X Fall Sports 2012 - Watertown Daily Times

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PAGE 6 • Northern New York Newspapers August, 2012 OFA Swimmers, Harriers, Vball Poise For Outstanding Seasons OGDENSBURG - The OFA Girls Swimming, Cross Country and Girls Volleyball teams will all be led by all-star caliber players and are poised to contribute to a very successful fall season by Blue Devil squads. GIRLS SWIMMING SOLID The Lady Devils’ number a modest 16 but according to OFA Girls Swimming Coach Ben Fleahman the talent level on his squad is anything but ordinary. “We don’t have a big team in terms of numbers but we have plenty of talent. I think the scoring that we lost from our graduated seniors will be made up by our junior class. Our juniors are really coming into their own,” said Coach Fleahman who looks for sophomore Susie Morrow, who won a Section 10 Championship in the backstroke last fall, to provide leadership as one of the elite swimmers in the section. “Susie (Morrow) swam in the offseason and is looking forward to a great year. She just missed the school record in the backstroke and I would assume she would get that very soon.” Morrow and the rest of the Devils are looking to improve their speed and techniques through a training program which Coach Fleahman has adapted from friends in Western New York who also coach swimming. “Its a tough program but the girls have accepted the challenge and I know it will produce,” said Fleahman who guided the Devils to a 7-4 record and a third place finish in the sectionals last season. The OFA squad features three seniors with outstanding work ethics in Maddie Ward (50-100 Fs), Mackenzie Comeau(100-200 Fs) and Abby Williams (100 Butterfly). Five juniors looking to join the seniors in leadership roles are: Natalie Perrigo (100 Breaststroke, 200IM), Hunter Shaver (100 Breaststroke/50 Fs), Jillian Hogle (100 Breast-stroke/50 Fs), Sammy Hall (100 Breaststroke/FS) and Cynthia Buscemi (Distance FS). Morrow is joined in the sophomore class by freestyle sprint specialist Julia Mullin and another freestyler in Elizabeth Sovie. Making the move from the modified to the varsity ranks as freshmen are: Claire Dufore (Distance Fs), Madi Bresett (Butterfly/ Individual Medley), Megan Mills (Freestyle) and Chelsie Montroy (Freestyles). CROSS COUNTRY OPPORTUNISTIC The OFA Cross Country squads will host their home meets at the Ogdensburg Bridge and Port Authority grounds for the first time since veteran head coach Chris McRoberts ran for the Blue and White. Coach McRoberts looks for the season to be a memorable one for the both the boys and girls as they compete against programs like Malone, Canton and Norwood-Norfolk which have been state-ranked in their respective classes for many years. The OFA Boys will feature their biggest teams in many years with a 16-person squad led by seniors Alex Wood, Andrew Cole, Spencer Lawrence and Tyler Knowlton. Wood is firmly established among the area’s best three-season distance runners and collegiate prospect but missed the states last season because of illness. Cole, Lawrence and Knowlton all ran at states and the foursome looks to form the anchor for a very strong unit. “Alex Wood ran very well in summer races and Andrew Cole, Spencer Lawrence and Tyler Knowlton all look strong.” said Coach McRoberts who looks for junior Kurstyn Macauley, sophomore Danielle Steenkamer and freshman Ellen Miller to provide the five-person Lady Devils with outstanding leadership. “Kurstyn (Macauley) and Danielle (Steenkamer) are both coming off excellent years and Ellen Miller has run some great road races this summer. Two other freshmen in Sara Mitchell and Markie Willard will round out the Lady Devils five-runner unit while competition abounds for the Devil Boys’ top seven. Heuvelton student Russ Jaquith, another senior in Josh Gordon and juniors Seth Montpelier, Seth Tebo and Vinnie Molinari have all logged a great deal of meet experience. Freshman Nick Vielhauer moves to the varsity after establishing himself as the school’s best modified distance runner last season. Other first year varsity runners are: Alex Cole (Jr), Sebastian Quintillani (Jr), Garrett Dennis (Fr), Hayden LaRock (Fr) and Jacob Scaggs (Jr). VBALL TEAM DEFENDS WEST Under new scheduling format Northern Conference Girls Volleyball matches will be played Monday through Friday. OFA Coach Mclean feels that she has a team which is ready to compete hard everyday of the week to repeat as NAC West Champions (shared title with Potsdam last season) and then challenge for the NAC Class C crown. “We have great hitters and servers and unselfish players with a desire to do what is best for the team,” said Coach Mclean. “There is no fear factor in this group when it comes to attaining two skills. This is a very positive group and our key for success is to maintain communication to become consistent with our passing so we can increase our quality sets. We will focus on our goals daily by overcoming our weaknesses and building upon our strengths. Leading the team in quest of its goals are twin sisters and three-year varsity players in NAC West MVP Felicia and a first team All- NAC West selection Brittaney Barr. Felicia (Barr) led Section 10 in kills last season and ranked among the best hitters and blockers. Brittaney (Barr) led the West Division in aces, ranked among the best servers in the section and delivered big hits all season. The duo will look to anchor the leadership on the Devils squad which must replace a fine cast of graduated seniors led by first team All-NAC West middle hitter Sarah Weir. Returning players looking to figure prominently in the development of the 2012 squad are: senior captain Katrina Couperus who excels as a passer from the libero position and as a tempo setter for team chemistry, senior captain Olivia Bender who worked extremely hard to take over the setting duties, hard-serving senior Jade Casey who will play opposite hitter and secondary setter, junior Taylor Fisher who shows a strong serve and developing blocking ability at middle hitter, sophomore Sky Hoover who serves and passes well while filling the need for a middle hitter and sophomore Emma Hart who owns an exceptional serve and the ability to pass well as a setter. Fisher, Hoover and Hart all moved up from the JVs to play in the sectional tournament last fall. First year juniors Adrianna Compeau, Jessie Logan, Brenna McPherson and Shanice Wallace have all been complimented by their coach for their work ethic and attitude to make a smooth adjustment to the challenge of the varsity level. 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August, 2012 • Northern New York Newspapers • PAGE 7 OFA Football Looks To Overcome Low Numbers By DAVE SHEA OGDENSBURG — When the Ogdensburg Free Academy coaching staff watches their players go through preseason drills, they see a cast of 23 featuring physical, proven, competent and versatile athletes. And according to their coaches, they are the type of players that will allow the Blue Devils to be successful in the new-look Northern Athletic Conference which is actually a throwback to the Northern League. After being merged for many years, Section 10’s NAC and Section 7 elected to go their separate ways for the regular season. While looking to earn one of the four playoff berths for the overall NAC Playoff championship, the Devils, who finished at 4-4 last season, will also be looking to become the Section 10 Class C state representative on the basis of regular season record. Canton and St. Lawrence Central are the other Class C schools. “We have low numbers this year but it has happened before,” said OFA coach Matt Tessmer. “I remember in Ron Johnson’s last season as head coach, we had about 22 players. But those players took it as a challenge and had a very good year.” “We have a good group of players here and they could do the same thing. We have to do a great job at the little things, control the things that we can control and avoid injuries.” Leading the Devils into the season will be four senior captains in quarterbacklinebacker Alex Farrell, fullback-linebacker Zach Sharpe, center-defensive end John Morrison, and two-way tackle Jake Garrison, as well as senior quarterback Nate Angel, who emerged as one of the area’s most productive playmakers in 2011. As a junior, Angel led the NAC schools with 849 passing yards and 14 touchdowns and ranked fifth in rushing with 643 yards. Angel, who played much of last season with a cast on his hand, will greatly expand his defensive role this season in a veteran linebacking crew. That group includes Farrell, Sharpe, fellow senior Joe Giglio, juniors Jordan McCormick and Ryan Denny, coming off a very strong season at Canton last fall. The team’s lone sophomore is Nolan Rufa, who will also see action in the defensive and offensive lines. Anchored by co-captains Morrison and Garrison the line corps looms as a team strength. The corps features three other seniors in Dave Troiano, Christian Simmons and D.J. Swan and juniors Kevin Goolden, Zach Barr, Jacob King and Keegan Clark. OFA opens September 1 at Gouverneur. Canton Football Eyes Improvement By JOHN TURCOTTE CANTON — Spirit is high but numbers are low as the Canton fooball team looks to bounce back from an 0-9 season in 2011. “We’re down in numbers with about 23, a few guys decided not to come out, but we’re keeping it pretty positive,” said fourth-year head coach Austin Weakfall. “We have some good football players, but not a lot of depth.” One of those good players is fourth-year starter Jay Proulx who will step in at quarterback while also seeing time at running back and receiver when quick sophomore scatback, Hunter Yeardon, runs the offense. Many Golden Bears, including Proulx, will be starting on both sides of the ball. “Jay is a football player. He knows, he understands football and he’d like to play on the next level after high school,” Weakfall said. Sophomore power-runner Peyton Vanbibber should be the Bears’ feature back this year, replacing the graduated Eb Foote in that capacity. The Bears moved the ball very well in a season-ending loss to Section 7 power Saranac Lake last season and plan to continue changes in their offensive scheme implemented against the Red Storm. Other Canton veterans include seniors Cody Peters (WR), Jonathan Pinckney (DL), Ricky Martin (RB) and Nathan Miller (FB/DL), along with juniors TJ Lumbard (OL/DL), Zach Markel (OL/DL), Ryan Denny (RB), Pat Thompson (OL/DL) and Dathon Thurber (WR/DB). “TJ is a tough-nosed kid for us, we’re looking for big things from Ricky Martin. Nathan Miller has really improved with his work this summer, and we’ll use Cody Peters a lot in the passing game,” Weakfall said. Sept. 1 Sept. 2 Sept. 8 Sept. 9 Sept. 12 Sept. 15 Sept. 16 Sept. 22 Sept. 28 Sept. 29 Oct. 5 Oct. 6 Oct. 12 Oct. 13 Oct. 19 Oct. 20 Oct. 23 Oct. 27 Oct. 31 Nov. 3 Sept. 1 Sept. 2 Sept. 8 Sept. 9 Sept. 12 Sept. 15 Sept. 16 Sept. 22 Sept. 28 Sept. 29 Oct. 3 Oct. 5 Oct. 6 Oct. 9 Oct. 12 Oct. 13 Oct. 19 Oct. 20 Oct. 27 Oct. 31 Nov. 3 Sept. 1 Sept. 5 Sept. 8 Sept. 12 Oct. 6 Oct. 13 Oct. 27 Nov. 3 Nov. 10 Nov. 17 Aug. 31 Aug. 31 Sept. 1 Sept. 1 Sept. 4 Sept. 7 Sept. 7 Sept. 8 Sept. 8 Sept. 11 Sept. 14 Sept. 14 Sept. 15 Sept. 15 Sept. 21 Sept. 21 Sept. 22 Sept. 22 Sept. 28 Sept. 28 Sept. 29 Sept. 29 Oct. 2 Oct. 5 Oct. 5 Oct. 6 Oct. 6 Oct. 12 Oct. 12 Oct. 13 Oct. 13 Oct. 19 Oct. 19 Oct. 20 Oct. 20 Oct. 23 Oct. 27 Oct. 27 Nov. 1-3 SUNY POTSDAM SPORTS DATE DATE DATE DATE DATE Sept. 4 Sept. 8-9 Sept. 15-16 Sept. 17 Sept. 25 Oct. 6-7 Clip ’N Save • Clip ’N Save • Clip ’N Save 2012-’13 Fall Schedules MEN’S SOCCER Morrisville State Castleton State or Hilbert College SUNY College at Old Westbury Farmingdale State St. Lawrence University Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute St. John Fisher College SUNY Plattsburgh Oswego State SUNY Cortland Oneonta State SUNY New Paltz Buffalo State Fredonia State The College at Brockport SUNY Geneseo Clarkson University SUNYAC Play-In SUNYAC Semifinals SUNYAC Championship WOMEN’S SOCCER Hilbert College Cazenovia College or Green Mountain Babson College Wellesley College St. Lawrence University Ithaca College Utica College SUNY Plattsburgh Oswego State SUNY Cortland Clarkson University Oneonta State SUNY New Paltz SUNY Canton Buffalo State Fredonia State The College at Brockport SUNY Geneseo SUNYAC Play-In SUNYAC Semifinals SUNYAC Championship CROSS COUNTRY SUNYIT Invitational @ Utica Paul Smith's Quad Meet @ Paul Smith's Pat Peterson Invitational @ Oswego North Country Invitational @ SLU SLU Hoffman Invitational @SLU XC Only Championships @ Geneva SUNYAC Championships @ Fredonia Clarkson Duel Meet @ Clarkson NCAA Atlantic Regional @ U. of Rochester NCAA Championships @ Rose-Hulman WOMEN’S VOLLEYBALL Union College SUNYIT TBD TBD Clarkson University Oswego State Saint Michael's College Southern Vermont College SUNY Plattsburgh St. Lawrence University St. John Fisher College Nazareth College Bluffton University University of Rochester Oneonta State SUNY Plattsburgh SUNY Cortland SUNY New Paltz SUNY Geneseo Alfred University The College at Brockport Hilbert College St. Lawrence University TBD TBD TBD TBD Fredonia State The Sage Colleges Ithaca College Wells College SUNY Cortland SUNY Plattsburgh Oneonta State SUNY New Paltz Clarkson University St. John Fisher College SUNY Geneseo SUNYAC Championships GOLF Bears Fall Invitational St. Lawrence Invitational Duke Nelson Tournament Oswego State Fall Invitational Elmira Fall Invitational ECAC Qualifier Home Events in BOLD *Ad schedules are subject to change. Refer to our web site @ www.potsdambears.com for current information TIME 1:30 pm 1:30 pm 1 pm 11 am 7:30 pm 12 pm 1 pm 1 pm 4 pm 1 pm 4 pm 1 pm 4 pm 1 pm 3 pm 1 pm 7 pm TBA TBA TBA TIME 11 am 11 am 1 pm 1 pm 5 pm 1 pm 1 pm 1 pm 4 pm 1 pm 7 pm 4 pm 1 pm 7 pm 4 pm 1 pm 3 pm 1 pm TBD TBD TBD TIME 11 am 5 pm 11 am 4 pm 11 am 11 am 11 am TBD TBD TBD TIME SITE/TIME 6 pm 8 pm 9:30 am 1:30 or 3:30 pm 7 pm 5:30 pm 7:30 pm 11:30 am 1:30 pm 7 pm 3 pm 7 pm 10 am 2 pm 3 pm 5 pm 10 am 12 pm 5 pm 7 pm 10 am 12 pm 7 pm TBA TBA TBA TBA 5 pm 7 pm 10 am 2:30 pm 5 pm 7 pm 12 pm 2 pm 7 pm 1 pm 3 pm TBA Potsdam Country Club 11 am SLU Golf Course 1 pm & 8am Middlebury 1 pm & 9 am Oswego 1 pm Elmira 10 am Macedon 10 am
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