Leading off today: Seven weeks after accomplished Saratoga Springs coach Art Kranick died, he and his wife Linda have been permanently banned from coaching by USA Track & Field, media outlets in Section 2 reported Friday.
USATF cited "physical misconduct" and "emotional misconduct," in its decision, The Times Union reported.
What the penalty, handed down by the sport's national governing body on Tuesday, potentially entails for the Saratoga Springs program is not clear and may be mostly symbolic given that Art Kranick died in early November following a longtime health issue and both he and his wife resigned the coaching positions earlier in the year.
However, the Kranicks' Kinetic Running Club will likely find it frozen out of meets sanctioned by USATF. That would include national championships conducted outside the high school sports structure at the conclusion of cross country and track seasons.
Linda Kranick told
The Daily Gazette she will appeal the decision.
"This is an attempt by a few individuals to tarnish our reputation using lies," she told the paper.
The Kranicks masterminded Saratoga Springs orchestrated as a national distance-running power, sending numerous athletes off to top collegiate programs at all levels and winning Nike Cross Nationals girls titles in 2004 and '19 and the boys triumphing in 20025. Their cross country teams squads combined to win more than 20 state championships -- including nine by the girls from 1996 to 2005 -- and nearly 30 Federation meet championships.
Many families have defended the Kranicks in letters and at board of education meetings.
The USATF action has its roots in allegations against the Kranicks submitted by Safe Athletics For Everyone in October 2023 and dating as far back as 1989.-- a period spanning four superintendents and five athletic directors. Neither paper was able to make immediate contact with Michael Patton, who became the district superintendent in 2018.
The school district released findings in March 2024 from an investigation completed by Harris Beach law firm that concluded district officials did not go far enough in addressing complaints lodged against multiple coaches.
The most sensational of the allegations was a complaint from Kristen (Gecewicz) Gunning, who ran for the Kranicks from 1985-89. Gunning and her family said she was tied at the waist to the back of a truck that Art Kranick then drove as she ran behind it, in order to push her to run faster. The report indicates the incident was addressed with Kranick at the time and never repeated, the Schenectady paper reported.
"It is unfortunate that it took 40 years for any organization to acknowledge what thousands of students experienced, but this decision represents the first step toward preventing emotional and physical misconduct in school sports," Gunning said.
Speaking of cross country
The New York State Sportswriters Association has finished work on its all-state team for girls cross country and is closing in on wrapping up the boys selections. We expect to post both on Sunday evening.
History-making honor for soccer star
Sophomore midfielder Payton Galuski is building quite the trophy case reflecting her exploits on the soccer field. Her latest honor, however, is one that may be unmatchable for a long time.
Galuski, who recently completed her second season at Waterford-Halfmoon, has become the first New York girl named to the boys all-state soccer team by the United Soccer Coaches organization, The Daily Gazette reported.
Galuski, who spent her seventh- and eighth-grade seasons on the girls team -- winning two NYSPHSAA state championships -- compiled 18 goals and 14 assists this fall. She has produced 116 goals in her four varsity seasons.
More soccer recognition
Westhill's Tom Etoll was named the East Region Boys Soccer Coach of the Year by United Soccer Coaches. The region consists of New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania.
Etoll, who has coached the Wolf Pack since 2008, guided them to a 19-1-2 record this fall and the NYSPHSAA Class B championship.
Longo steps down at William Floyd
Paul Longo, 68, the winningest football coach in Suffolk County history, resigned last week after 31 years leading the William Floyd program.
The Colonials had never won a playoff game before he arrived in 1995, but Longo rolled up a 253-67 record with 15 Suffolk Division I titles, five Long Island Class I championships, and a Section 11-record 42-game winning streak from 2005-2008.
"We changed the culture from the fifth grade through high school," he told Newsday.
Hockey dispute resolved for now
Section 2 and the Eastern New York chapter of the National Ice Hockey Officials Association
struck a deal on Dec. 19 to return the full complement of on-ice game officials to local high school games for the remainder of the season.
Approximately three-quarters of ENY NIHOA members had been turning down assignments, leading to multiple game cancellations early in the season.
While ENY NIHOA acknowledged Section 2's "creativity" in finding a solution, the organization said it expects to "revisit remaining issues in the spring, after the season, in a constructive way."
That "creativity" included approving an ice hockey officials clinic and skills challenge, facilitated by ENY NIHOA with input from Section 2 coaches. All of the section's teams will pay a fee to the officials' organization.
A one-of-a-kind coach hands off the reins
The National Federation doesn't track participation data on the sport, but very few schools in the country sponsor boxing programs. Fewer still have intramural competitions in the sport that go back to 1932. In fact, the only school in the country with a boxing program older than the one at Aquinas is the University of Notre Dame.
Now, the Section 5 school's program has entered a new era. Dom Arioli, a 1973 graduate who has been in charge of training the Little Irish boxers for more than 45 years, has handed off the head coaching duties to alumni Joshua Leonardo and Henry Kaester, the school announced this month.
Arioli intends to stay involved as needed, but the annual Mission Bouts fight card in March will be a new beginning.
Following up
Former Lyons boys basketball coach Dean Schott II, avoided prison time after pleading guilty to third-degree criminal sexual act. WHAM-TV reported.
Wayne County Court Judge Richard Healy sentenced Schott to 10 years of probation and ordered him to register as a sex offender.
The school district said it received a report April 8 claiming Schott was involved in an inappropriate relationship in 2019, and the 22-year employee was escorted off campus. The district said Schott resigned immediately and there was no evidence any current students were involved.
Passings
Cold Spring Harbor district wrestling coach Randel McCoy died Dec. 6 at the age of 40 after a more than seven-year battle with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).
