Athletic News from the 2007-08 season

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Monticello teams excel at spring sports!
Below are photos taken by Richard Ross from The River Reporter while he was out covering some of our athletic events.

Monticello athletes setting/breaking records
This past weekend two Monticello athletes burst to the front of New York State Track with record breaking performances at the prestigious Loucks Games in White Plains.

Brendan Devine broke his existing 3200 meter record by more than 15 seconds when he placed second with a time of 9 minutes 16.26 seconds.

Jessica Fingers placed 4th in the 3200 meters with a time of 10 minutes 38.60 seconds and also established a school record. These performances placed Brendan and Jessica 2nd and 3rd, respectively, in the state in the 3200 meter race.

Fingers also came back on Saturday at the Pine Bush Relays and helped Rebecca Concors, Ty’nessa Washington, and Emma Cohen shatter the schools Distance Medley Relay record by nearly 30 seconds. Their time of 12 min. 17.0 seconds places them 6th state wide.

Photos by Richard Ross courtesy The River Reporter

The 20th Annual Monti Games filled with energy
On April 26, Monticello High School became the competition ground of 20 regional schools in the most spectacular track & field invitational of the year. With hundreds of youngsters competing for trophies, medals and plaques, the day was filled with triumph, success and good sportsmanship.

This year, in conjunction with the games, the Monticello School District hosted a Wellness Fair and Earth Day Celebration in the Monticello High School cafeteria. Many local health professionals were available with information and advice on how to achieve a healthy lifestyle and optimal fitness. Free blood pressure screenings were available. Information was provided by the RJK Middle School Environmental Club about living greener, recycling and eating locally. A variety of flea market booths manned by RJK teachers were selling many “recycled” items to help raise funds for a variety of community charities.

Twenty something!
20th Monticello Games sparkle; Fingers and Devine named outstanding track athletes; Grey hailed as outstanding field athlete
Story by Richard Ross, courtesy The River Reporter

MONTICELLO, NY—Like fine wine, the Monticello Games only improve with age. This year’s rendition on April 26 which marked the meet’s 20th birthday, was once again a celebration of outstanding athleticism and fine sportsmanship. Click here for the full story.


Click here to view Richard Ross' Monti Games Photo Album, with more than 200 shots of the young athletes in action.

John Spear Memorial Baseball Tournament
Enduring memories
Monticello hosts Baseball Tournament in memory of John Spear; Liberty captures championship with mighty bats
Photo and story by Richard Ross, courtesy The River Reporter
 
MONTICELLO, NY—While some memories fade with time, those involving people and events that make us feel valued and worthy stay fresh in our minds.

For those who had the privilege of knowing John Spear, most significantly his beloved family members, colleagues and the legions of baseball players that put on the Monticello uniform and called him coach, cherished memories associated with Spear remain fresh and vital and are likely to remain so for the rest of their lives.

Spear left this world on January 20, 2007, but his legacy shines on brightly.

In a fitting tribute to his memory, Monticello High School hosted the first annual John Spear Memorial Baseball Tournament on April 19.

The Panthers are currently coached by Rob Keesler who played for Spear from 1995-97 and assistant Mike Greco who hearkens back to Spear’s 85-86 seasons. Steve Duarte manned the sidelines as Spear’s most recent assistant coach.
Click here for the full story.

Ski slope scholars
98.29 average by Monticello girls skiers is tops in state; girls indoor track team and boys ski team are scholar athletes as well
Photo & story by Richard Ross, courtesy The River Reporter
MONTICELLO, NY—To the ancient Greeks a sound body and sound mind were of equal importance. Clearly that notion of striking a balance between one’s athletic and academic endeavors is a guiding precept of the Monticello girls Alpine and Nordic ski teams who posted a stunning 98.29 average among its top seven academic standouts to earn this year’s State Scholar Athlete award.

Click here to read the full story about this and other Monticello teams that excelled this year. Visit www.riverreportersports.com to see those recognized at the school board meeting that included other noteworthy personae from the staff and student body. Click here to view Richard Ross' photo album.

Scholars first, at Monticello High
Story by Rob Potter, courtesy the Sullivan County Democrat
MONTICELLO — Three Monticello High School sports teams were honored for their work in the classroom last Thursday night at the Monticello Central School District’s regular board of education meeting at the Kenneth L. Rutherford Elementary School.

Athletic Director Doug Murphy happily informed Superintendent Dr. Patrick Michel, the board of education members and a large crowd of parents and family members that the Monticello girls’ indoor track team, boys’ skiing team and girls’ skiing team had been recognized by the New York State Public High School Athletic Association (NYSPHSAA) as scholar/athlete teams for the 2007-2008 winter sports season.  Click here for the full story.
 

Monticello teams heating up winter sports!
Below are photos taken by Richard Ross from The River Reporter while he was out covering some of our athletic events.

Monticello runner breaking records
Monticello High School’s Jessica Fingers placed 6th in the 1500 meter run at the recent NYSPHSAA Girls Indoor Track and Field Championships held at Cornell University.

Jessica’s superlative performance capped an exceptional season during which she broke school records in the 1500 and 800 meter runs and teamed with Marisela Acevedo, Emma Cohen and Rebecca Concors to break school records in the 3200 meter and Distance Medley Relays.

NYSPHSAA Indoor Track Championships
Flying Fingers: Monticello’s Jessica Fingers takes sixth in the 1500 at states
By Richard Ross, Courtesy The River Reporter
ITHACA, NY - Measuring herself against the best in New York State, Monticello junior Jessica Fingers finished sixth in the 1500 with a time of 4:44.08. The winning time was turned in by Jaclyn Marshall, a senior at Kings Park. Marshall ran 4:38.97. Finishers one through four were seniors, which bodes well for Fingers, who is a year-round runner. The state record in the event is 4:22.1 set in 2001.

Monticello ski teams tearing up the snow
The Monticello Boys Alpine Ski Team have become this year's Section IX Team Champions, an honor the team has not seen for more than ten years. The Monticello Girls Alpine Ski Team places as a Section IX Team runner-up. The following student athletes have all made the New York State Public High School Athletic Championships to be held February 25-27 at Whiteface Mountain near Lake Placid.

Girls: 3rd Haley Heins...7th grade; 6th Devinne DePuy....11th grade; and 13th Maria Pavese....12th grade

Boys: 3rd Ryan Sonnenschein....12th grade; 10th Richard Heins....11th grade; 11th Colin Bunce....10th grade; and 12th Skylar Glick....7th grade

Ryan Heins qualified for the JIII New York State Ski Racing Association finals at Gore Mountain on February 21-24. Ryan competed in three events as a first year JIII. He competed in Slalom, Giant Slalom, and Super G.

Skylar Glick and Haley Heins qualified for the JIV New York State Ski Racing Association finals at Holiday Valley on March 8-9. Skylar and Haley competed as second year JIV's. They competed in Slalom and Giant Slalom.

Haley Heins qualified for the USSA Eastern Future Stars Camp and Race at Okemo Mountain on Vermont on March 16-18.

Congratulations to both teams for their fine season!

New device getting kids moving
The new Sportwall can now be found in all of the district schools. The healthy activity provides students with not only physical exercise but also cognitive and creative fun.

The Sportwall uses interactive technology to engage interest, provide excitement, measure improvement, and motivate kids to exercise. It can help build cardio fitness, coordination, motor skills, concentration and focus, as well as listening skills.

The district was able to provide each school with a Sportwall through funding gotten from the Carol White SHAPE grant.

The new Monticello YMCA Wellness Center located at Monticello High School is now open! For membership information, call Ross Miceli at 344-9622, ext. 246.

To read the story about the ribbon-cutting ceremony written by Richard Ross from the River Reporter, click here.

Congratulations to Gabriela Medina for reaching the quarter final round of the Section IX singles tennis tournament. Gabriela played #1 singles on the varsity team in both her junior and senior years and has qualified for the OCIAA and Section IX tournaments for the past three years.

She was also the captain of the girls varsity tennis team where she displayed excellent leadership skills and was a role model for her teammates.

Gabriela is currently a senior and plans to compete in tennis when she attends college next fall.

A magical career approaches another milestone - Monticello basketball coach Dick O’Neill is approaching 400 career wins.
Click here for the story by Richard Ross, Courtesy The River Reporter
Click here for the story courtesy the Times Herald-Record
 

Banner season for Monticello Cross Country teams
The Monticello Boys and Girls 2007 Cross Country teams completed one of the finest seasons in school history.

The Boys' team placed first at the Tri-Valley and Unatego Invitationals and 7th at the OCIAA Championships. They were ranked 20th in the state for Class A schools and David Wilbur and Brendan Devine qualified to represent Section 9 at the state meet. Brendan Devine was Section 9 Class A Champion. At the state meet in Potsdam, NY Brendan placed 2nd in the Class A Championships and posted the 4th fastest time in the state.

The girls team placed 5th at the OCIAA Championships and at the Section 9 Championships Jessica Fingers, Emma Cohen, Marisela Acevedo and Justine Davis qualified for the Section 9 Class A State Championships. Jessica was Section 9 Class A Champion. The girls finished the season ranked 9th in the state among Class A school.

Photos:
Boys from left, Thomas Gonzalez, Dior Jackson, John Bowens, Robert Venditti, David Wilbur, James Dzurica, Oded Naiman. Absent from photo are Brendan Devine, Brian Tedaldi, David Osrow, Brendan Briggs

Girls from left, Danielle Schnitzer, Emma Cohen, Marisela Acevedo, Rebecca Concors, Justine Davis, Jessica Fingers, Ana Loor, Jamie Breen. Absent from photo are Lianna Hollander and Emily Martin.
 

Girls Volleyball team ends a great season
As the volleyball season comes to a close, the Monticello girl's team is ending a nearly perfect season with a 15-1 record. They're looking forward to continuing their success in the sectional tournament.

Congratulations to the girls, as well as Coach Atack on their success!

Special congratulations to Pollyanna Palhano for qualifying for the All-Star Section 9 Volleyball team!
 

Fall sports are off to a great start for our Monticello teams!
Below and above are photos taken by Richard Ross from the River Reporter while he was out covering some of our varsity games.