Sunday April 28, 2024 
By Eric Schuman
It was a successful week for Averill Park leading into winter break. On 12/20, boys’ basketball took on Shaker and won handily by a score of 66-48. Senior’s Zach Price, Thomas Hacker, and Avery Pascucci all had point totals in the double digits, scoring 18, 15, and 13 points respectively. Junior Matt Lettko also had a big night recording 9 points, 8 rebounds, and 8 assists. Up next for the Warriors is Guilderland away on 1/4.
Girls basketball also saw success against Shaker on 12/20, bringing home a 50-46 victory on 12/20. Kelsey and Amelia Wood each registered 15 points and Anna Jankovic scored 12 in the tight victory. AP will compete next at home against Guilderland on 1/4.
On 12/21, the wrestling team took on Bethlehem and won big by a score of 66-21. They will next take on Schenectady away on 1/3.
The Capital District Jets hockey team fell to Albany Academy 4-0 on 12/19. On 12/22 they took on LaSalle and lost 3-2. Up next for the Jets is Burnt Hills/Ballston Spa on 1/4.
Make sure to support your AP Warriors at their upcoming events. Go Warriors!
This week’s scholar athlete is Sophia Morone. Sophia runs on the Varsity Indoor Track team as well as the Outdoor Track team, and she plays for the Varsity Soccer team in the Fall. This season will be the first of Sophia’s Indoor Track career, however, she is not new to the sport. Sophia has run for the Outdoor Track team for three years, after her soccer coach encouraged her to try the sport. Although Sophia was hesitant to start running, she has loved the sport ever since. “I love track because your success is only dependent on you, so there is no competition or dislike between teammates, and everyone is supportive of each other.” Yet, running in track brings challenges as well. “The hardest part of track is pushing through the hard workouts when you’re tired, sore, and can’t breathe,” Sophia says. “You only get out of the workouts what you put into them.” Sophia’s hard work is not only seen during track season trainings. During the offseason, Sophia prepares for the year by lifting and doing core workouts, since “core strength plays a big role in good running form.” Sophia’s efforts have helped her to find success in her sport. Last year she was a part of two relay teams that set a new school record for the 4 by 100m relay and the 4 by 400m relay. Sophia’s hard work is not only seen on the track, but in the classroom as well. Sophia has maintained a GPA of 96 throughout high school. This accomplishment is difficult alone but becomes even more challenging with the rigorous courses Sophia takes. This year, Sophia is taking three Advanced Placement classes, AP Environmental Sciences, AP Calculus, and AP Government and Politics. Sophia’s efforts were recognized earlier this year as she was inducted into the National Honor Society. Sophia does not only attribute her success to her own efforts, but to the help of others as well. Sophia says her parents help to “keep me ‘on track’ and help me manage my time between sports and school.” Along with her parents, her coaches, Coach Luskin and Coach Gobel, help to push Sophia to be better, even when she thinks she is at her limits. Additionally, Sophia would like to thank her friend Lydia Ware. “Without Lydia I wouldn’t have continued running track, because we always have each other to lean on and go to for support.” Sophia says she is excited for another year of track, but she is sad to be leaving her teams. Although Sophia will be missed at the high school, we all wish her the best as she continues to run at a Division 1 collegiate level, either at Binghamton University or the Rochester Institute of Technology.
Nestled on the New York/Vermont border is Granville, NY, home of the Ken Harrison Memorial Wrestling Tournament. Six teams from New York joined ten teams from Vermont to test each other’s mettle on the mat.
After the long day of wrestling was over, the tournament ended with the Averill Park Warriors earning an impressive second place finish, placing only behind a Peru team currently ranked third in New York State. Individual standouts for Averill Park included Andrew Lee and Sean Malenfant, who both repeated as champions from last year in their respective weight classes, and Mason Lumbra, who took home his first individual varsity tourney championship in his weight class. Nine other Averill Park wrestlers finished in the top four, including Michael Clark, Dom Paradise and Chad Rist who all took home second place trophies.
Next up for the Warriors is the top-flight Mountain Duals Tournament during Winter Break. Happy Holidays!
~Submitted by the AP Wrestling Coaching Staff