I like to watch the morning and afternoon news. Unless there is a huge breaking story, it allows news stations to explore other issues. Sometimes they involve high school and college athletics. I saw one station that did a story on the severe lack of officials, especially at the high school level. At that level, it’s truly a labor of love. So it didn’t surprise me when I read that 80 percent of officials resign after devoting just two years to the gig. This has been a problem

It’s time to circle your deed books for the Section 1 fall championships. Too early? Not if you’re a coach or a player who uses these as a target date or a goal. It might just be for planning purposes, but there’s a greater achievement in mind. For many, it’s like a final journey after weeks and months of hard work. It’s a light and a prize at the end of a long, dark tunnel. It’s the so-called carrot at the end of a stick. So let the wishing and planning begin! FOOTBALL – Nov

Did you survive? Were you able to get past the dead time? The baseball All-Star Game, which affects both the majors and minors, is the traditional start of the barren week or so of the season. It seems like forever… It isn’t. Think of it as a chance to regroup and think of everything that’s ahead. The start of the high school athletic season might seem like a long way away, but it’s only seven weeks or thereabouts. Will one of our local schools emerge as a state contender in

It’s never too early to start thinking about the next high school athletic season. Because we can guarantee you the players and coaches are thinking about it. And while the 2026-27 school year for Putnam County begins traditionally around Labor Day, Sept. 7, most high schools will already have hit the field or court by then. Yes, that’s only seven weeks from now – it’s getting earlier and earlier each year. In the fall, the Carmel High School girls’ tennis program has the hon

The combination of the 250th birthday of the United States of America and the possible final games in the World Cup for stalwarts like Ronaldo of Portugal and Neymar of Brazil brought one thought to mind: the passing of the torch in any aspect of life is inevitable, and our youth is the future. You see it most often in sports. I mean, where else is a 39-year-old person considered over the hill? Even the person who is arguably the greatest female tennis player of all time does

FISHKILL – A couple of prospects are still making waves for the Hudson Valley Renegades Minor League Baseball team, even though they haven’t worn the uniform in a while. Major League Baseball announced the rosters for the 2026 MLB All-Star Futures Game. Former Renegades players Carlos Lagrange and George Lombard Jr. have been selected to represent the Yankees on the American League team managed by Larry Bowa. Lombard Jr., 21, is the consensus number one prospect in the Yankee

You know what they say about athletics – the weather is always the great unknown. That certainly has been tested so far this summer. “You can’t play tennis, you can’t play golf, because you never know what’s going to happen,” said Garrison resident Camilla Byrnes. “Even my poor kids never know when they’re going to have a practice or a game interrupted.” High school practices and camps have been outright canceled because of the weather. “Crazy,” said Brewster’s Mike DeMeglio.

Tyler Adams is from Dutchess County. SEATTLE – A lot of fans had a real kinship and rooting interest in the USA men’s soccer team during the World Cup. Midfielder Tyler Adams of the USA men’s soccer team was born and raised in Wappingers Falls. He is also one of the captains of the team. Alas, the U.S. was eliminated from the tournament with a 4-1 loss to Belgium in the knockout round of 32. “Today wasn’t a good day,” Adams said in the postgame press conference. “It’s tough t

WHITE PLAINS – Girls’ high school flag football is continuing to make its presence known in New York State, and especially in Section 1. Mahopac seniors Maria Garofalo and Niamh Kelleher were both honored as selections to the Section 1 second team All-Stars. The former is a quarterback; the latter is a wide receiver and defensive back. Mahopac made it to the Section 1, Class B semifinals before losing to eventual State Champion Yorktown. Honorable mention selections included

SPARKS, Md. – Luke Cunningham is showing that you can be just as good off the field as you are on it. The Brewster High School boys’ lacrosse star is used to having his name in the paper for his athletic achievements. Now, everybody knows that he plays just as hard in the classroom as well. Cunningham has been named to the USA Lacrosse All-Academic team. He is one of the nine players in Section 1 to make the team. Cunningham helped lead the Bears to a 10-5 record. The team ma

Putnam Valley High School cross-country runners in action. See that photo? It might be the most inexpensive high school sport. You just need some great running shoes and a good pair of shorts. Don’t be surprised if photos like that become more and more prevalent – especially with the rising cost of youth sports. I saw something on the news that kind of made my blood boil: the cost of youth sports is up 46 percent in the last seven years. Granted, everything from groceries to

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. – Dale Meritt’s voice was coarse from screaming. “I’m originally from Carmel,” he said, raising his hand. “France all the way!” Yes, the World Cup soccer tournament has touched even Putnam County. Meritt and several friends were at Met Life Stadium to watch France play Senegal last week. France won the game and qualified for the knockout round of 32 in the tourney. France is Meritt’s team, but his mind was never far from the Hudson Valley. There are four

Pictured are members of the combined Mahopac, Putnam Valley, and Carmel girls’ swim team. It remains to be seen whether New York Section 1 public high schools will still compete against private and parochial schools. WHITE PLAINS – Parochial and private schools can still win a Section 1 high school athletic championship, but it will be their own. The Section 1 athletic council voted 69-4 to prohibit private and parochial schools from competing for traditional sectional title

WHITE PLAINS – This is the way to wrap up a season. Lily Katsetos, a senior defender for the Brewster High School girls’ lacrosse team, has been named a USA Lacrosse Academic All-American. Not only did she show her prowess on the field, but her achievements in the classroom, as well. She also received all Section 1 honors. Teammate Amelia Walsh is a recipient of the USA Lacrosse Jackie Pitts Award. Ashley Koch of Mahopac made the all Section 1 team, as did Haldane’s Kayla Rug

We are potentially crossing a fine line. I recently read where a high school athlete was able to use his name, image, and likeness in an endorsement deal. Most state high school athletic associations allow this under certain restrictions. The National Collegiate Athletic Association allowed such a thing for college athletes several years ago, and there are several collegiate athletic programs that rake in millions of dollars every year – so the players should get a share of t

MAHOPAC – Forget the ending. Think about all that the Mahopac High School basketball team accomplished this year and last year. It was a success by any measure. “This team was a special team,” said Head Coach Anthony Nappi. “The group had gone through a lot together – ups and downs. The thing that is most impressive about them is their ability to stick together and pick each other up. They had a bond and selflessness that created memories that will last a lifetime.” Indeed, i

To this day, even at my advanced age, the scene in the movie “Field of Dreams” still breaks me up. “Hey dad, wanna have a catch?” On Sunday we celebrated Father’s Day. To me, it’s not about honoring fathers. It’s about all our children who made us fathers. It’s about having a catch, making a basket, shooting a puck, or kicking a soccer ball. My boys are 26 and 22 now, but I will never forget the first time they put on a football uniform. It’s a memory that will last forever f

COLD SPRING – You thought the high school football season was over? And you thought the 2026 season didn’t begin again until official practices in August? Think again. Football is a year-round business. Just ask any high school coach – especially Ryan McConville of Haldane High School. “Haldane has been getting in some quality reps this June,” he said. It’s been a process and the Blue Dells are doing things in pieces. Little by little, the coach hopes it all adds up. “To star

The season officially ended with Putnam Valley High School’s loss in the baseball state quarterfinals, although there are still individual track-and-field national invitationals for some qualified athletes. So that puts the wrap on athletics. The next uniform these kids will put on is a cap and gown. Or is it really over? Technically, the 2026-27 season doesn’t begin until August, but there have been informal workouts in football, soccer, and other sports. That includes offic

SAUGERTIES – Dreams die hard. At least they did for the Putnam Valley High School baseball team. The Tigers – newly minted Section 1 champions – lost in the first round of the New York State playoffs, falling to Chester, 2-0, in Class B. The game was played at neutral Cantine Field in Saugerties. PV finished the season with a record of 18-8 in a game that was the equivalent of a state quarterfinal. The Hambletonians reached the state semifinals for the second time in four yea