BOYS
TEAM LEADER
WILL BROMIRSKI
CAMBRIDGE BASKETBALL

When an award is handed out for performance it is usually based on wins and losses, but that does not always show how extraordinary a single player truly is.  A single player is never the reason for wins in losses in a team sport but when a player scored every one of their teams points in a single game, not only is he the most valuable player on a team, but also one of the most impressive in the area.
In the opening game of the Season Cambridge was given the unfortunate task of taking on an extremely talented (and now state ranked) Green Tech squad.  The Eagles held every other member of the Indians scoreless with one exception.  Will Bromirski dropped 35 points against one of the State’s top teams.
Throughout the month of December Bromirski has continued to lead the Indians by scoring 53% of the teams points.  Cambridge may not be off to the start that they had hoped for this season finishing December with a 1-6 record, but with Bromirski at the helm, this team has a chance to shock some teams as the year goes on.
An all-around athlete with a knack for scoring and the intangibles to lead a team will make the Indians dangerous throughout the season and have made Will Bromirski the Play it Again Sports male athlete of the month for December.

Entering the 2011-12 basketball season there was a lot of hype surrounding many of the areas top basketball prospects.  A few underclassmen had already declared which colleges they would continue their academic and athletic futures at.  One in particular followed up the hype with  stellar start to the season.
In the month of December, Cassie Broadhead has led her team to a 4-2 start including a 2-0 start in the Foothills averaging 22.2 points per game.  For this and much more Cassie has been named the Play it Again Sports female athlete of the month for December. 
The junior guard opened her season with a 22 point performance against Stillwater.  She then followed it up by netting 30 points against a stingy Catholic Central defense.  That 30 led the Tartans to the 61-50 win over the Lady Crusaders.
In her first two league games of the Season, the BYU bound (but not until 2013) sharpshooter scored a total of 51 points in Scotia victories over Broadalbin Perth and South Glens Falls.
Her all around play has put Scotia in position to make a run not only at a league title, but once again the opportunity to capture the Section II championship as well. 
Cassie’s sure handed ball skills, crisp passing and stifling defense greatly compliment her scoring making her one of the top student athletes in Section II.  IN the first 6 Tartan’s games, Broadhead has scored 43% of her teams points and will continue to lead Scotia, not only for the rest of this season, but next year as well.

Perfection is very difficult to obtain, and when it does happen many factors come into play.  In a team sport it definitely takes a lot of teamwork.  It also takes pure domination to win 23 games.  What helps the most is to have a star player who is one of the most unstoppable scorers in New York State.  Megan Strijek was just that for the Schalmont Sabres girl’s soccer team this season and for that she has been named to nycapitalsports.net Play It Again Sports female athlete of the month for November.
The Sabres made it through their Colonial Council and Section II schedule unscathed and won the Sectional Class B title.  They then entered the New York State tournament which is where Strijek shone her brightest.  First Strijek scored her 100^th career goal in the Regional Championship against Beekmantown.  Next came the State semifinals and finals.  In the most important games in Schalmont history, the senior forward scored a hat trick in each of the teams’ final games, 4-0 victories over defending champion Bronxville and Greece Athena in the title game.
No matter when or where, Strijek always seemed to find a way to score.
“She is a very strong player who never gives up.” Claims Schalmont head coach Angelo Caschera
These are just a few of the qualities that helped Strijek and Schalmont achieve perfection.  Her Coach has been around some great teams and players and notices what sets Strijek apart.
Give her a little bit of space and she is going to pick you apart.” Explains Caschera.  “She’s got a beautiful shot and is very aggressive.”
It was not only Megan Strijek that brought home an undefeated State Championship for Schalmont.  The Sabres recorded 18 shutouts in their 23 games and outscored their opponents 131-6, a fete unmatched in Section II. 
A fete much easier to accomplish when you have a player like Megan Strijek.

In the month of October, The Albany Academy football team won four of their five games.  The only loss came in a non-league matchup against Beekmantown.  During that 5 game stretch senior quarterback Conner Hartigan passed for 248 yards and threw 3 touchdown passes, not amazing numbers for a quarterback.  Now add these numbers in....121 carries for 933 yards rushing and 14 touchdowns on the ground and you have one outstanding month.  For his efforts, Conner Hartigan has been named the NYCS Boys Athlete of the Month for October.
Hartigan transferred to Albany Academy in December 2010 from CBA.
 "I needed a change and felt that Academy would be a better fit for me both academically and athletically.", said the 17 year old Senior. 
The move proved to be more than what both Hartigan and the team bargained for.  Hartigan was supposed to be a running back and safety, but after the second devastating knee injury to starting quarterback Hunter McCarthy, Hartigan was asked to move to quarterback.  Albany Academy came into the season as a team that felt they would have a very balanced offensive attack, but after McCarthy's injury the whole offense had to be revamped. 
"It was tough at first.  I had just learned a new system and playbook as a running back and I had to re-learn everything as a quarterback." says Hartigan.  "Coach (Tony) Fruscio really helped me a lot and he brought us together as a team. My teammates helped a lot as well.   It took some time but we got it down.”
Hartigan will graduate in June and then plans to attend College where he will continue to play football.  Several Division I and III schools have shown considerable interest in Hartigan.  This upcoming weekend he will be visiting the University of New Hampshire.  Other schools such as D-III Hobart also still remain in the mix.  Hartigan says he is undecided as to what he will major in while attending college but has some interest in Psychology or Liberal Arts.  He is also undecided where he will play on the football field.
"Could be at running back or slot back. Maybe even defense, I dont care. Whatever the team needs I will do."
Hartigan says.
Sounds like a familiar theme from this versatile athlete

Two seasons ago Coach Karl Gerstenberger jumped from the boy’s soccer program and took over the girls program at Mechanicville High School.  Over the last 2 years he has had the pleasure of coaching one of the top players in all of Section 2, Abby Maiello.  
"Abby just has a knack for scoring goals.  She can score in bunches all of a sudden and crush the spirit of the other team.", states the coach. 
During the month of October, Maiello crushed many a spirit.  In 8 games during the month Maiello scored 24 goals while assisting on 9 others.  Mecahincville won all 8 games.  For her effort Abby Maiello has been named the NYCS Girls Athlete of the Month for October.
Mechanicville lost early in the season to rival Lansingburgh.  After that loss, Maiello and her teammates vowed to not let that happen again. 
"Our best moment this year had to be when we came back and beat 'Burgh after losing to them the first time.", said the 17 year old senior. 
The momentum carried them all the way to the Class C Final. 
Although she was far and away the leading goal scorer on the team, Maiello says she enjoys passing the ball and seeing her teammates score as well, which is very rare these days. 
"If my teammates score and are happy, than I'm happy....as long as we win!" says Maiello. 
One of those teammates is fellow senior Alyssa Russell.  Russell returned from a torn ACL sufferred during this past basketball season and received accolades from both her teammate and coach.
 "That kid is one of the most mentally tough kids I’ve ever seen", said the coach. 
Maiello says of Russell, "It was great to have her out there. She helped us so much."
Not only does Maiello shine on the field but does off the field as well.  This past season, Maiello and several teammates raised over $3000.00 for breast cancer awareness.
"It was nice to be able to do something like that. It felt really good." said Maiello.
The last couple of years Maiello has played basketball during the winter but this season has decided to run indoor track.  However, soccer will be her sport of choice next year in college.  Before her senior year this year, Maiello verbally committed to attend D-I St. Bonaventure where she will receive a full athletic scholarship for soccer.  She will be studying Kinesiology which is the scientific study of human movement.
Maiello's opponents have been wondering for years how she moves to the ball so fast and how she makes the moves on the field that she does.  With that academic background she may finally be able to give them the answer!

Before his Junior year, Tony Fusco and his family decided to make a big move.  That move was to transfer from Queensbury High School to Shenendehowa High School.  Although Fusco enjoyed Queensbury and acknowledged how great its athletics are, he and his family felt that being at a larger football powerhouse would give him much more exposure as a player.
Now, two seasons later the move is not only paying off for Fusco but for Shenendehowa as well.  The Plainsemen are 6-0 on the season, 5 of those wins coming during September.  They outscored their opponents 196-20 during that month and the now senior running back may very well be the best player, on the best team in all of Section 2.  During the 5 game winning streak in September, Fusco rushed for 672 yards and had 12 touchdowns.  He also caught 6 passes for nearly 100 yards, returns punts and kicks, and is one of the best defensive players on the best defense in the Suburban council.  For these reasons, Tony Fusco has been named the Nycapitalsports.net boys athlete of the month for September. 
The 17 year old Fusco, who will turn 18 in just 10 days, has been playing football since he was little.  Starting in South Glens Falls Pop Warner, he knew he always wanted to be a running back.
 "I always wanted to be the guy who scored the touchdowns," says Fusco. 
After splitting carries last season with then Senior Bronson Greene, Fusco couldn’t wait to be the featured back. "It feels really good to know that your teammates are counting on you, I love being the guy they turn to make a big play.  The pressure doesnt bother me, I like it!" Says the 3rd leading scorer in Section 2.
Over the summer Fusco trained exceptionally hard on his own, and at the Athletic Republic in Clifton Park.  He increased his body weight from 190lbs to 210lbs and increased his speed at the same time.  He was recently timed at 4.48 seconds in the 40 yard dash.  This hard work has propelled Fusco into a position that will hopefully give him the opportunity to play football in College. 
"I really want to play in College,” adds the senior.  “I’ve been contacted by some schools but I’m waiting to see what happens as the season comes to an end." 
Although he doesn’t know where he will be playing College ball, he knows what he wants to major in.
 "I’m pretty sure I want to be a history teacher.  I really want to teach and coach."  Fusco explains.
Before he heads off to College next year Fusco and his teammates have one goal....make it to the Carrier Dome in Syracuse and play for a State Title. 
"We have a really good team and I think we have a chance to go a long way if we play like I know we can.  We can really be a great team." says Fusco.
The first 6 opponents Shenendehowa has faced would probably agree with Fusco, they are a really good team.  And Im sure everyone would agree that Tony Fusco is a really good player on that really good team....maybe the best! 

Last season South Glens Falls High School Sophomore Sam Blizzard scored 33 goals.  That is an outstanding season for anyone, especially a 15 year old Sophomore.  Fast forward one year to September of 2011.  Blizzard, now a junior, has helped lead her South High team to a 10-0-1 record to start the season. 
During the month of September they were 8-0-1 and Blizzard scored 26 goals in those 9 games, almost matching her total for all of last season.  For her accomplishments Sam Blizzard has been named nycapitalsports.net girls athlete of the month for September.
Blizzard began playing soccer as a pre-schooler.  She played "rec. league" soccer until her freshman year at South High when she made the Varsity team.  Since then she has blossomed into one of the top players in all of Section 2.  Her success hasn’t come without sacrifice and hard work. 
This past off-season Blizzard played for Coach P.J. Motsiff in the Alleycats program and she credits him with much of her growth as a player. 
"Playing for Coach Motsiff really helped me elevate my game and grow as a player.  I’m a more mature player which is helping make me better." says the 16 year old. 
She also credits the support of her family and teammates in her development. 
Most juniors in high school are just starting the College search process, but not Blizzard.  In early September she committed to the College of St. Rose where she will play Soccer after her high school graduation in 2013.  The early commitment allows her the time to, as she puts it, "become a better player and not have to worry about the recruiting process" going forward. 
"St. Rose was always my number 1 choice but I never knew if it would happen until this past summer.  I’m so happy that I get to go there and play.", continued Blizzard. 
While at St. Rose she will study Physical Therapy.  So it seems that Sam Blizzard has her future mapped out pretty well.  But before that happens there are a few things to take care of and enjoy first. 
Scoring titles, League Titles, and Sectional championships are at the top of that list.  And oh yes.....graduation.....but not for nearly 2 more years!  And when that day comes, those that might enjoy Sam Blizzard's graduation the most???  The opponents of South Glens Falls High Girls Soccer! 

Some athletes work for years to help develop the skills necessary to become a champion.  Some others are blessed with the natural ability to put them over the top.  Recent Hudson High School graduate Tayron Bryant falls into the latter group. After his sophomore year, Bryant's football coach told him he should tryout for the track team.  At first, the then 16 year old, was reluctant to do it, but changed his mind and the rest as they say "is history".
On June 3rd at the NYS Qualifier Bryant finished 1st in Section 2 in the 100M (11.22sec), the 200M (22.37), and with his teammates Kadeem Chung, Akeil Alert, and John Elsner, finished 1st in the 4x100 relay in a time of 43.48 seconds.  Then at the NYS Championships on June 10th and 11th the 18 year old Bryant finished in the top 10 in both the 100m and 200m.  The 4x100m relay is where he and his teammates made their mark.  Running the second leg of the relay, Bryant helped lead his team to a time of 43.04 seconds and the NYS Division 2 Championship.  For these accomplishments Tayron Bryant has been named the nycapitalsports.net Boys Athlete of the Month for June 2011.
Although he has only spent two seasons on the track, his success may not have come as easy it sounds. Bryant credits his work ethic and progress mainly to his father.
 "He has always pushed me.  He had me running the stadium stairs and pushing and pulling tires to train.", says the Mansfield University bound graduate. 
Combining the unorthodox workouts with his natural athletic ability has proven to be the recipe for success for Bryant.
During high school Bryant was a quarterback, Defensive back and kicker on the football team.  He will continue his football career in college next year at Mansfield.  He says he is unsure of whether or not he will pursue running on the track team. 
"I want to get used to the college way.  If I like it and fit in, I will probably give it a shot but I have to wait and see." says Bryant. 
One thing he does know for sure that he would like to pursue in college is a degree in Criminal Justice.
No matter what sports, or course of study he chooses, plan on hearing many more great things from Tayron Bryant as he embarks on his college life and career.  As many of his competitors have found out over the last 2 years, when Tayron Bryant decides he wants to pursue something, he usually gets it....including a State Championship.

The month of June is seen as an end for high school students.  It is the end of the school year and for some the end of their high school days.  In the Section II sports world it marks the end of the spring season of sports. This June the high school sports fans will be enjoying the end of an era.
Sarah Palmer is a long, lean senior at Schuylerville High School.  For the past five years she has dominated the high jump not only in Section II but in all of New York State.  On June 11, Sarah captured her fifth straight division II New York State Championship in the High jump for this she has been named the NYCS female Athlete of the Month for June.
On a late Friday night in May 2007 at her home track in Schuylerville for the Schuylerville Classic, people started to leave as the events began to end but they were stopped as they heard that an eighth grader was breaking records in the high jump.  In 2008 it was much of the same as Palmer now began breaking freshman records and then moved on to win State titles.
As she entered her Senior year the four sport athlete had her sights set on another State title and accomplished just that at Caledonia Mumford High School . 
Just one week earlier Sarah completed her Section II career by defeating the field by seven inches by jumping 5’7” at the State Qualifier meet at Johnstown.  The momentum carried her in to the State championships.
As the era comes to an end for one of the most prolific athletes in Section II history fans must pause to take time to realize how special of an athlete we have witnessed.  Palmer has been a Division I blue chip prospect since the eighth grade and will be attending and competing at Penn State University in the fall.  She dazzled us in the field portion of one of the most athletic competitions in high school sports just soon after being taken out of a booster seat.  Sarah Palmer did all of this while maintaining honor roll status and carrying herself with a level of character that coaches preach about and parents are proud of.
The end of Sarah Palmer’s High School career is truly the end of an era.

We all know the story of “Rudy”.  An undersized underdog who uses his heart and determination to step on to one of the most famous fields and where one of the most coveted uniforms in all of sport.  This Rudy story is a bit different.
The story of Rudy Winkler is that of a well put together young man who has had an undefeated season and has simply owned the month of May.  For that reason, this Rudy has been selected as the nycapitalsports.net male athlete of the month.
Winkler has had a great month, but in the middle of the month came one of the greatest weeks any athlete has ever had.  The Averill Park weight man traveled to the Johnstown Invitational on the 14^th.  He took first place in the shot put and discus with throws of 51’3.75” and 165’10” respectively.  Three days later the thrower competed in the Suburban Council Championships once again taking gold in both events and improving on both throws.  To end the week the sophomore (yes sophomore) entered into the biggest invitational that the northeast has to offer, the William F. Eddy meet held at Schenectady High School.  This meet would have the same result.  Rudy threw 52’ in the shot put and hurled the discus 172’ to take double gold and two enormous trophies home to add to the mantle. 
“It is a lot of hard work and great coaching.” Winkler explains.  “I love throwing, so it makes it easy to show up every day and work hard.”
The Eddy meet was not the end of May for Rudy.  Although it looked as if the Section II Class BB Championships may not ever take place, they were able to fit into the schedule and Winkler maintained his winning ways.  This time he took home two white patches for first place in both of his events.
The month of May has been a month to remember, but as Rudy Winkler has already shown the month of June is the most important with the State Qualifiers and then the State Championship.
“I look forward to the State Championship and then whatever events follow after that,” stated the determined sophomore.  “I hope to qualify and represent the US in France this Summer.”
With goals like that in mind and over two more years to accomplish them, we will be hearing many more chants of “Rudy, Rudy, Rudy.”

Some of the finest girls Lacrosse players, not only in New York State, but the entire country play right here in Section 2.  At the top of that list of players is Niskayuna's Kayla Treanor.  The Junior midfielder led the Silver Warriors in scoring this season with 45 goals and 37 assists for 82 total points.  During the month of May Treanor scored 26 of those goals over a 9 game span while helping lead her team to the Section II Class A title.  For this performance, Kayla Treanor has been named the Nycapitalsports.net female athlete of the month for May.
After a somewhat slow start to the 2011 season, both personally and team, Treanor says the season turned around, suprisingly enough, after a loss to Guilderland.
 "We lost a close game to them (Guilderland), but we realized we could beat them and it made us hungrier.  I decided I was going to do everything I could to not lose again."   
Although she has always been a consistent performer, Treanor "turned it up a notch" when the playoffs started.  Section 2 final game versus Guilderland, which some say was one of the greatest girls lacrosse games ever played in Section 2, a game that Niskayuna exacted a little revenge with a 15-14 win to capture the Class A title. 
Treanor, along with her sister, senior attacker Alyssa, started playing lacrosse at an early age. 
"We had a babysitter who basically told us here's a stick and ball , now go play....and we did!", says the younger Treanor.  "It wasn't until I made the modified team as a 7th grader that I realized how much I really liked it and started to take it serious", she continued. 
The work that Treanor has put in over the last few years has paid off.  Last summer she gave her verbal commitment to play her college lacrosse at one of the top programs in the country, Syracuse University.  She will play for head coach and lacrosse legend Gary Gait, whose daughter is the same age as Kayla and they will play together at Syracuse.
"There were a lot of schools I was interested in but going to Syracuse will give my family the oppurtunity to see me play more because it is closer to home, and it also allows me to see my family play when I get the chance," says Treanor. 
Older sister Alyssa will be playing her college lacrosse next year at Siena College.  "Hopefully when we are both in college we can see each other play", said the junior. 
Kayla was just named a 2011 All-American and this summer she will be involved in the highest level of girls lacrosse in the United States.  She will be competing for the U.S. under 19 girls national team in the World Cup being held in Germany during the early part of August.   
Asked what her goals were down the road, Treanor says, "I want to coach.  I have wanted to for a while and whenever I'm done playing I want to be a coach." 
However, a senior year in high school, the chance to play for her country, and hopefully a long playing career during college and beyond will have to put that dream on hold for now. But someday with her talent, work ethic, leadership ability, and attention to detail this seems like the natural progression for the best Section 2 has to offer. 

Last Spring Glens Falls pitcher Zach Milton was only a sophomore.  He was used on the mound sparingly, pitching in mostly non-league games.  This year things have been much different.  In his first two starts of the year Milton didn't allow a hit, pitching back to back no-hitters for the first time in school history since David Burt accomplished the feat in 1970.  For this achievement, Zach Milton has been named Nycapitalsports.net boys Athlete of the Month for April 2011.
On April 14th, the crafty left hander took the mound for the first time this season versus Gloversville.  7 innings later he had thrown his first no-hitter, striking out 9 batters along the way, leading his team to victory.  One week later the Junior was back at it, this time against Johnstown.  Milton recorded 11 strikeouts and again didn't allow a hit.  In both games he threw less than 100 pitches.  His next outing would be against Hudson Falls.  The possibility of a third straight no-hitter was ended early as the first hitter for Hudson Falls singled.  However, Milton would not allow a run until the 6th inning of that game.  His scoreless streak was ended at 20 innings.  Glens Falls would go on to win that game 13-6, raising Miton's personal record to 3-0.  On April 30th he once again took the mound, this time in a relief role against Watervliet in the Championship game of the Phil Waring Memorial Tournament in Saratoga.  Milton held the Cannoneers in check until the Glens Falls bats came alive in the 6th inning, eventually outscoring 'Vliet 9-3 to win the title, and giving the Indians an overall record of 7-2 early in the season. 
Milton is not a very physically imposing player when standing on the mound.  He won't blow anyone away with an overpowering fastball, but what he does well is hit his spots.  He lives on the corners of the plate and entices hitters with his offspeed pitches.  His control is key, and he has mastered it so far this spring. 
After spending most of the past winter months on the slopes and trails, Milton decided to trade in his snowboard for the pool this winter.  He joined the swimming and diving team at Glens Falls.  He credits much of his added endurance and leg strength to his structured workouts from Diving practice, something he admits he didn't really have until this past winter. 
With a new found way to train in the offseason, and the pinpoint accuracy he has developed on the mound, Zach Milton and his Glens Falls teammates have a lot to look forward to, not only this season but next year as well. 

Last  year was a breakout year for Duanesburg softball player Dani Hennel.  In April of 2010 she was named NYCS girls Athlete of the Month for her accomplishments.  One year later Hennel has surpassed her sophomore accomplishments and once again has been named nycapitalsports.net girls Athlete of the Month, this time for April 2011.
Most pitchers would love to have 3 no-hitters, 2 one-hitters and 6 shutouts for their entire career in high school.  That is what Dani Hennel has done in the first month of the season alone.  The Junior right-hander has thrown no-hitters twice against Berne Knox-Westerlo, striking out 17 and 14 hitters in those 2 games.  In a 15-0 win over Sharon Springs, she threw another no-hitter, this time striking out 13.  Against Saratoga Catholic this past week Hennel allowed only 1 bloop single en route to another shutout victory, 27-0.  Earlier in April, she and teammate Caitlin Sanders combined on a 1-hit shutout of Schenectady Christian.  To cap off her brilliant month, the hard throwing Hennel, shut down a very good Taconic Hills team this past weekend in Red Hook en route to another shutout, this time a 7-0 victory. 
Although her accolades on the mound get most of the attention, Hennel's success is not only as a pitcher.  She is batting over .500 and is a threat everytime she steps to the plate.   
Hennel's achievements have not come without a lot of hard work.  "I spent a lot of time this off-season at different clinics, tournaments and showcases.", she says. "I needed to work on some things and I still do." 
She also credits much of her succes to her team.  "I am really comfortable with my team in the field.  I know if the ball goes into play they will be there to make the play.  If I give up some runs, I know they will come through offensively too.  I have so much confidence in them, we've played together a long time." 
Hennel is also a star in the classroom.  She is ranked 4th in her Junior class in overall average  
and several colleges have already shown interest in her.  She is interestd in studying Physical Therapy in College. "Well thats what I'm leaning towards right now.", says Hennel.  With a year to go before she makes a College choice Hennel has not ruled out any schools. 
To sum up the type of athlete and person Dani Hennel is you only need to know her response to the question she was asked as to whether or not she had seen the pictures of her from Duanesburg's game versus Spa Catholic, "Oh yeah I saw them, they're great.  They really showed how I'm dropping my shoulder.  I gotta work on that." 
If what Dani Hennel has done so far this season hasn't been her best because she is not mechanically right, hitters all over better be worried when she does get to her best! 

Joe Estramonte began the month of March by netting 27 points in the Section II Class C semi-finals against Cambridge and then went on to score 15 and added five assists in an MVP effort against Lake George in the Class C title game at the Glens Falls Civic Center.  The final performance led his team to the Class C Crown and an entry in the State tournament.  For this Joe Estramonte has been named the NYCS male athlete of the month for March.
The first two performances of the month were special for Joe and his teammates but it was his performance on March 12 at Hudson Valley Community College that really showed how great a player the guard from Greenwich is.  In the Regional Championship game against Brishton Moira, The 5’7 junior poured in 41 points including 14-of-15 from the free throw line.  An unforgettable performance, during an unforgettable run for the Witches.
In the State semi-finals Estramonte and his teammates found themselves in a defensive battle against the Syracuse Academy of Science.  In the final game of the season for the Witches, Estramonte was only able to tally 7 points as Greenwich fell 39-33.  The lone loss in the month is always the toughest but greatness is not a destination but the way in which you get there and on the way to his final game of the season, Joe Estramonte proved his greatness.

March Madness usually brings about some unforgettable performances as well as big time shots from big time players.  This March did just that during the Class A Section II and State Playoffs.
In 2010, Averill Park found themselves winning a State and Federation Championship.  The 2010-11 team found themselves in what most would call a rebuilding year after losing many key players and returning no Seniors to their defending Championship squad, but once again the Lady Warriors found themselves back in the State final game.
How they got there is the real story.
After Cruising past Scotia and Mohonasen to repeat as Section II Champions, Averill Park then took care of Massena in the Class A regional playoff game, a game in which the Lady Warriors’ leading scorer, Bridget Carney, dropped a game high 19 points.  Next came a tight 53-51 win over Whitesboro which advanced the Defending State Champions into championship week.
The Lady Warriors found that sometimes winning comes down to who has the ball last, and as it looked like that fete would be captured by Garden City, a costly mistake by the Trojans gave Averill Park the ball and one last chance to return to the State Title game. 
Enter a hero.
Bridget Carney caught the pass and netted the game winning bucket and the Lady Warriors were back in the final.
For her heroic effort on the court and play throughout the month of March Bridget Carney has been named the NYCS Female athlete of the month for March.

The phrase "a man amongst boys" may be one of the most overused phrases in the sports. In the case of Duanesburg High School's Nick Gwiazdowski, that phrase is an understatement.
In this his senior year, Gwiazdowski has compiled an eye-popping record of 50 wins without a single loss. 1 of those wins was by default due to injury, 6 were by forfeit, and an amazing 43 wins have come by pin. In the month of February "Gwiz" captured his league championship, the Section 2 Class D title, the Section 2 Division II NYS qualifier title, and then pinned every wrestler he faced at 215lbs at the NYS Wrestling Championships on his way to winning his second straight New York State Division II 215lb Championship. For these incredible feats Nick Gwiazdowski has been named the Nycapitalsports.net Boys Athlete of the Month for February.
Gwiazdowski has not been an overnight success. It has taken many years to perfect his trade and he credits much of his success to his coaches.
"Coach Bena and Frank have really made me so much better", says the soft spoken 18 year old.
Coach Joe Bena is a legend in New York State wrestling and took over the Duanesburg program and quickly helped make it one of the top programs in all of Section 2. The "Frank" Gwiazdowski refers to is Frank Popolizio, the head of Journeyman Wrestling, an amateur wrestling club that has become one of the top clubs not only in New York State, but the entire Northeast.
"They have both helped so much. Coach Bena's experience and Frank's training programs have really help propel me to the next level," continued Gwiazdowski.
After his upcoming graduation this spring, Gwiazdowski will take his wrestling talents to the University of Binghamton where he will compete for head coach Pat Popolizio, Frank's brother, at one of the up and coming wrestling programs in the country. Although undecided on a major course of study, "Gwiz" is sure of one thing when it comes to College. "I want to win a National Championship. That is the goal. It is the only wrestling goal. I want to be a National Champion!"
With a High School record of 199 wins and only 28 losses the sky is obviously the limit for Gwiazdowski. With all the talent, focus, and desire he possesses it will be very interesting to watch this "man amongst boys" strive to become "The man amongst men".

Scoring points and lighting up the stat sheets usually get you a lot of attention.  Standing multiple inches above everyone else on the court garners one even more attention but these are not the reason’s that Katie Roth gets her attention.
The senior center from Schodack has lead the Maple Hill team for the past four years most of the time playing limited minutes due to her teams great success.
In the month of February Katie averaged over 19 points while averaging only 18 minutes per game, lead her team to their fourth consecutive league title, and was once again named Patroon Conference MVP.  For these reasons and many more Katie Roth has been named the NYCS female athlete of the month for February.
Throughout the regular season the game plan was always the same.   Katie would sit the last minute of the first quarter and then re-enter the game after the first stoppage of the second quarter. From there she would possibly see four to five minutes in the second half.  Not a lot of time to light up the stat sheets.
“She knew to never save anything, and never leave anything on the court.” Remarks Mark Bubniak, the Wildcats head coach.
Roth will be continuing her education and basketball career at Hartford University in Connecticut, but she has left a legacy at Maple Hill that may never be matched.
“Katie has been the face of this program for the past four years,” explains Bubniak.  “She put Maple Hill basketball on the map.”
That may be an understatement.
During her four years Roth led her team to four straight League titles and three Sectional titles.  She has compiled a record of 87-6, the best record in Section II over that time frame, and has raised the expectations on the court for the small Schodack school.
“(Katie) is a great kid and a wonderful person.” Bubniak concluded.
We can only speculate how many points and rebounds the 1,000 point scorer could have had if she had played more minutes, and maybe now we will see as she moves on to the next level.

If last year was a coming out party for Terell Winney and the Scotia Tartans, then this season has been  an all out celebration for the senior swingman and his teammates! They are off to a 16-1 record so far and Winney is 3rd in scoring in all of Section 2.  In the month of January alone the Tartans were 8-0 and Terell averaged 22 points per game over that 8 game stretch.  For that, Terell Winney has been named the nycapitalsports.net Boys Athlete of the Month for January.
"He's all you can ask for in a player and a kid.", says Scotia head coach James Giammattei.  "He's more than just a shooter."  Winney has developed into a very good defensive player, utilizing his long arms on his 6'2 frame.  In the first half of a game against Johnstown on January 31st Winney was held to just 6 points, but his rebounding and passing helped keep his team in the game, eventually winning 65-59. And by the way, during the 2nd half of that game, Winney scored the 1000th point of his career.  After dropping the 3-pointer from the corner that pushed his point total over that milestone, Winney trotted down court with a little smile on his face as the fans in the student section went crazy!  In typical, unasuming  Terell Winney style, the game was stopped for about 20 seconds and a ball was presented to him by his coach. Then it was business as usual.
With the success that Winney has had on the court and in the classroom many colleges have shown interest in his services after graduation this June.  He has narrowed his choices down to SUNY Cortland and St. John Fisher.  Although, his father Kevin says, "he hasnt decided yet, so you never know." 
Right now Terell's focus is on the upcoming sectionals where he and his teammates hope to make a run at the Section 2 Class A title.  If the mont hof January is any indication of how Winney and the Tatans will play....so far, so good!   

Waterford Senior Katie Howe has been asked the questions so many times. What is it like going back?  Are you happy with your choice? Why did you do it? The answers are always the same, "It was harder to go back than I ever thought it would be."
"I am so happy to be at Waterford."
"I felt we had the 
best chance to win in Sectionals at Waterford, plus the academics are excellent."  
All of these questions and answers directed toward Howe revolve on one thing, her transfer to Waterford from Heatly after her sophomore year.  The 5'8 guard has been able to put these questions behind her and just concentrate on basketball, and it obviously is paying off.  
During the month of January, the Lady Fordians compiled a 7-1 record and Katie Howe averaged 21 points per game.  On January 30th during a 43-40 win against a tough Chatham team, at the College of St. Rose, Howe scored 1000th career point.  Because of these great accomplishments, Katie Howehas been named the nycapitalsports.net Female athlete of the month for January.
With 1st year head coach Paul Gervasio at the helm this year, Howe didn’t know what to expect.  "I was a little nervous with coach coming in this year, but he has really helped me so much.” She says, “He pushes me to be a better all around player."  
Gervasio stepped into a program that has more freshman on the Varsity roster than all other grades combined.  But Howe went on to explain that she thinks that is one of the reasons they have been so successful.
 "We have really bonded. We do everything together,” the senior proclaims. “The age difference hasn’t mattered and it shows."
One of those freshman players, is a feisty little point guard named Erin Howe, yes Katie's younger sister.
"It's been really cool playing with her", says the older Howe.
Howe says although she played soccer, she doesn’t have much time for anything other than basketball and schoolwork.  She has set her sights on continuing her education and her basketball career locally and is leaning towards attending Sage College next year.
As the regular season winds down Katie Howe and her teammates are looking forward to one thing, a long run in the Sectionals.  With an overall record of 16-2 you can understand their excitement going forward. And in case you were wondering.....the 2 losses the Lady Fordians have suffered??  Both to Heatly.
To that Katie Howe says, "I'm happy and we are doing great and that’s all that counts." Ultimately, she is right.