Athletics

BASEBALL SUMMER CAMP BEGINS JUNE 30! REGISTER NOW so you don't miss out! Click here for details: https://docs.google.com/document/d/17maPASCQQQ368vgQWKSLDqX3D0d2LuCg/edit

JUST...WOW! THAT. IS. ALL. Varsity Wrestling Head Coach Kevin Gallagher is thrilled to share that Senior PJ Duke rallied past Yianni Diakomihalis, a four-time NCAA champion and 2022 World silver medalist, at USA Wrestling’s Final X this past Saturday in Newark, N.J. to earn the 70kg spot at September’s worlds in Croatia! It was a huge, huge upset! PJ could be the youngest U.S. male freestyle wrestler to compete at a senior world championship in more than 50 years! On Saturday, PJ lost his first match to Yianni by mercy rule (10-0 at the 3:26 mark of the scheduled six minutes) in the best-of-three championship series. He won the next two matches, 17-10 and then with a pin in the decider at the 4:07 mark. After pulling off the stunning upset, PJ celebrated with a backflip! Television broadcasters told viewers they were “watching the birth of a superstar in Newark, N.J.” “PJ wrestled great and the whole place was going crazy,” said Coach Gallagher. “After PJ losing the first match some people were saying, ‘Yanni has too much talent, too much experience, and PJ is just not there yet.’ I guess he proved them wrong! I know the 70-plus Minisink people who were in the arena and the rest of the ‘Duke Mafia’ around the country still believed he would win. After PJ scored his first two points in the second match PJ began to dominate Yanni scoring 15 points to Yanni’s two. The third and final match was the most anticipated match of the tournament and nobody left the arena. After a defensive first period, Yanni scored another point and was leading 2-0. Then, PJ hit a single leg counter shot and took Yanni to his back and pinned him! The place went crazy! PJ is quite possibly the best high school wrestler ever!”

The Varsity Girls Lacrosse Team fought hard, played with tenacity and didn't give in during June 13's Final Four matchup against Section VIII's Garden City on Long Island. But they will not be advancing to tomorrow's final championship game after today's 21-6 final. Our team held its own against its opponent which has 13 players who will play Division I college lacrosse next year. They have a lot to be proud of in their three-peat Section IX winning season, including being REGIONAL WINNERS and the FIRST EVER Section IX varsity girls lacrosse team to advance to NYSPHSAA semifinals! THAT'S HUGE and a tremendous accomplishment adding to the already illustrious Varsity Girls Lacrosse history at Minisink Valley. WELL DONE, ladies! We're so proud of your tremendous efforts! Please join us in congratulating them for a a spectacular season!

Congratulations to Senior PJ Duke on his recent impressive performance at the Senior World Team Trials. Coach Scott Hendershot is proud to share that PJ competed in the 70 kg weight class, beating the 2025 NCAA Division I 157-pound weight class champion in the quarterfinals. He followed that up by defeating the 2025 NCAA Division I 149-pound weight class champion in the semifinals. In the finals, PJ secured the title by overcoming a three-time NCAA Division I All-American! With this victory, Coach Hendershot said, PJ earned a spot at Final X, where he will compete for the opportunity to represent Team USA at the Senior World Championships in Croatia! Additionally, PJ has been named the winner of the 2025 Junior Dan Hodge Trophy. The award is named after the former Oklahoma national champion and is presented annually to the nation’s best high school wrestler by WIN Magazine. The late Dan Hodge won three NCAA titles for the University of Oklahoma (1955-57) and never allowed a takedown in his college career. He also pinned 36 of his 46 victims. In that article, Coach Kevin Gallagher said: “You don’t get a bigger honor. I couldn’t be happier for PJ. He is a gifted athlete, but also the hardest worker I’ve ever seen. He is a great teammate and leader. He is the kid that is jumping up and down for a freshman wrestler who gets a big win. He helps in practice. PJ is just such a humble, well-liked kid.” “I have to thank Coach Kevin Gallagher for all his help and support over the years” PJ said in the article. “Minisink Valley is my home. Everyone here is family.” In that same article, Coach Gallagher added: “I heard him say his style is ‘I just love wrestling.’ He loves to score; it is fun for him. What a lesson for young wrestlers who put pressure on themselves. His ways, leadership and training habits have rubbed off on other kids in our program. Until PJ loses, I don’t ever doubt him.” PJ is New York State’s 11th four-time state champion while representing Minisink Valley, compiling a 152-1 career prep record and won Outstanding Wrestler honors at the 2024 and 2025 state tournaments, winning every match by pin or tech fall.

The senior members of the Boys Varsity Lacrosse Team were honored for their many contributions to the team during its recent Senior Night! Congratulations and best wishes to: •Hudson Bosland, #13, Defense •Patrick Cherry, #1, Defense •Harrison Greaves, #4, Midfield •Aaron Kelter, #8, Midfield •Eric Lukiansky, #5, Midfield •Cole Sanfilippo, #3, Defense PLUS: Members of the Minisink Valley K-2 Boys Youth Lacrosse program attended this game and helped as ball boys! After the game, the varsity team had a post-game catch with these future varsity lacrosse players! Everyone had a blast of a time!

BREAKING SATURDAY AFTERNOON NEWS! Our Varsity Girls Lacrosse Team is FINAL FOUR BOUND after their huge 17-6 win over fourth-seed Vestal today in the NYSPHAA Girls Lacrosse Class B Regional matchup! PLUS: CJ Kuiken scored her 200th goal at today's game! Next up: The four regional winners now advance to the NYSPHSAA Class B SemiFinals on Friday, June 13. Winners advance to NYSPHSAA championships on Saturday, June 14! You got this, ladies!

Congratulations to the six varsity baseball players who were honored for their many contributions to the team’s success during the team’s recent Senior Night! “All of our seniors have been a key part of the program for the last five years, having lost their seventh-grade modified season to the pandemic, and had a truly positive impact on and off the diamond,” said Varsity Head Coach Joe D'Antono Seniors, in numerical order, are: ●Infielder Nik Marrero (#1) – a three-year varsity player, and five-year member of the program who will continue his athletic and academic career at SUNY Orange. ●Infielder and Pitcher Nick Sommella (#2) – a two-year varsity player, and five-year member of the program who is attending Florida Tech in the fall. ●Infielder Dylan Acevedo (#5) – a three-year varsity player who will continue his athletic and academic career at Central Connecticut State. ●Infielder and Pitcher Nate Tormey (#8) – a three-year varsity player, and five-year member of the program who will play football at Alfred State University this fall. ●Outfielder Bobby Ayers (#12) – a two-year varsity player, five-year member of the baseball program who will be attending Stony Brook University. ●Infielder and Pitcher Nick Parco (#16) – a two-year varsity player, and five-year member of the program who will continue his athletic and academic career at Mount Saint Mary College in Newburgh next year.

Our Varsity Flag Football team played with fierce grit and tenacity today, May 31, but will not be advancing to the next level of play after today's 13-7 final against Section I champion Tappan Zee. But...the team is a NYSPHSAA regional finalist, and that's a huge accomplishment! It was a close game, and this team has a lot to be proud of not only today.... but for the entire season. They represented Minisink Valley with pride and distinction in a very new sport for girls athletics in New York State. They will be back...and just as tough. Please join us in congratulating the team for a great season.

HOW SWEET AND ENCOURAGING IS THIS? The Girls Modified track team has been busy making these special “clips” using regular clothes pins and writing positive words or phases before a home game and secretly clipping them onto an opposing team member’s bag or shirt. It’s a Tik Tok trend initiated by volleyball players, and Head Coach Nicole Van Pelt asked her team if they’d like to join in! The team immediately agreed and created over 80 clothes pins with inspiring messaging for their Port Jervis opponents during a recent home match. “We’re leaving ‘the visiting’ with an abundance of encouraging messages,” she said. “The girls jumped at the opportunity to partake in continuing Minisink’s reputable sportsmanship atmosphere, and to spread kindness.” WELL-DONE, EVERYONE! Take a peek at their kind, inspirational clips!

THAT'S A WRAP! The first season of Unified Basketball ended yesterday and featured a Disney theme! What a wonderful season for this team! Head Coach Theresa Uhelsky and Volunteer Coach Kara Anderson-Winchell send their appreciation and gratitude to everyone who has supported this team and contributed to making these games fun and memorable!

The Varsity Boys Tennis Team’s seniors were honored at their recent Senior Night for their many contributions to the team’s success! Congratulations and best wishes to Liam Ordway and Dylan Percy!

STILL GOING STRONG! The varsity boys and girls outdoor track & field teams began their postseason campaign with their recent trip to Warwick Valley for the OCIAA Championships. Featuring athletes representing all member school districts, the Orange County League Championship is historically one of the most competitive in New York State. In a field of 20 teams, the Minisink Valley boys team finished in seventh place with 52.5 points; while the girls team placed ninth with 28 points. Winning individual titles for Minisink Valley were Samuel Anderson, who established a new program record of 1:54.96 in the 800-meter run; and Ella Michelitch, who smashed the Minisink Valley and Section IX records in the pentathlon with 3,478 points. Outclassing the field by over 700 points, Michelitch took dominant wins in the 100-meter hurdles, high jump, shot put and long jump, before being narrowly beaten in the 800-meter run. Minisink Valley again asserted relay dominance in the meet-closing 4x400 meter relays, with the girls quartet of Kaleigh Murphy, Chloe Beck, Salma Samdaoui and Ferrah Hill combining for the win in 4:00.48. The boys' squad of Angel Mendez, Benjamin Spevak, Robert LaBarbera and Anderson raced to a season best 3:18.31 to take the win. LaBarbera and Hill each earned podium finishes in the open 400-meter run, with their respective second and third place medal finishes in :49.32 and :58.59. And, Logan Schupner soared to a second-place finish in the pole vault, having reset his own Minisink Valley record in the final dual meet of the season just four days prior, clearing 16' 5" on Senior Night. Minisink Valley will contest one final tune-up for the Section IX and State Qualifier meets by participating in the Gary V Classic at Washingtonville today, May 21. Good luck to all!

HOW COOL IS THIS? Several Varsity Flag Football team members recently attended the New York Giants’ “Heart of a Giants” Football and Flag Football Clinic. Former Giants linebacker and team captain Jonathan Casillas worked with the attending student athletes! Along with physical training, it was also an education clinic that taught participants about important sports topics, including keeping athletes safe, mindfulness, emergency action preparedness, warming-up, and more. These workshops were presented by Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS) and USE Football officials and others HSS is the official hospital and doctors for the New York Giants organization. This past fall, Senior and Varsity Flag football quarterback Vanessa Tepper was selected as USA Football’s 2024 "Heart of Giant," with the New York Giants organization announcing her selection at a special, surprise ceremony.

The Varsity Unified Basketball team's recent game, featuring a 1980s theme, was "totally tubular!" Thank you to everyone who came out to cheer on the team and made the game so memorable!

The Varsity Softball Team’s seniors were honored at their recent Senior Night for their many contributions to the team’s success! Congratulations and best wishes to: Heather Ghussin, second base Caitlyn Higby, right field Ryin Perico, first base Natalie Rogers, catcher Ava Smith, catcher/DP

The Varsity Track & Field Team’s seniors were honored at their recent Senior Night for their many contributions to the team’s success! Congratulations and best wishes to: Samuel Anderson - sprints & relays Ryan Capo - distance Brian Capper - distance Tyler Cloidt - jumps, throws & multi-events Vaughn Hill - sprints & relays Vincent Howard - sprints Julia Kronimus - sprints & jumps Dominic Marasco - sprints & jumps Justin Mauras - jumps Gavin Morse - throws Emily Murphy - distance Kaleigh Murphy - sprints & relays Xavier Rosales - throws & sprints Logan Schupner - pole vault, hurdles & jumps Madeline Sierra - sprints & relays Olivia Sierra - sprints & relays Helena Sopin - throws Benjamin Spevak - sprints & relays Zoey Terpak - sprints, relays & jumps Sarah Winner - sprints, hurdles & jumps

Congratulations to Senior Golfer Chris Rickard for advancing to the Section IX Championship! Chris shot an incredible round of 73 at West Point on Monday, falling short of the title by one stroke to the #2 ranked player in New York State. Chris also received the 2025 Chuck Reynolds Sportsmanship Award which is voted on by the OCIAA Coaches. Coach Reynolds was a dedicated teacher and passionate coach at Minisink Valley who lost his battle with cancer in 2015. The Section IX Championships begin Tuesday, May 20 at Wiltwyck Golf Club in Kingston!

Please join us in wishing the Varsity Boys Golf Team much success as it heads to the Division 2 championship match today, April 30! The team is on a current FOUR match win streak and is excited to compete! "The guys are having a lot of fun and improving on their game every day,” said Coach Dave Benedetto. “We have a great group of players working very well together." He’s also proud to share these player highlights: •Chris Rickard is off to another great season averaging 3 over par He has qualified for States the past two seasons and he is looking to make another run at a state title in June. •Ben Danielson, John Falzon, and Matt Murtaugh are all on track to qualify for the OCIAA championship tournament held on May 12.

The Varsity Flag Football team remains UNDEFEATED after beating Monroe-Woodbury 6-0! (The game was also a Section IX finals rematch from last year!) Coach Michael Tepper is proud to share these highlights: •Vanessa Tepper: Two rushing touchdowns and an interception •Ava Revella: 55 yards rushing, 95 yards receiving and nine flag pulls •Avery Wingen: Eight flag pulls and an interception Home games are today, April 28, and Wednesday, April 30! Everyone is welcome!

What a game! The Varsity Unified Basketball team played their home opener against Monroe-Woodbury yesterday, April 24, and what a matchup it was! "We played with heart, worked as a team, and kept it close right to the end, falling short by just one point," said Varsity Coach Theresa Uhelsky. "Beyond the game, we made new friends, had a ton of fun, and were treated to an awesome halftime show thanks to some of our Minisink Valley baseball players and a game of musical chairs!" The team's next game is Tuesday, April 29, at home in the High School gym, and everyone is invited to attend and cheer the team on!