Leading off today: Aquinas has wasted little time in naming its replacement for Chris Battaglia, picking veteran assistant
Derek Annechino as its new head football coach.
Annechino, a 1989 graduate of the school, just completed his 19th season as an assistant with the seven-time NYSPHSAA champions. He played two seasons for Battaglia, who announced his retirement at the conclusion of a 5-4 season, one year removed from his fourth state championship.
"He told me to stay true to yourself," Annechino said of Battaglia. "The thing I'll remember is that Chris loved the kids and loved being around the kids. That's the best I can do, they are the reason why I'm out there."
Said AD Anthony Bianchi: "Derek gets it, he really embraces it. He really is a hard-working, super-organized guy. That came out loud and clear in the interview process."
Move is official: Poughkeepsie's application to rejoin Section 1 was formally approved Monday according to Hudson Valley Sports Report.
Section 1 Executive Director Jennifer Simmons confirmed that Poughkeepsie will again compete with Dutchess, Westchester, Putnam and Rockland county schools beginning next fall.
The Pioneers moved to Section 9 for the 2014-15 season. Interim AD Bob Murphy said it was a "real positive" to the program to be back in Section 1.
"We're excited about it," he told the website. "Section 9 was good to us. We have no qualms with them. We're just better suited to be in Section 1, especially for our major sports."
Sec. 5 school wins appeal: Batavia Notre Dame was won its appeal to the NYSPHSAA, reversing an unfavorable eligibility ruling affecting three boys ice hockey players.
BataviasBest.org first reported the outcome last week following a conversation with Notre Dame Principal Wade Bianco. On Monday, TheBatavian.com reported Bianco was awaiting word from Section 5 on whether the section would pursue additional action.
"This their first time through this process and it's our first time through it all, so it's really something for the lawyers to work out," Bianco said.
At issue is whether the players in question were unduly influenced in enrolling at Notre Dame, which won a sectional championship last season.
The section's Executive Committee and Athletic Council have regularly scheduled meetings Wednesday.
It never ends: As we reported over the weekend, Middletown is expected to host the New York State Public High School Athletic Association eastern semifinals in football the next two seasons following favorable recommendations during meetings in Syracuse.
"It's been our vision ever since we came to be in 2008 when we opened up the stadium," Middletown AD David Coates told The Times Herald-Record.
