Friday April 26, 2024 
By Eric Schuman
It was an exciting week leading into winter break for AP sports! The girls basketball team continued their winning ways by defeating Burnt Hills 45-23 on 12/18. Kelsey Wood scored 13 points and Amelia Wood added 10 in the win for AP. The Wood sisters continued to dominate on 12/19, leading the Warriors past Bethlehem 66-36. Kelsey Wood scored a team high 20 points and both Amelia Wood and Anna Jankovic finished with 19. The Warriors will take on Catholic Central next on 12/26 at Colonie High School.
The wrestling team had a big week that started with a 60-21 win over Bethlehem on 12/18. AP then took 2nd place at the Ken Harrison Memorial Tournament on 12/21 with wins coming from Jacob Hanlon, Alex Cooper, Chad Rist, and Nick Temple. Nick Temple was also awarded the tournament’s most outstanding wrestler.
The Capital District Jets fell to Adirondack in overtime 3-2 on 12/18. AP freshman Cole Davidson had an assist in the loss. The Jets took on CBA on 12/21, but fell 8-1. The Jets will have their next game on 12/28 against Pearl River at the Albany County Hockey Facility.
Boys basketball fell to Bethlehem 55-40 on 12/19. Michael Re scored 12 points for AP in the loss. On 12/21, the Warriors fell to Columbia 72-60. Ben Romer scored a team high 18 points. AP will compete in the Shawn Walsh Tournament in Burnt Hills on 12/26 and 12/27.
The boys bowling team won the Saugerties Baker Invitational on 12/15. On 12/18, AP fell to Bethlehem 26.5-5.5. Mike Angrisano had a high series of 615 and high game of 257.
Girls bowling fell to Niskayuna 27-5 on 12/16. Anna Wicks had a high series of 473 and Bella Guyer recorded a high single of 191. On 12/18, AP fell to Bethlehem 21-11. Laney Brown led the team with a high series of 420 and Savannah Rudolph finished with a high single of 234.
Make sure to come out and support AP’s athletes over winter break. Go Warriors!
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The first of a two week winter break was a quiet one for AP sports. Both the boys and girls basketball teams competed in holiday tournaments on 12/26 and 12/27. The boys‘ tournament was held in Burnt Hills and the girls’ was hosted by Colonie. The boys took on Queensbury in the first round and came out with a 67-36 rout. Senior Matt Lettko delivered 20 points to lead AP. The Warriors then defeated Burnt Hills 46-30 in the finals. Lettko was named Tournament MVP and fellow senior Mike Re was named to the all-tournament team. The girls team decimated Catholic High 64-20 in their first round behind 18 points from Anna Jankovic, 15 from Kelsey Wood, and 14 from Amelia Wood. AP then fell in the finals to Colonie in a close 49-47 game. Kelsey Wood scored a team high 14 points and both Jankovic and Amelia Wood finished with 10.
Make sure to come out and support AP’s athletes in their upcoming events. On 1/3, boys basketball will host Mohonasen at 1:30 and the Capital District Jets hockey team will take on Shen at 6:15 at the Albany County Hockey Facility. Go Warriors!
This week’s scholar athlete is Alex Cooper. Alex is a wrestler on the Varsity Wrestling team. Alex began wrestling when he was in first grade, after a friend introduced him to the sport. His favorite aspect of wrestling is “the demanding nature of the sport and the physical betterment that naturally occurs throughout the season.” Alex improves not only during the season, but in the offseason as well. He says “I run for the Averill Park Cross Country team in order to increase endurance. I also do some light weight lifting and core exercises. During the spring I practice at a three style wrestling club in Troy and I spend some time during the summer at a 4 day instructional at Bucknell University.” Alex finds the most difficult part of wrestling to be that it is an individual sport. He says “you’ll be alone against a skilled opponent with no means of hiding your imperfections be they in skill, mental fortitude, or physical strength.” Last year, Alex’s efforts helped him to finish sixth in the section for his weight class. He hopes to reach at least second this year, as well as help his team win their division.
Alex works hard both in his sport and his academics. Alex has maintained a GPA of 93 throughout high school. He has achieved this with a rigorous course load. This year alone, Alex is taking three advanced placement classes: AP Biology, AP Government and Politics, and AP Language and Composition. Alex’s efforts were recognized this Fall when he was inducted into the National Honor Society. Additionally, Alex is a member of the Masterminds club. Outside of school, Alex is an Eagle Scout and a Brotherhood member of the Order of the Arrow, the honor society of Scouting. In his future, Alex plans to attend college and pursue a career in physics.
Alex says his coaches and teammates help him to excel in wrestling. He says “my coaches have always held my teammates and me to a high standard. Additionally my teammates have been instrumental in my improvement as a wrestler and a person.” He also says “my parents have been my strongest supporters since the very beginning.” We wish Alex the best as he finishes his senior year at Averill Park and prepares to enter college.
This week’s scholar athlete is Lydia Ware. Lydia is a sprinter and captain on the Varsity Indoor Track team. During the Fall, Lydia played on the Varsity Soccer team, and she will run for the Varsity Outdoor Track team this Spring. Lydia says she began running track in eighth grade in order to stay in shape for soccer. She fell in love with the sport, and “it quickly became my priority.” Lydia’s love for track comes from the friends she has made. “Track is a unique sport in that it is competitive but very amiable. Whether you win or lose a race, it’s so easy to look past the competition and build connections with athletes from rival schools.” Running track brings challenges, specifically when an athlete looks to improve his or her times. Lydia says “it’s obvious if you’re not improving as a runner because numbers don’t lie. For me, it’s frustrating when I know I’m not getting faster, and it’s just as hard to help teammates who are unhappy.” In order to improve her times Lydia lifts weights during the offseason. Lydia’s efforts have helped her to break several school records. In her future, Lydia plans to continue running in college at the Varsity level.
Lydia works hard both in her sport and in her academics. She has maintained a GPA of 99 throughout high school. Lydia has reached the top five since her freshman year, and is the senior class valedictorian. In order to balance school and her sports, Lydia says “it’s important for me to make good use of the time before practice and after school and get assignments done as soon as possible, not procrastinate.” For extracurricular activities, Lydia plays in orchestra and chamber orchestra. In addition, she is a member of science club and the student-athlete advisory committee. This Fall, Lydia’s academic achievements were recognized as she was inducted into the National Honor Society.
Lydia’s friend and teammate Alana Caroll has been a role model for her throughout her time in high school. Lydia says “she is incredibly talented and intelligent, but her humility and fun personality make her truly amazing.” Lydia adds “my parents, teachers, and coaches Luskin and Gobel have all helped me to grow as an individual in their own ways.” Lydia wishes to tell younger athletes “There’s more to sports than just winning. Don’t let a bad day get you down; focus on the good moments and find your passion.” We wish Lydia the best as she concludes her senior year at Averill Park and prepares for college.
The Averill Park Varsity Wrestling Team moved to 3-0 in Suburban Council action with a commanding 60-21 road win versus Bethlehem. The Warriors took 11 of the 15 weight classes and were led by Colin Catlin, Jacob White and Alex Mills who helped pace the squad with victories by pin.
The team then kicked off the winter break by traveling to Granville for the Coach Ken Harrison Memorial Tournament. The impressive start to the season continued, with the team finishing 2nd out of 17 team field. Additionally, an admirable four AP wrestlers emerged from the long day of wrestling as champions in their respective weight classes. Those four wrestlers were Chad Rist, Alex Cooper, Jacob Hanlon (who is a seventh grader!), and Nick Tempel, who was named the most outstanding wrestler in the whole tournament! It was the first individual varsity championship for all four of these Warriors. 2nd place finishers Dom Paradise and Mason Lumbra, as well as 4th place finisher Colin Brunelle added to the team performance.
Come root the team on as the return from the Winter Break with back to back home duals at 6 PM on January 8th (Schenectady) and 9th (Saratoga Springs). Go Warriors!
Submitted by the AP Wrestling Coaching Staff