Tuesday June 6, 2023 
AVERILL PARK – This week brought many victories for AP sports! Girls basketball began the week by crushing Ballston Spa 81-28 on 1/28. Kelsey Wood led the way in the scoring columns with 24 points. Amelia Wood added 14 more, and Anna Jankovic and Allison Lapinski finished with 12 and 10, respectively. The Warriors then defeated Guilderland 67-47 on 1/31. Kelsey Wood scored a team high 16 points and Michelina Lombardi was close behind her with 15. Up next for AP is a home match against Troy on 2/7.
Boys basketball also defeated Ballston Spa on 1/28. Matt Lettko put up a team high 28 points and added 12 rebounds to lead AP to the 73-63 victory. Jack Long added 10 points for the Warriors. AP followed this win with another against Guilderland 50-38 on 1/31. Matt Lettko had another big game with 16 points and Michael Re added 14. Ben Romer also reached double digits with 12. The Warriors will next take on Troy away from home on 2/7.
The boys bowling team fell to Burnt Hills 24-8 on 1/27. Keegan Mallory led AP with a high series of 613 and Joe Minehan was close behind with a series of 611. On 1/29, the Warriors defeated Guilderland in dominating fashion 30-2. Joe Keller led AP with a high series of 658 and Parker Brown added a series of 646.
Girls bowling fell to Bethlehem 24.5-7.5 on 1/30. Bella Guyer led AP with a high single of 187 in the loss.
AP’s wrestling team fell to Columbia in a tight 41-36 match on 1/29. Sean Malenfant, Mason Lumbra, Alex Cooper, Chad Rist, Jacob Hanlon, Colin Brunelle, and Nathan Fischer all picked up wins for AP in the loss.
The Capital District Jets fell to Burnt Hills/Ballston Spa 8-1 on 1/31. AP’s Cole Davidson scored the lone goal for the Jets on a penalty shot. The Jets will take on Rome Free Academy on 2/7.
Make sure to come out and support AP’s athletes in their upcoming events! Go Warriors!
This week’s scholar athlete is Kelsey Wood. Kelsey is a captain on the Varsity Basketball team. Kelsey has played basketball for over 10 years. She began the sport in elementary school, following in the footsteps of her older sister. Kelsey says her favorite part of basketball is the team aspect of the game; she says the sport “helps create amazing bonds with my teammates.” Kelsey has high hopes for her team this year, as she’s looking to move on to the state tournament. In order to better lead her team, Kelsey worked hard during the offseason by playing for an AAU travel team, as well as lifting weights. Her efforts paid off last season when Kelsey was named MVP for Class A Section 2. She also helped her team reach a fourth straight sectional title. In her future, Kelsey will be going to Sacred Heart University on an athletic scholarship for basketball. She plans to become a college coach in the future.
Kelsey’s efforts continue off of the court and into the classroom. Kelsey has maintained a GPA of 90 throughout high school. This year, Kelsey is taking the Human Brain, Biogene, Death and Literature, Economics, Participation in Government, and Sports Statistics. In order to balance school and basketball, Kelsey says “Time management is key. It takes a lot of late nights, but In the end I know it is all worth it.” Kelsey’s efforts in school and her sport paid off when she was awarded a full scholarship to Sacred Heart University.
Kelsey says her oldest sister is her biggest role model. “She may not know it but she amazes me In everything she does. Her work ethic is the best I’ve ever seen and I hope one day I can be as good as her.” Additionally, Kelsey would like to thank her coaches, teammates, and family for helping her in basketball. Kelsey wishes to tell younger athletes “you will have hard days, everyone does. Just remember to keep pushing and to never give up. It will be hard but in the end it will pay off.” We wish Kelsey the best as she finishes her senior season and prepares to enter Sacred Heart University.
AVERILL PARK – As usual, those who attended the annual late season varsity dual between the rival Averill Park and Columbia Wrestling teams got their money’s worth. It had it all: lead changes, controversy and, of course, top notch wrestling. And just like last year’s classic contest between the schools, and for the third time in five years, one match was the margin of victory.
The night began with Columbia breaking out to a fast 16-0 lead. However, Averill Park team Captains Sean Malenfant and Mason Lumbra, as well as senior Alex Cooper, would not let AP go down without a fight, scoring three straight pins and giving the Warriors an 18-16 lead. Columbia would then counter by winning 3 of 4 matches (Chad Rist won his match for AP) to give The Blue Devils a 34-21 advantage.
It was then time for Averill Park’s lightweights to shine. Coming off a tough dual for them versus Burnt Hills, 7th Grader Jacob Hanlon, freshman Colin Brunelle and old timer Nathan Fischer rolled out three straight victories to give Averill Park a slim 36-34 lead. Unfortunately, for Averill Park it was not to be on this night. Columbia finished strong and in a reversal of last year’s comeback Averill Park victory, took the win 42-36.
Good job by both teams and good luck to all wrestlers as next are the end of season tournaments.
Submitted by the AP Wrestling Coaching Staff