Uncommon Valor; Undying Pride
Monties Leave It All Out On The Court In Senior Night Clash Versus Powerful Warwick; Team Shows Grit and Character To Represent Storied Program In Coach Atack’s First Instance In Her Two Decades of Coaching Volleyball That Team Won’ t Make Sectionals.
Warwick, 3, Monticello 1: Scores: 25-17, 23-25, 25-17, 25-19
By RICHARD A. ROSS
rross@sportsinsightsny.com
Scenes from Monticello's Senior Night game versus Warwick: (Clockwise): Cassi Smithem rises above the net to answer the challenge. Seniors Cassi Smithem, Katie Fisher and Dayanara Torres, the Monties' volleyball motto, Warwick sophomore Maddie Zwicki blasts a ball to the floor for a riveting point, Shamira Moore shows her great vertical leap and defensive verve, Warwick's Liz Lepski fires it towards the Monties.
MONTICELLO, NY—“There’s a first time for everything,” observed Ed Kaufmann, Monticello’s longstanding volleyball assistant coach who teamed up with Coach Karen Atack for 18 years in addition to coaching a variety of other sports including softball and wrestling as part of his 34-year career at Monticello before his retirement in 2009.
Kaufmann was referring to the fact that this would mark the first time in Atack’s 20 years at the volleyball helm that her team would not make it to sectionals. That streak which represents one of Section Nine’s milestones was a product of an unwavering commitment and work ethic that the coach has instilled in her teams year after year.
Shamira Moore takes her game to a new level as she rises above the net versus Warwick.
Nothing lasts forever.
That’s a fact of life and even storied runs like Joe DiMaggio’s 56-game hitting streak or Monroe-Woodbury’s 63-game consecutive football victories against Section Nine opponents must eventually come to an end.
Upon the occasion of Kaufmann’s retirement , Atack lauded him by saying, “We made a pact to strive for excellence and you kept your part of the bargain.” Needless to say, the Coach has and continues to live up to her word as well.
Though this story is about her current team’s home finale, a loss to a powerful Warwick team whose only defeats have come against behemoths Pine Bush and Cornwall, a bit more needs to be said about Atack here for what she models, teaches and requires from her players.
Atack calls forth their best and demands impeccable deportment and commitment. She’s tough that’s for sure..but caring even more so. In return for what she exacts from her players, she imparts to them values that will serve them for the rest of their lives.
Just such tributes were inscribed on the thank you poster team members had written on which they presented to her prior to the game. Zoom in on the photo of the poster in the accompanying album to read those words. They speak of gratitude, respect and thanks.
Encouragement, mentorship and wise management make for great coaching: Case in point Warwick's Patrick Ellis. His team's success speaks for itself.
Atack’s extraordinary run at the helm began after taking over from Mary Bury in 1990. In a match against Goshen on October 12, 2007, the Lady Panthers garnered what would become Atack’s 300th career win against 66 defeats at that juncture.
That season the Monties went on to make to the Class A finals where they lost to Cornwall. More victories have been added to the ledger since then though the Lady Panthers have not gotten back to the finals.
During the Atack reign, Monticello has won 10 conference championships that included six undefeated seasons, four Section Nine titles (the last coming in 2001 when Atack was named Coach of the Year), eight Section Nine runner-ups, several OCIAA Sportsmanship Awards and one state Scholar Championship.
Prior to the game three Monticello seniors were honored. Cassi Smithem played in the program for five years. She claims that the volleyball program has taught her life lessons and given her an experience she’ll never forget. Smithem thanked her mom for her 100 percent attendance at her games during her career.. “It meant more to me than she will ever know.”
Katie Fisher is a six year veteran who plans to go to college to study biomedical engineering and then continue on to medical school. “A heartwarming thanks to her parents and her sister Jackie for their undying support and thanks Coach Atack and Coach K and she will miss her days of playing volleyball for Montie High,” comprised her parting words.
Dayanara Torres thanks her mom for all of her hard work. A five year player at Monticello, Torres plans to attend college next year and to study psychology.
Monticello's volleyball legacy is impressive to say the least under Atack's watch. This banner reflects the most recent v-ball triumph that adorn the gym.
Kaufmann was honored as well and posed for a picture with the trio of elder stateswomen.
The Lady Wildcats of Warwick came in sporting a 12-2 record. Their only defeats came against ten-time defending Class AA champion Pine Bush and seven-time defending Class A champion Cornwall. The likely two-seed in the upcoming sectionals, Warwick hopes to break through finally to defeat Pine Bush for a title, a team they’ve lost to in the championships every year since 2007.
Given Monticello’s record, they had to be surprised by the Lady Panthers’ defensive verve. As Coach Patrick Ellis would note following his team’s victory. “They’re a scrappy team. It didn’t matter what we were putting out. They were all over the place picking up a lot of our stuff. They’re really good defensively,” he averred.
Monticello’s inspiring play during the match was defined by hustle, great teamwork and resilience. Having not seen them since the early part of the season, this writer was astonished at their progress.
“We have come such a long way. Even against Pine Bush..we got 15 points off of them. Ed and I agreed that Pine Bush was the top third team that we had ever seen play during our career.”
Great competitive play: Warwick's Erin Byrne and Monticello's Cassi Smithem meet at the net.
Shamira Moore is one of the people that has shown the most improvement on our team. At the beginning of the year she was hitting the net about 14 times.
She did it four times today but her elbow is now above the net and she is going to be a tremendous player next year I believe,” noted Atack.
Moore was not the only player Atack would cite. “Cassi represented Monticello very well tonight. She never gives up.
This was senior night and our goal was to leave heart and soul on the floor tonight and to be mentally and physically drained.. Looking at Cassi (and others) you could say that that happened,” she noted.
“Unleash the Beast,” is Monticello’s volleyball motto, emblazoned on the back of their warm up t-shirts and adorning the wall in the legendary “Pit.” Fisher took that sentiment to heart as she scored the first point of the night at the net. She was answered by a booming blast from sophomore setter Maddie Zwicki. Warwick made it 3-1 before Moore effected a nice block for the Lady Panthers.
Smithem tied it up and the Monties soon took a 5-3 lead but Warwick fought right back to tie it up at seven apiece. Again the Monties pushed to the fore front with an ace from Torres. The game was tied again at 11-all before Warwick went on a 5-0 run. Smithem’s net play kept the Monties in the game as did Moore’s digs as the Lady Wildcats now led 20-17 Warwick scored the last five points with junjior outside hitter Taylor Baldwin on the service line. Warwick took the first set 25-17.
A group of Montie males entered the bleachers bare chested with the words spelling out GO PANTHERS! collectively painted on their chests.
The Lady Monties played their best in set number two as they beat Warwick 25-23.
Katryna Rokicki began the service but Warwick pulled out to a quick 3-0 lead that soon burgeoned to a 7-1 margin behind senior outside hitter Lexi Pascal’s service. “Let’s go Panthers, let’s go,” chanted the home crowd and Moore soon dealt an ace to help the Panthers’ comeback reach 7-4.
Monticello's Katie Fisher slashes a ball by a rising Liz Lepski to the delight of the home crowd in "The Pit."
Smithem cut the lead to 7-6 with her play at the net. Katie Fisher spiked it in before the teams exchanged miscues by hitting it into net. Warwick maintained its lead as it moved ahead to 15-11 but the Monties responded as Moore made a nice block at the net as part of a run that reversed the polarity of the game in Monticello’s favor. Warwick was still in the lead at 21-17 but the Monties refused to relent.
Ellis called a time out as his team’s lead shrank to one at 21-20. With Aimee Rice at the service line the Monties tied it up and then went in the lead 22-21. A kill by Warwick senior Rachel Janes tied it up. Warwick got ahead again for the last time at 23-22 before the Lady Monties socred the last three points for the win behind Smithem’s service.
The teams battled mightily in the early going as Monticello dug out balls that were veering towards the floor on their way to an early 8-3 lead. Taylor’s service enabled Warwick to fight right back in a set they’d win by eight points erelong.
Monticello led 14-9 at one juncture, looking to take a pivotal lead in the match but they were outscored 16-3 as the tide turned dramatically in Warwick’s favor as they won 25-17 to take a 2-1 lead.
The final match was a bit closer at 25-19. It too featured relentlessly strong defense by the Lady Monties who continued to play with unflagging intensity.
Mutual respect and good sportsmanship are the hallmarks of admirable programs like Warwick and Monticello. They are a credit to their schools, communities, their parents and coaches whom they represent.
Ellis agreed that his team has some really fine hitters. ‘But we weren’t playing to where we have been,” he noted. “What we did really well tonight was that we stayed focus through a lot of the longer rallies. We didn’t have a lot of service errors. We’ve had a few games where we’ve gotten into the service error factor a few times. Tonight we took the time to get the solid serves in that we needed at crucial times,” he added.
Asked about what still needs work, he responded, “The biggest thing is energy level on our side of the net and the communication factor..keeping the energy high and when you have that lull in the gym without the crown on your side to keep you up. We need to work on that.
Warwick which is undefeated (6-0) in Division II figures to lock horns with Pine Bush again in the sectionals.
Top performers:
Monticello: Shamira Moore 3 aces, 11 service points, 3 assists, 6 kills, 8 digs; Cassi Smithem 2 aces, 5 service points, 3 assists, 3 kills, 6 digs; Aimee Rice 7 service points, 6 kills, 8 digs.
Warwick: Erin Byrne 2 aces, 12 service points, 8 kills, 4 blocks, 2 digs; Maddie Zwickl 20 service points, 14 assists, 8 kills, 6 digs; Taylor Baldwin 2 aces, 9 service points, 14 assists, 5 kills, 4 digs.
Records: Monticello 7-11; Warwick 13-2.
“Our goal is improvement,” said Atack. We’ve lost a lot of people and we have a lot to make up and we’re willing to accept the challenge going forward, said the iconic coach.
Despite this year’s shortfall in terms of wins, the Monticello volleyball story goes on and this writer for one, can’t wait for 2012 to pen the next chapter.
For an album of photos, visit www.sportsinsights.smugmug.com
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
Travel Day
Stopovers At Eldred Homecoming Grid Loss To Onteora And Sullivan West’s Volleyball Defeat To Tuxedo Yield Great Photos Amisdt Disappointing Local Outcomes
Football: Onteora 28, Eldred 22
Volleyball: Tuxedo defeats Sullivan West 25-18, 25-13, 25-15
By RICHARD A. ROSS
rross@sportsinsightsny.com
Double trouble: Eldred and Sullivan West are both defeated in home encounters in football and volleyball respectively (Clockwise: Eldred players burst through the Homecoming banner held by cheerleaders prior to their 28-22 loss to Onteora. Tuxedo's Sara Neyman serves up an ace against Sullivan West. She had 25 service points, five aces and four digs in the 3-0 victory. Sullivan West''s Karalii Rabii was a bright spot for the Lady Bulldogs. She had nine service points a block and a kill. Eldred's Adam Schoch scores on the Yellow Jackets' opening drive. It was all the points they could muster for the rest of the half. Zak Dilles makes a shoestring tackle on Onteora's Chris Polo in the opening series by the Indians.
SULLIVAN COUNTY, NY—These days find me racing around trying to catch up on a spate of stories as the fall season hurtles towards its dramatic conclusion. As this was Homecoming Week in many area schools, I hastened to Eldred to capture pictures of the seniors and a brief interlude of the Yellow Jackets’ game against Onteora.
Eldred Seniors are honored prior to the Homecoming game.
Originally scheduled for October 14, the game was postponed due to impending rain, a downpour I withstood as I covered the Sullivan West Homecoming game versus Rondout Valley. The Eldred game could not be played on Saturday due to the SAT’s which a number of Onteora players were being taxed by so it was shifted to October 17.
A large crowd assembled on the hill to cheer on the Yellow Jackets. It’s been a tough season for Coach Pat Kean in his debut; one marked by a series of close games that resulted in a pair of crucial league losses to Chester and Livingston Manor/Roscoe. With only 17 players in the fold, substitutions have been sparse and with the playoff berth contention hinging on winning either one of those games, the Yellow Jackets find themselves on the outside looking in for the second year in arrow as their Class D rivals get set to dial it up in a rematch of last year’s Chester victory.
Two seasons back it was Eldred that was the dominant squad as Kean served as assistant to his dad Frank. That Eldred squad not only won Section Nine but beat out powerful Tuckahoe in a regional clash before losing to Moriah just one game shy of making it to the Carrier Dome.
Year in and year out, Eldred cheerleaders are a constant source of spirit.
This day’s festivities began with the honoring of seniors Tyler Knapp, Jordan Tice, Brian Grimm, Adam Schoch, Zak Dilles, Alec Martell, Anthony Moriggia,, Vinny Riina and T.J. VanHorn. Gang Green was clearly amped to keep hapless Onteora in the familiar confines of the losing column.
After all, the Indians had only one win in the past four years, a victory in the clash of the winless versus Fallsburg in last year’s season opener. Things began on a promising note as the Eldred defense led by the athletic Dilles stuffed Onteora far back at the Indians’ end of the field and then used the short field to marshal a quick scoring drive capped off by Adam Schoch’s 32-yard TD run, his second of the year.
Anthony Margarum kicked the PAT and Eldred had the 7-0 lead at 8:41 of the first quarter.
The sequence of details from the remainder of the game cannot be provided here as I was compelled to race back to Sullivan West to witness their attempt to clinch a volleyball playoff berth against dominant Tuxedo. More on that shortly.
First a word to the Eldred fans and players regarding my absence during the season and my hasty departure.
Eldred quarterback Anthony Margarum
For eight years I literally lived on the sidelines of Eldred football. For seven of those I was the sports editor at the River Reporter and Eldred was part of my beat. In addition, given my longstanding friendship and respect for Coach Frank Kean, I made it my business to always keep Eldred front and center in my lens and stories.
Following my departure from the paper to begin my own business venture in founding Sports Insights; sportsinsightsny.com, I solicited area schools to see which ones would engage me to cover all of their sports for a nominal fee and to provide them with slide shows for their award presentation nights. Five of them signed on including Sullivan West, Tri-Valley, Fallsburg, Monticello and Liberty.
Trying to cover every varsity sport season to season for those five school districts, and doing so all by my lonesome has been a daunting task. In the process I only get to photograph and write about Eldred sports when the Yellow Jackets are up against one of my schools. Sadly I missed the Eldred/Tri-Valley overtime game, won dramatically by Eldred in its stalwart defensive stand, as I was already committed to another fray on that occasion.
I have the utmost respect for Eldred athletics and will try and make myself less scarce during basketball season. Running sports like cross-country, indoor and outdoor track always find me close at hand as all the schools run against each other. In other sports, I’ll no doubt surface from time to time.
Perhaps in coming years, Eldred may become part of the widening circle of schools I cover and then my face will seem far more familiar once again.
After Schoch’s TD, Onteora scored 22 unanswered points in the first half to garner a 22-7 halftime lead.
Eldred held the Indians to a lone TD in the second half while scoring 15 points but came up short in the 28-22 defeat. Eldred fell to 2-5, while Onteora got its first win and improved to 1-6.
Chris Pollo rushed for 186 yards an had two touchdowns for Onteora. Pollo scored on runs of 45 and 2 yards Tim Schultis tossed two touchdown passes to Nick Occhi for six and 25 yards.
Zak Dilles had 10 carries for 81 yards for Eldred and Anthony Margarum threw for 139 yards.
Kean will look to rebuild his team from its strong Modified squad that currently is packed with talented freshman. Eldred will play Fallsburg next week in its season finale.
Lady Tornadoes Swirl Through Sullivan West Delaying Lady Bulldogs Needed Berth-Clinching Win For Playoffs
Facing tough teams like 13-3 Tuxedo is just the kind of preparation Sullivan West needs for its hoped for fifth straight year in the playoffs. But after losing in straight sets to the visiting Lady Tornadoes in a match that featured a competitive first game followed by two walkovers, the Lady Bulldogs are still one win shy of making it back to the dance.
Tuxedo senior Alexandra Gundermann pounds it home in a dominant play at the net. Tuxedo's advantage up front, coupled with fine service proved too much for the Lady Bulldogs after a competitive first game.
Sullivan West Coach Cliff Kelly was hoping his team would rise to the occasion and play the kind of volleyball he has seen them evince at times, something they did in the first game of the team’s initial meeting this year before falling apart in the subsequent games for the 3-0 loss.
A momentous recent win over Burke had the ladies in Carolina Blue and White looking to continue the magic but Tuxedo had other ideas as they put up a red light to put the brakes on the Westies’ bid to hand them a loss to any team other than dominant James. I. O’Neill.
Sullivan West got off to a good start as the teams battled to 5-5, 6-6, 7-7 in the early going before Tuxedo got ahead by a couple of points. Nice work by Melissa McCormack at the net had the Bulldogs back within one but Tuxedo’s strong net play widened the gap again. Sullivan West pulled ahead 14-13 with a nice serve by Erika Stauch.
Tuxedo regained the upper hand with deft net play from Kaitlyn Ratsep and the dynamic service of Sar Neyman. A kill by Kali Leu added to the margin as Tuxedo would go on to outscore Sullivan West 6-1 in the waning sequence of the game to garmer the 25-18 win for the 1-0 lead.
Ratsep began the service for the Lady Tornadoes to start game two. Neyman’s subsequent service which began with the Lady T’s leading 2-1 helped the red storm get out to a 12-1 lead before the Lady Bulldogs broke through to end her service run. Brittney Milk served for two points before Kelly Ross began to hold sway from the Tuxedo service line.
Powerful spikes led to poor first touches by the Lady Westies who seemed to be playing back on their heels and lacking the fire needed to counteract the powerful onslaught. Karalii Rabii got the Westies on a roll as they closed the gap to 17-12. Tuxedo regrouped to scored go on a 6-0 run to make it 23-12 before closing out the 25-13 win for the 2-0 lead.
Sullivan West's Rebecca Corcillo rises up to block a ball sent over by Tuxedo's Kaitlyn Ratsep.
A service error by Sullivan West began an inauspicious third game. With Neuman serving the Lady Tornadoes got out to a 10-0 lead. Barbara Whittaker had a pair of aces for Sullivan West. The Lady Tornadoes sailed along to a 13-5 margin before a brief lapse in communication afforded the Lady Westies a point. That brought Rabii back to the line but only for a pair of points as the Lady Bulldogs couldn’t sustain any momentum.
The Bulldogs fought back to get it to 20-15 before Tuxedo closed it out with a 5-0 run.
Tuxedo Coach Michelle Mickolos talked about her team which lost to Burke in the first round. This year Tuxedo may be the fourth seed though it’s hard to know what is going on in the MHAL. Rhinebeck has a good record as does Millbrook.
“I have six seniors out of my nine players,” noted Micklos. They include setter Kelly Ross, Alexandra Gundermann, outside hitter Kaitlyn Ratsep, Brittany Catino who is currently sidelined and Alexandra Savarese who wasn’t here for this game.”
Three of the Lady Tornadoes play all year round, Kaitlyn Ratsep and Kelly Ross play for Whoosh, while Kali Leu for the Falcons. “They put in the time,” she added.
Sullivan West Coach Cliff Kelly tells his team, "We're better than this," reminding them that they'v e got to play with more consistency in the coming playoffs against tough teams like Tuxedo, O'Neill etc.
Sullivan West Coach Cliff Kelly had this to say: “I expected to play like we played in the first game and battle them,” he noted while referencing the similarity to the first encounter earlier this season. “We played very well and looked good. Then they kick it in and let them do what they want,” he added.
Kelly had told his girls during a time out, “We’re better than this.”
When you play a great game like the first one, you expect to play three great games,” he noted calling this a tune up for a sectional game..”We have to make a better showing. I told my team we have to be in the 20’s in every game. We don’t have a lot of big offensive attacks because our first touches are not what they should be. They’re good servers and they put you right on your defense just sending the ball back over giving them the initial attack.
They hit over the top of our block and I don’t have a problem with that. They’re just more athletic than us,” he observed.
Kelly hopes to get ten wins to avoid O’Neill in the first round. That might give him Tuxedo instead. In either case it’s a long ride, something he is used to taking. Can you say Millbrook! The closest place was Ellenville where the Lad y Bulldogs got a sectional win a couple of years back.
Sullivan West travels to Liberty on October 19 in an attempt to secure the playoff berth clincher. “They’re getting better. You can’t take anyone for granted,” concluded Kelly.
Top performers included:
Tuxedo: Sarah Neyman 25 service points; 5 aces; 4 digs; Kelly Ross 18 assists; 9 serv ice points; 4 kills; 3 digs; Kali Leu 11 service points; 10 kills; 2 blocks.
Sullivan West: Karalii Rabii 9 service points; block, kill; Erica Stauch 5 service points; 5 digs; Melissa McCormack 3 digs; 2 service points; 2 kills.
Records: Tuxedo 13-3 (13-3 OCIAA); Sullivan West 8-6 (8-6 OCIAA).
For albums of photos from the football and volleyball games, visit www.sportsinsights.smugmug.com
Back To Basics
Monticello Sweeps Non-League Series Against Sullivan West As Teams Approach New Season Stressing Fundamentals
Non-league: Monticello d. Sullivan West 3-1
Game scores: 26-24, 25-11, 21-25, 25-15
By RICHARD A. ROSS
rross@sportsinsightsny.com
Season opening series: Monticello completes the sweep of the season opening non-;league matches against Sullivan West by a 3-1 score in a closely contested series of games. Clockwise: 2011 Lady Monties- Front row left to right: Katryna Rokicki, Cassi Smithem, Katie Fisher. Second row: Aimee Rice, Yadira Montes, Kiyara Bracy and Shamira Moore. Third row:: Dayanara Torres, Yamilersy Reyes, Saige Sanford, Shivani Patel, Marcella Fernandez and Ashley Falu. Katie Fisher serves and Yadira Montes does her magic at the net. Bottom right: Chelsie Stauch returns a serve and Karalii Rabii readies for a volley. Lady Bulldogs 2011: Front row left to right: Rebecca Corcillo and Brittney Milk. Second row: Courtney Landers, Karalii Rabii, Brittany Roa, Barbara Whittaker, Melissa McCormack, Alexa Buday, Chelsie Stauch and Erika Stauch.
LAKE HUNTINGTON, NY—A new season is always about starting over. But for Monticello iconic coach Karen Atack, losing ten of her players who graduated last June makes that phrase even more literally accurate.
With only four seniors on the roster including just two who saw significant playing time last year in Katie Fisher and Cassi Smithem, Atack’s youngsters have their work cut out for them as they face a bevy of Class AA teams in their schedule in addition to juggernaut division rival Cornwall and other league contenders in Port Jervis and Goshen. Veteran junior Katryna Rokicki was also part of last year’s fine team and as the team’s first server, she looks to try and lend her expertise to the cause.
That said, even with the exit of so much talent, Class A Monticello has emerged 2-0 with a pair of match wins over Class C Sullivan West.
For their part, the Lady Bulldogs ably coached by Cliff Kelly is fielding a time almost entirely blessed with prior experience. Having made sectionals for the past three years in a row, Sullivan West, with only two seniors in the fold in Rebecca Corcillo and Brittney Milk, look sharper and more cohesive than they did a year ago.
Monticello's first server: junior veteran Katryna Rokicki
The result was much closer play against Monticello, a team that in prior years bested them far more easily. In fact, Sullivan West won the second game of this match by the score of 25-11 riding the overpowering service of junior Karalii Rabbi who posted a game-high 21 points to go along with her two blocks and four kills.
The teams looked very evenly matched in the opening set as the Monties prevailed 26-24 in a game Kelly felt really could easily have been won by his squad. He challenged his team in the break between sets and the Lady Bulldogs answered the challenge in the second set as they dominated Monticello 25-11.
The Lady Monties led by the opening service of Rokicki bolted out to a 7-0 lead. Rokicki ripped a quartet of aces in that initial surge. Sullivan West fought back but couldn’t muster a sustained run as the Monties prevailed 25-18 for the win. In their prior match staged in the Monticello Pit, Monticello won games to one, oddly beginning the set with another 26-24 nail biter.
After this match Atack noted, “We’ll take the win. We still have a lot to work on. Tonight different people stepped up in different areas. Katryna served first for a reason. She did lead in serves. Yadira Montes is supposed to be the leading person handling balls at the net which she did. We still need basic skills. These girls are very willing to work hard and together. I’m happy with certain things, but realistically we still have a lot of hard work ahead of us. Fundamental skill is nearly where it needs to be. We did have some communication problems. Monticello faces three games in the next three school days as they begin the next part of their schedule taking on Class AA Kingston, Washingtonville and Valley Central.
Kelly said, “We had our moments and our opportunities to win these games. We just shot ourselves in the foot a couple of times. We had good servers and good positions. “ Kelly feels his team is better than it was a year ago. Sullivan West is entering the league portion of its schedule with matches against Fallsburg, Liberty and Tuxedo.
Monticello top performers: Katie Fisher 12 points, 5 kills; Yadira Montez 9 points, 7 assists, 10 kills.
Sullivan West top performers: Karalii Rabii 21 points, 2 blocks, 4 kills, 4 digs; Rebecca Corcillo 4 points, 2 blocks, 5 kills, 2 digs; Erica Stauch 8 points; Chelsea Stauch 6 points, 5 kills; Melissa McCormack 6 points, 4 blocks, 4 digs.
Team records: Monticello 2-0; Sullivan West 0-2.
For an album of photos visit www.sportsinsights.smugmug.com
