Friday April 19, 2024 
By Eric Schuman
With scrimmages wrapping up, AP’s spring sports are officially starting up.
The boy’s tennis team had three league matches this week. On 3/25, they shutout division rivals Ballston Spa 9-0. This was followed by an 8-1 victory over Columbia on 3/27. Singles players Eric Schuman, Max Willson, Tristan Shelhamer, Brian Bourne and Xander Michaels all won their matches. The doubles teams of Ryan Baker/Logan Bielawski, Nico DonVito/Keston Holohan, and Nate Jamison/Nixon Kwok also added wins. On 3/28, the Warriors fell to Guilderland 7-2. Eric Schuman and the doubles team of Logan Bielawski/Ryan Baker picked up the wins for AP. The Warriors will next take on Bethlehem on 4/5.
More events are on the horizon for AP sports. On 4/4, the boy’s and girl’s lacrosse teams will each take on Shaker, with the girls home and boys away.
On 4/5, the softball team will face off against Bethlehem at home. The baseball team will also face Bethlehem in an away game on 4/5.
Make sure to support the rest of AP’s spring sports teams in the coming days as league matches begin. Go Warriors!
This week’s scholar athlete is Ryan Baker. Ryan is a captain on the Varsity Tennis team.
Ryan has played tennis for four years, after his brother first introduced him to the sport during his freshman year. Ryan says the most challenging part of his sport is to keep yourself focused; “it is difficult not to get in your own head during a match.” This year, Ryan is playing first doubles with his partner, Logan Bielawski. Last season, Ryan and his team were able to win their division. This year, Ryan has his eyes set on an even greater achievement: winning the sectional
title. Ryan has worked hard during the off-season through running and preseason practices to prepare himself to lead his team in winning a sectional title.
Ryan does not only work hard for his sport, but his education as well. Throughout high school, Ryan has maintained a GPA of 95.4. This year, Ryan is taking Engineering Design and
Development, Forensics, Physics, Calculus, Participation and Government, and Literature and Cinema. Outside of his classes, Ryan is a member of Kelsey’s Promise Club. Last Fall, Ryan’s academic achievement was recognized as he was nominated into the National Honor Society.
In his future, Ryan plans to attend college and major in biochemistry to pursue a career in the science field.
Ryan has shown hard work through every aspect of his life; he says his father inspires him to work hard in everything he does. Additionally, Ryan would like to thank his coach, Coach
Gaetoni, for helping him to excel in his sport.
Ryan wishes to leave a piece of advice to younger
athletes: “practice as much as you can.”
We all wish Ryan the best as he leaves Averill Park and
enters college.