Leading off today: Poughkeepsie's athletic program will soon be on the move again, surrendering its membership in Section 1 and returning to Section 9.
The move, including membership in the Mid-Hudson Athletic League, takes effect in the fall, and AD Jonathan Jefferson cited travel as the primary reason.
"When I returned to Poughkeepsie, I heard an announcement that a team was leaving for a contest at 1:30 p.m., and that was considered normal," Jefferson told Mid Hudson News. "Our teams are traveling as far as Yonkers for games. Athletics should be an extension of academics, not the focus. I think this will be a lot easier on our student-athletes."
Poughkeepsie left for Section 9 before the 2014-15 school year -- only to rejoin Section 1 two years later. The latest move became official on Tuesday when Section 9 approved Poughkeepsie's application at its monthly meeting. The MHAL had previously signed off on the application.
Said district Superintendent Gregory Mott: "This move reflects our commitment to putting students first. By rejoining Section 9, we are prioritizing instructional time, student wellness and access to athletic opportunities. We see athletics as a powerful partner to our academic mission and this decision recommits us to that ideal."
Passings
Jerry Welsh, whose career as a respected collegiate coach was launched by a 146-32 run in boys basketball at Massena from 1959-68, died on Dec. 30 in Raleigh, N.C., at the age of 89.
The Malone native's run at Massena included seven league titles and an undefeated championship season in 1965-66.
Welsh joined the Potsdam State staff in 1968 and was named head basketball coach in 1970. Over 22 seasons there, Welsh made he Division III program a national force while recruiting the state heavily and compiled a 494-143 record with 15 NCAA Tournament appearances and national titles in 1981 and '86. The Bears won 60 consecutive games from 1985-87 to set a D-III record.
Extra points
Bill Merna, one of the winningest coaches in state history during his time at Hammond and Ogdensburg, dropped us a line this week to pass along some tidbits. Among them was a note pointing out that fellow New York State Basketball Hall of Fame inductee Tom Howe, who had retired from Cornwall, is back in business at Lisbon and has the team off to a 5-3 start.
Section 5 school's elite program will be well represented at Olympics
Though girls ice hockey hasn't made much in the way of inroads in Section 5, one of its schools can boast of five former athletes making rosters for the Winter Olympics in Italy beginning Feb. 4.
The five played for the Bishop Kearney Selects. The school began the elite program (The Nichols School in Buffalo has a similar program) a decade ago, playing a national schedule and becoming a feeder for collegiate programs and professional teams. The rosters have been dotted with some of the top talent from the United States, Canada, and Europe.
The school now operates two girls and four boys teams.
The under-19 girls squad was invited to the White House this past May to be recognized for a 56-3-0 season that was capped by a 9-0 victory in the USA Hockey National Championship.
Of the five Selects earning spots on the U.S. Olympic roster, only defenseman Haley Winn, who plays for the Boston Fleet of the Professional Women's Hockey League is a Rochester native.
She'll be joined in Italy by four University of Wisconsin players: defensemen Laila Edwards and Caroline Harvey, goalie Ava McNaughton, and forward Kirsten Simms.
"We see what these kids do day in and day out," Selects program director Cari Coen said. "To finally get that goal is so honoring and rewarding. We can't wait to see what they do."
