a playoff berth, Fallsburg now 4-7 (2-5 OCIAA) needed to win every remaining game including this one, two against Eldred and one versus Chester to return to the sectionals where it has had its share of success as well as drama over the past two years.
The Bears kicked off to start the game but Fallsburg went right on the attack. Tri-Valley had trouble clearing the ball in the early going as Sam Didinsky turned it back as did Austin Halchak as the Comets pressed their cause.
Fallsburg drew first blood with 4:37 gone by on a goal by Didinsky for the 1-0 lead.
Fallsburg's Victor Martinez and Tri-Valley's Dan Lederman vie for a ball near the sideline.
Tri-Valley looked to counter as the ball was sent ahead to a charging Tyler Greffrath. Fallsburg knocked it out and on a throw in by Dan Lederman the Bears tried to take advantage of the short field in front of Foertsch to make something happen.
Fallsburg’s Alan Sierra prevented that with a rapid rush up the far side. T-V kicked it back in but Justiniano was there to reverse it again as the back-and-forth parry continued. Mike Devault made a save on a Fallsburg shot attempt. Devault stopped a Didinsky shot as the fiery Comet held the sides of his head in disappointment.
Much of the play continued in the midfield with great intensity, a foreshadowing of the second half catharsis but there would be no more scoring in the period as the teams came off the field with the Comets holding the narrow 1-0 lead.
The Comets would add to that with a goal by José Rubio on an assist from Didinsky at 24:17. The Bears had a couple of chances to get it by Foertsch including shots by Greffrath and Anthony Beale but the dominant keeper wasn’t going to be beaten on this night.
With the second period now more than half gone, the pace intensified as the Bears tried to break through. It was then that the aforementioned collision occurred and everything came to a halt.
Clearly the game stats were the last thing on my mind so I am unable to report on the minutiae including shots on goal, saves etc. Once the decision to call the game was rendered, Fallsburg’s 2-0 victory went into the books. The fans and the girls teams exited the field. The Tri-Valley girls who were hoping to clinch a playoff berth with a win over Fallsburg will now have to wait for that potential chance.
Good Golly Ms. Volley
Fallsburg senior volleyball players are honored on Senior Recognition Night: Left to right (players and coaches names only not including their representatives (sorry!) Coach Carlye Hyde, Shanice Mack, Isabel Mejia, Alexis McCarthy, Nicolle Freeman and Marie Countryman.
Fallsburg senior volleyball players had were honored on Senior Recognition Night prior to their 3-1 victory over Liberty. T-V seniors include Marie Countryman, Nicolle Freeman, Alexis McCarthy, Isabel Mejiaa and Shanice Mack. The girls posed for photos with their loved ones prior to the game in the ceremony overseen by Athletic Director Tim Bult and Coach Carlye Hyde.
The Lady Indians won the opening set 25-19 but the Lady Comets came back to win the subsequent three sets by the scores of 25-23, 25-18 and 25-20 to garner their third win and a season sweep of the Lady Indians. Fallsburg’s other win came against S.S. Seward.
Top Performers:
Fallsburg: Melissa Melko 7 aces, 19 service points, 4 digs; Shanice Mack 5 aces, 10 service points, 5 kills, 3 blocks, 3 digs; Isabel Mejia 3 aces, 5 service points, 3 kills, 4 digs.
Liberty: Tea Williams 4 aces, 10 service points, 3 assists, 5 kills, 4 blocks; Cortney Sawyer 2 aces, 9 service points, 3 assists, 6 kills, 2 digs; Kristen Siegel 4 service points, 5 assists.
Records: Fallsburg 3-15; Liberty 1-16.
For albums of photos from the volleyball and soccer games visit www.sportsinsights.smugmug.com
Girls Just Want To Have Fun
Fallsburg Shows Spirit And Sportsmanship Despite Imminent End To A Tough Season; Upbeat Tuxedo Tunes Up For Looming Sectional Battles
Tuxedo 3, Fallsburg 0; Game scores: 25-18, 25-11, 25-14
By RICHARD A. ROSS
rross@sportsinsightsny.com
They've got game and style: Fallsburg's Shanice Mack makes a fine play at the net, while Tuxedo's Kaitlyn Ratsep sends a laser into empty space against the Lady Comets. Mack will move on to basketball soon but Ratsep has more volleyball on the horizon in sectionals and travel team play throughout the year.
FALLSBURG, NY—We’ve lost something important in America and it’s a crying shame that we have. I’m referring to the idea that kids playing sports is supposed to be about having fun. That is not to say that engaging in athletics is not a great forum for personal development and the acquisition of residual life skills such as perseverance, teamwork and self-discipline.
That goes without saying.
Lethal with her service or at the net, Tuxedo's Sara Neyman rises to the occasion. Here she looms over Fallsburg's Jewliana Trujillo.
But in the highly competitive culture we have brought to the arena, even young toddlers are subjected to the “win at all costs,” mentality; a mindset that give some coaches and parents the deluded sense that the game is bigger than anything and that therefore comments, tactics and behavior no matter how obstreperous are fully justified.
They aren’t.
Watching the 2-15 Fallsburg Lady Comets working hard to try and compete with the talented 14-3 Tuxedo Lady Tornadoes was a refreshing foil to the news about a soccer player punching an opposing player in the face and fracturing her cheekbone.
While much attention will be focused on the unfortunate event and no doubt unleash a torrent of public outrage, we need to understand the cause as much as the effect.
Such events rarely happen in a vacuum. Unfortunately, the adult role models and I’m speaking here about players and even some coaches, send the wrong messages to kids with showboating, rude and crass behavior and violence.
What are we modeling for our children by such?
Kids need to be taught about playing the game within the borders of the rules and evincing proper deportment. To that end, coaches and parents have a key role to play in monitoring young people, counseling them or even sitting them down for awhile to remind them of the priorities .
I’m not talking about winning.
Long after games and seasons are consigned to the distant past, few if anyone remembers the scores or who won. What is left however are the residual impressions and lessons held by the players themselves. Looking back they should be able to reflect on their playing days as good times highlighted by friendship, camaraderie, accomplishments and some special moments.
Shanice Mack and Isabel Mejia form an imposing blocking barrier.
I’m confident to say that based on my observations, that both the Tuxedo and Fallsburg girls will be able to do just that. That is a credit to coaches Michelle Micklos and Carlye Hyde respectively,who are working hard not only to school their teams to play a better brand of volleyball, but to do it with class and good sportsmanship.
In that regard , these two teams despite the obvious differences in their records share a commonality. While it is routine to shake hands before and after a mtach, these girls did it with smiles, warmth and mutual respect.
Bravo!
There were few highlights to report on save the fact that Fallsburg quickly found itself on the wrong end of a 9-0 run by Tuxedo to start game one. Fine service by Tuxedo’s Sara Neyman was a key part of that early landslide as was the dominant play at the net by Kali Leu and Alexandra Gundermann, but to their credit the Lady Comets fought back got some points on the board. Trailing 14-5 they went on a 4-0 run. With Jewliana Trujillo serving the Lady Comets closed the gap to 16-11.
Service errors by Tuxedo shortened their possessions. Jewelisa Trujillo had an ace as Tuxedo continued to look a bit out of focus. Fallsburg now trailed 17-14, a 14-7 run from a prior large deficit. Leading 18-16 Tuxedo had Neyman back at the service line but Tuxedo drove it into the net to make it 18-17.
The Lady Comets’ valiant efforts were soon subsumed by Tuxedo’s heightened level of play as Leu had string of aces to close out the set at 25-18.
Tuxedo was far more dominant in the second set as the service began with the talented Kaitlyn Ratsep and the fine net play of Kelly Ross. The 3-0 lead was shortened as the Lady Comets fought back within one before Neyman’s service proved the difference maker once again. In the blink of an eye it was 10-2 before Alexis McCarthy broke through with a nice point at the net.
Service please? You bet: Tuxedo's Kelly Ross gets it done.
Fallsburg rallied to close the gap to 12-8 as again Tuxedo service was not as smooth as it needs to be in the coming firestorm of the playoffs. That’s when Ratsep began a string of unbelievable shots which she drilled into the Comet’s side with withering speed and accuracy. Revealing the skills she has mastered from her playing on the Whoosh travel team and from her teaching of volleyball, Ratsep had a number of Fallsburg male fans in the stands regarding her in awe.
“I wouldn’t want to be on the other side of the net with her doing that. There’s no way I could return that,” said one who would prefer to remain unnamed. His sentiments were affirmed by fans nearby.
Soon it was 19-8. Jewliana Trujillo got the crowd cheering with an ace as did Shanice Mack with a fine play at the net. Tuxedo closed it out at 25-11 for the two-zip lead.
Fallsburg served but Tuxedo scored first in the third game before Mack tied it up. Tuxedo got out to 9-2 lead as Gundermann’s service was too much for the Lady Comets. Isabel Mejia reversed the polarity with her fine service as the Lady Comets scored four straight points to make it 9-6.
Tuxedo widened the gap but couldn’t seem to put Fallsburg away as the Lady Comets fought valiantly to stay in the game.
Neyman’s service and Gundermann’s net play soon made it 15-10 before the two teams engaged in their best volley of the night as the ball was dug out and batted back and forth to the delight of the crowd before Tuxedo finally won the point.
The Lady Tornadoes came away with the 25-14 victory that completed the 3-0 match sweep.
Micklos spoke about the game who agreed that things were a bit ragged in the first game as far as her team’s efficiency was concerned. “We’re using these last couple of games to gear up for sectionals. So I wanted them to work a little more on certain plays that we have instead of just killing the ball,” she noted.
Smiles, respect and good sportsmanship. Now that's what sports is all about!
“There’s a lot of stuff we need to keep working on and keep pushing. This is season two and now we’re heading towards season three.” Micklos anticipates that Tuxedo will be the number three or four seed in the upcoming playoffs but the opponent is still unclear at this juncture.
“Hopefully we get lucky and have a home game,” she said jovially.
Coach Hyde said, “My girls are definitely a come-from-behind team. We’ve never started out in the lead even when we won whole matches. They’ve always come back and won. It’s been their strong point. When they get down they push harder. Their motto this year has been teamwork. And it’s taken most of the season to figure out that if they play like a team, they feel like a team.”
“The bigger and better teams like Tuxedo an O’Neill don’t intimidate them. They’re not scared of anything they come up against and they always play their hardest.
Fallburg will conclude its season with a home game/senior tribute against Liberty on October 20. Liberty and Seward are the only teams they’ve beaten.
Top performers:
Fallsburg: Jewlisa Trujillo 8 digs, 7 points, 1 ace, 1 kill; Isabell Meija 5 points, 3 digs, 2 aces; Sarah Weiner 6 points, 4 aces, 2 digs.
Tuxedo: Sara Neyman 19 points, 3 aces, 2 digs, 1 kill, 1 block; Kelly Ross 18 points, 17 assists, 3 digs, 2 aces, 2 kills; Alex Gundermann 8 points, 5 kills, 2 blocks, 2 digs, 1 ace.
Records: Tuxedo 14-3; Fallsburg 2-15.
Despite that fact, there was nothing but smiles and fun as the girls cavorted on the court while putting things away. Tuxedo girls looked over, smiling and laughing along with them.
Like the title says, “Girls just want to have fun.”
For an album of photos visit www.sportsinsights.smugmug.com
