Thursday April 25, 2024 
AP Sports From The Chief
By Eric Schuman
It was an exhilarating week for Averill Park sports fans! The boys’ basketball team had a very successful week ousting Burnt Hills on 12/11 before falling to Shen in an overtime thriller on 12/14. Zach Price had a big day against Burnt Hills recording 23 points. Nick McCart and Michael Re each chipped in with 8 as AP won 68-43. Price along with fellow seniors Avery Pascucci and Thomas Hacker had big nights against Shen as they fell 68-67 in a close overtime game. Pascucci led the way with 21 points for AP and Hacker and Price recorded 17 and 15 points respectively. AP will next take on Shaker on 12/20.
Girls’ basketball crushed Burnt Hills 55-26 on 12/11. Junior Kelsey Wood led the team scoring 20 points. Senior EmmaLee Morgan added 12 points and freshman Amelia Wood recorded 10 in the victory. On 12/14, AP fell to Shen 54-37. Amelia Wood scored 15 points for the Warriors in the defeat. The Warriors will take on Shaker in their next game on 12/20.
The boys bowling team picked up two big wins this week. Joe Keller and Parker Brown had high series of 680 and 674 respectively to lead AP to a 26-6 victory over Burnt Hills on 12/11. On 12/12, Keegan Mallory recorded a high series of 598 to help the Warriors narrowly defeat Shen 17-15. Forest Wright added a high game of 235 in the win.
Girls bowling took on Saratoga and won 22-10 on 12/11. Stephanie Mangene bowled a high series of 630 and high game of 235 in the victory. Bella Guyer added a high game of 218 for the Warriors.
The wrestling team took on Guilderland on 12/12 and came away with a 41-24 victory. On 12/15, AP competed at the Coach Ken Harrison Invitational Tournament in Granville and placed 2nd as a team. Andrew Lee, Sean Malenfant, and Mason Lumbra each took first place in their respective weight classes.
The Capital District Jets took on CBA on 12/14 and fell 10-1. On 12/15, they faced a team from Schenectady and Niskayuna and were defeated 5-1. Up next for the Jets is LaSalle on 12/22.
Make sure to come out and support AP’s winter sports teams in the upcoming week. Go Warriors!
AP Senior guard EmmaLee Morgan battles for 2 of her 7 points on Friday night. Averill Park travelled to Shenendehowa losing 54-37.
This week’s scholar athlete is Christina Parrotino. Christina is a guard on the Varsity Basketball team. Christina has played basketball since she was in third grade when she decided to try the sport with her friends. Now, she continues to play competitively ten years later. In order to prepare for this season, Christina did running workouts and lifting in and outside her gym classes. Additionally, the team goes through preseason workouts together. This hard work has pushed Christina and the rest of the team to success; last year, the team achieved the title of sectional champions. Looking towards this season, Christina hopes to win another sectional championship. “My goal for my last season is to help propel our team as far as we can possible go, which hopefully includes another section title.”
Christina has excelled both on and off the court. Christina holds a GPA of 92.6, which has allowed her to achieve a presidential scholarship to Siena College. This year, Christina is preparing herself for a college atmosphere through her course load, with classes such as College Media and Culture, Participation in Government, Forensics, Sociology 1 and 2, and College Creative Writing. Additionally, Christina was accepted into the National Honor Society earlier this year. In her future, Christina plans to attend Siena’s Business School through her scholarship.
Christina has worked hard to achieve the success she has found both academically and in her sport. She does not only attribute her achievements to her own efforts, but to her parents as well. “My parents inspire me to work hard in school because they support me with my academics.” Along with her parents, Christina finds inspiration through her team as she doesn’t want to let them down.
We all wish Christina the best in her future after high school, beginning with her time at Siena College.
It was a thrilling evening for Averill Park wrestler’s young and old, as three AP teams took to the mat versus Guilderland on Alumni Night 12/12. The Alumni got to see the varsity pull off an exciting 41-25 victory, highlighted by pins from Sean Malenfant, Xavier Graham, Dom Paradise, and in his first varsity appearance ever, Abe Ethridge. The match of the night was a thrilling overtime victory by Nathan Fischer. Team captains Andrew Lee and Cam Groff also had their hands raised in victory, as did Michael Clark and Ray Hebert.
Additionally, both the JV and modified teams were impressive as an undercard. The JV had notable pins from Colin Catlin, Chase Shepard and Chris Monaco and victories from Drew Loucks, Shaun Lucier and Kevin Cooper at the modified level stood out among the impressive total team performance.
The Averill Park Wrestling team next takes the mat at home for a rare Friday contest on December 21st at 6 PM versus Bethlehem. We hope to see you there!
~Submitted by the AP Wrestling Coaching Staff