Leading off today: This one snuck past me last month, but it certainly makes for one of the most interesting mergers of programs that New York high school football has seen.
I thought the 2024 decision by longtime rivals Caledonia-Mumford and LeRoy to combine by football was an all-timer, but votes last month by the respective school boards will mean a combined Albion and Medina squad in Section 6 this fall.
The Mustangs and Purple Eagles began playing each other in 1898, making it one of the oldest ongoing rivalries in the state. OrleansHub.com reported the projected participation numbers for the merged team will be 29 varsity players, 40 on the junior varsity, and 35 for the modified team. Neither school fielded a JV team last fall.
"Like many schools, we have been facing a tiring uphill battle," said Albion Superintendent Mickey Edwards. "We are optimistic that this decision will help ensure long-term program sustainability and offer higher-caliber opportunities."
It's just one of several new collaborations expected this fall as declining enrollments and decreased participation continue to affect football programs.
In another Section 6 move, the Charter School for Applied Technologies will be joining the existing Maritime Charter School and Tapestry Charter School combined team.
In Section 2, Schalmont is joining forces with Duanesburg and Berne-Knox-Westerlo.
We've also heard there are possible program mergers coming from Long Island.
More football developments
The New York State Sportswriters Association's Steve Grandin has gotten a head start on the upcoming football season by compiling the list of teams changing classification, though we're not yet accounting for potential changes in some combined teams.
The change that sticks out the most is probably East High dropping to Class B in Section 5, where Monroe will be bringing back a strong roster in defense of its NYSPHSAA championship. East/World of Inquiry has been the standard bearer of the Rochester City School District for a long time, though the Eagles dropped a 16-0 decision to Monroe last fall. A head-to-head matchup this fall will be must-see viewing.
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| Sec. |
School |
2025 |
2026 |
| 1 | Clarkstown South | AA | A |
| 1 | Walter Panas | A | B |
| 1 | Tappan Zee | A | B |
| 1 | Briarcliff/Hamilton | B | C |
| 1 | Irvington | B | C |
| 1 | Pleasantville | B | C |
| 1 | Putnam Valley | C | B |
| 1 | Hastings | C | B |
| 2 | Niskayuna | A | AA |
| 2 | La Salle Institute | A | B |
| 2 | Voorheesville | D | C |
| 3 | West Genesee | AA | A |
| 3 | Henninger | A | AA |
| 3 | Lowville | D | C |
| 3 | Little Falls | C | D |
| 4 | Norwich | B | C |
| 4 | Waverly | B | C |
| 4 | Watkins Glen/O-M | C | D |
| 4 | Lansing | E | D |
| 5 | East/World of Inquiry | A | B |
| 5 | Palmyra-Macedon | B | C |
| 5 | Kearney/Roch.Academy | C | B |
|
|
| Sec. |
School |
2025 |
2026 |
| 6 | Orchard Park | AA | A |
| 6 | Amherst | A | B |
| 6 | McKinley Vocational | A | B |
| 6 | South Park | B | A |
| 6 | Starpoint | B | A |
| 6 | Gowanda/Pine Valley | D | C |
| 6 | Allegany-Limestone/Hinsdale | D | C |
| 7 | Plattsburgh | C | B |
| 8 | West Hempstead | B | C |
| 9 | Beacon | A | B |
| 9 | Rondout Valley | B | C |
| 11 | Centereach | A | AA |
| 11 | Harborfields | A | B |
| 11 | Amityville | A | B |
| 11 | Rocky Point | B | A |
| 11 | Greenport/Southold/Mattituck | B | C |
| 11 | Bayport-Blue Point | B | C |
| C | Xaverian | B | A |
| P | East Harlem Pride | B | A |
|
I don't recall seeing this before
The Berne-Knox-Westerlo boys basketball team has a NYSPHSAA Class C semifinal against North Salem in Binghamton on Saturday afternoon. The team had additional work on its hands beyond the expected preparations for the final four.
Following the team's victory in the Section 2 finals, program supporters launched a GoFundMe campaign to cover expenses related to the rest of the Bulldogs' postseason run -- which was extended by regional victories over Mount Academy in Clifton Park and Northern Adirondack in Plattsburgh.
While those trips were relatively manageable, the weekend in Binghamton means expenses for the bus, meals, and hotel rooms. Boosters came through with donations of more than $4,700 as of Thursday afternoon.
While it's normal for school districts to pick up most of the cost of playing in state tournament, the situation at B-K-W is a bit different. Voters rejected the proposed budget for last school year, requiring cost-cutting. Though the 2025-26 budget passed easily, the basketball team made a December trip to Western New York to play Niagara Falls and Bishop-Timon-St. Jude on consecutive days. There was also a trip to Central New York for a holiday tournament and games in New York City and Springfield, Mass.
That added up to a lot of discretionary spending, even if some fundraising along the way may have helped.
Section 5 AD on administrative leave
Berne-Knox-Westerlo isn't the only school arriving at the state basketball tournament with a bit of a back story.
On Wednesday, administrators at Notre Dame High School in Batavia confirmed that longtime Athletic Director Mike Rapone as been placed on administrative leave. Those officials did not explain the reason for he leave beyond saying the matter did not involve anything transpiring at the school.
Rapone, a 1971 Notre Dame graduate, has had a 44-year career at the school, including racking up a Section 5-record 728 victories in boys basketball.
Rapone told The Daily News in Batavia that he was "confident that everything will be resolved in a positive manner."
The Notre Dame girls basketball team won its NYSPHSAA Class D semifinal over Stamford/Jefferson on Thursday at Hudson Valley Community College and will face Chateaugay on Friday for the championship.
Former coach facing rape charge
A former coach and teacher's assistant has been accused by State Police of sexually assaulting a student while he worked in the Broadalbin-Perth Central School District,
The Times Union reported.
Jared T. Baldizon, 27, of Albany, was charged Monday with felony third-degree rape and third-degree criminal sexual act, the paper reported. He most recently worked as an assistant boys lacrosse coach in the Greater Amsterdam School District, where he has been placed on administrative leave, troopers said.
Baldizon is accused of having sex with the student under the age of 17 two years ago while working at Broadalbin-Perth, troopers said. Baldizon was an assistant coach for the district's indoor track and field team at the time.
Baldizon was arrested at State Police barracks in Fonda, arraigned in Amsterdam City Court, and released on his own recognizance. He is due back in court March 31.
