Leading off today: Onteora junior volleyball player
Makalia Ouellette collapsed on the court during a match Thursday and was resuscitated with the help of an automated external defibrillator (AED), the Times Herald-Record reported.
Moments after Ouellette collapsed in the arms of coach Brittany Alexander during the match at Wallkill, numerous adults rushed into what was likely life-saving action. The player was transported to St. Luke's Cornwall Hospital in Newburgh where she reportedly was in stable condition, and the paper saud Ouellette was later transferred to a Westchester County hospital.
In the first crucial moments in the gym, Alexander began performing CPR after determining the player had stopped breathing, and Onteora assistant coach Nicole Saunders used the AED to revive Ouellette.
"It was the scariest thing I've ever experienced in my whole entire life," Alexander said.
The match was suspended, and Alexander was able to inform players during the bus ride home that Ouellette appeared to be out of danger, the paper reported. Social workers, counselors and psychologists met with players as they stepped off the bus at their school.
Players disciplined: Kingston football coach Jeramie Collins confirmed to the Times Herald-Record that 16 of his players were suspended for Friday's game at Middletown for violating team policy.
Collins would not specify the nature of the violations. Kingston (1-5) was scheduled to play Middletown on Friday, still holding out hopes for a Section 9 playoff berth.
“It's been a challenging week to say the least,” Collins told the paper. “We knew before this happened we were looking at the Middletown game in the context of a playoff game. The kids who have stepped in have worked hard an this week. We just wanted to be consistent and handle the matter the right way.”
Collins said the disciplined players did or will perform five hours of community service and all are expected back next weekend for a season-ending game vs. Newburgh.
On the move? Officials from Our Lady of Lourdes in Poughkeepsie want to move from Section 1 to 9 -- and they could have company.
“The impetus for Our Lady of Lourdes was three-tiered,” Lourdes AD Matt Pascale told the Poughkeepsie Journal. “Certainly, there was financial savings (in annual dues and travel) and cost measures. Then, there’s the geographic location of the schools, and also on the administrative end, Section 9 seems to be more streamlined.”
Two weeks after Lourdes submitted an application to join Section 9, Arlington is planning an informational meeting for residents on Monday, the paper reported. Arlington AD Dave Goddard said a stay-or-go decision is
