Congratulations to Junior Ethan Rodriguez, who won the OCIAA High School Championship Tennis Tournament, yesterday, May 20! He now advances to sectionals next week!
Varsity Coach Michael Sirico proudly notes that Ethan is now ranked as the No. 1 boys tennis player in Orange County. That’s huge!
“Matt and Ben have worked very hard to get here,” said Head Coach Dave Benedetto. “Their commitment and passion for the game of golf is remarkable. We are very proud of them.”
Good luck to both golfers as they look to keep it in the fairway and make a strong run at Sectionals!
“Coaches Mark SweatIock and I are proud of Heather’s hard work and determination to meet her goal of qualifying and are excited for her to represent Minisink in Section IX,” said Coach Nicholas Terralavoro.
This event honors top-grade-level students who exemplify excellence in fitness, leadership, and citizenship — key components of New York State learning standards.
These students were selected for their commitment to an active lifestyle, responsible behavior, leadership qualities, and contributions to their school community. While athletic ability is not a requirement, each honoree embodies the spirit of personal growth and positive influence.
“These students set a strong example for others, demonstrating how character, dedication, and service make an impact both in physical education and in all areas of life,” said Elementary School Physical Education teacher Anthony Pascarelli, who represented Minisink Valley faculty at the event.
Students honored were:
Middle School
Justin Artola
Charlotte Ringus
Maximus Sisto
Jasmine Tepper
Otisville Elementary
Peter Caputo
Helen Hutchital
Callan Mark
Frank Ortiz
Intermediate School
Lucas Ayala
Logan Flynn
Siena Paccio
Grace Rolon
Elementary School
Augustine Paccio
Delilah Useo
Everett Whalen
More than 60 future varsity stars representing the Minisink and Otisville Little Leagues stepped up to the plate to join the fun — and what a night it was! The festivities were capped off with a thrilling 9–8 varsity comeback win over Warwick Valley! Amazing!
These young student athletes — clearly future varsity standouts — were all smiles as they received their “Rising Star” bracelets, rounded the bases alongside varsity players, and even scored big by getting all the varsity player autographs they wanted! From dugout chats to on-field memories, it was a home run evening filled with mentorship, teamwork and plenty of heart.
What a beautiful display of paying it forward, beginning to build a future lineup by showing how much fun the game is, and reminding these rising stars that with practice, hustle, and love of the game, anything is possible!
WHAT'S NEW with the outdoor track & field teams? FIVE NEW PROGRAM RECORDS!
The boys and girls outdoor track & field teams kicked their season and established five program records last weekend at the Red Raider Relays, hosted by North Rockland High School in the newly reopened Cordisco Stadium!
Senior Robert LaBarbera kicked the weekend off with a huge personal best in the 10-meter dash, eclipsing a 45-year-old district program record in :10.81 to win his preliminary heat. He followed that start up with a silver medal in the 100-meter dash final on Saturday, before establishing a second personal best and Minisink Valley program record in the 400-meter dash, with his winning mark of :48.10 establishing a new New York #1 ranking in the process!
And to close the meet in grand style, Robert, Angel Mendez, Chloe Beck and Ferrah Hill earned a commanding mixed 4x400 meter relay victory, shattering the state record in 3:35.11, with a team of Stetson Terpak, Jon Mausling, Salma Samdaoui and Emma Berkshire taking sixth place (3:47.68).
Senior Kessler Hirsch won in the javelin with a new program record of 116'04" and matched Robert LaBarbera's second-place finish in the 100-meter dash final, before anchoring 4x100 meter relay teammates Chloe Beck Ferrah Hill and Salma Samdaoui and 4x200 meter relay teammates Jerlivia Frederick, Julia Berkshire and Catori Thomas to a pair of victories. Also earning gold medals were the distance medley relay teammates Elijah Zittel, William Monahan, Caleb Decker and Luciano Palacios (12:25.32).
Seniors Delila Kronimus (10'6") finished third in the pole vault and Salma Samdaoui (1:11.69) also earned a bronze medal in the 400-meter intermediate hurdles, as first-year Dominique Celestin (1:15.03) raced to a new Minisink Valley class record in 10th place. Angel Mendez (:50.01) and Tarius Theodore (:51.25) joined Robert LaBarbera on the 400-meter dash podium, crossing the line in fourth and sixth place, respectively.
Several relay teams and individuals earned medals and established Minisink Valley class records. First-year teammates Catori Thomas, Sophia McKeon, Julia Berkshire and Caitlyn Moran established a new district class record (4:12.46) in winning the F/S 4x400 meter relay, with Thomas, McKeon and CaitlynMoran earlier teaming with Danica Martinez to win and break the district's class record (:52.70) in the F/S 4x100 meter relay.
And --- Eighth-grade phenom Abigail Caputo anchored teammates Kathryn Jones, Catharine Sullivan and Elizabeth Honsaker to a fifth place finish in the 4x800 meter relay, having snagged a sixth-place finish in the invitational section of the 1,500 meter run (4:53.92) and opened her weekend with a 10:57.78 finish in the 3,000 meters; the latter two marks rank #1 in New York state for middle school athletes! AMAZING!
The teams will next field 4x100 and 4x400 meter relay teams in the prestigious Penn Relays Carnival, hosted by Franklin Field on the grounds of the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia.
“Our relationship with the veterans at the American Legion is something our program takes a lot of pride in, and our players are always ready to answer the call when the opportunity comes up,” said Varsity Head Coach Kevin Gallagher. “This is a great chance for our guys to represent the program the right way and honor those who have served.”
Coach Gallagher noted that this has been part of the team’s culture for the past 12 years, and it remains a tradition they fully intend to keep in their playbook moving forward.
Players executed their roles seamlessly—prepping salads, serving and delivering ziti and meatballs, and making sure every table was taken care of with coffee and cake—showing the same discipline and teamwork they bring to game day.
Coach Gallagher added: “This gives our guys an opportunity to connect, communicate, and learn firsthand what servant leadership looks like. It’s about more than football—it’s about doing your job, supporting others, and understanding how being part of a team can make a real impact in the community.”
We LOVE it when our students and staff are part of wonderful community activities and events!
KUDOS to members of the Varsity Football and Wrestling teams, who were part of the Hudson Valley Honor Flight Mission 38’s “Welcome Home Rally” at Stewart Airport this past Saturday!
Players and coaches were on hand to welcome all Mission 38 veterans when they returned from a daylong trip to Washington, D.C., but particularly to welcome home Air Force E-4 Sergeant, crew chief and aircraft maintenance specialist Arthur Olah, who served during the Vietnam War conflict at Williams Air Force Base in Arizona. Mr. Olah is the grandfather of Varsity Offensive/Defensive Line Coach Andrew Fenner, who is also an IS third-grade teacher; and father-in-law of IS/ES Head Custodian Dave Fenner.
A day with the Hudson Valley Honor Flight begins early, often before sunrise, as veterans gather with volunteers and guardians for a warm send-off. There’s an atmosphere of excitement and gratitude as families, supporters, and community members cheer them on. The group boards a flight bound for Washington, D.C. and veterans are treated with special care and recognition throughout the entire trip.
Once in Washington, the day is filled with visits to powerful memorials such as the World War II Memorial, Vietnam Veterans Memorial, and Korean War Veterans Memorial. Volunteers ensure each veteran has time to reflect, connect and be honored for their service. The trip often includes a special “mail call,” where veterans receive letters of appreciation from loved ones and strangers alike. By evening, they return home to a heartfelt welcome celebration, greeted by crowds waving flags and expressing gratitude. It’s an unforgettable and deeply emotional end to a meaningful day.
“This is such a great event and our coaches, players and wrestlers were honored to be a part of it,” said Varsity Football and Wrestling Head Coach Kevin Gallagher. “Our football program has a special relationship with the American Legion and one of us was on that flight! Arthur Olah, who served in the U.S. Air Force and is the grandfather of our offensive and defensive line coach Andrew Fenner which made it that much more special! The guys were awesome and really started to understand the effect they had on Mr. Olah and all of the veterans that they cheered for! It was a great night.”
To learn more about Hudson Valley Honor Flight, visit: https://hvhonorflight.com/
Congratulations to Junior Sara Pauls for earning third-place honors in the 126-pound weight class --- and ALL-AMERICAN status --- at the recent National High School Coaches Association’s (NHSCA) 37th annual High School Nationals Competition in Virginia Beach! Her third-place success came from a bracket of 85 girls!
Also wrestling were Jaida Macaluso and Keira Filip, who wrestled with grit and honorably represented Minisink Valley!
And…and equal congratulations to Junior Wyatt Boice who earned fifth-place in the 175-pound weight class – and ALL-AMERICAN status --- at this same tournament! Thus far, Wyatt has earned ALL-AMERICAN honors each of the past three seasons! Wyatt went 6-2 over the three day tournament.
Also wrestling was Jake Murphy, Mason Murphy, Colin Matone, Vinny Coppola, Joe Uhrig and Zach Filip --- who came up one match short of All American status as he lost in the blood round.
A wrestler earns All-American status by finishing among the Top 8 at a recognized national tournament!
We’re so proud of all our wrestlers who competed in great matches against some of the best in the nation! The NHSCA High School Nationals is a premier wrestling championship for high school athletes from across the nation (and sometimes international competitors). The NHSCA Nationals serves as a showcase for talent and is often attended or scouted by college coaches and recruiters.
Just ask the Varsity Flag Football team, who recently swapped plays and drills for ropes courses and paintball battles. The outing wasn’t just high-energy fun — it was a chance for players to connect, challenge themselves and strengthen the trust that fuels great teamwork.
Coach Michael Tepper reports the team is leaving everything on the field this season and is excited for what’s shaping up to be a standout year.
Activities like ropes courses or paintball build communication, trust, and camaraderie — key ingredients for any successful team. When players feel connected and supported, they communicate better during games, recover faster from setbacks, and play with more confidence. Off-field bonding creates the cohesion that shows up in big moments on the field.
Boys Varsity Wrestling Coach Kevin Gallagher and Assistant Coach Scott Hendershot had the good fortune of attending and watching alumni PJ Duke and Zack Ryder compete in the NCAA Division I Men’s Wrestling Championships in Cleveland, Ohio this past weekend! And, as expected, our two alumni wrestlers made us so proud!
PJ, who attends Penn State, finished in third-place in the 157-pound weight class!
Zack, who attends Oklahoma State, finished in eighth-place in the 184-pound weight class!
Because of their finishes, they have also earned ALL-AMERICAN honors, which are awarded to the Top 8 in the nation in their respective weight classes! We're thrilled their roots are in Minisink Valley!
The NCAA Division I Men's Wrestling Championships is the premier collegiate wrestling event in the U.S., bringing together the top wrestlers from Division I schools to compete for individual and team national titles. Held in Cleveland, the tournament features intense multi-day competition across 10 weight classes, culminating in championship finals that draw large crowds and national attention. It serves as the season’s pinnacle, showcasing elite talent, dramatic upsets and the crowning of All-Americans and national champions.
Congratulations and best wishes to the senior members of the Girls Varsity Basketball team, who were honored for their many contributions to the team’s success during their recent Senior Night: Alyssa Doane, Cassie Jennings, Kate O'Neill and Elizabeth Yozzo! (Their costumed red attire was for a skit they performed that evening!
Scoring individual/team event victories which now qualify them to compete at state competition are:
--- Ella Michelitch in the high jump with a 5' 10.5” finish. This is a school program record and ranks her No. 1 in New York State. Ella also qualified in the long jump via her runner-up finish of 18' 9.5", which is also the highest program record and places her No. 8 statewide.
--- Robert LaBarbera in the 600 meter run, with a 1:20.37 finish. This is the second highest program record and places him as No. 2 statewide.
--- Maximillian Wickrath in the 55 meter dash with a :6.32 finish. This is a school program record and places him as No. 2 statewide.
--- The boys 4x400 meter relay team of Max Wickrath, Angel Mendez, Stetson Terpak and LaBarbera outlasted Newburgh Free Academy with a 3:21.26, ranking this finish as the third highest in the school program and placing them as No. 2 statewide.
--- The girls 4x400 team of Ferrah Hill, Chloe Beck, Salma Samdaoui and Ella Michelitch advanced after a tight battle with Monroe-Woodbury and Warwick Valley with a 4:00.37 finish. This is the second highest program finish and places them as No. 10 statewide.
The 4x400 relay lineups will be filled out by alternates Jeremiah Alexis, Emma Berkshire, Lyla LaBarbera and Michael Moran.
Minisink Valley will compete against athletes representing all 11 NYSPHSAA sections for state medals, as well as qualifiers from the AIS, CHSAA and PSAL for Federation podium positions. Qualifiers in individual events and relays were selected by virtue of winning events at a section qualifying meet or having achieved a state standard performance.
The state championship will be held at the Ocean Breeze Athletic Complex in Staten Island.
Here’s how they fared:
•Senior Owen Skinner had personal best times in the 200 IM (placed 19th) and the 100 breaststroke (placed 13th)
•Senior Caleb Decker had personal best times in the 200 free (placed 18th) and 500 free (placed 15th)
•Junior Eddie Edwards had personal best times in the 100 free (placed 16th) and 100 back (placed 8th)
•Freshman Jacob Yourman had personal best times in the 200 free (placed 14th) and 500 free (placed 16th)
•Eighth-grader Marcus Earl had personal best times in the 200 IM (placed 18th) and 100 breaststroke (placed 19th)
•Junior Vincent Galligan (100 breaststroke), sophomore William Monahan (200 and 500 free) and seventh-grader Alex Marincenko (200 free and 100 back) also participated in their first Section Championships in individual and relay events
As part of the celebration, the team -- including Elizabeth and Emily --- performed for all who attended the evening!
Mat maids
Camila Calle
Alyssa Hendershot
Jazlin Sessoms Luna
Sofia Udasco
Wrestlers
Alexandro Cepeda, Jr.
Ramon Colon
Timothy Duke
Cody Dul
Tyler Dul
Antonio Felix
Zachary Filip
Leonardo Gangi
Shaheed Mitchell
Alex Nigro
Jayden Pressley
Nathanial Racz
Gabriel Simpson
Seven swimmers qualified for the Feb. 19 to 21 Section IX Championships, based on their cut times:
•Senior Caleb Decker got 2 cuts in the 200 freestyle and 50 freestyle
•Senior Owen Skinner got a cut in the 200 IM
•Junior Eddie Edwards got cut times in the 100 freestyle and 100 backstroke in a previous meet.
•Sophomore William Monahan got his first 2 cuts in the 200 and 500 yard freestyle
•Freshman Jacob Yourman got a cut in the 200 freestyle
•Eighth-grader Marcus Earl got a Section cut time in the 100 breaststroke
•Seventh-grader Alex Marincenko got a cut in the 200 freestyle
