The Odessa The File: Sports of Schuyler County

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ODESSA, Sept. 7 -- It was a week of standout performances as the high school sports season got under way in Schuyler County.

Accordingly, we honor two athletes from each school -- Watkins Glen and Odessa-Montour -- as The Odessa File Athletes of the Week.

-- Watkins Glen's Chris Duane (three goals in a key 4-2 victory by the boys soccer team over Spencer-Van Etten) and Hunter Arcangeli (109 yards, two touchdowns and two 2-point conversion runs as the Seneca football team topped Odessa-Montour 24-8 in the Bucket Game).

--Odessa-Montour's Jocelyn Garrison (a senior transfer from Corning West who scored both goals as the O-M girls soccer team topped Waverly 2-1) and Joe Markley (who gained 115 yards and had a touchdown -- and an 88-yard TD run called back) in a losing effort in the Bucket Game).

Double Honorable Mention: Watkins Glen soccer standout Angela Keough, who had two goals and two assists in a 6-1 win over Spencer-Van Etten.

Honorable Mentions: We're giving a point each to 40 different athletes in our ongoing (and unpublished) season point rankings -- a good start for each competitor toward the year-long accumulation that results, finally, in an Athlete of the Year at the end of the spring sports season.

Members of the Watkins Glen High School varsity cross country team saw action Monday morning -- as competitors at an annual Labor Day preseason 5k race. Coach Marie Fitzsimmons reports.

The 2010 Cross Country Team completed pre-season training with the 13th annual Groton Labor Day 5K. XC Standout Josh Langley claimed the first finish for the WG Men while Overall Team Captain Amber Swartz led the Watkins' Women and took 2nd place in the 15-19 age group. Newcomers Matt Gill and Taylor Kennard claimed first place for 14 and under while Coach Fitz was first in the 50-59 category.

With the largest female team in WG XC history, the Lady Senecas aim to make some noise this season. Returning senior standouts and co-captains, Amber Swartz and Shannon Hazlitt, are expected to lead a strong team while the large crew of young and talented runners will surely score well for the team.

The menfolk are happy to be returning an experienced group of runners that will also reap the benefits of the talented ninth grader, Matt Gill. Captains Adam Rice and Casey Holland are impressed with the early performances of the team.

The team has been running an average of 40 miles per week, camping in the Hector forest, racing up the gorge numerous times, building stamina on the cemetary hills, riding bikes on the CVT, and becoming mighty familiar with the tough terrain of Hector. The team has established itself with an excellent work ethic, impressive responsibility, and mighty fine speed work. Looks like a great year!

Photos in text: Watkins team members at a team breakfast; the squad's seniors pose with Coach Marie Fitzsimmons. From left: Shannon Hazlitt, Laura Flood, Amber Swartz, Casey Holland, Jacq Goehner, Zach Dvornicky-Raymond, Adam Rice and Coach Fitzsimmons. (Photos provided)

The Watkins Glen team runs uphill during a preseason practice. (Photo provided)

--A total of 173 runners competed in the race. First place (in 16:30) went to Nick Scalfone of Ithaca, who also won the recent Catharine Valley Half Marathon in Schuyler County.

--Top finishers in the 14-and-under categories were: Male, WGHS runner Matt Gill; and female, WGHS runner Taylor Kennard

Pal's Sports Center, 1327 College Ave., Elmira is a major supporter of The Odessa File's annual Top Drawer 24 Team of outstanding high school students.

To see what Pal's has to offer you, click here or on the logo at left to reach its website. Or call (607) 732-8367.

WATKINS GLEN, Sept. 5 -- The Watkins Glen varsity football team embarked on a new era Saturday night in winning fashion, defeating intracounty rival Odessa-Montour in the annual Bucket Game, 24-8.

The Senecas, led by new coach Mike Johnston Sr. and a new coaching staff he brought with him, raced out to a 16-0 lead and held off a determined O-M team to post what last year's Watkins Glen squad had failed to achieve: a victory.

And as a result, Watkins Glen reclaimed the old metal Bucket that goes each year to the victorious team. O-M had won it last year and three of the last four.

"The first win is everything because of the drought last year," said Johnston. "These kids, we told them they could do it and they trusted us as a staff. They've showed a dedication since we took over, in walk-throughs and the weight room. We love these guys."

Hunter Arcangeli gained 109 yards on 18 carries and teammate Travis Waite gained 90 yards on 15 carries to lead the Senecas, who amassed 234 yards, all on the ground. Quarterback Adam Hughey attempted one pass, which fell incomplete.

Arcangeli scored the first two Watkins Glen touchdowns -- on runs of 1 and 2 yards -- and added 2-point conversions after each one. Billy Brennan broke free up the middle for a 26-yard touchdown with 1:14 left in the game to clinch the victory.

Odessa -- which had come up short on three promising opportunities earlier in the game, had trimmed the 16-0 deficit to 16-8 with 3:02 remaining in the fourth quarter on a 10-yard TD run by Joe Markley and a Kyle Bailey-to-Scott McCray 2-point pass.

Markley led all runners with 115 yards on 13 carries, while O-M's Alex Chapman gained 31 on eight carries, Jeremy Vondracek 20 on 11 carries, and Tom Starkweather 9 on five carries. The Indians had 181 rushing yards, and 218 total yards.

Bailey completed 2 of 6 passes for 37 yards -- a 19-yarder to Brandon Arnold and an 18-yarder to Chapman.

O-M Coach Jack McCauley was disappointed, saying "It didn't turn out the way I hoped" -- in large measure because of what he called "huge" missed opportunities. Chief among them was an 88-yard touchdown run by Markley that was called back to the O-M 42-yard line because of a block-in-the-back penalty.

The Indians also had a drive short-circuited by a dropped pass on the Watkins Glen 15-yard line, and were stopped on the Watkins 3-yard line on a 4th-and-goal running play.

"I don't want to take anything from Watkins Glen," said McCauley. "They played a disciplined game, and didn't make mistakes. That was the difference. We made mistakes."

Watkins Glen, however, still has no game scheduled this next weekend to replace a game lost when Southern Springs bowed out of football this season. An effort to secure a contest against Port Byron fell through, and apparently so did one with Notre Dame Bishop Gibbons.

"It's frustrating," said Johnston of the bye. "We'll keep trying, though. We'll contact schools in other sections Monday to see if we can line something up."

"I'm happy for the kids," said the Watkins coach. "We want them to be as successful as they can be. And they showed real character -- especially when they secured that onside kick (after O-M's touchdown) and then drove for the touchdown."

"They deserve a lot of credit," he said of the Indians. "They kept on battling. But I expect that from a Jack McCauley team. We were fortunate to make that drive at the end and put it out of reach."

From top: Watkins' Billy Brennan breaks through to the secondary on his 26-yard TD run; a happy Coach Mike Johnston holds The Bucket aloft; O-M quarterback Kyle Bailey prepares to pass; O-M's Jeremy Vondracek (32) gains some yardage; and Watkins Glen's Brady Myers (55) grabs an O-M onside kick, a key play late in the game

Watkins Glen running back Travis Waite twists and turns through a crowd, gaining yardage late in the game.

O-M's Brandon Arnold hauls in a pass as Watkins defender Charlie Bascom moves in.

Left: O-M's Alex Chapman hauls in a pass. Right: Watkins' Billy Brennan holds The Bucket and listens to his coaches at a post-game meeting.

Watkins QB Adam Hughey launches a pass intended for Travis Waite (right). It fell incomplete.

Watkins Glen's Chelsea Lehman prepares to send a shot on goal. It went into the net for the Senecas' first score.

WATKINS GLEN, Sept. 4 -- The Watkins Glen girls varsity soccer team erupted for a half-dozen goals Friday as they evened their record at 1-1 with a 6-1 Interscholastic Athletic Conference victory over Spencer-Van Etten on the WGHS soccer field.

Angela Keough scored two goals and had two assists to lead the Senecas, who also got goals from Chelsea Lehman, Hannah Pastrick, Brittany Miller and Chrissy Ector. The six goals were more than half of the team's total all of last season, when they scored 11 -- 10 by Keough -- while posting just one victory.

Coach Travis Durfee attributed the turnaround to the dedication of team members in the off-season, playing travel leagues and summer scrimmages.

The Senecas took a 1-0 lead on Lehman's goal -- a blast from the left that found the far corner of the S-VE net at 17:19 of the first half. Lehman also scored the Senecas' first goal against S-VE last year in a 5-3 loss.

Spencer tied Friday's contest 1-1 at 7:37 of the first half on a shot lofted over the head of Watkins goalkeeper Erika Hoad. But Keough put Watkins ahead for good at 6:55 when she scored on a header that came after a free kick by Rachel St. Julien. The ball first went to Miller, who was positioned close to the net on the left and tried a shot that ended up going to the right, where Keough headed the ball once -- straight up -- and then a second time for the goal.

"We were impatient with our shots in the first half, " said Durfee. "But in the second half, we waited for opportunities to present themselves."

Keough increased the Watkins lead to 3-1 at 22:50 of the second half with a shot from the right, and then the Senecas pulled away with Miller's goal from 25 yards out at 16:39, Pastrick's goal from close range at 8:36, and Ector's goal to the left corner at 4:01. Keough assisted on the Pastrick and Ector goals, while Cassie Wait assisted on the Miller score.

The Senecas outshot S-VE 24-5, a clear measure of their dominance. Hoad made three saves, while the Spencer goalkeeper made 18.

The victory, said Durfee, will enable the Senecas "to trust ourselves some more" and teach them "to be patient. If we are, then we will contend in every game."

Top: Watkins Glen goalkeeper Erika Hoad keeps her eyes on S-VE's Samantha Grippo as Grippo prepares to shoot. Hoad stopped the shot.

Middle: The Senecas' Chrissy Ector, left, tangles with S-VE's Dallas Rorick. (Photo by Don Romeo)

Bottom: Watkins Glen's Hannah Pastrick (9) celebrates as she scores a second-half goal.

The Watkins Glen varsity and JV volleyball teams (pictured above) were among the fall sports squads on hand for a spirit rally Friday on the WGHS track -- a celebration that followed a victory by the girls varsity soccer team. Dinner provided by the school's Sports Boosters was served in the school cafeteria to athletes and spectators. The celebration included each team parading around the track, carrying a banner. The varsity football team -- which was to play the next night at home against Odessa-Montour in the annual Bucket Game -- was judged winner of a competition for the best banner.

SPENCER, Sept. 3 -- Watkins Glen midfielder Chris Duane scored three goals Thursday and Ian Andersen added another as the Senecas defeated Spencer-Van Etten 4-2 in an Interscholastic Athletic Conference game on the S-VE soccer field.

The non-divisional contest lifted Watkins Glen's season mark to 2-0 heading into a pair of home games next week -- against Newfield on Wednesday, Sept. 8 and against Newark Valley three days later.

The Senecas took a 2-0 lead in the first half on Duane's first two goals, one unassisted and the other assisted by Austin Stephany.

S-VE tied the game on goals by Christian Pasto and Billy Schanbacher before Duane put in his third goal, again unassisted, to put the Senecas ahead for good. Andersen later scored on an assist from Taylor Gates.

Duane, said Watkins Glen Coach Henry Ferguson, "was playing out of his mind, scoring from all over." Two of his goals were from close range, while the other was "a nice one from outside."

Ferguson noted that in the Senecas' season-opening win at Odessa-Montour Tuesday night, four different players had scored -- but neither Duane nor Andersen.

"So we're spreading the goals around," said the coach -- a sign of a team with depth.

Watkins Glen outshot S-VE 17-7, although Spencer had a 5-4 edge in corner kicks. Each of the goalkeepers -- Watkins' Andrew Conklin and S-VE's Keith Nelson -- registered five saves.

The game was halted in the middle of each half for a three-minute water break -- an unusual move acknowledging the day's extreme heat and the players' need for hydration.

Bottom: Watkins' Austin Stephany (5) moves the ball upfield. (Photos by Kent Duane)

DRYDEN, Sept. 3 -- The Odessa-Montour and Watkins Glen girls varsity swim teams competed Thursday in the annual Harvest Relays at Dryden High School -- a popular pre-season tune-up.

Said Watkins Glen Coach Abby Tormey: "This was a fun meet to help the girls ease any nerves that they might have about the season. All of the girls did a great job and we all had a lot of fun! We have our season opener next Thursday at Whitney Point. We are all looking forward to this season."

The O-M squad -- which according to a team spokesperson swam strongly at the Relays -- opens its season Tuesday at Southern Springs.

ODESSA, Sept. 3 -- The Odessa-Montour boys varsity soccer team's record slipped to 0-2 Thursday night when it dropped a 2-1 decision to Newark Valley in an Interscholastic Athletic Conference game on O-M's Charles Martin Field.

The Indians, who lost their opener to Watkins Glen on Tuesday, fell behind 1-0 against NV early in the first half (at 38:17) on a goal by Adrian Race -- a hard, low shot to the far corner.

"They caught us asleep," said O-M coach Dirk Stephens, who thought his team might have been suffering a letdown after the loss to Watkins Glen -- always an emotional contest.

"But we came back," he said, "and did a lot of good things, creating" against the Cardinals, who are now 2-0.

O-M knotted the score at 19:55 of the first half on a penalty kick by Morgan Shutter, who placed the ball in the right side of the net as the NV netminder moved in the opposite direction.

Newark Valley scored the eventual game-winner at 32:22 of the second half -- another goal by Race that arced just under the crossbar, beyond the reach of keeper Brandon Evans.

Newark Valley outshot the Indians 13-12, and had a 6-3 edge in corner kicks. The goalkeepers -- O-M's Evans and NV's Rodney Gee -- each had seven saves.

"Evans was solid in goal," said Stephens, "and Matt Kautz was strong on defense. Once we get some of our young players to come along, it'll click. We have some things to work on, and we'll fix it."

Top: O-M's Phil Smith (left) and Newark Valley's Ryan D'Arcy race to the ball.

Bottom: Odessa's Martin Eccleston blocks a pass by Newark Valley's Matt Pitcher (5).

Left: O-M defender Matt Kautz eyes the ball after knocking down a pass. Right: The Indians' Tom Peckham steadies an incoming pass.

Left: O-M's Brad Hornbrook (11) keeps an eye on an advance by NV's Stephen Giliberti. Right: Odessa's Morgan Shutter (left) and NV's Kris Hoyt pursue the ball.

Left: O-M's Ryan Gardner goes airborne to meet the ball. Right: Odessa goalkeeper Brandon Evans deflects an incoming shot over the crossbar.

ODESSA, Sept. 3 -- The Odessa-Montour varsity volleyball team dropped its season opener Thursday, falling to Spencer-Van Etten 3-1 in a match in the O-M gym.

The Indians won the first game 25-22, but 1-1 Spencer took the rest of them, 25-9, 25-21 and 25-15.

"We overcame some opening jitters in that first game," said O-M Coach Russ Gardner, "but I think our lack of experience hurt us." The Indians, he noted, have just two players who saw "significant" playing time on the varsity last year.

Odessa-Montour:
Taylor Carey: 12 kills, 2 blocks, 16 digs, 3 service points
Taylor Thoman: 3 aces, 6 digs, 9 service points
Taylor Wade: 3 aces, 9 assists, 1 kill, 6 service points
Morgan Stermer: 1 ace, 5 kills, 2 blocks, 3 digs, 5 service points

Spencer-Van Etten:
Krissy Manwaring: 5 aces, 3 assists, 4 kills, 8 service points
Nicole Ambrzik: 4 aces, 1 kill, 29 service points
Alexa Dhuy: 1 assist, 9 kills, 2 blocks, 2 digs
Brittany Saxman: 3 aces 16 service points

Left: O-M's Ashleigh Rouille volleys. Right: The Indians' Samantha Gavich reaches up and back for a volley as the ball arrives.

Left: O-M's Taylor Wade handles an incoming volley. Right: The Indians' Taylor Thoman (7) goes high for a kill attempt.

NEWARK VALLEY, Sept. 3 -- The Watkins Glen varsity volleyball team's record slipped to 1-1 Thursday when it dropped a 3-1 decision to Newark Valley in an Interscholastic Athletic Conference road contest.

The Senecas dropped the first two games, 25-18 and 25-16, won the third game 25-21, and then lost the fourth game 25-13. Newark Valley is also 1-1.

"We just couldn't capitalize on offense," said Watkins Glen Coach Krysti Westervelt, "and we had too many errors on defense. And our serving was inconsistent. We have a lot of work to do. It will be back to basics (at practice) tomorrow."

Michaela Olafson: 1 kill, 1 assist, 1 service point
Jessica Brogdon: 2 kills, 1 assist, 2 digs
Jessica Stansfield: 6 kills, 8 service points, 2 aces, 1 dig
Maegan Robbins: 2 assists, 6 service points, 1 ace
Kayli Westervelt: 3 kills, 6 assists, 7 service points, 5 aces, 2 digs
Michelle Woodford: 1 kill, 10 service points, 4 aces, 1 dig
Taylor Chaffee: 3 kills, 3 service points, 1 ace, 3 digs, 1 block

O-M's Jocelyn Garrison sends a shot toward the Waverly goal. It curved wide left.

ODESSA, Sept. 2 -- Newcomer Jocelyn Garrison scored two goals Wednesday night to lead the Odessa-Montour girls varsity soccer team past Waverly 2-1 in an Interscholastic Athletic Conference season-opener on O-M's Charles Martin Field.

After Waverly took a 2-1 lead at 11:18 of the first half on a shot that barely eluded the outstretched right hand of O-M goalkeeper Allison Stamp, Garrison -- a senior transfer from Corning West -- evened the game a minute later on a blast to the right side of the Waverly goal.

Garrison then put the Indians in front with a goal at 37:29 of the second half on a free kick from 30 yards that eluded the Waverly goalie. Garrison later hit the crossbar on one shot, and the right post on another (at right).

O-M Coach Burton Brewster said that his team -- outshot 6-5 in the first half -- "created well in the second half," building a 10-2 advantage in shots after intermission. The Indians had an overall 6-1 advantage in corner kicks

Stamp registered six saves in goal for O-M, the same number posted by Waverly's netminder, Allie Frutchey.

"This is a nice team," said Brewster about his Indians. "They've worked their tails off this year. They play well together, with the older players encouraging the younger ones." O-M starts eight seniors.

Top: Waverly goalkeeper Allie Frutchey watches helplessly as a shot by O-M's Jocelyn Garrison gets past her and heads toward the front corner of the net. The ball hit the post, caroming back across the goal mouth without going in. Garrison is obscured by the post.

Bottom: O-M's Michelle Melanson (4) maneuvers the ball around a Waverly player. Teammate Ashton Stadelmaier is at right.

Left: O-M's Ashley Bryington steadies the ball. Right: The Indians' Katie Ray (3) battles a Waverly player for control of the ball.

Waverly's Emily Myers launches a shot toward the O-M goal. It curved left and into the net for the Wolverines' lone goal. O-M players from left are defenders Melody Stadelmaier and Erin Terry and goalkeeper Allison Stamp.

Coach Travis Durfee addresses his Watkins Glen players before the start of the game.

NEWFIELD, Sept. 2 -- The Watkins Glen girls varsity soccer team opened its season on a losing note Wednesday, dropping a 1-0 decision to Newfield in an Interscholastic Athletic Conference game on the Newfield athletic field.

The Lady Trojans outshot Watkins Glen 18-11, netting the game's only goal on a breakaway near the end of the second half. Newfield also had a 5-3 advantage in corner kicks.

Watkins Glen goalie Erika Hoad opened her senior season with a strong showing, stopping several aggressive Newfield challenges. She made 12 saves, while Newfield's goalkeeper registered 6.

The Senecas return to action Friday with a home game against Spencer-Van Etten. The contest starts at 4:30 pm.

The Senecas' Jordan Doane moves the ball upfield. Teammate Victoria Goehner is at right.

Left: Watkins Glen's Katrina Swarthout (3) battles for the ball. Right: The Senecas' Cassie Wait (11) defends as a Newfield player moves the ball.

Watkins goalkeeper Andrew Conklin leaps high to grab an incoming O-M corner kick.

ODESSA, Sept. 1 -- The Watkins Glen boys varsity soccer team got goals from four different players and kept intracounty rival Odessa-Montour off the scoreboard Tuesday night while posting a 4-0 season-opening Interscholastic Athletic Conference victory over the Indians on O-M's Charles Martin Field.

Austin Stephany, Andrew Malaney, Ethan Roth and Taylor Gates scored for Watkins Glen as goalkeeper Andrew Conklin held O-M scoreless on five saves.

Not that O-M didn't knock on the door. They twice had shots that hit the crossbar, caroming back onto the field. Watkins Glen had two of those caroms, too, on a penalty kick by Ian Andersen and on a shot by Roth.

Watkins Glen outshot the Indians 23-8, and had the edge in corner kicks, 5-1. Brandon Evans made 12 saves in goal for Odessa.

"It's nice getting the first game under our belt," said Watkins Glen Coach Henry Ferguson. "You wonder about that game going in. The kids play tough against each other every time."

"They're a good team," said O-M Coach Dirk Stephens about Watkins Glen. "And they played a solid game. We played them the way we wanted, but we had a couple of little breakdowns and they took advantage, as good teams do."

If a couple of breaks -- such as those O-M crossbar shots -- ''had gone the other way, it could have been different," Stephens added, "but that's soccer. We're a young team. We'll learn from this and build on it."

Watkins Glen took a 1-0 lead on Stephany's goal at 19:48 of the first half off a feed from Andersen. The second goal, by Malaney off a pass from Stephany, came at 38:41 of the second half. Roth scored at 16:48 after breaking through the defense and angling a shot into the right corner. Gates' goal came at 8:43, glancing in off an O-M defender.

The teams are back in action later this week. O-M hosts Newark Valley on Thursday, and Watkins Glen is at Spencer-Van Etten the same day.

Top: O-M's Brad Hornbrook, right, and Watkins Glen's Will Simiele vie for control of the ball. (Photo by Mike Stamp)

Middle: Watkins Glen's Austin Stephany prepares to kick the ball as he moves toward O-M goalkeeper Brandon Evans. Stephany scored a goal a moment later.

Watkins Glen's Andrew Malaney attempts a shot as O-M's Luke Brown (16) defends. Brandon Evans is the O-M goalkeeper. (Photo by Mike Stamp)

Left: Watkins' Andrew Malaney (24) and O-M's Matt Bleiler eye the ball. Right: The Senecas' Chris Duane maneuvers the ball as Matt Bleiler (15) defends. (Photos by Mike Stamp)

Left: O-M's Matt Kautz (6) heads the ball. (Photo by Mike Stamp). Right: O-M's Martin Eccleston, right, and Watkins Glen's Will Simiele turn toward the ball.

Left: O-M's Phil Smith and Watkins Glen's Josh Teeter meet at the ball. Right: Watkins Glen's Shane Smith moves the ball upfield.

Watkins Glen's Taylor Gates (foreground) moves the ball as several other players race upfield with him. (Photo by Mike Stamp).

Members of the Watkins Glen varsity volleyball team celebrate their victory. (Photo by Don Romeo)

WATKINS GLEN, Sept. 1 -- The Watkins Glen varsity volleyball team opened its season on a winning note Tuesday, coming from a set behind and from a 16-6 final-game deficit to defeat Waverly 3-2 in an Interscholastic Athletic Conference match in the Field House gym.

The Senecas, after rallying to tie the final game 17-17, went back and forth with the Wolverines until the teams were deadlocked at 21-21. The Senecas then won the serve, and Michaela Olafson served the final three points for the victory.

"I'm really proud of the girls," said Watkins Glen Coach Krysti Westervelt. "Their conditioning and hard work paid off in that last game." The team has been taking conditioning training under strength coach Ralph Diliberto twice a week.

"It's a fantastic way to start the season," said Westervelt, noting that the Senecas won despite the absence of starter Jessica Stansfield, who injured her right ankle in practice on Monday.

"I came down on it wrong," said Stansfield, who was on crutches on the sideline Tuesday. She said further tests to determine the extent of the injury were scheduled the next day.

Michaela Olafson: 10 service points, 3 aces, 5 kills, 1 dig.
Jessica Brogdon: 9 service points, 5 aces, 3 kills, 6 digs.
Hannah Somerville: 1 dig.
Maegan Robbins: 12 service points, 2 aces, 3 digs, 10 assists.
Kayli Westervelt: 7 service points, 6 aces, 14 kills, 14 assists.
Michelle Woodford: 25 service points, 6 aces, 4 kills, 2 digs.
Taylor Chaffee: 3 service points, 11 kills, 6 digs, 1 block.

Bottom: The Senecas' Michaela Olafson sends a volley over a Waverly defender. (Photo by Don Romeo)

Watkins Glen's Jessica Brogdon (left) and Kayli Westervelt serve. (Photo on left by Don Romeo)

Left: Senecas converge on an incoming volley. (Photo by Don Romeo). Right: Maegan Robbins prepares to serve.

Left: Watkins Glen's Taylor Chaffee serves. Right: The Senecas' Michelle Woodford returns a Waverly volley. (Photos by Don Romeo)

On Monday, Aug. 30, there will be a meeting of the Curt Becraft Memorial League at 7 p.m. at Johnny's Lanes in Watkins Glen. There are possible openings on teams for anyone interested.

On Wednesday, Sept. 1, there will be a meeting of the Seneca Women League at 7 p.m. at Johnny's Lanes. There are openings for individuals and teams for anyone interested.

Watkns Glen's Billy Brennan talks with teammate Hunter Arcangeli on the sideline.

ODESSA, Aug. 29 -- Fans lined the fencing on the north side of the field, and were in pockets along the southern perimeter and in the stands. And they were watching intently.

The subject of their study was the football scrimmages going on in front of them Saturday evening on Odessa-Montour's Charles Martin Field -- a gathering of varsity squads from five schools a week before the start of the 2010 season.

Elmira Notre Dame, Whitney Point, Harpursville, Watkins Glen and Odessa-Montour were represented in a format -- revolving scrimmage segments -- that was designed to show the coaches the strengths their teams possess and the weaknesses that need attention as the season looms.

Watkins Glen and O-M did not face one another, though. They are saving that for next weekend -- the season opening, Sept. 4th Bucket Game scheduled for 7 p.m. at WGHS.

That game will likely set the tone of the season for both teams. Indeed, it is annually the biggest single game on either school's schedule: THE intracounty rivalry game of the year in Schuyler County.

But Saturday's scrimmages were not about a single game. They were about finding those weaknesses and maximizing those strengths.

"I saw a lot of good things out there," McCauley said afterward about his team's performance. "But I saw a lot of things we need to work on.

"Offensively, we moved the ball well. But defensively, we need to get a lot better."

The scrimmages, he said, offered "a lot of evenly matched teams. I think the people got out of it what they wanted."

"I'm pleased," he said. "The kids worked very hard. We had some alignment issues with our second group, but we're very positive about what we saw. And I think the players are positive about what we (the coaches) do."

He added this: "We wouldn't be where we are today without the players' dedication."

That dedication has included extensive training in the WGHS weight room under the tutelage of strength coach Ralph Diliberto -- who was himself effusive on the sideline Saturday at the way the Senecas were playing.

"The weight room has paid off," he said. "They're really starting to believe in themselves. They've been gaining ground on every play, not getting pushed back. And they've been strong on defense."

The quarterback situation at O-M is settled, Coach McCauley noted, with Kyle Bailey back at the helm after gaining experience last year. But Watkins Glen is still looking at both Brandon Westervelt and Adam Hughey -- each of whom saw scrimmage action at the QB position.

From top: O-M tacklers bring down a Whitney Point runner; Watkins Glen ball-carrier Branden Palmer is tackled after picking up some yardage; head coaches Mike Johnston (Watkins Glen, left) and Jack McCauley (O-M); and Watkins Glen freshman Tony Simiele, right, carries the ball on a play that gained 10 yards. He later caught a pass for a touchdown.

O-M defensive back Kyle Bailey gets a grip on a Whitney Point receiver after a pass completion. O-M teammate Alex Chapman is on the right.

From left: A Watkins Glen coach's T-shirt message; Watkins running backs Hunter Arcangeli and Travis Waite.

WATKINS GLEN, Aug. 27 -- An organizational meeting will be held for the Thursday afternoon Senior Bowling League at Johnny's Lanes in Watkins Glen on Thursday, Sept. 2 at 1 p.m.

The first day of bowling will be Thursday, Sept. 9 at 1 p.m. All current bowlers and those interested in bowling should attend. Questions? Call Ron at 346-1591.

WATKINS GLEN, Aug. 27 --More than $21,000 was raised at The Arc of Schuyler’s 10th Annual Golf Tournament held at the Watkins Glen Golf Course on August 20.

Dave Dalrymple of Reading served as Chairperson of the tournament along with Honorary Chair Shawn Fisher of Big Flats. Fisher greeted golfers on arrival and -- in his welcome to the 16 participating teams -- thanked everyone for supporting The Arc.

First place went to The Drillers: Jeff Schultz, Pat Alderson, Joe Monago and Andy Alderson.

Second place went to the Watkins & Nichols team: Rocco Scaptura, Bill Spencer, Josh Robinson and John Robinson.

Third place went to the Glen Mountain team: Chris Wickham, Lucas Wickham, Fred Wickham and Matt Clifford.

The Arc of Schuyler reported receiving "tremendous support" from dozens of business sponsors and patrons from the community, and thanked its major sponsors: Bonadio & Company, RELPH Benefit Advisors, Chemung Canal Trust Company, Henderson’s Drug Stores, Watkins Glen Harbor Hotel, and Glenora Wine Cellars.

"The Arc," the organization said in a press release, "sincerely appreciates the support of all of its sponsors, the dozens of gifts donated from local businesses for the tournament, its volunteers, and the Watkins Glen Golf Course. All proceeds will help fund programs and services offered to individuals with developmental disabilities in the Schuyler County area."

The Arc of Schuyler operates various levels of residential supports for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities as well as providing case management, service coordination, and educational, vocational and transportation supports. For more information on The Arc, visit www.arcofschuyler.org or call (607) 535-6934.

Top: The first-place team, the Drillers. From left: Pat Alderson, Andy Alderson, Jeff Schultz and Joe Monago.

Middle: The Glen Mountain team finished third. From left: Lucas Wickham, Matt Clifford, Fred Wickham and Chris Wickham.

Bottom: Tournament Chair Dave Dalrymple, left, and Honorary Chair Shawn Fisher. (Photos provided)

The second-place Watkins & Nichols team included, from left: Rocco Scaptura, Bill Spencer, John Robinson and Josh Robinson. (Photo provided)

Watkins Glen's Erika Hoad reaches for the ball a moment before scoring a goal against Newark Valley in one of several scrimmage games the Senecas played Wednesday at Trumansburg.

TRUMANSBURG, Aug. 26 -- The Trumansburg athletic fields were alive with high school varsity soccer scrimmages throughout the day Wednesday -- featuring nine boys teams in the morning and seven girls teams in the afternoon. And in both instances, Watkins Glen was represented.

With the regular season just a week away, the teams were honing their skills in the annual Bond Fest -- a pre-season memorial to late Trumansburg teacher and soccer coach Christopher H. Bond. The gathering, emphasizing sportsmanship as well as soccer skills, culminated in a chicken barbecue at the end of both the morning and afternoon sessions.

The teams in the boys session included Watkins Glen, Trumansburg, Lansing, Marathon, Newfield, Elmira Notre Dame, Spencer-Van Etten, Mynderse and Ithaca. The teams in the girls session included Watkins Glen, Trumansburg, Newfield, Newark Valley, Elmira Southside, Ithaca and Marathon.

Each game was a half-hour long, with each team playing four games, against four different opponents.

Bond, who died in 2007 at the age of 58, founded the high school soccer program at Trumansburg in 1977. He also organized a Trumansburg Summer Soccer program for kids in grades 2 through 8, and helped create the Taughannock Soccer Club. Any funds raised from Wednesday's event were to go to the Chris Bond Memorial Scholarship and the Trumansburg Soccer Fund.

Photos in text: Watkins Glen's Angela Keough (top) and Cassie Wait move the ball upfield against Elmira Southside.

Watkins Glen's Rachel St. Julien, right, blocks a Newark Valley shot. Also pictured are Watkins teammates Kayla Bryan (in goal) and Mikaela Suddaby.

WATKINS GLEN, Aug. 24 -- A game on the upcoming Watkins Glen High School varsity football schedule -- a road contest against Southern Springs -- has been canceled.

The Sept. 11 contest was dropped because Southern Springs -- made up of students from Union Springs and Southern Cayuga high schools -- failed to attract enough players to field a team.

According to WGHS head football coach Mike Johnston, an effort is under way to schedule the Class D Port Byron team in place of Southern Springs. Watkins Glen Athletic Director Denise Wickham was awaiting confirmation of such a game from Port Byron officials -- who were looking at a cancellation of their own: a road game against Hamilton on Sept.10 that was axed when Hamilton dropped football due to an insufficient number of players.

ODESSA and WATKINS GLEN, Aug. 24 -- Both the Odessa-Montour and Watkins Glen girls varsity swim teams experienced successes last year, and are looking for successes this year.

The O-M squad, which won seven dual meets in a comeback season last year, has a veteran roster led by senior Alyssa Bleiler, a four-time Odessa File Athlete of the Week last swim season.

She is joined by veteran seniors Tyler Little and Kara Wood, returning juniors Quinn Griswold, Vickie Burnham and Carly Lynch-Benjamin, returning sophomores Brittany VanAmburg and Kristyn Penhollows, and returning freshman Jordan Little. There are also four freshmen who moved up from junior varsity.

The coach this year is Terri Brace, who coached the O-M boys squad last year and has coached Modified girls swimming in the past. She said she has coached everyone on this team except the seniors. She succeeds Jessica Conklin at the helm of the squad.

"I think we're going to be strong," said Brace. "The girls are working hard, and we're hoping for a really good season."

That includes practice in the old Watkins Glen High School pool while the O-M pool is out of commission, undergoing early-season work.

Down at Watkins Glen, meanwhile, the WGHS team size has grown from 18 swimmers last year to 27 this season under returning coach Abby Tormey.

Leading the Watkins squad is senior Haleigh Wixson, an annual state-level competitor.

Other seniors include Sara Hughey, Brianna Anderson and Jewel Wilson, while returning juniors include Haley Tuttle, Marguerite Kellogg, Elena Likoudis and Maggie Myers. Eighth-grader Victoria Wixson is also back after a successful varsity debut last year.

The team has four divers -- more, says Tormey, than it has had in recent years. They include sophomore Sarah LaMascus and freshman Lindsey Suddaby.

That diving depth, along with the overall depth that comes with a roster of 27 athletes, has Tormey looking forward to the upcoming season.

Bottom: Watkins Glen 8th grader Victoria Wixson (left) and O-M junior Quinn Griswold

WATKINS GLEN, Aug. 24 -- The Watkins Glen High School boys and girls varsity cross country teams have a long list of returnees -- of student-athletes who have gone through at least one such season before.

The boys' team is 12 competitors strong, and among the names are familiar ones: co-captains Casey Holland and Adam Rice, along with Nick Sorensen, Josh Hamelin, Larry Morris, Josh Langley, Zach Dvornicky-Raymond and Chris Gill. Sorensen is temporarily sidelined by illness, but hopes to be competing within a couple of weeks.

The girls' team has 10 members, including Captain Amber Swartz and returnees Shannon Hazlitt, Sam Phillips, Courtney Waite, Kelsie Hamelin, Amelia Stamp and Laura Flood.

The teams were going through calisthenics Tuesday and then playing a rough-and-tumble, tag-based game called British Bulldog before falling into leisurely laps around the track led by a cadence call that sounded as though it were straight from the movie "Stripes."

The coach is Marie Fitzsimmons, although she was absent Tuesday -- out of town on personal business.

The team opens its season on Sept. 14 at Edison in a meet that includes Newark Valley and Waverly, but will have tuneups beforehand in the form of the non-divisional Groton 5K and a scrimmage at Trumansburg.

Top: Boys team captains Casey Holland, left, and Adam Rice flank girls team captain Amber Swartz.

From left, Watkins volleyball players Michaela Olafson, Kayli Westervelt and Jessica Brodgon

ODESSA and WATKINS GLEN, Aug. 24 -- The Odessa-Montour and Watkins Glen varsity volleyball teams are bearing down in practice as their season openers bear down on them.

With the first official competition a week away, the O-M squad of 11 players -- under the tutelage of new varsity coach Russ Gardner -- was going through its paces Monday evening in the Odessa gym. Lighting in the facility has been upgraded, giving the gym a brighter and more even illumination than in the past.

In addition to the new lighting and new coach -- after eight years as a JV and modified coach, Gardner has stepped in for what he said is a year or two for regular coach Jennifer Signor, who wanted more time with her young family -- the O-M volleyball program has a new mix of players.

Among them are six new varsity players to go with returning standout Taylor Carey, a junior, and seniors Taylor Thoman, Ashley McLean, Ashleigh Rouille and Breonna Bates.

Down the hill at Watkins Glen, sixth-year varsity coach Krysti Westervelt has a crew of 13 players who were doing calisthenics and running Tuesday morning under the eye of conditioning coach Ralph Diliberto, one of two such sessions they have each week. Then they pulled out the nets for a regular practice.

Westervelt has a core of returning veterans that include her daughter Kayli and Jessica Stansfield, Jessica Brogdon, Sarah Bond, Kelsey Johnson, Michelle Woodford and Hannah Somerville. Three new faces in the varsity mix include Michaela Olafson and Maegan Robbins, both up from junior varsity, and Taylor Chaffee, an All-Star swimmer last year who changed sports.

"It's a nice group of girls," said Coach Westervelt. "They're hard workers, and very much about the team."

Photos in text: O-M's Breonna Bates (top); Watkins players Taylor Chaffee (left) and Jessica Stansfield at Tuesday's workout.

WATKINS GLEN, Aug. 21 -- The first weeklong session of the Watkins Glen 1st Annual Tennis Camp wrapped up Friday morning, and now turns toward a second session this coming week, Aug. 23-27.

Hours of the second camp -- free and open to all Watkins Glen Middle School students -- are 5-7 p.m. The first week was a morning format.

Middle School students who couldn't make it to the first week's session -- as well as those who could and did -- are welcome to attend for tennis instruction that culminates in a fun tournament on the final day.

Registration is on-site at the Watkins Glen School Tennis Courts. Students who attend all five days and finish the camp will receive a camp T-shirt on Friday.

The camp, overseen by Lisa Phillips, is sponsored by the United States Tennis Association and the Watkins Glen School District. Questions can be directed to Phillips at 738-1477.

O-M goalkeeper Brandon Evans covers the ball near the net during practice Monday.

WATKINS GLEN and ODESSA, Aug. 18 -- Expectations run high for the Watkins Glen boys varsity soccer team this season, while the other Schuyler County high school soccer teams approach the season on a hopeful note.

Watkins Glen Boys: The team has a strength in numbers, with two dozen boys turning out for the initial practices. The squad won 14 games in each of the past two years and returns a solid core from last year's 14-3-1 squad. Of the 24 athletes at practice Tuesday, "they all are experienced, and are all serious about the game," said Assistant Coach Mark Stephany.

The squad -- led by head coach Henry Ferguson -- has a large number of veterans, including senior goalkeeper Andrew Conklin, who will be backed up by freshman Anthony Keough. Other familiar faces include Austin Stephany, Ian Andersen, Taylor Gates, Will Simiele, Ethan Roth, Thomas Wickham, Chris Duane, Andrew Malaney, and Marshall Secord.

The team's first game will be at Odessa-Montour at 7 p.m. Aug. 31. Watkins defeated O-M in one game last year, and tied the other.

Watkins Glen Girls: The girls squad has just 13 players, with a 14th possible. But thin numbers aside, Coach Travis Durfee is upbeat: "They're committed, working hard, and working as a team. I really like it," he said.

Returning from last year's squad is its primary goal scorer, Angela Keough, along with Chelsea Lehman, Hannah Pastrick, Rachel St. Julien, Chrissy Ector, Mikaela Suddaby, Cassie Wait, and goalkeeper Erika Hoad.

The team won just once last year (against O-M), but Durfee sees it contending in many games this year after some off-season soccer play that "puts us in a better place." The Senecas open Sept. 1 at Newfield, then play Spencer-Van Etten at home on Sept. 3 and O-M at home on Sept. 7.

Odessa-Montour boys: The team, which had a solid season last year, returns a corps of standouts led by Phil Smith, Morgan Shutter and Matt Kautz, along with Jamie Lachut, Sam Capozzi, Martin Eccleston, and Matt Bleiler. With Trevor Carey lost to graduation, the leading contender for the goalkeeping job is Brandon Evans.

Dirk Stephens is back as coach, and for the first season in many he won't have a son on the team. His youngest, standout Dan Stephens, graduated in June, but was on hand Monday along with brothers Kyle and Brad to help Dad at the first evening of practice.

"I think we have a solid team. We'll surprise a few people," said Coach Stephens, although the early part of the schedule holds some challenges -- opening at home against Watkins Glen on Aug. 31 and then going against a tough Newark Valley team at home two days later. Then come road games at Waverly, Notre Dame and Spencer-Van Etten, all known for solid programs in the past.

Odessa-Montour girls: Burton Brewster's team is minus the talented but now graduated Ayers twins, Rebecca and Whitney, but there are some standouts back from last year's solid squad. Among them is goalkeeper Allison Stamp, midfielder Katie Ray and defensive stalwart Michelle Melanson, along with speedsters Beth Smith, Ashley Bryington and Malissa Richards.

The team gained a transfer student from Corning West in Jocelyn Garrison, who was showing a strong leg on the first day of practice. She is the daughter of Frank Garrison, a former Survivor participant who lives off Steam Mill Road outside of Odessa and was on hand to watch the team Monday.

The squad opens at home against Waverly on Sept 1, and then is on the road for games at Newark Valley on Sept. 3 and Watkins Glen on Sept. 7.

From top: Watkins Glen's Will Simiele; Watkins Glen's (from left) Angela Keough, Hannah Pastrick and Cassie Wait; O-M's Morgan Shutter, and O-M's Jocelyn Garrison.

Watkins Glen assistant coach Mike Stephens oversees some exercises on the first day of high school football practice.

ODESSA and WATKINS GLEN, Aug. 17 -- The high school sports season began Monday morning with practices at various venues in various sports.

But no other sport has earned the spotlight quite as much as Schuyler County football.

Watkins Glen, after a winless campaign in 2009, has a new coach -- Mike Johnston Sr. -- with a long resume in sports but no previous Watkins experience. He brings with him a new coaching staff, with just one familiar face from last year: a volunteer assistant, David Waite.

The coach up at Odessa-Montour is the same as in recent years: Jack McCauley. He has Kyle Holtz back to help on the sidelines, along with a couple of coaches with Southern Tier Warriors experience -- Warriors player Josh Cole (an O-M alum) and one of his coaches, Derick Willett, who specializes in line play.

Twenty-five players were on hand for Monday's inaugural practice at Watkins Glen, and they got speeches from both new coach Johnston and from Schools Superintendent Tom Phillips. The superintendent told the players that he wants the team to be known as one that "respects one another, respects the opposition and respects the game."

Johnston, while subsequently watching his team work out under the direction of assistant Mike Stephens, said the players "have been working hard for the past five weeks in the weight room. They want to win" -- which is something that didn't happen once last year.

But with a new coach, a sizable turnout -- Johnston said he expected 25-29 players ultimately -- and an avowed determination in both players and coaches, hopes run high.

Among the returning players are the two vying for the quarterback position -- Brandon Westervelt and Adam Hughey.

Twenty-five players turned out on the first day of practice -- with several more expected at the conclusion of summer school. Among the players was the first girl that Coach McCauley has seen try out for the varsity in the years that he's been coach: Jessica Rhodes, who he said "wants to kick."

There were a number of returning seniors such as Joe Markley, Mike McCauley, Jeremy Vondracek and Nick Vliet, and some newcomers to the squad -- bumping its numbers well above the starting point of recent years.

Leading candidate for quarterback is returning junior Kyle Bailey, who saw a good deal of action at the position last season.

O-M will be hosting a five-team scrimmage on Saturday, Aug. 28, that includes Watkins Glen, although those two teams won't square off -- not until the following Saturday, when they meet in the season opener and play for The Bucket. That battered relic is currently in the hands of O-M, which dispatched Watkins Glen in the season opener last year.

After that comes the grind of a season with plenty of challenges, and with the hope that this will be a year of high achievement for the players and grand satisfaction for the fans.

Second: Watkins Glen's Josh Kelly, left, and Billy Brennan lead the way as the Senecas head out to practice.

O-M returning seniors: Front from left: Travis Wardwell, Tom Starkweather, Nick Vliet and Mike McCauley. Back from left: Jeremy Vondracek, Ryan Ayers, Scott McCray, Derek Frasier, Seth Case and Joe Markley.

Left: Watkins Glen senior Travis Waite makes his way to the practice field. Right: Travis' father, David Waite, who is an assistant coach at Watkins.

Watkins Glen football coach Mike Johnston confers with Athletic Director Denise Wickham.

It was also the first day of practice for the Watkins Glen girls and boys cross country teams. Coach Marie Fitzsimmons is at left.

WATKINS GLEN, Aug. 14 -- Watkins Glen International will host its annual NASCAR race on the weekend of August 11-14 in 2011, a week later than this year's event.

Tickets are scheduled to go on-sale to the general public in November, while fans who purchased tickets in 2010 can renew their seats or camping in September.

The announcement of the 2011 date comes on the heels of a successful Heluva Good! Sour Cream Dips at The Glen this past Aug. 5-8, won by Juan Pablo Montoya. It included what track offiicals described as "increased overall weekend attendance ... compared to 2009."

“This past weekend we not only witnessed some of the best racing on the circuit, but we were able to grow our attendance despite a challenging and difficult economic environment,” said WGI President Michael Printup. “I am very proud of our staff and our dedicated race fans here at Watkins Glen International. The feedback that we have received from fans, sponsors and the media have been outstanding! We can’t wait to do it again next August.”

WATKINS GLEN, Aug. 13 -- Award-winning motorsports author Michael Argetsinger will present an in-depth look on Saturday, Sept. 4 at the legendary Penske Racing Ferrari 512M, as raced by Mark Donohue.

The talk -- presented at the International Motor Racing Research Center, 610 S. Decatur St., Watkins Glen, and accompanied by many rare photographs – is part of the monthly Center Conversations series. It will begin at 1 p.m. and is free and open to all.

“No less a figure than Ferrari Chief Engineer Mauro Forghieri called this car ‘the finest prepared Ferrari I have ever seen,’” says Argetsinger (pictured at right). “How the car – also remembered as the Kirk White Ferrari – was built, and its dramatic racing history, is one of motorsports' greatest stories.”

Argetsinger's 2009 book, “Mark Donohue: Technical Excellence at Speed,” swept the International Automotive Media Competition, winning Best Biography, Best Book and Best of Media for 2009.

The book was the first complete biography of Donohue, who redefined what it meant to be a successful driver in the 1960s and 1970s.

Argetsinger has followed up that endeavor with his newest book, “Mark Donohue: His Life in Photographs,” released in July. The 160-page, full-color compilation recreates Donohue’s life through hundreds of photographs.

Many of the pictures were provided by the people who were closest to Donohue: his family, friends, and Penske Racing teammates. The book also offers some of the best work by the top motorsports photographers of the era.

Published by David Bull Publishing, both books will be available for sale at Argetsinger’s talk.

WATKINS GLEN, Aug. 12 --The 2nd Annual Catharine Valley Half Marathon will be held at 9 a.m. Sunday, Aug. 22, starting at the Watkins Glen High School track.

The Catharine Valley Half, a USATF Sanctioned Event, is a flat and fast race (of 13.1 miles) that follows a course from the high school south on the Catharine Valley Trail to and through Montour Falls. Runners will ascend only 250 feet in the first half with a corresponding gradual descent toward the finish. Eighty-five percent of the course will be run on the cindered CVT. The race will end back on the WGHS track.

The event was developed by the Finger Lakes Running and Triathlon Company, a running and triathlon specialty shop located in Ithaca. Sponsors include the Hermann J. Wiemer Vineyard, The Glen Dairy Bar, The Glen Theater, and Experience! the Finger Lakes.

"Like all races," a Running Company spokesperson said, "the Catharine Valley Half takes a community to succeed. It's reliant on the generous offer to make use of the Watkins Glen High School and athletic complex, on the New York State Parks for use of the Catharine Valley Trail and personnel for support, on the Friends of the Catharine Valley Trail for the creation and maintenance of the trail itself, on the police and fire officials for safety, support, and supervision, and on so many individuals working registration through the finish."

Online registration is available up until Thursday, Aug. 19. Race-day registration will be open from 7-8:45 a.m.

Added the Running Company spokesperson: "It is hoped that the Catharine Valley Half may provide an event promoting health and wellness, highlighting the wonderful communities, individuals and organizations that are Watkins Glen and Montour Falls, and highlighting an amazing local resource that is the Catharine Valley Trail. In time it is our hope that the event may generate funds to help support this trail and these communities."

VICTORIA, British Columbia, Aug. 11 -- A 1988 Watkins Glen High School graduate, Colin Hatsell, recently competed in his first Half Ironman Triathlon, held at Elk Lake outside of Victoria, British Columbia, Canada.

The Half Ironman race consists of a 1.2-mile swim, a 56-mile bike ride and a 13.1-mile run.

Hatsell place 30th overall out of a field of 401 participants and 10th in his age group (40-44 years), which is the most competitive group. His finishing time was 4.50.03.

After the race, he said he would not compete in the race again, but is hoping to do a full Ironman race in the near future.

Photo in text: Colin Hatsell competing in British Columbia. (Photo provided)

Watkins Glen High School junior Taylor Chaffee competed with the TC Tremors team in the Women's Major's Fastpitch Tournament from July 29 through Aug. 1 in Westport, Conn. In the photos above, Chaffee -- playing catcher -- prepares to throw to a base during one game, and in another takes a full swing during one of her at-bats. (Photos by Don Romeo)

GENEVA, Aug. 1 -- Three young me from Hector, all Watkins Glen High School graduates, participated in the recent Musselman Spring Triathlon in Geneva.

It was the second year in which Devon Crispell (Class of 2010) and Brian Fausel (Class of 2005) participated in the race, which involves a 750-meter swim, 16.1-mile bicycle ride, and 3.2-mile run. This year they were joined by Eric Hansen (class of 2005). Crispell bettered his time from last year by 9 minutes, and all three completed the event.

Another local athlete not only participated but excelled in the race. Jason Westervelt of Alpine (currently Owego Free Academy physical education teacher and swim coach) placed first in his age group and 9th overall among 738 racers. He is active in the triathlon circuit, also winning the Broome County Triathlon at Whitney Point the following weekend.

Photo in text: Eric Hansen, Devon Crispell, and Brian Fausel. (Photo by Alice Crispell)

WATKINS GLEN, July 26 -- The team of Kyle Tuttle, Ann Tuttle, Adam Tuttle and Dan Neumire took first place at the 6th annual James Anagnost Memorial Golf Tournament Saturday at the Watkins Glen Golf Course.

2nd-place team: Ryan Raplee, Mat Bodner, Tom Strong
5th-place team: Mike Drake, Jim Drake, Ken Peterson, David Kelly, Cody Catalfamo
10th-place team: Mike Baker, BJ Baker, Tom Halbert, Kelly Legare
15th-place team: Troy Monks, Steve Monks, Jack McCauley, Rusty Hess
Highest Score: Karen Stewart, Bob Stewart, Jon Castor, Sharon Castor
Closest to the pin: Michele Myers & Mat Bodner
Longest drive: Vanessa Mirabito & Kyle Tuttle

Organizers expressed a special thanks to Greg Coon and Pat Reinhart at the Watkins Glen Golf Course and to Bob and Shelly Landon and staff from the Village Take-Out for their efforts.

The Anagnost and Martinez families also thanked the following businesses and individuals who helped make the tournament a success:

Watkins Glen Golf Course * Watkins Sporting Goods * Famous Brands * Hazlitt’s 1852 * Watkins Glen Supply * Minnesota Recreation and Parks * Maria’s * Glen Mountain Market * B.E. Wright Distributing * Tom Strong Entertainment * Rick Runyon * Nancy Kenney * Janet Collins * Teena Snow * Sharon Post * Rachel Lake * NWTF * Rich Scott * Tompkins County Trust * Senka Insurance * Water Street Pharmacy * Morgan Stanley Smith Barney * McPherson Builders, Inc. * Betsy Cleveland * Seneca Sailing Adventures * Lia Sophia Jewelry * Miles Wine Cellars * Meme Hill Studio * Cronk Press * Chemung Canal Trust Company * The Savoy * Village Take Out * Wright’s Beverage * Waverly Pharmacy * Seneca Shine Auto Detailing * Franklin Street Gallery & Gift Shop * Rose’s Cuttin’ Up on Main Street * Montage Italian Grill * Victory Lane Lounge * Bill Tague’s Montour Motors * Roger & Sue Myers * NuWay Auto Parts * Pepsi Co., Elmira * Casey Powell Lacrosse * SOGH~Shawn Theron * Thyme Stands Still * Yolo Salon

Ed Alling * Anne Anagnost * Kate Anagnost * Karen Anagnost * Jada Anagnost * Mary Anagnost * Nick Anagnost * Tracy Martinez * John Martinez * Sophie Martinez * Henry Martinez * Betsy Cleveland * Janet Collins * Katrina Ector * Nancy Kenney * Rachel Lake * John Raplee * Wendy Shutter * Desiree Simpson * Lisa Rhoads * Amie Freling Brown * Chloe Brown

Tournament proceeds were donated to local fire departments: Montour Falls, Odessa, Watkins Glen, Burdett, and Hector.

For more information, check out the tourney's Facebook page. Search “Jim Anagnost Memorial Golf Tournament.”.

Also, memories and messages can be shared in the guest book at www.legacy.com (search “James Anagnost”).

SAVE THE DATE -- The Seventh Annual James Anagnost Memorial Golf Tournament has been scheduled for Saturday, July 23, 2011.

MONTOUR FALLS, July 21 -- Katey Cheplick, a Watkins Glen High School graduate and a two-sport athlete at Converse College, South Carolina, has been named to the Conference Carolinas Spring Presidential Honor Roll for student-athletes.

To make the Honor Roll, a student-athlete must achieve a grade-point average of 3.0 or higher, be in attendance at the member school for at least two full-time semesters, and participate in a sponsored sport.

Cheplick -- a volleyball, basketball and softball standout in high school, and a four-time member of The Odessa File-sponsored Top Drawer 24 team of outstanding high school scholar-athletes -- competed in both volleyball and basketball in her recently concluded freshman year at Converse College. She thus was listed twice on the Honor Roll for Converse. Only a handful of Converse athletes were listed twice.

Conference Carolinas is an NCAA Division II athletics conference made up of 11 schools from North Carolina and South Carolina. These institutions consist of: Barton College, Belmont Abbey College, Coker College, Converse College, Erskine College, Lees-McRae College, Limestone College, Mount Olive College, Pfeiffer University, Queens University of Charlotte, and St. Andrews Presbyterian College.

Taylor Chaffee attempts a tag at first base during action at the July 9-11 tourney in Binghamton, and watches one of her home runs soar toward the fence in Newark, NJ in a July 13-14 qualifying tournament. (Photos by Don Romeo)

WG's Chaffee competes in softball tourneys

NEWARK, New Jersey, July 15 -- Watkins Glen sports standout Taylor Chaffee competed recently in two softball tournaments for the TC Tremors Gold 18U team-- in Binghamton and in Newark, New Jersey.

The first tournament, held in Binghamton July 9-11, was the NFCA/STOP-DWI Tournament of Champions. The second tourney was a Gold Regional Qualifier in Newark on July 13-14 -- at which she hit four homers.

The new Watkins Glen High School football coaching staff, from left: Lou Condon, assistant coach; Mike Stephens, assistant coach; Mike Johnston Sr., head coach; and Claude Treusdell,
volunteer assistant. (Photo provided)

Johnston Sr. is new WG football coach

Assistants named; O'Donnell re-elected School Board president

WATKINS GLEN, July 8 -- Mike Johnston, Sr., former Notre Dame football and basketball coach, former Horseheads and Notre Dame Athletic Director, and former Odessa-Montour High School principal, was appointed Wednesday by the Watkins Glen School Board as the new WGHS varsity football coach.

The appointment was the culmination of a search that followed the decision by former Coach Ward Brower not to seek reappointment. Brower had submitted his name, but his appointment was delayed when the School Board said it wanted a full list of assistants before it would take action. He later decided not to pursue the position.

The Johnston appointment came at a meeting at which Brian J. O'Donnell was reappointed as School Board president for a second one-year term, with Mike Myers reappointed as board vice president.

Appointed with Johnston -- an Odessa resident -- were the following: Claude Treusdell and Michael Stephens as assistant varsity football coaches, and Louis Condon Jr. as Modified football coach. Other sports appointments included Brian Gardner as Modified girls' soccer coach, and Ralph Diliberto as Volunteer Strength Coach.

Classroom hires included Mary Mack as Middle School Special Education teacher, and Elizabeth Hogan as High School Math teacher.

Resignations came from Jack Telech as Middle School Math teacher, and Jolene Miller as teaching assistant.

A background of the football coaching staff was provided by the district, as follows:

Head Coach: Michael Johnston

1971-1975 and 1980: Notre Dame Head Football Coach, Elmira
1982-1983: Notre Dame JV Head Football Coach, Elmira
1973-1988: Notre Dame Head Men’s Basketball Coach, Elmira
2008-2009: JV Head Football Coach, Corning West

Other:
1977-1988: Athletic Director, Notre Dame High School, Elmira
1989-1999: Principal, Odessa-Montour High Schoolhool
1999-2008: Athletic Director, Horseheads Central School District

Assistant Coach: Claude Treusdell

1987-1991: JV Head Football Coach, Corning West
2005-2010: JV Assistant Football Coach, Corning West
1991-2005: Head Lacrosse Coach, Horseheads High
2005-2010: JV Lacrosse Coach, Corning West

Assistant Coach: Michael Stephens

2003-2008: Assist Varsity Football Coach, Corning West
1979-1985: JV Head Football Coach, Elmira Southside
1979-1985: Head Wrestling Coach, Elmira Southside

Modified Coach: Louis Condon Jr.

2003-2009: Assist Varsity (Volunteer) Football Coach, Corning West

See full School Board meeting summary here.

From left: Watkins Glen International president Michael Printup introduces Hideki Mutoh, Vitor Meira, and Helio Castroneves to a group of patients in the Long-Term Care Unit. The drivers took a few minutes to provide some background about themselves and their thoughts on racing at WGI before mingling with the patients. (Photo provided)

IndyCar drivers visit hospital patients

Castroneves, Meira, Mutoh stop at Arnot Ogden

Special to The Odessa File

ELMIRA, July 2 -- Three IZOD IndyCar Series drivers made a pit stop at the Arnot Ogden Medical Center to help raise the spirits of some of the patients Thursday afternoon.

Helio Castroneves, three-time Indianapolis 500 champion and three-time Camping World Grand Prix at The Glen pole winner, visited along with drivers Vitor Meira and Hideki Mutoh. They stopped in to see Pediatric and Long-Term Care patients for meet-and-greets, autographs, and pictures.

The trio were able to bring smiles to the faces of two children and their parents during their stop at the pediatric unit, and then conducted a group Q&A session with about 10 patients in the Long-Term Care Unit.

The three drivers and the rest of the IZOD IndyCar Series drivers will compete on the twists and turns of the Watkins Glen International racetrack this weekend.

Driver Quotes regarding the hospital visit:

Helio Castroneves – “Being associated with a hospital in Miami, Florida has shown me the importance of doing events like this. It is really great to bring something to fans who can’t make it to the race and make them feel special by doing things like signing autographs or taking pictures with them.”

Vitor Meira – “I think that when we are racing we think of the fans who are at the track, but the ones who really need our help can’t make it. I am very glad to be able to bring them some happiness."

Hideki Mutoh – “I’m glad to be here. I can see how happy they get and I hope that this gives them some happiness. Doing this really gives me a lot of energy, and I’m really charged up to go racing this weekend.”

Photos in text:

Top: Hideki Mutoh (center) and Helio Castroneves (right) talk sports and life experiences with a couple of the Long-Term Care patients at the Arnot Ogden Medical Center.

Bottom: (From left) Helio Castroneves, Vitor Meira and Hideki Mutoh pose with a young patient after signing autographs, discussing some of their own experiences in the hospital, and giving a little insight into driving a race car at over 220 mph. (Photos provided)

Trailer homes and other vehicles populated the field off Morrell Road.

Cycles visit hill near Cayuta as part of national Observed Trials competition

CAYUTA, June 28 -- The trailer homes and cars and pickups moved in, and so did a food stand. They filled a portion of an open field on the hill south of Cayuta, off Morrell Road.

Among all the vehicles and tents and food were bikes -- many caked in mud from the riding they had done on trails in the woods surrounding the field.

The bikes and the trails were part of a skills competition organized by the American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) District 4 Trials Committee -- and these two days of competition, on June 26-27, were Rounds 5 and 6 of the AMA/NATC (North American Trials Council) National Championship Trials Series 2010.

More than 100 riders were scattered about, testing their skills aboard their motorcycles as they negotiated muddy trails, steep hills and obstructions such as boulders at various numbered sections around the area. At each section, judges would observe their performances and grade them accordingly.

According to the NATC website, the AMA "is the primary sanctioning body for motorcycle sports in the U.S.," while the NATC itself "is in effect the trials arm of the AMA" with a mission to "establish and administer a U.S. national Motorcyle Trials Championship series that will produce a U.S. National Observed Trials Champion."

An observed trial is, according to the AMA website, "a motorcyle competition held on private land in the woods, and is based on skill rather than speed. The object is to ride in balance and control, through marked sections consisting of tight turns, hill climbs, rocks and logs. Each time a rider uses his feet to regain his balance, or stops with his foot down, penalty points are assessed by an observer. Therefore, low score wins." Riders are classified by ability: rookie, novice, intermediate, advanced and expert.

Spectators wander the course -- often on a track used by competitors in the woods -- and jump aside when a rider comes along. They serve, in a sense, as another obstruction. (One rider Sunday encountered a family on a rising trail and did a nifty maneuver to the right, up and to the left as he avoided them.)

The site off Morrell Road has been used for this competition in the past. It is wild terrain, with all of the necessary skills tests built in.

The first two stops in the 2010 national series had been at Tishomingo, Oklahoma in early May and Exeter, Rhode Island a week before the Cayuta stop. Upcoming in late July: Howard, Colorado and Donner Ski Ranch, California.

Photos in text: Riders negotiate the latter portion of the three-mile loop that had taken them to farflung judged sections. The track, as seen in the bottom photo, was muddy.

Tagging out the runner

Watkins Glen High School softball All-Star catcher Taylor Chaffee, playing for the TC Tremors Gold 18U team, tags out a runner at home plate during the TCS Rising Stars tournament June 23-25 at the Diamond Nation Complex in Flemington, New Jersey. (Photo by Don Romeo)

Fisher is golf tourney Honorary Chair

Special to The Odessa File

WATKINS GLEN- Shawn Fisher has been named the honorary chair of The Arc of Schuyler's 10th Annual Golf Tournament.

Fisher, 33, resides in Big Flats, and is an employee of Glen Industries, the vocational division of The Arc of Schuyler. He has also held positions as Vice-President and Sergeant at Arms of The Self Advocates of Schuyler County, an organization of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities who attend state and national conferences to learn about legislative processes and seek to influence necessary changes in governmental and organizational policies regarding individuals with disabilities.

According to Arc officials, Fisher enjoys volunteering in various capacities in the community. He has painted sets and helped backstage at The Clemens Center and annually volunteers at The Arc of Schuyler’s golf tournament. He is interested in music, singing, theatrical performances, exercising, and fishing, and is a fan of NASCAR races and various team sports. He aspires to one day live on his own and hold a community-based job closer to his Big Flats home.

Fisher is already known by many of the golfers participating in The Arc's Tournament due to his volunteer activities. This year he also will greet tournament players along with tournament chair Dave Dalrymple at The Arc's 10th Annual Golf Tournament on Friday, August 20 at the Watkins Glen Golf Course.

Dalrymple says having an Honorary Chair helps to focus the participants and sponsors on what this tournament is all about. "Shawn is a great choice. He's been involved, he knows everyone and brings a lot of happiness and good sportsmanship to the event," said Dalrymple.

The annual golf tournament is one of The Arc's largest fund-raising events, raising thousands of dollars to support individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities in Schuyler County and the surrounding community.

For more information on the organization or The Arc of Schuyler’s golf tournament, visit www.arcofschuyler.org or call 607-535-6934.

Photo in text: Shawn Fisher, left, and Dave Dalrymple (Photo provided)

Our Schuyler Spring MVPs: WG's Olafson, OM's Markley

ODESSA, June 14 -- For the first time, we're awarding The Odessa File seasonal Schuyler MVP Award to two high school standouts instead of one.

The spring honorees are Watkins Glen high jumper Shelby Olafson and Odessa-Montour track standout Joe Markley.

Olafson -- winner of this spring award in each of the past two years after reaching States both times, and the school High Jump record holder -- becomes the first three-time winner for pulling off an improbable achievement: making the New York State High School Track & Field Championships on a leg with a break in it.

The stress fracture -- which bothered her throughout the fall soccer season and sidelined her during basketball -- had her on crutches for three months that carried beyond the start of the track season. It wasn't a sure thing that doctors would even let her participate.

The injury healed roughly halfway, and she got clearance, as long as she wasn't entered in running events and knew enough to forgo an event if the pain warranted it. And so what did she do? She went out and won High Jump competition after High Jump competition -- throwing in wins in the Shot Put (a new event for her) for good measure.

She faltered at the IAC tournament when her good leg acted up, but surged ahead to win the Section IV, Class C crown and finish second in Divison 2 at the State Qualifier at Vestal.

That she had a bad day at States is one of those things. Maybe it was the heavy air, maybe it was the injury, maybe it was something else. But it doesn't detract, in this corner, from an astonishing accomplishment: States on a broken leg. Go figure.

Markley, meanwhile, was unbelievable in another way. He set school individual and relay records seemingly every week down the stretch of the track season -- culminating in an 800 run at the State Qualfier that was the first ever by an O-M athlete under 2 minutes.

A strong case could be made that in doing all of this -- setting a standard that the entire Odessa team seemed to embrace and emulate -- he carried the team to its IAC Small Schools South Division championship. That is especially easy to argue when you consider that two of the team's victories were by a single point.

The Indians were, thereby, champions by the narrowest of margins -- an improbably wonderful season that had its share of heroes: Phil Smith, Morgan Shutter, Martin Eccleston, Sam Capozzi, Dakota Simpson.

But chief among them was the remarkable Markley. He accomplished this:

--School records in the 800 Meters, 3200, 4x400, 4x800, 4x1600 and Distance Medley Relay.

--Led the team in points, was a team captain, was an IAC All Star in the 800 Meters, 4x800 Relay and 4x400 Relay, and was named a Section IV Class D All Star in those three events and the 1600 Meters (where he posted the second-fastest time in school history).

--Was named MVP of the O-M track team at the recent Sports Awards Banquet.

Note: The Fall MVP was swimmer Haleigh Wixson of Watkins Glen, and the Winter MVP was basketball standout Michelle Melanson of Odessa-Montour.

A trio of cars moves up the main straightaway during Sunday afternoon's initial race.

Rain, fog bedevil the Legends

WATKINS GLEN, June 14 -- Morning rain drenched the track, and then a stubborn fog settled in on the Schuyler County hillsides. It was questionable whether the Legends of Motorsports would get racing in on its signature Sunday.

But the rain stopped, the track dried and the fog, while lifting and falling and swirling around, did not keep the cars from engaging the famed WGI road course and each other.

A group of cars took off a little later than scheduled for the F5000 Feature Race, with a fanfare highlighted by scantily clad lovelies holding umbrellas over the open-cockpit drivers, nearby photographers' cameras clicking.

The racing, as might be expected, was aggressive. These were, generally speaking, drivers and cars with experience. Two other races, with different classes of cars, were scheduled for later in the afternoon.

The point of the weekend was to showcase the past, from the race cars to the lifestyle to the music: vintage '70s at two weekend entertainments. The face on all of it was racing legend Bobby Rahal, who was visible at area events and on the course -- including some races. He and fellow racing notables Vic Elford (the Legends Grand Marshal) and Tony Adamowicz were also signing autographs in the WGI garage while awaiting Sunday's racing.

The weekend was the second of four on the Legends of Motorsports' inaugural season tour. It started with a stop in Alabama last month, and moves on to Quebec next month and to Sebring, Florida later in the year.

Photo in text: The fog was thicker above the track, obscuring the grandstands.

From left: Autograph signers Vic Elford, Bobby Rahal and Tony Adamowicz.

Olafson comes up short

Clears 5 feet, can't top 5'2" at State tourney in Vestal

VESTAL, June 14 -- Watkins Glen athlete Shelby Olafson -- school record holder in the High Jump -- had a bad day Saturday at the New York State High School Track and Field Championships.

Olafson, who last week cleared 5'4" on the same athletic field -- Vestal High School's Dick Hoover Stadium -- struggled at her first height Saturday, 5'0", missing it once before clearing the bar. Then came the effort at 5'2".

On the first try, when she knocked the bar down, she looked perturbed, but seemed unfazed after a second miss at the same height. Her mother, Jane, watching from beyond the track fence -- far from where her daughter could hear her -- was urging positive thoughts on the third attempt: "Positive thoughts, positive thoughts," she and a friend chanted softly.

Shelby's younger sister Michaela, herself a track standout at WGHS, sounded more assured. "She'll be fine," she said. "She'll do it."

But on the third try, Shelby hit the bar again on the downward slope, knocking it to the mat -- and the nearby officials lifted their yellow flags, signaling a miss and, in this case, the end to Olafson's improbable track season.

Shelby -- whose right leg still has a stress fracture, partially healed when she stayed off of it (and on crutches) for three months leading to track season -- was an unknown quantity at the season's beginning.

She had been to States the previous two years, and had set the school record on three occasions along the way, topping out at 5'5". But at the beginning of this season, doctors hadn't weighed in yet with a verdict on whether she could compete. They ultimately cleared her, but said she couldn't participate in running events -- and so she adopted a new, non-running event as a second competition: the Shot Put. And she did extremely well at it, winning a couple of times and placing strongly at the IAC tournament.

But the High Jump continued to be her strong suit, and she won it consistently.

It was at the IACs that her good leg -- her left -- caused some problems, cramping up as she favored the right, and she lost the league title to a Waverly jumper. But she came back to win the Section IV, Class C crown and then, at the State Qualifier, topped 5'4" to edge out that same Waverly jumper for one of the two coveted Division 2 spots in States.

She was seeded eighth among 38 competitors Saturday, and even higher than that among Division 2 jumpers, but it turned out not to be her day.

High Jumping -- like much of track -- is unforgiving. If you're off even a little, it can mean a lot.

And now ... now, say her parents, Shelby will stay off the leg for the summer, and bypass a fall sport in the hope that she's healed and ready for basketball in her upcoming senior year -- and ready after that, once again, for track.

Photos in text:

Top: Shelby Olafson goes up on her second try at 5'0", which she cleared.

Bottom: Shelby Olafson's cheering section: from left, mom Jane, Travis Waite, dad Craig and coach Abby Tormey. Also present were coaches Beth Hogan and Kelsey Wood.

Olafson clears the bar at 5'0" on her second try Saturday.

From left: Former NASCAR driver Rusty Wallace, Penske Corp. Executive Vice President Walter Czarnecki and racing legend Bobby Rahal, president of the Road Racing Drivers Club.

Research Center receives NASCAR car from Penske

Special to The Odessa File

WATKINS GLEN, June 11 -- The International Motor Racing Research Center has taken possession of an important donation item: a NASCAR Nextel Cup Car from Penske Racing.

In addition, it has been provided the Road Racing Drivers Club archive collection, presented by racing legend Bobby Rahal.

On hand for the donation ceremonies Thursday at the Racing Research Center were Rahal and former NASCAR driver Rusty Wallace, along with Penske Corporation Executive Vice President Walter Czarnecki.

The car, on display now until September in the Center, 610 S. Decatur St., Watkins Glen, was presented by Czarnecki to the Center as a donation to its permanent collections.

At the end of its racing life, the car was prepared by Penske Racing as a tribute to the retired Wallace for presentation to the Research Center, where Wallace serves on the Drivers Advisory Council. It is identical to the short-track car Wallace raced in 2005 before his retirement at the end of that season.

In its racing history, the car was driven by Kurt Busch, who most notably placed it on the pole position for the Martinsville NASCAR Cup race on October 26, 2006.

Wallace, asked if he could still climb into such a vehicle, gamely did so, posing as he was halfway in and then settling into the seat and attaching the steering wheel.

"How does it feel?" he was asked.

"It's a little tighter than I remember," he answered.

Thursday's donation ceremony also saw Rahal -- who had an illustrious racing career, primarily in the CART series, and who is now president of the prestigious Road Racing Drivers Club -- present the archives of the club to the Center.

The collection includes photographs, records, and member biographical information dating back to the club’s founding in the early 1950s. Rahal, who was the 1986 Indy 500 winner, is a member of the Racing Research Center’s Governing Council.

In order to attend the ceremony, Rahal took a break from his responsibilities at the inaugural Legends of Motorsports, a Bobby Rahal Signature Event, this weekend's attraction at Watkins Glen International. Legends starts today (June 11) and runs through Sunday.

He drove to and from the Center in one of his vintage race cars -- a Brabham Formula Ford. He was accompanied by a police escort -- Schuyler County Sheriff's Deputy Craig Bianco.

Photos in text:

From top: The car on display in the Research Center; Rusty Wallace about to climb into the vehicle; and Bobby Rahal speaks during the donation ceremony.

Left: Brothers J.C. Argetsinger (left, president of the Research Center) and Michael Argetsinger of Chicago (a member of the Center's board who, says his brother, was instrumental in helping arrange the NASCAR vehicle donation). Right: Penske Corp. Executive Vice President Walter Czarnecki, who presented the vehicle to the Center.

Rahal, Czarnecki and Wallace all signed the Center's guestbook, which has signatures dating back to 1999.

Bobby Rahal pulls away from the Center on Decatur Street, heading back to the track.

Twins Rebecca (left) and Whitney Ayers shared the Female Athlete of the Year Award.

O-M names Ayers twins, Stephens Athletes of Year

A full list of the evening's winners can be found here.

ODESSA, June 10 -- Three-sport All-Star Dan Stephens and two-sport standouts Rebecca and Whitney Ayers were named winners Wednesday night of the Odessa-Montour High School Harold Lynch Athlete of the Year Awards.

The honors were announced at the end of the 42nd annual Sports Boosters Banquet at the school. The awards are given each year to outstanding senior athletes at the school.

Stephens was a key player in soccer, basketball and tennis. The Ayers twins culminated a record-setting career in soccer and basketball.

Other key awards presented Wednesday included the James Anagnost Memorial Award, which was presented to Stephanie Letteer by James' father, Nick Anagnost. It is named after a former O-M student-athlete and reflects characteristics of perseverance, dedication and sportsmanship.

The Charles Martin Memorial Sportsmanship Awards were presented to Trevor Carey and Stephanie Collins.

A full list of the evening's winners can be found here.

Photo in text: Odessa-Montour Male Athlete of the Year Dan Stephens.

Charles Martin Memorial Sportsmanship Award winners Trevor Carey and Stephanie Collins

Stephanie Letteer receives the James Anagnost Memorial Award from Nick Anagnost.

2 Glen teams earn Scholar Athlete honors

WATKINS GLEN, June 8 -- Two Watkins Glen High School spring varsity teams have received Scholar Athlete recognition from the New York State Public High School Athletic Association.

The following are the teams and students recognized:

Tennis:
Jessica Brogdon, Elise Groll, Sarah Hazlitt, Marguerite Kellogg, Phillip Kellogg, Chelsea Kennard, Sarah LaMascus, Elena Likoudis, Margaret Myers, Rachel St. Julian, Katrina Swarthout

Softball:
Kirsten Burge, Taylor Chaffee, Cassaundra Cole, Erika Hoad, Samantha Riley, Jessica Stansfield

Watkins Glen bestows sports awards

WATKINS GLEN, June 9 -- Outstanding Watkins Glen High School athletes were honored with Sportsmanship, Most Improved and Most Valuable Player awards Tuesday night at the annual Athletic Awards Night in the school auditorium.

Also honored were Ron Pierce, who is retiring after a long coaching career; Jason Bond, the boys varsity swim coach, as Coach of the Year; and Don Romeo as Fan of the Year.

For the complete list of honorees, click here.

Photo at right: Retiring coach Ron Pierce

VanAmburg throws no-hitter overseas

Special to The Odessa File

KAISERSLAUTERN, Germany -- High School sophomore Ashley VanAmburg, granddaughter of Joseph VanAmburg and Patricia VanAmburg of Watkins Glen, recently pitched for the Kaiserslautern American High School Varsity Lady Raiders softball team -- registering a no-hitter along the way.

Ashley was the team's starting pitcher, winning seven games with only one loss. One of those wins, in a rainy home game against SHAPE, Belgium, was the no-hitter in a 15-0 victory -- her first no-hitter in fast-pitch softball. She struck out six, with no walks.

Ashley also had the game-ending hit when she blasted a single to right field, driving in two runs to halt the game in the 4th inning under a "mercy rule."

Kaiserslautern, with an overall record of 13-5, finished 3rd this year in the Division 1, DoDDs European Softball Tournament.

Ashley will be moving at the end of this year with her father Steve (active duty Air Force), mother Lisa and brother Joey back to the United States. Steve says they are headed for Florida.

Photo in text: Ashley VanAmburg (Photo provided)

The Pruett-Rojas TELMEX car leads the way around the first turn at the beginning of Saturday's Sahlen's Six Hours of The Glen.

Pruett-Rojas win Sahlen's race again

Espenlaub, Putman recover from spin to capture Continental

Special to The Odessa File

WATKINS GLEN, June 6 -- Five days after a three-race Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series winning streak ended in a first-lap crash, Scott Pruett and Memo Rojas turned in a solid performance and started a new streak Saturday in the No. 01 TELMEX BMW Riley by scoring their third consecutive victory in the Sahlen's Six Hours of The Glen.

Pruett led the final 30 of 191 laps on the 3.4-mile Watkins Glen International long circuit, beating Max Angelelli to the checkered flag by 1.623 seconds. On Monday, the Chip Ganassi team finished last in the Daytona Prototype field after Rojas went off in Turn 1 at Lime Rock Park.

"I love coming to Watkins Glen and I love racing here," said Pruett, who has now won a record four times in the six-hour Glen event. "Getting my little piece of history here is an honor. It was a little scary today when the rain started coming down early in the race on part of the course -- that always adds some extra drama."

Pruett and Rojas won their fourth race of 2010, extending their lead in the Daytona Prototype championship to 18 points (190-172) over Ryan Dalziel, who finished seventh Saturday in the No. 8 Corsa Car Care BMW Riley.

It was Angelelli's fifth consecutive top-three finish in the event, co-driving the No. 10 SunTrust Ford Dallara with Ricky Taylor. The two won Monday's race at the Connecticut circuit.

The Ganassi team's biggest rival throughout the race was the No. 99 GAINSCO Chevrolet Riley of Jon Fogarty, Alex Gurney and four-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion Jimmie Johnson. The two teams combined to lead 179 laps. Gurney was running third when he spun in Turn 7 with 15 minutes remaining, resulting in a sixth-place finish.

"This was probably the best the GAINSCO Auto Insurance car ever has been at Watkins Glen," said Fogarty, who drove the opening three hours, seven minutes of the race before turning the car over to Johnson. The reigning NASCAR champion ran second behind Rojas for his entire hour behind the wheel.

Antonio Garcia and Buddy Rice finished third in the No. 90 Porsche/Coyote, giving the Spirit of Daytona Racing its first Daytona Prototype podium finish.

The race was slowed by four caution periods, with the most serious incident occurring in the final hour. The No. 6 CAP & Associates Ford Riley of Michael Valiante caught fire on the course, and Valiante, who co-drove with Brian Frisselle and Mark Patterson, nursed the car to the entrance of pit lane. He managed to escape from the car before it was engulfed in flames.

In the race's GT competition, Andy Lally, Spencer Pumpelly and Bob Doyle came from last in the 29-car field to win.

Continental Tire 150: Charles Espenlaub and Charles Putman recovered from a first-lap spin in Saturday’s Continental Tire 150, the sixth round of the Grand-Am Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge season, to win the Grand Sport (GS) race and give Fall-Line Motorsports its first series victory.

Photos in text:

Top: The No. 34 Next Generation Motorsports BMW switches drivers during the Continental Tire 150. The drivers: Peter London and Squeak Kennedy.

Middle: NASCAR champion Jimmie Johnson studies the computer screens in the Gainsco pit area. He later drove an hour of the Sahlen's race for that team.

Bottom: Continental Tire 150 winners Charles Espenlaub, left, and Charles Putman celebrate their victory.

Barbara Hubbell sings The National Anthem before the start of the 6-hour race.

Workers remove the Continental Tire 150 sign after the end of that race, and replace it with a Sahlen's sign -- representing the weekend's main event, the Six Hours of The Glen..

The Kinetic Motorsports Kia Forte Koup, foreground, passes a Matt Connolly Motorsports Mazda MX-5 on the front straightaway in the Continental Tire 150 race.

Haywood is newest Legend of the Glen

Racer has more WGI victories than anyone else

WATKINS GLEN, June 4 -- Hurley Haywood was inducted Friday into the Legends of the Glen, a Hall of Fame of Watkins Glen drivers, executives and others who have played influential roles in the history of The Glen.

The induction was announced, with Haywood present, by Watkins Glen International President Michael Printup in the WGI Media Center. Haywood -- winner of seven races at The Glen -- is the first inductee announced for the Class of 2010.

In a ceremony in front of media and representatives of the Brumos Racing Team -- with which Haywood has long been connected -- Printup presented Haywood with a hand-blown glass vase made by Vitrix Glass of Corning.

“Hurley Haywood is truly one of the great names in all of racing, so it is our honor to induct him into the Legends of The Glen,” said Printup. “His accomplishments both at WGI and across the world will likely never be matched. Hurley made the first start of his incredible career during our Six Hours event, so it makes perfect sense to recognize him during the 29th Running of the Sahlen’s Six Hours of The Glen.”

"I have a love affair with this track," said Haywood. "The Glen and Daytona (International Speedway) are my favorite tracks in this country. One of the greatest things for a racing driver is to be recognized by his group. I’m so honored to have such a long relationship with Brumos and at the same time have such a long relationship with Porsche. I certainly could have not have won all the races that I have won without Porsche, and to be recognized for those accomplishments is a real honor for me.”

Haywood is a 5-time winner of the 24 Hours of Daytona, a 3-time winner of the 24 Hours of Le Mans, and was the first driver to win the 24 Hours of Daytona and 24 Hours of Le Mans in the same year. He announced his retirement from racing following the 2010 Rolex 24 at Daytona and is now the vice-president of Brumos Racing.

The Legends of The Glen was started in 2008 as part of the 60th anniversary of racing in Watkins Glen. So far nine people have been inducted. More information can be found at www.TheGlen.com.

Photo in text: Hurley Haywood, left, holds up the vase signifying his induction into the Legends of the Glen. The vase was presented by WGI president Michael Printup, right.

Driver Alex Gurney shows the WGES kids a racing helmet as part of Thursday's program.

Kids get tour, meet drivers at WGI

Special to The Odessa File

WATKINS GLEN, June 4 -- The students of Watkins Glen Elementary School celebrated the conclusion of their Read for Speed program with a trip to Watkins Glen International Thursday.

About 100 students visited the track as a reward for being part of one of the “fastest” classes during the three-month program. The trip was headlined by a meet-and-greet with Jon Fogarty and Alex Gurney, drivers of the No. 99 Gainsco/Bob Stallings Daytona Prototype, and a “behind the scenes” look at the Gainsco race preparations.

“My wife is a kindergarten teacher so I have been around young schools kids before and it is always neat to see their eyes light up and how excited they get,” said Gurney. “They were really interested in my helmet and all of the extra gizmos we have on them for sports car racing. We read to some of these same kids at their school two years ago, and it was cool that some of them earned the field trip to visit the track this year.”

The visit to WGI kicked-off with a meet-and-greet with both Gainsco drivers and a “behind the scenes” look at their car and transporter. Fogarty talked about his racing background, the steps the team is taking to prepare for this weekend’s Sahlen’s Six Hours of The Glen, and explained the process of replacing the engine in the No. 99. Gurney shared stories of his racing experiences and discussed the many uses the team has for the transporter-- including how their car is stored in the upper half, with the workshop and storage on the lower half. Both drivers then autographed hero cards for the students.

“It’s great these kids get rewarded for reading so well and reading so many books,” said Fogarty. “It is also good to see Watkins Glen International support their local schools year in and year out, and we are always happy at Gainsco to help out with this program whenever we are asked. This was a great way to start what is going to be a good weekend at the Sahlen’s Six Hours.”

After the autographs, the students hopped back onto their buses to take a lap around the 3.4-mile Grand Prix Course behind the Toyota Camry pace car before heading over to the FrontStretch Grandstands. They then watched the beginning of the promoter test day featuring the Grand-Am Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge and Ford Racing Mustang Challenge while eating their lunch and enjoying ice-cream bars provided by Perry’s Ice Cream.

“I really want to thank WGI, the guys from Gainsco, and all of the sponsors for helping us have another successful year as the kids read over 20,000 books,” said Rod Weeden, principal of Watkins Glen Elementary School. “We were not expecting Jon and Alex to sign autographs for all of our kids, so that was a bonus. The kids have a blast each time they come up to the track and always have a very memorable experience.”

The WGI season kicks-off with the Sahlen’s Six Hours of The Glen this weekend, featuring the Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series, Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge, and Ford Racing Mustang Challenge.

Photos in text:

Top: Driver Jon Fogarty listens to a question from one of the WGES students.

Bottom: Fogarty has student Gaetono Williams handle a steering wheel from the vehicle being prepared by the Gainsco team for the weekend Sahlen's Six Hours at the Glen. Williams, who is blind, was accompanied to the car by fellow kindergartener Kara Sheesley, who teacher Linda Gregory says is usually at his side in school.

Watkins Glen's Jenna Swarthout sends her drive on its way on the 9th hole.

Marathon wins IAC crown; Glen 3rd

Jenna Swarthout places 3rd and Sarah Wickham 5th

WATKINS GLEN, June 3 -- Marathon edged Waverly Wednesday to claim the Interscholastic Athletic Conference girls golf championship in competition on the Watkins Glen Golf Course.

Waverly's Molly Walker took medalist honors with a 48, while Southern Cayuga's Stephanie Morse shot a 49 and Watkins Glen's Jenna Swarthout a 50. Watkins Glen's Sarah Wickham was fifth with a 54, and teammate Haleigh Wixson was close behind with a 57.

Awards were presented to the top five finishers.

Marathon posted a 221 score in the 9-hole tourney, while Waverly registered a total of 223. Watkins Glen was third with 232, followed by Lansing and Moravia.

Photo in text: Watkins Glen's Sarah Wickham tees off.

Left: Marathon's Lindsay Peri hits an approach shot on No. 8. Right: Watkins Glen's Jenna Swarthout chips onto the ninth green.

Southern Cayuga's Stephanie Morse.

Left: Watkins' Haleigh Wixson makes a point. Right: Waverly's Molly Walker putts on No. 9.

McCarthy, Chaffee are IAC All-Stars

Special to The Odessa File

WATKINS GLEN, May 30 -- The Watkins Glen softball pitching-catching combination of Taylor McCarthy and Taylor Chaffee have been named IAC Large School South Division First Team All-Stars by division coaches.

For the complete list of IAC Softball All-Stars, click here.

O-M girls win Class D title

Victory is 7th in 8 years at Sectional meet; Bryington wins 400 Hurdles

DELHI, May 28 -- The Odessa-Montour girls varsity track team won the Section IV, Class D championship Thursday -- for the seventh time in the past eight years.

The Indians, who finished third last year, notched 105 points to easily outdistance runnerup Elmira Notre Dame, which had 73.

Following them were Cherry Valley (52), Edmeston (44), Schenevus-Worchester (43), Candor (42), Stamford (40), Milford (38), Morris (29), Southern Cayuga (26), Gilbertsville-Mount Upton (16), Harpursville (14), Laurens (12), Charlotte Valley (8), Downsville (6), Franklin (3), Jefferson (0), and Andes (0).

O-M's Ashley Bryington and the Indians' 4x800 and 4x100 Relay teams won events, Bryington capturing the 400 Hurdles in 1:10; the 4x800 relay squad (Beth Smith, Malissa Richards, Erin Terry and Brittany VanAmburg) placing first in 10:36.8; and the 4x100 unit (Rebecca Zafonte, Bryington, Bekki Lauper and Terry) finishing in 53.0..

Second places went to Michelle Melanson in the 200 (27.9), Beth Smith in the 800 (2:32.6), the 4x400 Relay team (Melanson, Terry, Smith and Bryington), and VanAmburg in the Pole Vault (7'6").

Third-place finishes were posted by Bryington in the 100 Hurdles (17.7); Richards in the 800 Meters (2:37), and Taylor Carey in the Pole Vault (7'6").

Finishing fourth were Zafonte in the 100 Meters (13.3), Melanson in the 400 Meters (1:02.9), and Alyssa Bleiler in the 400 Hurdles (1:16.4).

Fifth places went to Zafonte in the 200 Meters, Carey in the Long Jump (with a personal best of 14'9" that far exceeded her previous best of 13'3"), and Allison Stamp in the High Jump (4'8").

Sixth-place finishes were registered by Hailie Searles in the 3000 Meters (12:24), and by Carey in the High Jump (4'7").

"The Odessa girls," said O-M Coach Burton Brewster, "always step up at these Class meets."

Photo in text: Ashley Bryington clears a hurdle (File photo)

Rappleye, Bailey named IAC All-Stars

Special to The Odessa File

WATKINS GLEN, May 26 -- Watkins Glen's all-purpose fielder and dependable hitter Jesse Rappleye and Odessa-Montour catcher Kyle Bailey have been named Interscholastic Athletic Conference Baseball All Stars for 2010.

The list of All-Stars, selected by IAC coaches, can be found here.

5 O-M teams win scholar-athlete honors

Special to The Odessa File

ODESSA, May 19 -- The Odessa-Montour High School varsity tennis, girls track, boys track, softball and golf teams received the New York State Scholar-Athlete team award this spring.

The teams are being recognized by the New York State Public High School Athletic Association for having a team average of 90 or above.

The tennis team had an average of 92.50, the girls track team had an average of 92.71, the boys track team had an average of 90.03, the softball team had an average of 90.32, and the golf team had an average of 93.34. Each member of the Scholar-Athlete Teams will receive a commemorative pin for their honor.

Tim Anderson coaches the tennis team. The Scholar-Athlete team members are: Breonna Bates, Alicia Brace, Trevor Carey, Stephanie Collins, Megan Cook, Anthony Curren, Samantha Gavich, Nate Kemmerer, Dan Stephens, Dale VanWormer and Taylor Wade.

Burton Brewster coaches the girls track team. The Scholar-Athlete team members are: Alyssa Bleiler, Ashley Bryington, Taylor Carey, Tiffany Kelly, Bekki Lauper, Margaret Lucero, Danielle MacDougall, Michelle Melanson, Denna Page, Malissa Richards, Dana Roberts, Itka Safir, Hailie Searles, Mon’e Simpson, Bethany Smith, Ashton Stadelmaier, Allison Stamp, Erin Terry, Brittany VanAmburg, Amanda Williams and Rebecca Zafonte.

Skip Strobel coaches the boys track team. The Scholar-Athlete team members are: Matt Bleiler, Sam Capozzi, Martin Eccleston, Adam Gardner, Mike Hughey, Joe Markley, Tom Peckham, Morgan Shutter, Dakota Simpson, Phil Smith, Joe Thompson and James Williams.

Jessica Santobianco coaches the softball team. The Scholar-Athlete team members are: Allyson Hancock, Stephanie Letteer, Ashley McLean, Jessica Niedermaier, Katie Ray, Jessica Rhodes, Mallory Richards, Melody Stadelmaier, Taylor Thoman, Aubrey Tomassi and Chelsey Wilson.

Greg Gavich coaches the golf team. The Scholar-Athlete team members are: Brandon Evans, Tyler Goossen, Phillip Humphries, Matt Kautz, Dustin Letteer, Tim Markley and Adam Mitchell.

Boeheim is Zippo 200 Grand Marshal

WATKINS GLEN, April 9 -- Syracuse University men’s basketball coach Jim Boeheim will serve as Grand Marshal for the Zippo 200 NASCAR Nationwide Series race at Watkins Glen International on Saturday, Aug. 7.

He will say the most famous words in racing -- “Gentlemen, start your engines” -- just minutes before the green flag drops at about 2 p.m.

In addition to his honorary duties, Boeheim will watch the race with a limited number of S.U. basketball fanatics from the confines of one of WGI’s VIP hospitality areas. Tickets for this special package start at $150 and include: a weekend reserved seat, upscale food & beverage stations, a guided garage tour, a race-day collectible and a chance to rub elbows with one of college basketball’s most successful coaches. Boeheim was recently named the Associated Press college coach of the year.

Fans interested should call 888-356-7223 to place their order. All of the proceeds of tickets purchased go towards The Jim and Juli Boeheim Foundation -- which assists in providing summertime internships for Syracuse-area high school kids and helps refurbish area basketball courts..

“I’m very excited about visiting The Glen in August and getting a trackside view of all the racing action during the Zippo 200,” said Coach Boeheim. “I’ve always been a great admirer of WGI and it’s a great way to spend a summer day. I’m extremely honored that Watkins Glen International, its staff and supportive fans are helping our communities by supporting The Jim and Juli Boeheim Foundation.”

Watkins Glen's Taylor Chaffee has been named to the Third Team of the Class B All-State Girls Basketball squad, while Odessa-Montour's Michelle Melanson has been chosen for the Class C Fifth Team.

The squad, issued by the New York State Sports Writers Association, also features Tioga's Kara McDuffee on the Class C First Team and as Class C Co-Player of the Year (with Olivia Suhr of Marion).

Lansing's Jocelyn Ford was named to the Class B First Team. Tioga's Kacie Hoyt made the Class C Third Team, along with Newfield's Maria Thannhauser.

In Class D, Candor's Taylor Szwec made First Team and was Co-Player of the Year with Davenport's Sam Meyerhoff.

WATKINS GLEN, April 1 -- The Watkins Glen International racetrack had a first on Wednesday: a race that had nothing to do with engines or wheels.

About 50 members of the Watkins Glen High School varsity boys and girls track teams ran a lap on the 3.4-mile course as part of a fund-raiser, and picked a great day: warm where it had been frigid the day before.

"I think they all had fun," said girls track coach Kelsey Wood, "although it was more of a challenge for some than others."

The first finisher was Nick Sorensen, who breezed around the course in 20:31.96, well ahead of Carter Flahive's runnerup showing of 21:15.25.

"I could have gone faster," said Sorensen, who said a 17-minute run shouldn't be out of the question. "But this was practice, really. You shoot for first place, not time, in practice."

The worst part of the course was at the Esses, where runners encountered a steep incline that curved right and then left. But, said Sorensen, "it wasn't that bad." The entire course, he added, "was a lot better than Newtown Battlefield," where Watkins cross-country runners have competed annually at a big meet in the fall.

The first female across the finish line was Amber Swartz, who outraced a couple of boys over the final few yards to clock a 25:39.

The event -- for which the runners had gathered pledges -- raised about $1,600 for equipment purchases and items such as sweats.

It was the brainchild of Wood, who said she got the idea from the fund-raising lake swim undertaken in the fall in Seneca Lake by the girls swim team.

It had the added benefit, she said, of providing "a lesson in teamwork -- in encouraging and supporting each other. And it was a good workout."

The event turned into something of a media event, with three TV reporters and a print journalist on hand in addition to this website. And WGI President Michael Printup was present, quite pleased with the new use found for the track.

"This is great," he said. "We have 1,800 acres, just sitting here a lot of the time. We are always looking for new and unique ways to give back to the community, so it really was a no-brainer to host this fund-raiser.

"WGI," he added, "has supported the students of Watkins Glen Elementary School for years through our Read for Speed Program, so we were thrilled to expand our involvement by hosting this event to help our local high school athletes."

Top: Nick Sorensen, left, and Carter Flahive, who finished first and second, respectively.

Left: Shannon Hazlitt after the run. Right: Amber Swartz, left, who was the first female to finish the run, shares a laugh with Abby Cocca.

Baseball essay: Out of the Mist of Lore

Ray Dandridge is in the Baseball Hall of Fame -- one of its more obscure members. Herewith a look at the man. Lore.

A childhood hero

Bubba Phillips was a journeyman major league baseball player in the 1950s and 1960s -- not normally the stuff of hero worship. But he was hero to the writer of this story -- and friend. Bubba.

A night of beauty

This is a story about an unusual -- and quite beautiful -- visit to Cooperstown in the dead of winter. It's titled "Holy Night." Holy.

A childhood tale: "Damn Yankees"

Here's a little writing exercise about a childhood sports memory -- the day the Little League team for which I pitched, the Tigers, lost to the hated Yankees. Yankees.

'The Glory Girls' books are still available

For those who missed out three years ago, there are still a limited number of hardcover books available chronicling the historic run of the O-M girls basketball team to the 2000-01 state Class D title. For details, see Business.

And for a look at one of the key chapters in the book, focusing on the team's standout player, Stefanie Collins (shown at left during a game in her freshman year at St. Bonaventure), see Collins.

Baseball essay: Out of the Mist of Lore

A childhood hero

A night of beauty

A childhood tale: "Damn Yankees"

'The Glory Girls' books are still available