Friday April 26, 2024 
By Eric Schuman
It was another big week in sports for AP! The girls basketball team picked up two wins in dominating fashion over Schenectady on 12/11 and Columbia on 12/13. The Warriors defeated Schenectady 65-18 and Columbia 64-26. Sophomore Amelia Wood had 20 point games in each contest to lead AP. Kelsey Wood scored 13 against Schenectady and Anna Jankovic added 17 against Columbia. AP will next take on Bethlehem away from home on 12/19.
Boys basketball fell to Guilderland 58-40 on 12/11. On 12/13, AP picked up a big win over Columbia 51-39. Matt Lettko led the team with 15 points and Mike Re and Jack Long had 13 and 10 points, respectively. The Warriors will face off against Bethlehem on 12/19 at home.
The Capital District Jets fell 4-1 to Oswego on 12/13. AP freshman Cole Davidson scored the lone goal on a breakaway for the Jets. On 12/14, the Jets picked up their first win of the season 6-3 over LaSalle. AP skaters Kyle Millington and Cole Davidson each had goals for the Jets in the win. The Jets will next take on CBA on 12/21 at the Albany County Hockey Facility.
Girls bowling fell to Colonie 19.5-12.5 on 12/9. Laney Brown had a high series of 479 and high game of 180 for AP.
Boys bowling fell to Shaker 18-14 on 12/9. Parker Brown led AP with a high series of 558 and high game of 208. The Warriors fell to Columbia 25.5-6.5 on 12/12. Joe Kellar had a high series of 610 and Keegan Mallory had a high game of 232 for AP in the loss.
The wrestling team placed 6th in the Clyde Cole Tournament on 12/9. Mason Lumbra and Sean Malenfant each placed 1st in their weight classes. On 12/10, AP defeated Niskayuna 59-27. Alex Mills, Mike Steen, Sean Malenfant, and Dom Paradise all recorded pins for AP. On 12/12, AP continued their winning streak defeating Colonie 42-34.
Make sure to come out and support the Warriors in their upcoming events! Go Warriors!
This week’s scholar athlete is Dani Martuscello. Dani plays center back on the Varsity Soccer team. Dani has played soccer for nine years. She began the sport when she was six through the Averill Park Youth Soccer League. Dani says her favorite part of soccer is “spending time with my teammates and working together as a team to accomplish our goals.” In order to accomplish these goals, Dani worked to improve her game during the offseason by playing for New York Elite and lifting weights. Her hard work paid off in her junior year when she helped her team win the sectional title. These efforts were recognized when she was named Section 2 Second Team All-Star in 2018. Unfortunately, Dani suffered a torn ACL halfway through her senior season. She says “it was really hard not being able to play in my last season but I got through it with the support from my team and my family.”
Dani’s hard work is seen both in her sport and her academics. Dani has maintained a 96 GPA throughout high school. Dani has participated in many advanced classes; this year alone she is taking two Advanced Placement courses: AP Biology and AP Statistics. Dani’s academic efforts led her to be inducted into the National Honor Society earlier this year. Additionally, Dani is a member of Student Government and Best Buddies. Dani says “in my free time I like to spend time with my family and friends and I love going to the gym.” After high school, Dani plans to attend Siena College and major in Nursing, in order to one day become a Nurse Anesthetist.
Dani says her parents are role models for her since they “inspire me to work hard because they always encouraged me to do what I love and play soccer but make sure I don’t forget that my schoolwork comes first.” She also says her teammates help her to succeed in soccer, as “everything we do requires a team effort and nothing I have accomplished would have been possible without them.” Dani wished to tell younger athletes “always work hard and play because you want to, not because anyone is telling you you have to.” We wish Dani the best as she finishes her senior year and prepares to enter Siena.
AP Wresting Wrap-up
One positive thing about the return of the snow is that it signals the beginning of the Averill Park High School Wrestling season! The varsity team took the bull by the horns and opened the season by participating in the Clyde Cole Invitational, one of the toughest tournaments in NYS. The team had their best finish since 2016, finishing in 6th out of the 17 team field. The Warriors were led by their first weight class champions since 2015, Mason Lumbra and Sean Malenfant. Sean was chosen as the Most Outstanding Wrestler in the whole tournament! Also finishing as individual place finishers were Dom Paradise (4th), Alex Cooper (5th), Alex Mills (6th) and Colin Brunelle (6th).
Next, the Warriors entered Suburban Council play with two dominating victories, 59-27 over Niskayuna and 49-28 over Colonie. 15 different AP wrestlers contributed key victories between the 2 contests including Colin Brunelle and Michael Steen who both earned their first varsity wins by pin!!
Submitted by the AP Wrestling Coaching Staff