Sunday April 28, 2024 
Averill Park Sports By Isaac Joseph
AVERILL PARK – Averill Park Sports are back in full swing this week!
On 10/6, the girls soccer team defeated Albany 11-0 on their senior night. Senior Julia Hanlon and Gabby Geise recorded hat tricks for the Warriors, while Merry Gaylord scored 2 goals, along with senior Elizabeth Owens,Bailey Ouimet, and Macenzie Slattery each adding a goal. The girls team fell to Niskayuna 4-1 on 10/10. Merry Gaylord scored the lone goal. The girls will travel to Columbia on 10/16 for their next game.
The boys soccer team lost 6-1 to Albany on 10/6. Senior Michael Agro scored in the losing effort. On 10/10, the boys lost to Niskayuna 4-0. They will take on Columbia on 10/16 for their next match.
The girls tennis team lost to Guilderland 8-1 on 10/5. The doubles team of Lauren Paris and Sarah Wallace picked up the lone win. On 10/9, the tennis team lost a tough match on their senior day to Ballston Spa with a score of 7-2. The doubles teams of Avery Kittleson & Dayna Densmore and Seniors Lauren Paris & Sarah Wallace won their matches. The girls fell 8-1 against Burnt Hills on 10/10. Avery Kittleson and Dayna Densmore won their match in a third set tie break. On 10/16, the girls will travel to Saratoga for their next match.
Boys golf fell to Shaker 241-284 on 10/5. David Mooradian led the Warriors with a round of 38 and Nate Stay shot a career low 44. On 10/10, David Mooradian shot a 42 to lead AP to a 288-298 victory over Colonie. The golf team will face Columbia in their next match on 10/17.
The Averill Park and Troy conjoined girls swim team kicked off their debut season at their first meet at Burnt Hills on 10/9. Raegan O’Brien won the 200 free and 500 free with times of 2:06.32 and 5:38.07 respectively. The swim team will face Saratoga in their next meet on 10/22.
We look forward to our sports teams upcoming games next week. Go Warriors!
Scholar Athlete of the Week By Tyler Michaels
AVERILL PARK – This week’s scholar athlete is Julia Foster. Julia is an outside midfielder for the Varsity soccer team, a midfielder for Varsity lacrosse, and runs Varsity track as well. Julia has been playing soccer for about twelve years, and began playing through the APYSL recreational league in kindergarten. She began lacrosse in third grade after being inspired by her brother to follow him into the sport. Julia prepares for her sports by going to the summer lifting sessions held by Coach Luskin and attending captains’ practices before the soccer season begins. To be ready for lacrosse Julia played with a travel team based outside of Boston. This fills her summers with practices and tournaments. Julia’s favorite thing about her sports is “being with my teammates and growing closer day by day”. Julia is also a two-time Northstar Summit Ventures Lacrosse Leadership award winner. 175 girls are nationally nominated for this award, and only eight receive the honor. Julia is proud of the Varsity lacrosse team for defeating Shaker in the 2019 Spring season for the first time in the program’s history, and hopes that this season the Varsity soccer team can do well in the tournament that is being hosted in place of Sectionals.
Julia excels both on and off the field. Throughout high school Julia has maintained a 3.5 GPA and is on course to receive her Advanced Regents Diploma at graduation this June. Julia writes down all of her assignments and after-school activities in a planner to stay organized, and says that proper time management is crucial to stay on top of all her sports, academics, and working as a waitress at Juniors.
Julia would like to thank her coaches for believing in her and her teammates for their support throughout the seasons. She also advises younger athletes that “being coachable is the best attribute you can have at a young age. It shows you can learn and grow in your sport. It will also translate to the classroom.” Next year, Julia plans to attend Ithaca College to major in Communications with a Sports Media focus, along with playing lacrosse at the D3 level. We wish Julia the best of luck as she finishes her senior year and prepares for college.