Minisink Valley High School

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 the recipients of the High School’s Band Awards, presented during the recent Band Awards Night! The event was a celebration of all their hard work throughout the year. Students were awarded “Most Improved Musician,” “Band MVP” and “Most Outstanding Musician” for Grades 9-12 in addition to the Louis Armstrong Jazz Award and the John Philip Sousa Award, among others. This year, Band teachers Matt Christy and Tom Stickney handed out the first “Joe Horner Award of Commitment and Dedication,” honoring retiring High School Band Director Joe Horner. This award will now be presented annually. Students were also acknowledged for participating NYSSMA solo adjunctions this spring. Award recipients are: Most Improved Musician 9th Grade: Kolin Fiedler 10th Grade: Austin Arredondo 11th Grade: Gavin McGinnis 12the Grade: Dan Rolon Band MVP 9th Grade: Landon Straw 10th Grade: Vinny Galligan 11th Grade: Mitchell Demberg 12th Gard: Drew Jashembowski Most Outstanding Musician 9th Grade Matt Milby 10th Grade: Dan Oenga 11th Grade: Heather Day 12th Grade: Sean Crowe • Joe Horner Award of Commitment and Dedication: Matt Milby • Kaitlyn McElduff Shine a Light Award: Jacob Weymer • Dan Haber Frisbee MVP Award: Drew Jashembowski • Tedde Harden Band Spirit Award: Drew Jashembowski • Louis Armstrong Jazz Award: Cheyann Kumar • John Philip Sousa Award – Audrey Guido

Danielle Zamorski’s high school health classes participated in several activities in class in recent days that involved information on alcohol and its impact on health and wellness using the Fatal Vision Program. It’s an important topic! Students defined alcohol use, misuse, and abuse, and distinguished among them using real-life examples. They identified the short-term and long-term effects of alcohol consumption on physical, mental, and emotional health. They described how alcohol impacts the brain and body, especially during adolescence. Students examined the relationship between alcohol use and risky behaviors, including impaired driving, violence, and relationships. Classes also analyzed the social, legal, and academic consequences of underage drinking and alcohol abuse. Each group evaluated how peer pressure and media influence alcohol-related decisions among teens. Moving forward, classes will be working on refusal skills and strategies to make informed decisions regarding alcohol use. Students will identify resources for help and support, including school counselors, hotlines, and community programs and reflect on personal values and goals to assess how alcohol and drug use may interfere with wellness and future success. The Fatal Vision program is a hands-on simulation program used to educate people about the dangers of impaired driving caused by alcohol, opioids, marijuana, and other substances, as well as concussions. It uses specialized goggles and activities to simulate the physical and cognitive impairments experienced when someone is under the influence. The googles have various features that distort vision, impair coordination, and slow reaction time.

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.

Cayla Tangney’s High School “Sculpture” students’ final project, “Tape Figures,” is by far one of their favorite projects of the school year! For this project, students wrapped their own bodies (or helped a friend to do the same) with clear packing tape. They worked sticky side out for a few layers and then sticky side in to make sure the structure was strong and sturdy enough to stand or sit on its own. This project was a reference to site-specific and installation art. To begin, students took a class "field trip" around the school so they could take photos of the building location they wanted to use for their installation. Then students returned to the classroom to begin wrapping! The project took a few weeks and A LOT of tape. Once completed, students walked around the school, sculptures in tow, to take photos in their appropriate locations. The results were a great mix of comedy, creativity and introspection. Take a look! •Installation art is a type of visual art where the artist creates a three-dimensional artwork that transforms the perception of a space. It's often site-specific, meaning it's designed for a particular location, and can be temporary or permanent. Installation art aims to create an immersive experience for the viewer, encouraging them to interact with the artwork and its surroundings. •Tape art sculpture involves creating three-dimensional artwork using adhesive tape, like duct tape, packing tape or masking tape. Artists can manipulate the tape to form shapes, layer it for depth, or combine it with other materials like paint. This art form can be used to create installations, wall art, or even sculptures that interact with the environment. •Unlike traditional paintings and sculptures, tape art can be applied anywhere, including the doors, ceilings and floors of galleries. •Tape art traces its roots back to the 1960s when a few artists began experimenting with masking tapes and adhesive materials to create temporary installations and murals. The use of tapes offered them freedom and flexibility, enabling them to work on a variety of surfaces and experiment with different compositions.

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!

CLASS of 2025 families: A special website page has been set up to share Class of 2025 graduation information. This information is identical to what is email to students and parents. Please check it regularly; click here: https://www.minisink.com/o/hs/page/class-of-2025-news

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.

Class of 2025 valedictorian Christopher Rickard and salutatorian Mia Abruzzese were among the valedictorians and salutatorians in State Sen. James Skoufis’ district who attended his May 28 Valedictorian and Salutatorian Celebration in Albany! Students and their parents/guardians were treated to lunch, and a Capitol tour, introduced by Sen. Skoufis in the Senate chamber during its legislative session and presented with Senate citations acknowledging their academic accomplishments. It was an exciting day for all everyone! “These young men and women are a fantastic group of scholars with bright futures ahead of them. I wish them - and all our Orange County graduating seniors - the absolute best as they complete their school year,” Sen. Skoufis said.

In finishing up their studies on the immune system, Brendan McGann’s College Biology students traveled around the school to collect samples of microorganisms from various surfaces for the testing and analysis of bacteria and fungi. Their samples came from many places, including the friendly foot and computer keyboard of Physics Teacher Martin Greco! Students began the inoculation process, swapping samples onto nutrient agar plates. After a couple days in the incubator, the analysis of bacteria and fungi colonies began. The grand finale of their lab was the killing of the colonies with various sterilizers. The "winner" with most growth and varying colonies came from Mr. Greco's keyboard. The students, being concerned for Mr. Greco’s health and welfare, suggested he might want to regularly clean his keyboard! •Bacteria grow on computer keyboards because they provide a conducive environment for microbial growth. Keyboards have numerous crevices and spaces where human debris, including skin cells, food particles, and oils, can accumulate. This debris, combined with frequent contact with human hands, creates a breeding ground for bacteria. •Nutrient agar plates are a type of solid culture medium used in microbiology laboratories to cultivate and observe microorganisms, particularly bacteria. •Nutrient agar plates contain agar (a gelling agent extracted from seaweed that solidifies the medium); beef extract (provides nutrients such as vitamins, minerals, and amino acids); peptone: (a protein digest that supplies nitrogen and other nutrients); and sodium chloride (maintains osmotic balance).

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.

High School families: The Lors Photography site is now open for you to purchase from the galleries of photos taken by Lors photographers for the year 2024-25 school year. These include yearbook team photos, Senior Ball, Junior Prom photos and much more! Class of 2025 graduation photos willl be added shortly after the ceremony. A portion of your purchase of any of these images will benefit the yearbook and allow the yearbook to be sold at a discounted price. (The preorders were all discounted from the actual printing cost.) Don’t miss out if interested! CLICK HERE and check out all the great Lors images: https://lorsstudio.smugmug.com/Mini.../School-Year-2024-2025

Please support the good work of the Minisink Valley PTO and purchase an ULTIMATE DISCOUNT CARD! This fundraiser concludes Saturday, June 7! Get all the details via this link: https://www.ultimatefundraisinginc.com/discount-card-store/physical

Congratulations to the High School Band, which earned a rating of “superior” at the May 23 Trills and Thrills Music Festival at Lake Compounce in Bristol, Conn. The band earned a combined score of 96.5 from the two adjudicators. The superior rating is the highest level presented by Thrills and Thrills adjudicators. Their performance was held at Edison Middle School in Meriden, Conn, followed by a visit to Lake Compounce, the oldest continuously operating amusement park in the nation, which opened in 1846. The Trills and Thrills Music Festival at Lake Compounce is an adjudication festival for student music groups. It's a unique opportunity to combine music education, social interaction and fun while reinforcing ensemble musical standards.

The tradition continues! The High School Marching Band and the Middle School Band again represented the district with distinction yesterday, May 27, in the Unionville Memorial Day Parade! It was a gorgeous day to remember those who gave their lives in service to our nation, and the district was honored to be a part of the events of the afternoon. This included a stop at the Unionville Cemetery, where students Vincent Galligan and Drew Jashembowski and played solemn taps. Senior Audrey Guido was the student speaker and guest speaker was County Executive Steve Neuhaus.

Kudos to members of the High School’s Robotics Club, who competed for the first time in the recent, KISS Institute for Practical Robotics’ New York//New Jersey Botball Tournament the Rahway Recreational Center in New Jersey! The club designed autonomous robots using code and sensors to perform tasks on a game board. This year's theme for the game board was “a restaurant.” The designed robots performed tasks such as placing ice in cups and delivering the cups to the customer area, or sorting out condiments. “This was the club’s first year back in the competition after several years and proved to be an overall learning experience,” said advisor Jonathan Hannes. “The club looks forward to taking what they learned and applying it to next year's competition with the goal of going further in the tournament.” KISS is dedicated to sparking excitement for science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) through hands-on robotics programs. Botball is a team-oriented robotics competition where teams design, build, and program autonomous robots to compete in challenges that change annually, fostering teamwork, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills.

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!