Athletics

The varsity girls and boys indoor Track & Field programs opened their postseason schedule with the Section IX Class A Championships, hosted by the United States Military Academy at West Point this past Saturday. The Minisink Valley squads each competed in 18 event areas against the 13 other largest districts in the section, with the boys' placing fifth and the girls' finishing 8th! Well-done to everyone! The boys amassed a total of 40 points and crowned three individual sectional champions, earning event area victories from: • Samuel Anderson (600-meters, 1:22.35) • Robert LaBarbera (300-meter dash, :36.03) • The 4x400 meter relay team of Anderson, LaBarbera, Jon Mausling and Benjamin Spevak (3:26.50). Also turning in top-six, point-scoring performances were Tyler Cloidt (second-place, pole vault), LaBarbera (fifth-place, 55-meter dash) and the 4x200 meter relay team of Vaughn Hill, Rogan Lynch, Jordan Mabra and Angel Mendez (sixth-place). With a total of 24 points, the girls team scored podium finishes from the 4x400 meter relay team of Ferrah Hill, Lyla LaBarbera, Kaleigh Murphy and Zoey Terpak (second-place), the 4x200 meter relay team of Chloe Beck, Kessler Hirsch, Olivia Sierra and Julia Kronimus (third-place), Delila Kronimus (third place, pole vault and fifth place, 55-meter hurdles) and Beck (fifth-place, long jump). Prior to contesting the Section IX State Qualifier the first weekend in March, the teams will prepare for the peak of the winter season with a pair of invitationals at The Armory Track & Field Center. SEE MORE PHOTOS on the district's Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/MinisinkValleyCSD

Hopefully everyone remembers that Senior amd Varsity Flag Football quarterback Vanessa Tepper was selected by the New York Giants organization as its 2024 "Heart of a Giant" award recipient! As part of her award, the district is receiving a $10,000 grant for its Flag Football Program. And...Vanessa was given a trip and tickets for two to the game! She took her dad, Varsity Flag Football Coach Mike Tepper with her! We know they had the best time at the game and represented Minisink Valley with distinction!

Congratulations and best wishes to the senior members of the Girls Varsity Wrestling Team: Patricia Deslandes, Giavanna Gangi, Shelby Potter and Vanessa Tepper! They were honored for the many contributions to the team’s success during the team’s Feb. 4 Senior Night!

The varsity boys and girls indoor track and field teams closed January in grand style at the recent New York International Showcase, hosted by the Ocean Breeze Athletic Complex! In one of the final big invitationals prior to the ramping up of post-season competition, the teams brought home a number of medals and program records across the event areas. Leading the charge again was senior Samuel Anderson, whose blistering season continues, within with two records in the same race! Running in the invitational section of the 800-meter run, Anderson stormed to a third-place finish in 1:52.41, trailing only the US #2 and #4 competitors. In the process, he smashed the previous Minisink Valley mark --- which had stood for more than 15 years -- by over two seconds, while also breaking a 40-year Section IX record! Also establishing new program marks for Minisink Valley were Robert LaBarbera in the invitational 300-meter dash (13th place in a time of :35.82), Kathryn Jones in the varsity 1,600- meter run (2nd place, 5:32.68) and Zoey Terpak in the varsity 400-meter dash (7th place, 1:01.26). Additional medal winners were: Logan Schupner (2nd) in the varsity high jump; Tyler Cloidt (3rd) in the varsity pole vault; Ferrah Hill (3rd) and Lyla LaBarbera (5th) in the varsity 500- meter dash. WELL-DONE, everyone!

Congratulations and best wishes to the senior members of the Boys Varsity Swimming and Diving team, who were honored for their contributions to the team during the team’s Jan. 30 Senior Night: • Anthony Cucuzza • Drew Jashembowski • Christopher Rickard • Lukas Struble

And....they're off! Thank you to everyone who took part in tonight's CLAP OUT to wish our Section IX Boys Varsity Dual Meet champions good luck, best wishes and much success at Saturday's NYSPHSAA Dual Meet Championship meet! You got this, gentlemen! We're rooting for you!

The Girls Varsity Wrestling Team competed fiercely at the recent, inaugural New York Girls State Dual Wrestling Championship, earning third place! They continue to be a powerhouse! Well-done to all!

Congratulations to the Girls Varsity Freestyle Wrestling Team, which delivered a standout performance at the recent "Dame of Thrones" Tournament, showcasing their skills and determination. The team won first place with a total of 317 team points! Individual Achievements ●Patricia Deslandes was the star of the day, earning first place in the A Bracket. Her powerful wrestling and tactical skill on the mat were unmatched, as she dominated her opponents to secure the top spot in her division. ●Jaida Macaluso wrestled her way to a strong third place finish in the A Bracket. Her tenacity and resilience were evident throughout the tournament, as she fought hard in each match and earned a well-deserved spot on the podium. ●Sara Pauls won second place in the A Bracket. Her determination to wrestle through tough competition paid off, and she showcased a blend of technical skill and grit. opponents. ●Kiera Filip also earned third place in the A Bracket. Her ability to keep her composure under pressure and execute her techniques effectively led her to a spot among the tournament's top wrestlers. Varsity Coaches Dan Gallo and Travis Edwards said these collective achievements are solidifying the team's reputation as one of the top regional wrestling teams!

GOOD LUCK to Class of 2010 alumnus Stefanie Dolson, who is competing in the inaugural season of the Unrivaled, a new 3-on-3 professional basketball league, which launched Jan. 17! Unrivaled features six clubs (Laces, Lunar Owls, Mist, Phantom, Rose, Vinyl) with six players per roster. Games will be played on a condensed full court with three seven-minute quarters followed by a fourth quarter played under "winning score". The winning score will be determined by adding 11 points to the leading team's score and the first team to reach that total wins the game. Stefanie is a member of the Laces. She led Minisink Valley to four straight New York State Public High School Athletic Association (NYSPHSAA) Section IX championship appearances. Stephanie finished her Minisink Valley basketball career with 1,951 points and 1,607 rebounds. She was a McDonald’s High School All-American and participated in that All-Star game where she had 12 points and eight rebounds. A stellar collegiate career followed at the University of Connecticut, where she was a member of two NCAA championship teams along with a distinguished professional basketball career now leading to the Laces! All games in the 2025 season will be played at the new Wayfair Arena in Miami. The season will run through March 17.

Great sporting experiences come in many different ways! This past weekend, the Girls Modified Basketball team had an incredible time attending a SUNY Orange basketball game during Alumni Night! What made this event even more special was knowing that Modified Coach Kelsie Doller played on that very court! Seeing her connection to the program showed the girls where they are now, to where hard work and dedication can take them. The girls loved watching the SUNY Orange players in action and were amazed to see them doing many of the same warm-ups and plays they’ve been practicing. It was a great reminder that the fundamentals they’re learning now are essential at every level of basketball. To top it all off, the team had the chance to meet the SUNY Orange women’s basketball coach, who encouraged and inspired them even more!

Kudos to the Girls Varsity Wrestling Team, which won the team trophy at the Jan. 20 Frank Giampaolo Tournament on Long Island! In addition to the team trophy, there were also six individual highlights: •Zoe Ford, 94 lb. weight class finalist •Keira Filip, 114 lb. weight class champion ho also was also named“Most Outstanding Wrestler” •Madyson Thorpe, 120 lb. weight class finalist •Avery Wingen, 126 lb. weight class champion •Jaida Macaluso, 145 lb. weight class champion •Patricia Deslandes, 235 lb. weight class champion “Looking to face new competition, our team proved once again that all the hard work they have been putting in is paying off,” said Varsity Head Coach Dan Gallo. “On top of our six finalists, the team had place winners in nearly every weight and won the team trophy for first place.” This team tournament win follows other team and individual successes at the recent Eastern States Tournament! The team travels to Albany this weekend for a dual meet championship. Minisink is in the “Red Pool” and opens with matches against Phoenix and Rocky Point. Good luck to all!

Congratulations to the Boys Varsity Indoor Track team, which won the OCIAA Division II title this past Saturday at West Point! “The boys track team put in a lot of hard work leading up to the division championships,” said Varsity Coach James Beck. “They stepped out of their comfort zones, competing in events they don't typically participate in, and chasing every possible point. Their efforts paid off as they brought home the win.” Athletic Director Tim Bult added: “We’re so proud of our track program, as both the boys and girls teams have been building each season to become a perennial powerhouse across the OCIAA, Section IX and beyond.”

The varsity boys & girls indoor track & field squads kicked their season into high gear, competing in a trio of elite invitationals over the recent break. In their first outing at Armory Track & Field Center, Minisink Valley collected one program record, two event wins and a number of Top 10 finishes at the Coaches' Hall of Fame Invitational! On the track, junior Robert LaBarbera established a new standard of 22.95 seconds in the 200-meter dash, having set a new school record in the 300 meter dash just a week prior. In the field events, juniors Ella Michelitch and Delilia Kronimus and senior Logan Schupner won individual titles. Michelitch prevailed with a mark of 5' 4" in the high jump, while Kronimus and Schupner won with clearances at 11' and 14' 6" in the pole vault, respectively. And in the 4x400 meter relay, the boys' quartet of LaBarbera, Samuel Anderson, Benjamin Spevak and Jon Mausling raced to fifth-place showing in 3:30.41. At the recent U.S. Marine Corps Holiday Classic, Minisink Valley collected a trio of podium finishes. Having earlier broken the school record for the 600-meter run in his first open event of the season, senior Samuel Anderson moved to #2 all time in program history for the 800-meter run, storming to win his heat and finishing third in a time of 1:54.90. Robert LaBarbera finished third in the 400-meter dash in a time of 50.19 seconds, continuing his strong start to the young season. The relay squad of Ferrah Hill, Chloe Beck, Zoey Terpak and Kaleigh Murphy closed out the meet as runners-up in the 1600 meter sprint medley relay, with a time of 4:28.86. And at the recent Armory Hispanic Games, Samuel Anderson took down his second program record of the season in 48.76 seconds in the 400-meter dash. In the girls' 400- meter dash, junior Ferrah Hill also eclipsed a long-standing school record, finishing fifth in 1:02.07. Logan Schupner and Delila Kronimus each stood second on the podium, with Schupner establishing a new program record clearance of 15' 9". And high jump standout Ella Michelitch returned to competition in winning style, eclipsing a two-decade old school record with a jump of 5 '6 ". Today, the team competes at The Armory with high hopes of advancing to the prestigious Millrose Games.

The Girls Freestyle Wrestling team delivered an outstanding performance at the recent Coxsackie Girls Tournament, showcasing their skill, determination, and teamwork With multiple first-place finishes and strong individual results across all brackets, the team surged to an impressive 271.5 team points, earning it the coveted first-place trophy! Congratulations and well-done! “The success at this tournament is a testament to the hard work, commitment, and talent of the Freestyle Wrestling team,” said Assistant Coach Travis Edwards. ”With each wrestler contributing to the team's overall victory, the squad has proven they are a force to be reckoned with.” A BRACKET INDIVIDUAL RESULTS: ●114 lb. weight class Kiera Filip, first place Kiera outperformed her competition, winning 10-3 by decision and earning a well-deserved first-place finish in the A Bracket. ●132 lb. weight class Sarah Pauls, first place Sarah earned a decisive 19-8 tech fall victory, reinforcing her technical mastery and ensuring another gold medal for the team. . ●145 lb. weight class Jaida Macaluso, first place Jaida clinched a 16-6 tech fall victory, demonstrating exceptional control and technique in her matches, earning the first-place finish in the A Bracket. ●235 lb. weight class Patricia Deslandes, first place Patricia continued her impressive streak, securing a quick victory with a fall in just 30 seconds, demonstrating her dominance on the mat. B BRACKET INDIVIDUAL RESULTS ●107 lb. weight class Amelia Patzelt, first place Amelia claimed the top spot in the B Bracket with a 24-13 tech fall, proving her technical wrestling prowess and composure in key moments. ●128 lb. weight class Avery Wingan, first place Avery exhibited dominant wrestling, securing a 10-0 tech fall to win the B Bracket, further contributing to the team's success. ●165 lb. weight class Caitlin McIlroy, first place Caitlin made an impact with a fall in 3:48, clinching the title in the B bracket with a well-executed strategy and determination. Treven Costello, fourth place Treven showed great effort and grit throughout the tournament, earning a solid fourth-place finish in a competitive bracket.

Kudos to the Varsity Cheer team, which has continued its annual tradition of adopting a family this holiday season. Before the break, the cheer “elves” gathered to wrap gifts for two families. “We hope these gifts brighten the holidays for these two families,” said Head Coach Patti Archiere. “This is very meaningful to us. Our cheerleaders and their families look forward to doing this every year and we hope it brings smiles to the faces of the recipients.”

Girls Wrestling Varsity Head Coach Dan Gallo is thrilled to share that the Girls Wrestling Program held its first-ever female varsity wrestling tournament on Dec. 15! It was also the first-ever tournament hosted by at Section IX team! The “Iron Maiden” Tournament featured 170 wrestlers from Minisink Valley, Middletown, Shenendehoah, Shaker, Columbia, Warwick, Valley Central, Burke Catholic, Warrensburg, Port Jervis and LaSalle. Minisink Valley, the home team, won the team title with 327 points! Middletown finished in second-place with 226 points with Shaker in third-place just under 175 points. Individual weight-class championships were won by Peyton Matone, Jaida Macaluso and Brooke Besson! Congratulations to Keira Filip, Madison Thorpe, Sara Pauls and Patricia Deslandes for making it to the Finals; and to Summer LaRusso, McKenna Matone, Colby Furman, Trevon Costello and Amelia Patzelt for placing top three. Congratulations and well-done to all!

Kudos to the Boys Wrestling Program, which has collected enough food items to create 10 to 15 non-perishable food baskets during this holiday season for Minisink Cares to help those dealing with food insecurity, Since 2020, the Boys Wrestling Program has partnered up with Minisink Cares to donate food baskets. WELL-DONE and thank you to all! Your kindness will make a difference!

CONGRATULATIONS to the Varsity Cheer team, who earned a bid to compete at the UCA National HS Cheerleading Championship in Orlando Florida in February. The bid was earned following their competition at last Saturday’s UCA Pocono Regional at Mohegan Sun in Wilkes-Barre, Pa. The team will be competing in the Small Varsity Division II division! #MINISINKProud

BEHIND THE SCENES: Take a look at these wonderful photos from Friday's "Heart of a Giant" surprise announcement! We all get a chance to see some of the cool, non-public areas of MetLife Stadium, including the Giants ' locker room! Congratulations again to Senior Vanessa Tepper! See more photos on the district's Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/MinisinkValleyCSD

It’s a huge deal to qualify for and participate in State Competition! Please join us in congratulating Senior Briana Foote, who represented Minisink Valley and Section IX with distinction and finished in19th place overall in the 50m freestyle (18th in the Federation) and 21st place overall in the 100m butterfly (13th in the Federation) in the recent NYSPHSAA Girls Swimming and Diving Championship! She jumped multiple places up from her original predicted seed!