Leading off today: Whereas the fall and winter seasons in NYSPHSAA sports culminate multiple weeks of state championship meets and tournament finals fours, the spring season is much more compact. Sectionals in the majority of sports have wrapped up in the past 10 days, and championships will take place the next two weekends.
That makes it my busiest time of the year for updating brackets along with the weekly rankings, writing blogs, and getting a jump on compiling data for the Kerr Cup All-State Championship. One of those blogs a few days ago highlighted the phenomenal success by Garden City in Section 8 championships in the 2024-25 school year.
Shortly after writing that, it occurred to me that I've been typing "Orchard Park" an inordinate number of time lately. So, I made a note to myself to take a closer look at how the Quakers' spring teams have been performing this spring.
Well, great minds (or a somewhat functional mind in my case) think alike. After reading about Garden City's success, former Orchard Park head football coach Craig Dana emailed me with the highlights. And they're impressive:
• Boys lacrosse: Section 6 Class A champions.
• Girls lacrosse: Section 6 Class A champions.
• Flag football: Section 6 Class A champions.
• Boys golf: Section 6 team champions.
• Girls golf: Section 6 team champions.
• Softball: Section 6 Class AA champions.
• Boys tennis: Section 6 Division I champions.
In the fall, the Quakers earned sectional crowns in field hockey, girls cross country, girls tennis, and girls swimming. Over the winter, they took titles in boys ice hockey, girls ice hockey, boys swimming, and riflery.
That's a lot of winning.
Suggestion: Act like you've been there before
This isn't going to be a popular opinion, but ...
The disqualification of a 16-year-old sprinter at the California Interscholastic Federation track and field championships due to her using a fire extinguisher in a post-race celebration has garnered a lot of attention and considerable sympathy.
As harsh as it might seem to have stripped sophomore Clara Adams of a state championship in the 400 meters, meet officials were following the rule book. If you want to assign blame for her losing out on a podium appearance -- the highlight thus far of a still-promising career -- then take a hard look at her father/coach; I don't think he brought a fire extinguisher to the meet in case a blaze erupted in a trash bin.
David Adams rationalized that his daughter's post-race stunt -- a bit of
homage toward a memorable Maurice Greene celebration -- was OK because the other competitors had left the immediate area.
"That was our moment of celebration, and CIF officials made it about them," he said. "The crowd went crazy, they loved it, the CIF booth went crazy, they loved it. But those few guys in those jackets took offense to it, didn't like it, and made a decision based off emotions."
Our moment? A decision based off emotions?
Sorry, sir, but (A.) it was your daughter's moment, and (B.) running a :53.24 in the 400 already called all the attention to her that a teen track star should need.
The apologists are focusing on no one being able to recall conduct-related DQs over the past 20 years of CIF state meets. What they should be focusing on is that there's a rule in the book that sufficiently covers the situation.
So, the disqualification will stand ... until the family finds a meddling judge. (Oh, sorry. That only happens in New York -- usually on Long Island.)
Green Tech going to Europe
It turns out that Green Tech's basketball season didn't end in March. Tipped off about the opportunity to travel by a Connecticut high school coach, the Eagles will compete this weekend in the Vertical Hoops Eurocup in Wroclaw, Poland. Pool play takes place on Friday, followed by the semifinals and final the next two days.
"I feel it is a great opportunity to go out of the state into another country and showcase our talent," senior forward U'Mier Graham told The Times Union. "The travel experience in seeing what another country is like and their language, I want to learn what it is like being there. Looking forward to do some sightseeing."
Coach DJ Jones said the coach of West Haven (Conn.) Notre Dame, an opponent at a Florida holiday tournament, told him about his team's positive experience at the event in Poland last year and connected him with a businessman with a connection to the tournament.
"I think this will be top two, along with winning a state championship (in 2024). This is going to be a great opportunity for the guys," Jones said.
Chasing the cash via the California courts
A former football star has sued California's high school governing body and several media companies for allegedly depriving student-athletes of the fruits of their labor.
The
class-action lawsuit challenges California Interscholastic Federation rules against payments to high school athletes.
"Like the cases that have led to important reforms in college sports, we're asking a simple question: If corporations are cashing in on high school athletes' hard work, then why can't the athletes themselves?" said attorney Yaman Salahi.
"We're pushing to make the system fairer and to bring long-overdue rights to young athletes."
The lawsuit seeks class-action status for California athletes who competed for member schools since May 30, 2021. The lead plaintiff is defensive back Dominik Calhoun, a Boise State recruit from Pittsburg, Calif.
