Leading off today: New York Mills is taking a somewhat unconventional approach to replacing one of the most successful boys basketball coaches in state history, but it'd be tough to argue with the track record of the replacement.
The board of education met Wednesday to approve the appointment of Mike Meyers as the replacement for Mike Adey, who resigned in March with a record of 566-200 and two NYSPHSAA Class D championships in 37 seasons.
Meyers, 37, is a native of Canton, where he has coached that district's girls basketball team to Section 10 championships the past four seasons. This past winter, Canton's girls reached their first state semifinal in 28 years.
Meyers previously coached Heuvelton's JV boys team and was an assistant coach of the SUNY Canton men's basketball team.
"I loved the kids I coached at Canton, but I am looking forward to this next step," Meyers told the Observer-Dispatch. "The biggest challenge is being new to the area, and not knowing any of the kids yet. But I am excited. I love that small-town atmosphere, and that 'This is our team' attitude."
Adey is the winningest boys coach in Section 3 history. New York Mills won seven straight sectional titles beginning in 2015. For the last eight years, Adey's teams either won the state title or ended their season with a loss to the eventual NYSPHSAA Class D champion.
A tough-luck story: Rudy Winkler hasn't punched his ticket to the Olympics just yet, but it's not for a lack of effort. The Cornell weightman, an Averill Park grad and state discus champ in 2011, won the men's hammer throw this week during the U.S, Olympic Trials in Eugene, Ore., but he's been wait-listed for Rio.
The rising senior's throw of 251 feet, 10 inches earned his the national championship by more than five feet, but he fell less than a foot short of the automatic qualifying standard. He'll only go to Rio if the number of automatic qualifiers around the world falls short of filling out the 24-athlete field and Winkler is high enough on the list to be selected.
As of mid-week, only 16 eligible throwers from around the world had met the standard, with a number of national qualifying meets still to come this month.
ADs on the move: Michael Cring, 50, has started in his role as the new athletic director of Arlington, a school approximately 10 times as large as his old stomping grounds. The former Cooperstown administrator will work alongside alongside outgoing AD Dave Goddard through Aug. 12.
Brian Lamping, a 2001 graduate of the school, was named AD at Cardinal O'Hara in Tonawanda. He succeeds long-time Hawks AD Angelo Sciandra, who retired. Lamping has coached at O'Hara since 2003.
All-state baseball: Our thanks goes out to Tom Vartanian and his network of helpers from across the state for assembling the annual NYSSWA all-state baseball team announced this week.
The players of the year in the respective classes are:
- Class AA: Shenendehowa pitcher Ian Anderson.
- Class A: Wantagh pitcher/third baseman Jimmy Joyce.
- Class B: Marlboro pitcher/first baseman Nick Mongelli.
- Class C: North Salem pitcher/infielder Danny Capra.
- Class D: Fort Plain catcher Drew Fureno.
- NYC: Poly Prep third baseman Daniel Bakst.
