Leading off today: Newburgh Free Academy football head coach Bill Bianco and an unknown number of assistants have been relieved of their duties, the
Times Herald-Record reported.
Bianco was the winningest active coach in Section 9 with 121 victories since taking over the program in 2009. He took the Goldbacks to three NYSPHSAA finals.
According to the report, the coaches were notified of their fate on Wednesday following an investigation into a fight between players late last season that led to injuries and suspensions. The incident took place in a locker room that was not supposed to be in use.
A statement from the acting superintendent said the district welcomes "qualified applicants for coaching positions, from our NTA bargaining unit. When applicable, other applicants will be considered based on our standard practices."
Bianco, a physical education teacher in the district, did not respond to an interview request.
Diocese closing school, merging it with another
Bishop Grimes is closing at the end of the school year and merging with Bishop Ludden outside Syracuse, Roman Catholic Diocese officials announced this week. The combined school for grades 7-12 will be called Bishop Ludden/Grimes.
Bishop Grimes opened in 1966.
A letter signed by the Diocese's bishop, the Rev. Douglas J. Lucia, and Amy Sansone, the superintendent of schools, cited long-term sustainability as a factor in the decision. The schools BEDS number has slipped from 189 in the 2020-21 school year to 153 currently.
According to Syracuse.com, the diocese, which is in bankruptcy court, is seeking to create a $100 million fund to compensate and care for victims of sex abuse by Catholic priests.
• The announcement about Bishop Grimes continues a decades-long trend across the state of private schools closing in the face of declining enrollments and rising costs. Most recently, two Bronx high schools -- All Hallows and Preston High -- announced they will close in June.
Coach and former captain retiring from Skaneateles
As his top-ranked team chases a state Division II championship, Skaneateles boys hockey coach
Mitch Major has revealed he will retire at the end of the Lakers' season.
Major, who told the players of his intentions last month, has guided Skaneateles to four state titles and a 448-111-39 since taking over in 2000-01.
Major, 53, was a captain of the 1989 Skaneateles team that won a state crown.
The decision frees up time to more closely follow the hockey careers of his three children who are active in the sport. He has taken on the roles of coach and player development director for a youth hockey organization in Rochester.
Warwick Valley's Beattie extends state record
Warwick Valley pole vaulter
Luke Beattie broke his own state record by clearing 17 feet, 7 inches at the Section 9 state qualifier at the New York Armory on Saturday.
The junior's 17-7 effort makes his the national high school leader for the indoor season. The defending NYSPHSAA indoor champion's previous best was 17-1.50. He cleared 17-4 to wrap up Saturday's victory and then was successful in his first crack at 17-7. Beattie missed three subsequent attempts at 18 feet.
