Leading off today: Seven seniors and a junior earned player of the year recognition on Monday as the New York State Sportswriters Association announced its all-state baseball team selections.
The NYSSWA honored New York State Public High School Athletic Association players in six classes. The players of the year are:
• Class AAA, Jayden Stroman, outfielder and pitcher, Patchogue-Medford.
• Class AA, Michael Oliveto, catcher, Hauppauge.
• Class A, Cam Barbulean, pitcher and outfielder, Pittsford Mendon; and Nick Frusco, pitcher, Miller Place.
• Class B, Scott Lynch, infielder, Mechanicville.
• Class C, Hunter Fales, catcher, Saratoga Catholic.
• Class D, Eddie Wright, shortstop and pitcher, Oriskany; and Nicholas Hays, catcher, Oriskany.
All are seniors except for Wright, who just completed his junior year.
The selections mark the return to all-state baseball honors by the NYSSWA for the first time since 2018.
The full list of selections can be found in the NYSSWA website's reference section.
Albany Academy's plans more extensive than originally thought
Though its plans to move basketball to the NEPSAC have garnered all of the attention,
The Times Union reports that Albany Academy intends to migrate its entire athletic program to the prep-school conference over the course of time.
That will include boys and girls swimming in the upcoming school year. Football, hockey and boys lacrosse already compete in the New England Preparatory School Athletic Council.
"I am still working with NEPSAC to find a league. Right now, boys and girls swimming will go in independently," Albany Academy AD Paul Gallucci said.
The Cadets won't play in Section 2's Capital District High School Hockey League this winter, instead placing one or two teams in prep-school competition.
Albany Academy has held dual membership in the New York State Public High School Athletic Association and New York State Association of Independent Schools. It will remain in Section 2 for several sports this year, but any teams playing in the NEPSAC will be ineligible to compete vs. NYSPHSAA teams.
Surf's up, dude!
The Hawaii High School Athletic Association announced surfing will become an interscholastic state championship sport beginning next spring.
The inaugural HHSAA Surfing State Tournament will feature boys and girls shortboard championships. The Maui Interscholastic League (MIL), which has sanctioned interscholastic surfing since 2014, will host the first state event.
"This is a monumental day for Hawaii's student-athletes and the sport of surfing," said HHSAA Executive Director Chris Chun. "Surfing is deeply rooted in our culture and way of life, and we extend our sincere gratitude to our legendary surfers who have paved the way for this sport in Hawaii and around the world."
Next on the to-do list
Last summer marked the first major overhaul on our
football record book in several years. Work on making a fresh set of updates, covering the 2024 season as well as some older performances I stumbled across in the past 12 months, will begin today.
The full set of updates should be in place by the weekend.
