FInal medal count

Western 104 gold, 78 silver, 59 bronze, 241 total
Central 36 gold, 57 silver, 44 bronze, 137 total
Long Island 39 gold, 37 silver, 56 bronze, 132 total
Adirondack 35 gold, 44 silver, 39 bronze, 118 total
Hudson Valley 22 gold, 27 silver, 36 bronz, 85 total
New York City 24 gold, 20 silver, 21 bronze, 65 total

ESG weekend roundup

Women's soccer

GETZVILLE — LaGrangeville native Kristen Skonieczny gave up one goal in regulation as the Hudson Valley scholastic women’s soccer team won the bronze medal by tying Long Island, 1-1, on Sunday.

The game went to a shootout with Hudson Valley prevailing, 4-3. Port Jervis’ Jen Peters, Armonk’s Erin Myers, Rye’s Katherine Greer and Cortlandt Manor’s Kayla Mancusi tallied for third-place Hudson Valley.

Ice hockey

AMHERST — Robert Belger of Yorktown Heights scored the lone Hudson Valley goal as the scholastic men’s team lost to eventual gold-medalist Western, 7-1, eliminating Hudson Valley from medal contention in the round-robin competition.

Baseball

AMHERST — Hudson Valley’s scholastic team lost out on the bronze medal when its game with Western on Saturday was suspended and fields were unplayable on Sunday.

The result was decided due to head-to-head competition and Hudson Valley lost to Western on Friday, 10-7. Long Island won gold and Central won silver based on overall records.

Wrestling

BUFFALO — Mark Settembrino of Wappingers Falls won the silver medal in the 123-pound class of scholastic freestyle wrestling on Saturday, falling to Western’s Tom Page in the gold-medal match, 6-2, 6-0, by decision

Scott Bova of Poughquag pinned Central’s Pat Nasoni in 1:16 to capture a bronze medal.

Weightlifting

SANBORN — Poughkeepsie resident Joe Rodriguez won the silver medal in the 150-pound open division final, lifting 191 pounds late Saturday.

Judo

BUFFALO — Charles Braun won the bronze medal at 132 pounds in the open competition late Saturday.

Former New Paltz resident Scott Honan won the bronze medal at 198 pounds.

Rowing

BUFFALO — The Hudson Valley men’s quad of Evan Heaton, Taylor Bodley, Jimmy Balsamo and Dylan Hartwick won the bronze medal on Friday in a time of 5:07.99.

GOLD! Soccer, field hockey, basketball prevail

Patrick Noonan of Hyde Park accomplished something at the 2010 Empire State Games on Sunday afternoon that no one had to this point.

He scored a goal against New York City.

Noonan's tally from 18 yards out at the top of the box deflected off a City defender in the 72nd minute of an 80-minute game and put Hudson Valley's scholastic men's soccer team ahead. Valley defeated New York City, 1-0, at Amherst North French Soccer Complex in Getzville.

Hudson Valley's team has nine players from the Journal's coverage area on its squad: Noonan, Matt Daeumer (Wappingers Falls), Matt Garcia (Wappingers Falls), Matt Koziol (Poughkeepsie), Chris Metz (Hopewell Junction), Tim Ryan (Poughquag), Codey Stetler (Hopewell Junction), Conor Tasciotti (Poughkeepsie) and J.P. Veliz (Wappingers Falls).

Hudson Valley finished the tournament with an overall record of three wins, no losses and one tie. New York City was 3-1.

Meanwhile over in Amherst...

The Hudson Valley scholastic field hockey team captured its fifth straight gold medal, defeating Long Island, 3-0, at Walter Kunz Stadium on the campus of the University of Buffalo.

Jen Angevine, Leanne Goldblatt and Melissa Colton each scored for Hudson Valley, which finished the tournament with a perfect mark of 4-0.

Local residents Jade Dennett (Fishkill), Daniella Bernasconi (Hopewell Junction) and Erin Lidl (Pawling) were on Hudson Valley's roster.

Meanwhile over in Lewiston...

The Hudson Valley scholastic girls basketball team won the gold medal with a 99-53 win over Central at Taps Gallagher Center on the campus of Niagara University.

Teneka Whittaker of Poughkeepsie scored 13 points, while Liz Milner of Cold Spring chipped in six.

Lilian McCabe led Hudson Valley (4-0) with 19 points.


More results as I get them.

Local medalists to this point

Gold
Curtis McCabe, Poughkeepsie (rowing), Ken Steier, Poughkeepsie (rowing), Kyle Peabody, Poughkeepsie (rowing), Sean Clarke, Poughkeepsie (rowing), Stephanie Hartmann, Hyde Park (rowing), Branden Dahlem, Rhinebeck (swimming), Shannon Walsh, LaGrangeville (swimming)

Silver
Jennifer Veloudas, Hyde Park (rowing), Chloe Beach, Poughkeepsie (rowing), Rachel Puchkoff, Poughkeepsie (rowing), Catherine Quattrociocchi, Pleasant Valley (rowing), Jeannette Eckelman, Hopewell Junction (rowing), Jonathan Kaufman, Poughkeepsie (rowing), Andrew Lemieszewski, Poughkeepsie (rowing), Randy Budd, Staatsburg (rowing), Brandon Clark, Poughkeepsie (rowing), Ken Steier, Poughkeepsie (rowing), Kyle Peabody, Poughkeepsie (rowing), Curtis McCabe, Poughkeepsie (rowing), Sean Clarke, Poughkeepsie (rowing), Stephanie Hartmann, Hyde Park (rowing), Darnell Cummings, Millbrook (track and field), Rachel Pierantozzi, LaGrangeville (track and field — two medals), Mike Debronsky, Beacon (track and field), Joe Rodriguez, Poughkeepsie (weightlifting), Mark Settembrino, Wappingers Falls, (wrestling), Branden Dahlem, Rhinebeck (swimming), Brad Thomas, Wappingers Falls (swimming), Kevin Walsh, LaGrangeville (swimming), Dorothy Tai, Stormville (tennis), Eva Siska, Beacon (tennis), Josephine Tai, Stormville (tennis), Victoria Alexander, Glenham (track and field)

Bronze
Evan Heaton, Poughkeepsie (rowing — two medals), Rachel Buchanan, LaGrangeville (rowing), Arielle Tillou, Poughkeepsie (rowing), Sophia Sagan, Poughkeepsie (rowing), Lauren LaBelle, Poughquag (rowing), Grace Nesheiwat, Poughkeepsie (rowing), Catherine Quattrociocchi, Pleasant Valley (rowing), Stephanie Lee, Poughkeepsie (rowing), Jeannette Eckelman, Hopewell Junction (rowing), Rachel Puchkoff, Poughkeepsie (rowing), Nicole Scaglione, Poughkeepsie (rowing), Chloe Beach, Poughkeepsie (rowing); Taylor Bodley, Pleasant Valley (rowing — two medals), Jamie Paterson, Hyde Park (bowling), Erin Patchey, Rhinebeck (gymnastics), Scott Honan, New Paltz (judo), Charles Braun, Poughkeepsie (judo), Scott Bova, Poughquag (wrestling), Shannon Walsh, LaGrangeville (swimming), Kevin Walsh, LaGrangeville (swimming), Victoria Alexander, Glenham (track and field),

HV scholastic men's soccer ties

After going to a 5-on-5 shootout to decide the outcome, Central tied Hudson Valley, 5-5, in men's scholastic soccer.

J.P. Veliz scored a pair of second-half goals for Hudson Valley.

Hudson Valley plays in the gold-medal game on Sunday, with an 11 a.m. start.

Women's scholastic lax loses

Anna Jeszeck and Tara Monaghan each scored two goals but their Hudson Valley scholastic team fell to Central, 14-5.

Karly Walborn scored the other goal for Hudson Valley.

Tons of medals in the track ESGs, just no gold.

Rachel Pierantozzi of LaGrangeville captured the silver medal in the open 100-meter dash in 13.63 seconds, placing second to gold medalist Chianne Ashman of New York City.

In the men’s open 100 dash, Darnell Cummings of Millbrook (seen here) picked up a silver medal, edging bronze medalist Junior Burnett of Adirondack by one-thousandth of a second, completing the race in 11.291 seconds to Burnett’s 11.292. The gold medalist was New York City’s Andre Marcano in 11.08. Cummings also picked up a silver medal, running in the 400 relay, that placed second in 41.74 seconds. His teammates were Robert Graham, Joshua Louis and Justin McCollin. Western won the gold medal in 41.58 seconds.

Beacon standout Victoria Alexander of Glenham picked up the bronze medal in the scholastic women’s 100 in 12.74 seconds. The gold medalist was Ashley Fields of Western in 12.33 seconds.

Best of the rest: Hudson Valley Friday roundup

BUFFALO — On Thursday, the Hudson Valley men’s open rowing team picked up a silver medal. On Friday, they did themselves one better.

The men’s four, consisting of Poughkeepsie residents Kyle Peabody, Curtis McCabe, Sean Clarke and Ken Steier, along with coxswain Stephanie Hartmann of LaGrangeville, won the gold medal on Friday in a time of 5 minutes, 28.05 seconds.

The race was run on a shortened course of 1,500 of the scheduled 2,000 meters, due to heavy winds and rain in the Buffalo region throughout the day. Western won silver and Long Island won bronze.

“It was just really bad weather,” Peabody said. “Our plan was to go out really hard until we had the lead. It was very exciting to beat those guys.”

Hudson Valley’s women’s four of Poughkeepsie’s Chloe Beach and Rachel Puchkoff, Pleasant Valley’s Catherine Quattrociocchi, Hopewell Junction’s Jeannette Eckelman and coxswain Jennifer Veloudas of Hyde Park won the silver medal in 6:39.22. Western took gold and Long Island won bronze.

The Hudson Valley women’s quad of Poughkeepsie’s Arielle Tillou and Sophia Sagan, LaGrangeville’s Rachel Buchanan and Newburgh’s Caitlin O’Neill won the bronze medal in 6:53.31. Western won gold and Central won silver.

Track and field

AMHERST — Rachel Pierantozzi of LaGrangeville won the silver medal in the women’s 200-meter dash in 27.70 seconds. Simonie Moore of New York City won the gold in 27.43 seconds.

Victoria Alexander of Glenham won her heat in the scholastic women’s 100 dash in 13.16 seconds. She placed fourth in the scholastic women’s 200 dash in 25.78.

Darnell Cummings of Millbrook was second in his heat in the men’s open 100 dash in 11.16 seconds. Andre Marcano of New York City was first in 11.10 seconds. The finals are today. Erik Simonson of New Paltz qualified for today’s scholastic 400 intermediate hurdles finals.

Women’s basketball

LEWISTON — Teneka Whittaker of Poughkeepsie scored a game-high 20 points as Hudson Valley’s scholastic team defeated Long Island, 106-40.

Marist College forward Emily Stallings scored 14 points, but the Hudson Valley open women’s basketball team lost to Western, 77-60 late Thursday.

Baseball

AMHERST — Seth Lamando of Hopewell Junction was 3 for 4 with an RBI as Hudson Valley’s scholastic team improved to 2-1 overall, defeating Adirondack, 9-2.

Bowling

WILLIAMSVILLE — Hudson Valley’s women’s open bowling team, including Hyde Park’s Jamie Paterson won the bronze medal, totaling 4,303 pins.

Long Island won gold and Western won silver.

Soccer

AMHERST — The Hudson Valley men’s scholastic team defeated Adirondack, 2-1.

The women’s scholastic team lost to Adirondack, 2-0.

Softball

AMHERST — Highland’s Amanda Morano had two hits and an RBI, but Hudson Valley lost to Western, 7-3, dropping its record to 1-3.

In its first action of the day the Hudson Valley’s open softball team beat Long Island, 11-4, pounding out 16 hits along the way.

Highland’s Kacie Demaio went 1-for-3 with two runs scored for the Valley, which also got a 2-for-3 performance from Morano, who scored two runs and drove in a pair.

Wappingers Falls’ Samantha Howe picked up the pitching win.

Swimming

BUFFALO — LaGrangeville’s Shannon Walsh won the gold medal in the 100-meter breaststroke in scholastic women's swimming in 1:17.51 on Thursday.

Kevin Walsh, also of LaGrangeville won bronze in the men's 100 breaststroke in 1:13.66.

Women’s ice hockey

AMHERST — Alyssa Lustenring of Poughkeepsie scored for Hudson Valley’s scholastic team, which lost to Long Island, 3-1.

Lustenring’s tally tied the score at 1-1 in the second period. LaGrangeville resident Anne-Marie Dion made 52 saves for Hudson Valley, which played against Central on Friday after the Journal’s deadline.

Women’s volleyball

AMHERST — Hudson Valley’s open team lost to Western, 25-20, 25-15, 15-10 to drop to 0-3 at the Games.

The scholastic women lost to Western, also lost to Western.

Fencing

NIAGARA FALLS — Hudson Valley’s scholastic men’s team won the bronze medal, defeating New York City, 15-8, late Thursday.

Hudson Valley’s men’s open team lost the bronze-medal match to Adirondack, 15-10.

Valley women's hoops wins again

LEWISTON — Teneka Whittaker of Poughkeepsie scored a game-high 20 points as Hudson Valley's scholastic women's basketball team defeated Long Island, 106-40. Liz Milner of Cold Spring chipped in five points.

Valley men's ice hockey ties Central

LaGrangeville's Jake Garay had a goal and an assist as Hudson Valley increased its medal chances with a 2-2 tie against Central on Friday afternoon.

Hopewell Junction's Bobby Henderson and Wappingers Falls' Ryan Connolly assisted on Garay's first-period power-play goal.

Valley rowing wins gold

BUFFALO — On Thursday, the Hudson Valley men’s open rowing team picked up a silver medal. On Friday, they did themselves one better.

The men’s four , consisting of Poughkeepsie residents Kyle Peabody, Curtis McCabe, Sean Clarke and Ken Steier, along with coxswain Stephanie Hartmann of LaGrangeville, won the gold medal on Friday in a time of 5 minutes, 28.05 seconds.

The race was run on a shortened course of 1,500 of the scheduled 2,000 meters, due to heavy winds and rain in the Buffalo region throughout the day. Western won silver and Long Island won bronze.

“It was just really bad weather,” Peabody said. “Our plan was to go out really hard until we had the lead. It was very exciting to beat those guys.”

Hudson Valley’s women’s four of Poughkeepsie’s Chloe Beach and Rachel Puchkoff, Pleasant Valley’s Catherine Quattrociocchi, Hopewell Junction’s Jeannette Eckelman and coxswain Jennifer Veloudas of Hyde Park won the silver medal in 6:39.22. Western took gold and Long Island won bronze.

The Hudson Valley women’s quad of Poughkeepsie’s Arielle Tillou and Sophia Sagan, LaGrangeville’s Rachel Buchanan and Newburgh’s Caitlin O’Neill won the bronze medal in 6:53.31. Western won gold and Central won silver.

Valley's softball team beats Long Island

In its first action of the day the Hudson Valley's open softball team beat Long Island this morning, 11-4, pounding out 16 hits along the way.

Highland's Kacie Demaio went 1-for-3 with two runs scored for the Valley, which also got a 2-for-3 performance from Highland's Amanda Morano, who scored two runs and drove in a pair.

Wappingers Falls' Samantha Howe picked up the pitching win.

Already up 5-1, Hudson Valley scored three runs in both the fourth and seventh innings.

Scholastic women's lax squad prevails

Playing at Niagara University this morning, scholastic women's lacrosse team from the Hudson Valley triumphed against New York City, 10-0.

Erin Riley scored two goals to lead the Hudson Valley, which got one goal apiece from eight other players.

Hudson Valley scored all its goals in the first half, with Brittany McCormack scoring the first (and eventual game-winning) goal with 24 minutes, 2 seconds left in the first half.

Open men's hoops squad triumphs

Hudson Valley's men's open basketball team defeated Adirondack, 77-65, on the campus of Canisius College.

Prince Jackson's 18 points led the victors, who also got 17 points from Michael McNair.

H.V. women's ice hockey loses

The women's scholastic ice hockey team from Long Island defeated the Hudson Valley, 3-1, at the Amherst Ice Facility.

Hudson Valley's Alyssa Lustenring tied the game, 1-1, in the second period, but Long Island scored a pair of goals in the second half to triumph.

Hudson Valley field hockey improves to 3-0

AMHERST — The Hudson Valley scholastic field hockey team won its third straight game at the Empire State Games, defeating Adirondack, 6-1, this morning amidst the rain and wind at the University of Buffalo.

Pawling native Erin Lidl, a student at the Kent School in Connecticut tallied a goal and an assist for Hudson Valley. Also on Hudson Valley's roster are Wappingers field hockey players, Jade Dennett on defense and Daniella Bernasconi at forward.

Read more about the Hudson Valley field hockey team in Saturday's Poughkeepsie Journal

ESG rowing photos

Pair of Walshes pick up medals

BUFFALO — LaGrangeville's Shannon Walsh won the gold medal in the 100-meter breaststroke in scholastic women's swimming in 1:17.51.

Kevin Walsh, also of LaGrangeville won bronze in the men's 100 breaststroke.

ESG: Our reporter checks in after a busy day

Well, it's been a long and busy day here at the Empire State Games.

I'm currently tucked away in the media center at University of Buffalo, waiting for results to trickle in. I think I have pretty much everything I am going to get for the print product at this point. I will continue to monitor results and post things pertinent to the Hudson Valley on this blog.

• The Hudson Valley scholastic women's basketball team defeated Western, 100-36, today at the Taps Gallagher Center on the campus of Niagara University. WOW!

That is quite the score. Poughkeepsie native Teneka Whittaker scored 11 points and Liz Milner of Cold Spring added six.

Milner mentioned to Journal intern Adam Patterson earlier this summer that since many of the women play AAU ball together, that might be to their advantage. It certainly sounds like it was today.

• I was at two events today and scurried past several others. I watched as the open softball team from Hudson Valley was swept in two games by Adirondack and New York City.

Against NYC, both teams played some pretty sloppy softball. There was only one 1-2-3 inning in the entire game. Baserunning mistakes, errors, you name it. At one point in the third innings, Hudson Valley scored three runs because they hit balls to the outfield that would have been singles if they were actually fielded cleanly by the NYC outfield. They weren't.

Not exactly the way you'd like to start off a tournament, but at least it can only go up from there.

• I was also at crew over at the West Side Rowing Club in Buffalo, where the Hudson Valley won three medals. Those were in the men's eight, women's eight and men's double.

Almost the entire Hudson Valley women's team, as well as most of the men's team are from Dutchess County, which as everyone knows, is rich in tradition thanks to the Hudson River and several outstanding rowers in local high schools and colleges.

Don't see something on this blog or in the Poughkeepsie Journal? Well, I am only one person, but I want to make sure that the athletes of the Hudson Valley, and specifically, the Journal's coverage area, get their just due. E-mail me at pstrum@poughkeepsiejournal.com with date, location and any other specifics on the event and I will do my best to make sure it gets out there.

Hudson Valley scholastic girls basketball cruises

LEWISTON — Teneka Whittaker of Poughkeepsie scored 11 points and Liz Milner of Cold Spring added six as Hudson Valley crushed Western, 100-36 in the scholastic women’s basketball opener at the Taps Gallagher Center on the campus of Niagara University.

Hudson Valley led Western, 50-17, at halftime.

Raegan Knox of Cross River led all scorers with 27 points. Hudson Valley plays Long Island today at 2 p.m.

HV women's tennis wins

The Hudson Valley scholastic women's tennis team blanked Central, 5-0, with wins coming from locals Dorothy Tai and Eva Siska.

Tai's sister, Josephine, teamed with Kristen Villani to win at second doubles.

HV softball swept

The Hudson Valley open softball team suffered defeats to Adirondack and New York City.

John Jay High School graduate Jennifer McCracken had two hits in each game for Hudson Valley.

HV scholastic soccer teams roll

The Hudson Valley scholastic women's soccer team blanked Long Island, 6-0, behind three goals by Mahopac's Erin Felix. Hopewell Junction's Gabrielle Humphreys assisted on a goal.

The Hudson Valley scholastic men's team beat Long Island, 4-1. Wappingers Falls' Matt Garcia, Hyde Park's Pat Noonan and Hopewell Junction's Chris Metz all had a goal.

HV lacrosse teams swept by Adirondack

The Hudson Valley scholastic men's lacrosse team lost to Adirondack, 7-6, and the scholastic women's team suffered an 11-6 loss to Adirondack.

Field hockey team blanks Western

John Jay High School's Daniella Bernasconi scored a goal, and her high school teammate Jade Dennett added an assist as Hudson Valley beat Western, 3-0 on Thursday.

Later in the day, Hudson Valley beat Long Island, 4-0. Dennett had a goal for Hudson Valley.

Open volleyball teams lose to Central

The Hudson Valley open men's and women's volleyball teams were swept in three games by Central.

Both teams lost by the identical scores, 25-22, 26-24, 15-13.

Let the Games begin

OK, so I am not a photographer, but this is the view that I have from the press area of University of Buffalo Stadium in Amherst for the opening ceremonies of the 2010 Empire State Games, which will be held in Western New York through Sunday.

“This feels pretty cool,” said Darnell Cummings of Millbrook, shortly before the athletes were moved indoors because of impending bad weather. “I didn’t make it my first year trying out, so I wanted to get up here. I always loved this track and the environment just feels great.”

The Games issued a media guide with statements from state dignitaries on the return of the Games.

"These exciting Games have long represented an important standard of measure for athletic success, and moreover, they are symbolic of the drive and spirit inherent in all New Yorkers," Gov. David A. Paterson said. "Over the next few days, our State's finest amateur athletes will engage in contests of skill, endurance, and ability against other equally talented individuals in Olympic style sports events."

"The real stars of this event are the many outstanding athletes who inspire us with their talent, their dedication and sportsmanship," said Carol Ash, commissioner of the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation. "I am very pleased that we could return these Games to you this year."

Well, Third Eye Blind — tonight's headlining band — just hit the stage. Gonna check that out and then get ready for a full day of sports on Thursday.

ESG blurb: Tennis' Tai sisters

Poughkeepsie Journal intern Dave Aderson caught up with tennis players Dorothy and Josephine Tai for an upcoming story, and filed the following report for our ESG blog...

Dorothy and Josephine Tai are sisters who will be competing for the Hudson Valley Scholastic tennis team at the Empire State Games for the first time. When I first got the news that they would be competing, I was excited because it’s not often you get to see a pair of sisters competing on the same team, at the same Empire State Games. What’s also interesting about the Tai sisters is the way they got into playing tennis.

While some athletes have been playing their respective sports for quite some time, Dorothy (seen here) and Josephine have only been playing tennis for three years. Both sisters initially started playing tennis because their ice-skating coach told them it would help with their footwork and strength.

Well, Coach … it looks like your advice paid off!

Both Dorothy and Josephine have competed in USTA tennis matches and came away with victories. Josephine was also named a first team tennis all-star by the Poughkeepsie Journal.

Although both of them hope to be victorious in the Games, being there together it something they’re not taking for granted.

“Well it’s the first time, I think it will be a good experience to go with my sister,” Dorothy said.

Look for Dave full story on the sisters in an upcoming edition of the Journal.

ESB blurb: Erik Simonson

Poughkeepsie Journal intern Dave Aderson caught up with track athlete Erik Simonson for an upcoming story, and filed the following report for our ESG blog...

Erik Simonson is going into his senior year at New Paltz High School. He’ll be competing in the 400-meter intermediate hurdles at the Empire State Games.

When talking to him about the Games, there was one thing about him that stuck out to me.

This guy sounds really enthusiastic about competing at the Games, I thought to myself while interviewing him.

After all, Erik has traveled an interesting path to get this far. Originally playing baseball for his town league, Erik decided it was time for a change and joined the track and field team in the seventh grade. Soon after he suffered a dislocated patella in his knee from playing football and was sidelined for a year before returning to the track.

I was also able to get a sense of Erik’s competitive nature during his interview. Erik placed second in the 400 intermediate hurdles in the Section 9 championship meet this year. Seeking redemption, Erik then beat the opponent who had placed first in sectionals in the state championship meet by nearly a second.

While Erik is passionate about track and field, he’s also looking forward to taking a break after competition at the Games is over. His time off won’t last very long though. Erik is also a member of the football team and swimming team at his high school, and he will start preparing for those sports after the Games are completed.

Look for Dave's full story on Erik in an upcoming edition of the Journal.

ESG blurb: Blair Wegescheide

Poughkeepsie Journal intern Sam Speer caught up with local swimmer Blair Wegescheide for an upcoming story, and filed the following report for our ESG blog...

One word comes to mind about Our Lady of Lourdes athlete, Blair Wegescheide: athleticism. The 16-year-old has been selected to participate in this year’s Empire State Games. The swimmer is competing in not just one event, but rather three: the 50-yard freestyle, and the 100- and 200-yard backstrokes. This wasn’t an easy accomplishment; she had to place in the top two in each of these events.

But swimming isn’t the only sport she excels in. She also plays basketball for Our Lady of Lourdes HS, and was selected as an honorable mention in the Poughkeepsie Journal’s winter basketball all-stars. This is a clear is an example of exactly the athleticism she possesses.

Now swimming especially in three separate events is not a piece of cake. She has to practice both short and long course swimming. According the Wegescheide, the key to success in each event is learning how keep a good pace, especially in the shorter events.

Despite her athleticism, her dedication is also very impressive. She has to wake up in the early-morning hours just to drive to practice. Remember she still has two years left at Lourdes, so by the time she graduates she will be exceptional.

Look for Sam's full story on Blair in an upcoming edition of the Journal.

ESG blurb: Manny Emanuel

Poughkeepsie Journal intern Dave Aderson caught up with bowling coach Manny Emanuel for an upcoming story, and filed the following report for our ESG blog...

Manny Emanuel retired six years ago from his position as bowling coach and biology teacher at Roy C. Ketcham High School. He’s now going into his 18th season as coach of the Hudson Valley Scholastic bowling team. Manny, 61, started teaching 10th-grade biology after graduating from SUNY New Paltz. He has 36 years of teaching under his belt. There are some aspects of being a teacher that are similar to being a coach.

“It’s trying to reach out and understand,” Manny explained.

It’s Manny’s caring nature that enables him to be a good coach. Manny realized that having fun should be just as important for his team as winning. That’s partly why Manny’s bowlers have had success in the past. In 3 out of the last 5 seasons, the New York State Bowling Proprietors Association voted Manny’s bowling team with having the best overall performance in competition.

Manny doesn’t try and push his team to be something they’re not. While constructive criticism and instruction are needed sometimes, Manny sees some things not worth changing. In the past, Manny has been coach to many unique athletes including a bowler who bowls with both hands. As unorthodox as it sounds, Manny didn’t push his bowler to change his ways. Instead, he encouraged the athlete to play how he felt comfortable.

“We try and make it fun for everyone,” Manny said. “I enjoy being a coach.”

Look for Dave's full story on Manny in an upcoming edition of the Journal.

ESG blurb: Dylan Kalogris

It's Sam Speer with the Journal again. I recently had the pleasure to speak to wrestler Dylan Kalogris, recent 2010 Arlington grad, about his selection to the Empire State Games.

Kalogris has only been wrestling for roughly five years, but one thing that I came away from the interview, is how dedicated he is, not just as an athlete but also as a person. He works on a farm, which definitely contributes to how is overall work ethic. He also is active in his church, has a love for music and eventually wants to pursue a career in broadcasting. Talk about a well-rounded individual. Now considering Kalogris has never done Greco-Roman wrestling before, which you can only use upper body techniques, it is astonishing that he has been selected for the Games. He did say it was "hectic" because of the Greco-Roman learning process, which was new to him, but I feel overall it will help his skills as a wrestler.

In the fall, for his freshmen year, he will be attending Messiah College in Pennsylvania. Messiah College is a small Division III school, and has one of the top Division III wrestling programs in the country. I wish Kalogris the best of luck both at the ESGs and at Messiah next semester. I also hope the Greco-Roman wrestling skills and experience he gets from the ESGs will
prepare him for wrestling at the college level.

To read the profile on Kalogris, click here.

Sam Speer, a Journal sports intern, is a senior journalism major at SUNY New Paltz. He hails from Nyack.

ESG rosters released

The rosters for the 2010 Empire State Games have been officially released.You can click here to read which athletes and coaches will represent the Hudson Valley (and every other region) in this year's Games.

ESG blurb: Liz Milner

Adam Patterson
For the Poughkeepsie Journal

As I said before, I like to think of myself as a slightly better than average judge of character. Liz Milner, a basketball-aholic from Haldane, was the subject of my first very Empire States Game profile, I already had a mental picture in my head after five second of speaking with her.

I knew she was younger than I, but again that's not by much; I'm hardly old enough to buy beer. Her age in mind, I realized one the phone I heard one of the nicest, most polite telephone interviewees I have ever come across. She was eager to answer my questions, but not in the way that assumes she's eager to toot her own horn so to speak. She held no false modesty, but seemed aware of her basketball prowess. She played on several Amateur Athletic Union teams. I played enough basketball in my youth to remember AAU ball was held with a certain reverence us Christian Youth Organization kids could barely understand. Liz was on two teams. I was twice as jealous. Oh, and she played CYO too.

She also seemed, for someone her age, strangely articulate. I can imagine someone like President Obama speaking with a clarity and confidence that she had, and later on in the conversation I found out way; she was being looked up by the Ivy League, which is actually the name of an athletic league between those eight elite schools. The thing is, they don't offer athletic scholarships; you have to have the grades to play there. As it is, she has the grades.

By this time I'm so impressed and jealous I want to hang up the phone. In my youth there was no image of myself that I imagined more than being a star athlete, and working my way into Harvard. But alas, Dean's list at the local community college is the best I did. I blame MTV, and envy Liz.

Adam Patterson is a junior at SUNY Plattsburgh, studying journalism. After attending Arlington High School, he really did make the Dean's list at Dutchess Community College.

ESG blurb: Eva Siska

Sam Speer
For the Poughkeepsie Journal

My name is Sam Speer, and I'm an intern for the Poughkeepsie Journal sports section. I
recently wrote a feature involving 13-year-old Beacon tennis star Eva Siska being selected to represent the Hudson Valley in the Empire State Games, which will be held in the Buffalo Region from July 21-25.

Despite Siska being an outstanding athlete and tennis player, she really impressed me as a person. During the interview, I realized how articulate she is, which honestly was a surprise given her age.

Another thing I noticed about Siska is how mature she is. She answered some technical questions instantly with almost no hesitation. It is obvious that she is wise beyond her years.

This statement is true both on and off the court.

Playing with older competitors is going to be quite a valuable experience for Siska. I think it will benefit her in the long run for years to come.

She has all the potential in the world to succeed, and it begins with the Empire State Games. If she soaks up as much experience as she can in the games, I can't imagine how amazing Siska will be as a high school senior.

To read today's feature on Eva Siska, click here.

Sam Speer, a Poughkeepsie Journal intern, is a senior at SUNY New Paltz where he studies journalism, and a native of Nyack.

ESG blurb: Ryan Connolly

Adam Patterson
For the Poughkeepsie Journal

It seems like yesterday that I was hearing about Arlington vs. John Jay high school hockey games in the "quarter-mile hallway" of Arlington in 2006. Come to think of it, I'm actually not that far removed. Three years later and I'm still in Poughkeepsie, interning here at the Journal. But when I spoke to Ryan Connolly on the phone, an evidently very talented John Jay hockey player who is on his way to the Empire State Games, I felt a flutter in my chest; I still hold the biases of the often intense rivalry, being a 2007 graduate of Arlington.

The hockey fan in me is telling me to ignore that feeling. As Ving Rhames said in Pulp Fiction "It's just pride."

Then I spoke to him, read his stat sheets, and his coach had plenty to say about him as well. And the more I heard, the better and better this young hockey player started sounding to my partially trained ears. He could very well be a hot prospect in his college career. Second after second, my animalistic Arlington pride was being overruled by numbers on papers, testimonies from his coach and himself, as well as my self-professed ability to judge someone's character.

I very well could have been back in the hallways as a freshman, hearing about him in the hallways the last period of the day before I watched him play. That's the kind of awe that high school athletes had on me in Arlington, and even if the Arlington fanatic in me is partially ashamed, at 21 years old, Ryan Connolly can still wow me as an athlete of his age.

To read the profile of Connolly, click here. Connolly photo by Journal assistant photography editor Lee Ferris

Adam Patterson is a junior at SUNY Plattsburgh, studying journalism. He is a 2007 graduate of Arlington High School.

ESG blurbs upcoming

While the Empire State Games are coming up soon (July 21-25), I felt it would be appropriate for the writers of the profiles we have been running on our sports covers to weigh in on their interview subjects.

All but one of the 15 profiles will be running in the next several days are college interns — plying their craft. I felt they might have an interesting perspective on the diverse athletes that make up the Empire State Games.

So enjoy over the next 15 days some anecdotes from the freshest perspectives on our staff — the interns.

Game(s) on!

We're three weeks away from the start of the 2010 Empire State Games, the first ESGs since 2008.Following the cancellation of the '09 ESGs because of the state budget crunch, the annual event is coming to Western New York, beginning with the Opening Ceremonies on July 21, and with the actual competitions to take place the following four days.

Leading up to the Games, the Poughkeepsie Journal will profile some of the local athletes who will be competing in the Buffalo area.

One of those local athletes, Marist College's Emily Stallings (No. 20 above), said she was looking forward to the return of the ESGs, in which she participated for three years.

"I would have come back in 10 years," the Newburgh native said of the 2009 hiatus, "because I loved it so much."

Check out the Journal in the coming days to read about our local ESG participants...