Albany Academy for Girls will recognize five talented individuals who have gone on to great success in college and beyond at the Inaugural AAG Alumnae Association Athletic Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony Breakfast this Sat., Oct. 2 at 8:30 a.m. in the AAG Lower School Gym (located at 140 Academy Road in Albany).

The inaugural Hall of Fame class includes Ruth Miner (Class of 1911), Marion Mooers Tietz Lamar (Class of 1947), Jennifer Riitano Levy (Class of 1993), Carrie Bolduc (Class of 1995), Ashley Gersuk (Class of 2001) and the 1995 varsity lacrosse team.

Ruth Miner is best known for her role as the first President of the AAG Athletic Association upon its creation in 1909. She played hockey, tennis and basketball during her time at AAG and was a strong competitor. Ms. Miner earned the nickname “Sport Miner” at Wellesley College and was one of just six women to graduate from Albany Law School in 1919.

Marion Mooers Tietz Lamar was a standout athlete at AAG and head of the Athletic Association during her senior year. She went on to excel in lacrosse and field hockey at Sargent College of Boston University – selected for the U.S. Women’s Lacrosse Team and the Northeast Field Hockey Team. Ms. Lamar taught physical education for 20 years in area schools and officiated basketball for 29 years and field hockey for 48 years. When she retired from officiating at the age of 68, she received special recognition from the U.S. Field Hockey Association.

Jennifer Riitano Levy excelled at soccer, basketball and lacrosse during her time at AAG and served as a successful coach of the AAG Varsity Lacrosse Team. After attending Babson College and playing on the Women’s Lacrosse Team, she took Team deBeer (part of J. deBeer and Son, Inc.) from an unknown name in the women’s lacrosse industry to being the No. 1 provider of women’s lacrosse gear in the country. Ms. Levy currently serves as Vice President of the Lacrosse Industry Council, is the Director of Women’s Sports at Brine and has been selected to serve on the U.S. Lacrosse’s Board Development Committee.

A three-sport athlete at AAG in soccer, ice hockey and lacrosse, Ashley Gersuk was recognized as a four-time Central Hudson Valley League All-Star; she also led the Varsity Lacrosse Team to the New York State Championship in 2001. Ms. Gersuk continued her passion for lacrosse at Northwestern University – helping to pioneer the lacrosse program from inception to a No. 1 national ranking; during her senior year, Northwestern won the first of five consecutive national championships. Ms. Gersuk was chosen to represent her team at the White House where she met then President George Bush, and presented the team’s gift to him during the Rose Garden “Champion’s Day” ceremony. She is currently the Partner & CEO of WomensLax.com LLC, a sports marketing and event management company.

Carrie Bolduc was captain of the AAG Varsity Soccer Team that finished third in the Central Hudson Valley League during her senior and was a member of the Section II, Class D runner-up team along with numerous other accolades. In addition, Ms. Bolduc served as captain of the 1995 Varsity Lacrosse Team and was one of two selected from the region as a first team All American. She went on to play lacrosse in Division I programs at Temple University (competing in the NCAA Final Four) and Syracuse University (winning the ECAC Championship). She later served as a successful lacrosse coach at the University of Massachusetts-Amherst and Farmingdale State College – recognized as Coach of the Year in 2009.


The 1995 AAG varsity lacrosse team had an outstanding season, finishing with a 15-2 record and advancing to the state finals – a first for AAG lacrosse.

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High school football central on www.troyrecord.com

Shaker High School will induct Joe Belokopitsky (2005), Amisha Gomes (2005) and Erika Hoxie (1997) into its Athletic Hall of Fame on Sat., Sept. 25.

A ceremony will be held that day at the Century House in Latham at Noon. The cost of the luncheon is $27 per person and reservations may be made through the Shaker High School athletic department prior to Sept. 20.

Here were the inductees' bios from the Shaker website:

Joseph Belokopitsky (Soccer, Indoor Track & Field, Outdoor Track & Field) - Soccer- 4 year Varsity member; leading goal scorer for the team 10th & 12th grade; Co-Captain 12th grade. Indoor Track – MVP 12th grade; Anchor leg of School Record 4 x 400 – 12th grade – record time of 50.0 (still stands as of 2010); 12th fastest time in Section II History; 600m School Record time of 1:22.09; 4 x 800 Relay anchor leg of School Record ; 2nd Place in NYS; won National Scholastic Indoor Championship and All-American status. Outdoor Track – 4 year Varsity member; competed in NYS Championships all 4 years; set numerous records throughout his outdoor track career.

Amisha Gomes (Indoor Track & Field, Outdoor Track & Field) - Indoor Track - 2005 Long Jump Sectional Champion; Two-Time Suburban Council Triple Jump Champion; State Performer in Triple and Long Jump. Outdoor Track – Holds current School Record in triple jump; Two-Time Suburban Council Champion Triple Jump; Three-Time Sectional Champion Triple Jump.

Erika Hoxie (Gymnastics) - Section II Vault Champion (4 yrs.); Holds Shaker vault Record; Section II Bar Champion ’97; Section II All-Around Champion ’96; SHS MVP – ’95 & ’96; High School All-American (6 yrs.); Team Captain; Competed in Five State Championships.

Please call 785-5511 x 3351 or visit www.northcolonie.org for more details.

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The Shenendehowa High School athletic department just released the names of the inductees into the 2010 Athletic Hall of Fame.

2010 Inductees
Jim Bendick
Michael Caruso
Deborah Clum
Betsey Drambour
Jan Federice
John Joseph
Brendan O’Sullivan
Jennifer Scanlon
Jim Zullo

Here is the full press release sent to us, which includes biographies on the inductees:
2010+Press+Release

For more information on the Shen Hall of Fame, click here to be directed to the school's official website.

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The Watervliet City School District today announced its Athletics Hall of Fame class of 2010.

Athletes

Mary Littlejohn Adams (1987) - soccer, volleyball, basketball, softball
Tony Carroll (1991) - football, track
Robert Christiansen (1963) - soccer, track
Janice Crudo Teson (1976) - basketball, softball
Lyle Darmetko (1986) - football, basketball, baseball
Tony Fruscio (1989) - football, basketball
Dominic Fruscio (1993) - football, basketball, baseball
Donald Kelly (1975) - basketball, track
Gene Madaio (1954) - football, soccer, baseball
David Pitaniello (1971) - football, baseball, bowling
Peter Strand (1987) - football, basketball, baseball
Corey Wasula (1991) - soccer, basketball, softball

Tony Fruscio, a member of the Watervliet Athletic Hall of Fame class of 2010, is now the head varsity football coach at the Albany Academy. (Record file photo).

Coaches

Joe King (1973-79) - head coach, varsity football

Joe King, who brought the Cannoneers' football program to prominence in the 1970s, has been the head coach at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute for the past 22 years. (Record file photo).

Teams

1991 boys basketball (28-0, New York State Public High School Athletic Association and Federation Tournament of Champions Class C winners)

Contributor

Watervliet High School Dad's Club - Started in the mid-1960s by Watervliet parents as a support group for Watervliet athletics.

The new inductees will be honored at the third annual Hall of Fame induction ceremony, which will take place on October 17, 2010 at Michael's Banquet House. Tickets may be obtained by contacting the Watervliet athletic department at 629-3303. Watervliet's homecoming football game will be played on October 16.

For more information on the Watervliet Hall of Fame, visit the school's website by clicking here.

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Update (9:25 p.m.): Andrew Santillo and I were able to speak with a few members of this year's class and here is an excerpt of a story that will run in Thursday's edition of The Record:

Andrew Santillo and William Montgomery
The Record

WATERVLIET -- Joe King remembers vividly returning home from a game at Hudson, the final game of the 1974 football season for Watervliet.

The Cannoneers had just won their final game of the year.

"I remember coming back up and seeing the lights of the city of Albany," King said. "Coming back on the bus, it was neat. The kids were coming back as winners for the first time in a long time."

King, who begins his 22nd season today as coach at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, coached the Cannoneers from 1973-1979 and he will be honored by being inducted into the Watervliet Athletic Hall of Fame in October.

"I’m excited," he said. "I had some great experiences at Watervliet and some of the fondest memories I have as a coach were while I was there."

King says he remains in touch with some of the players he coached at Watervliet, more than 30 years after their time in high school.

"It’s a unique town," King said. "A lot of people stayed there (after high school). Those who have moved still come back. It’s a blue-collar town, my kind of people and people with a lot of good qualities."

King coached a lot of great players during his years at Watervliet, including Tim Sherwin, who went on to play in the National Football League.

"For a town that size and the size of that school, there have been pro athletes out of there and just some great players," King said. "I’m honored to be considered a part of (the Hall of Fame)."

Another of the inductees was Peter Strand, a three-sport star (football, basketball and baseball), who graduated in 1987 and currently coaches junior varsity volleyball and boys basketball and serves as the Cannoneers’ head varsity baseball coach.

"It’s a big-time honor. I’m very surprised," Strand said. "There are so many good athletes from Watervliet and to be a part of the third class, I am very honored."

When Strand was a student, he played for coaches Dan Reinfurt (football), George Mardigan (basketball) and Tony Curro (baseball), all of whom were part of Watervliet’s inaugural Hall of Fame class in 2008. With so many former Watervliet athletes now serving as coaches themselves - Tony Fruscio and Brian Fruscio coach at the Albany Academy, Andre Cook is the head men’s basketball coach at St. Edward’s College in Austin, Texas and current Cannoneers football coach Erick Bernard and basketball coaches Walter Bowden and Gordie Johnson themselves are Watervliet graduates - it’s no wonder the Arsenal City has become the coaching capital of Section II.

"I knew what I wanted to do after my junior year in high school," said Strand. "I wanted to teach physical education and take over one of the three main programs at the school."

Not only were the coaches of the 1980s influential, they also had a growing base of hometown talent with which to work.

"In the 1980s, most players stayed close to home rather than go to Catholic Central, CBA or La Salle," said Tony Fruscio, who played football and basketball and graduated in 1989. "Some of the best of all time from this area were Watervliet kids, but they played at other schools. In the ‘80s, that started to change with most guys staying home and going to Watervliet."

Stand started his coaching career at Cohoes High School, but couldn’t pass up an opportunity to assist Reinfurt on the football field in 1992.

"I’ve been coaching at Watervliet for about 15 years and one of the things that stands out is that kids never give up," said Strand. "They always compete at a high level. That’s one of the fringe benefits of the job. The kids work so hard that things just kind of fall into place."

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Dom Denio (right) and George 'Butch' Byrd (second from right) celebrate with family members upon their induction into the Capital Region Football Hall of Fame Saturday evening at the Colonie Elks Lodge in Latham. (Photo by J.S. Carras - The Record).

LATHAM -- Put 28 of the greatest players, coaches and officials in Capital Region football history in the same room and what will they do?

Kick back and watch television, of course.

Joe Grasso dug through his collection of video tapes and found the Holy Grail: a recording of the 1978 Section II Class A Super Bowl between Bishop Maginn and Bethlehem, something he was proud to show off at the first annual Capital Region Football Hall of Fame induction banquet at the Colonie Elks Lodge.

Grasso coached the Golden Griffins in that game and his star players were Tim Linehan and Joe Burke. The officials for the game were Dom Denio and Willard Doran. In the WNYT announcer’s booth was a young Brent Steuerwald, doing the color commentary. And who handed Grasso the championship trophy after Bishop Maginn won, 28-0? None other than longtime Saratoga Springs head coach Blase Iuliano.

All of those individuals and 21 more were inducted into the Hall of Fame Saturday evening. Video clips from that game seemed like a perfect backdrop to the night’s proceedings. 

"I knew I had the tape somewhere and Nick (Fitzgerald, a member of the Section II football committee) was looking for pictures and I started to play it," said Grasso. "I’m going, ‘wow, I forgot Brent did this.’ I remembered that Brent and Blaise were involved somehow, but I certainly didn’t remember that Denio and Doran were involved. On the voiceover, on the penalty calls, you can hear Dom over the loudspeaker."

Those inductees mingled with former coaches and teammates prior to the official ceremonies. Each was invited to give remarks to the crowd and received a plaque noting their accomplishments.

A permanent display will soon be installed on the concourse of the Times Union Center in Albany. The Capital Region Basketball Hall of Fame, which welcomed its first class last summer, also has a display there.
Fitzgerald also mentioned that local football fans should exercise patience as the football hall expands its ranks. With over 90 years of history in the area, it will take some time for all of the local legends to be recognized.

Tim Sherwin, a Watervliet native who went on to star at Boston College and with the Baltimore Colts and the New York Giants in the National Football League, gave credit to one of those who will certainly be a member of a future induction class, current Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute head coach Joe King.

"I owe my whole career to coach King," said Sherwin. "Coach King came into Watervliet and built the program. He has such a great program at RPI.

"But we have a great legacy of coaches at Watervliet," Sherwin continued. "I really have given a lot of the success that Watervliet has had to coach King coming into Watervliet and starting the program."

Sherwin, who still lives locally, has been married to his high school sweet¬heart for over 29 years. He has worked in mortgage banking for two decades and has also served as the NFL’s Upstate New York alumni chapter for the past 17 years.

As a youth, Sherwin became friendly with another Watervliet native, George ‘Butch’ Byrd, who played at La Salle Institute in the late 1950s before moving on to Boston University and the Buffalo Bills. Byrd has often appeared in local celebrity golf outings that Sherwin has helped organize.

All living members of the first induction class were on hand Saturday except for Glens Falls native Jim Duggan, who had a previous commitment. ‘Hacksaw’ had already scheduled an appearance at a professional wrestling event.

"I never knew Hacksaw Duggan was in the area, so that was kind of cool," Sherwin laughed. "I was looking forward to him showing up with a 2x4, but I guess we’ll get a little video clip of him tonight."

Members of the inaugural Capital Region Football Hall of Fame class

Players
Joe Burke
Butch Byrd
Dick Cassiano
Tom Ciaccio
Joe Cocozzo
Leroy Collins
Dave DeCamilla
Jim Duggan
Chuck Dukes
John Dunn
Charlie Leigh
Tim Linehan
Rich Romer
Tim Sherwin
Justice Smith
Ernie Stautner
Eric Torkelson
Paul Vellano

Coaches
Ken Baker
Joe Grasso
Blase Iuliano
Bud Kenyon
Brent Steuerwald

Officials
Bernie Cronin
Dom Denio
Willard Doran
Paul Shaver

Service to Football
Bob Ford

Of course, you can also check out our special section, which was published in Friday's newspaper, by clicking on the box below.

Football Hall of Fame  

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Our extensive Capital Region Football Hall of Fame section appears in today's (Friday, August 6) edition of The Record.

However, you can also see the entire section in the Scribd window below. You'll need to use the zoom function to read the pages or you may download a copy.

Football Hall of Fame


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OWASSO, Okla. -- The Troy Renegades won their first game in the American Amateur Baseball Congress’ 15-and-under Ken Griffey Jr. World Series in their fourth try, earning another game and another day in the double-elimination tournament.

Troy defeated Colorado 10-2 Thursday afternoon, as starting pitcher Greg Hotaling needed only to go two innings into the game. The Renegades plan to start him today against Broken Arrow or a team from the Dallas area, depending on the outcome of that game late Thursday night.

Ryan McGrath hit a double and a triple in the 10-2 victory.

The Renegades lost both games in pool play and were seeded sixth out of eight teams in the double elimination portion. They lost to the D-Bat Sharp team 13-0 in the first game in double-elimination play.

The Lansingburgh Royals (2007 and 2009), the South Troy Dodgers (2006 and 2008) and the Renegades have represented New York State in this World Series each of the past five years.

For the most up-to-date brackets and line scores, visit http://owassobaseball.com/Owasso_Rams_Baseball/Home.html

Twilight League Semifinals
Waterford eliminates All-Stars: The Waterford (Nolan Propane) Fordians won two out of three games to eliminate the All Stars Academy team from the Twilight League semifinals Thursday evening.

Waterford scored five runs in the top of the seventh inning in the third and deciding game to post a 10-7 victory. Patrick Reardon singled three times and drove in a run, while Paul Izzo was a single short of the cycle with five RBI in the final game.

All Stars won game one, 8-3. Waterford rallied with a 10-2 victory in game two.

Waterford will face the Albany Athletics in the Twilight League championship series, a best three-of-five affair, beginning August 9.

The Athletics and All Stars Academy will compete in the AABC Stan Musial North Atlantic regionals this weekend at Bleecker Stadium and Keenholts Park in Guilderland Center.

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This weekend, Spring Youth Baseball is hosting the eight-and-under Mid Atlantic Cal Ripken regional right here in Troy.

A schedule for the event is posted below. Click on the image to see it full-size.

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The North Colonie Padres 14-and-under team, the eastern New York State champions, is playing in the Babe Ruth mid Atlantic regional tournament this weekend in Charles County, Maryland this weekend. The tournament schedule has been pasted in below. We hope to bring you updates with the team's progress throughout the weekend.

TOURNAMENT FORMAT

The tournament will consist of a pool play format as mandated by Babe Ruth League, Inc. The blind draw by the Regional Commissioner determined each team’s division in the tournament pool. No team will be permitted to play more than two (2) games in a calendar day. The pool play rules and schedule were derived directly from the Babe Ruth League web site. The scheduled fields and times were made as fair and equally as possible.

2010 Middle Atlantic 14 Year Old Regional Tournament

Pool A (left) Pool B (Right)

Pennsylvania Eastern NY

Northern NJ Western NY

Delaware Southern NJ

MD runner-up Metro NY

Host: Charles County (MD) MD state champs

* denotes home team RFS = Regency Furniture Stadium LS = Laurel Springs Park


Saturday, August 7th

Game 1 8:45 am LS7 Pennsylvania vs. Delaware *

Game 2 8:45 am LS8 Western NY vs. Southern NJ*

Game 3 9:00 am RFS Eastern NY vs. MD state champs*

Game 4 12:00 pm LS7 Northern NJ vs. Host*

Game 5 12:00 pm LS8 Delaware vs. MD runner-up*

Game 6 1:00pm RFS Western NY vs. Metro NY*

Game 7 3:15 pm LS7 MD runner-up vs. Host*

Game 8 3:15 pm LS8 Northern NJ vs. Pennsylvania*

Game 9 4:30 pm RFS Southern NJ vs. MD state champs*

Game 10 6:30 pm LS8 Metro NY vs. Eastern NY*


Sunday, August 8th

Game 11 8:45 am LS7 Southern NJ vs. Eastern NY *

Game 12 8:45 am LS8 Delaware vs. Northern NJ*

Game 13 9:00 am RFS Host vs. Pennsylvania*

Game 14 12:00 pm LS7 MD state champs vs. Western NY *

Game 15 12:00 pm LS8 Metro NY vs. Southern NJ*

Game 16 1:00 pm RFS MD runner-up vs. Northern NJ *

Game 17 3:15 pm LS7 MD state champs vs. Metro NY*

Game 18 3:15 pm LS8 Eastern NY vs. Western NY*

Game 19 4:30 pm RFS Host vs. Delaware*

Game 20 6:30 pm LS8 Pennsylvania vs. MD runner-up*



Monday, August 9th -- Quarter-finals

Game 21 6:30 pm LS7 3rd place Pool B vs. 2nd place Pool A*

Game 22 6:30 pm LS8 3rd place Pool A vs. 2nd place Pool B*


Tuesday, August 10th -- Semi-finals

Game 23 6:30 pm LS7 winner game 21 vs. 1st place Pool A*

Game 24 6:30 pm LS8 winner game 22 vs. 1st

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The Capital District Football Hall of Fame will induct its first class this Saturday. The Record will publish a special eight-page preview section for the event in Friday's newspaper. We will have capsules on all the players, coaches and officials being inducted, as well as stories on local legends such as Bob Ford, Ernie Stautner, Charlie Leigh, Joe Cocozzo and Rich Romer. So make sure to pick up The Record on Friday and read all about it!

The topic even came up Thursday at New York Giants training camp, when CBS 6's Doug Sherman asked Giants head coach Tom Coughlin about Chuck Dukes and Justice Smith, both of whom Coughlin recruited to Boston College when he was the head man there.

From the Giants' nightly press release:

Chuck Dukes (Colonie Central High) rushed for 1,999 yards and 12 touchdowns at BC from 1991-92 and Justice Smith (Amsterdam High) ran for 1,312 yards and seven scores from 1992-95. Coughlin left Boston College after three years following the 1993 season.

“Chucky was unbelievable,” Coughlin said. “There was an unbelievable recruiting battle to get Justice at BC because everybody wanted Justice. But Chucky came out of junior college. He was a tough, hardnosed, multiple carry game in and game out guy that almost made it at the next level, almost did. Two outstanding athletes and really, really good football players and adjusted and did well at Boston College.”

In the meantime, to read The Record's profile about former La Salle Institute star George 'Butch' Byrd, click here.

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On Friday, August 6, The Record will publish a special section recognizing the members of the first annual class of the Capital District Football Hall of Fame.

My assignment was to catch up with former La Salle Institute star George 'Butch' Byrd, a Watervliet native who went on to play at Boston University and later for the Buffalo Bills.

Remember to pick up a copy of The Record on August 6 to read all about the members of the first-ever Capital District Football Hall of Fame class, but for now, here is a sneak peak at my story on Byrd, along with a number of pictures I was able to scan from old La Salle yearbooks.

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TROY — One August morning in 1956, before he had even sat down in classroom as a freshman, George Edward ‘Butch’ Byrd Jr. crossed the Congress Street Bridge from his parent’s home on First Avenue in Watervliet to La Salle Institute’s practice field on Fourth Street and Canal Avenue.

Although he felt invincible in the black high tops his father had bought for him the day before at Cahill's Sports Store – Byrd remembers those cleats as “beautiful” - his mood was quickly dashed when he set foot on the field.

“Upon approaching the practice field and upper classmen, I suddenly realized I didn't know anyone,” Byrd wrote in an email message to The Record. “I guess I should have anticipated this, but it never dawned on me until that moment. For the first time in my life I truly felt alone and scared. If memory serves me correctly, there were about 75 junior varsity and varsity players assembled. I looked around for some friendly faces but found none.”

La Salle’s head coach, Dom Denio, came over to Byrd and told him to join the backs. Byrd thought that was a kind gesture, but minutes later, Denio, as football coaches are wont to do, was yelling and screaming at everyone in sight.

“I began to wonder if I or my parents had made a mistake in my going to La Salle,” Byrd wrote. “Was I good enough to play for them? At this moment it didn't seem like I was. I had no idea what real organized high school football was all about, especially at La Salle. No one ever yelled or screamed before in my direction. This was a new day and I wasn't sure how it was going to turn out.”

Byrd wound up in line for the punt return drill later that day, managing to shake off his nervousness. He caught all of the punts kicked his way and evaded most of the tacklers, too.

“On the way back from my first practice, several of the varsity players walked with me, telling me how well I practiced,” wrote Byrd. “Things were all uphill from that point on.”

Byrd earned the starting fullback position on the varsity team for the 1956 season and the rest, as they say, is history. La Salle’s football teams finished with a 22-6-1 record during Byrd’s high school career and he went on to play at Boston University and for the Buffalo Bills of the American Football League.

For everything he accomplished during a brilliant career on the gridiron, which all started that fateful day on the La Salle practice field, Byrd will be honored as part of the inaugural class of the Capital District Football Hall of Fame Saturday evening in a ceremony at the Colonie Elks.

Following his time at La Salle, Byrd, headed to Boston University, where he became three-year regular at running back and a punt and kick returner. He averaged 27.9 yards per kick return as a senior and finished with 26 receptions (three for touchdowns) and 250 receiving yards for his collegiate career.

Before his college career was over, Byrd was drawing interest from American Football League teams, particularly the Buffalo Bills. Before the 1963 AFL draft, however, a run-in with a legendary football figure changed his mindset on the defensive side of the ball.

Al Davis, the Oakland Raiders’ rookie head coach, saw Byrd in a 7-on-7 passing drill when the Raiders were holding a team practice at Boston University prior to a game against the Boston Patriots. Byrd dropped back to defend a pass and successfully knocked it to the ground, but Davis ran onto the field and screamed at Byrd, wondering why he did not intercept the ball instead.

The message stuck with him. Byrd, drafted by Buffalo in the fourth round with the 25th overall pick in the 1963 AFL draft, signed a $2,500 bonus to play right cornerback for the Bills. A three-time first team AFL selection by the Association Press, Byrd finished his career with 40 interceptions. That mark, as well as his career interception return yardage (666) and returns for touchdowns (5), stand as Bills franchise records to this day.

His rookie season was a revelation, as he intercepted seven passes and led the Bills to the 1964 AFL title. In 1965, he returned a punt for a touchdown in the AFL championship game against the San Diego Chargers, Buffalo’s second straight league title.

The NFL and the AFL merged in 1970. Byrd played that season in Buffalo before spending his final season, 1971, with the Denver Broncos.

Still, some of his fondest memories as an athlete were playing football, basketball and baseball at La Salle.

Byrd was an All-Troy fullback as a freshman and was a first team All-Troy selection on both sides of the ball his sophomore, junior and senior seasons.

La Salle won the Principal’s League title during each of Byrd’s four years there and tied for the Diocesan League title during his junior season.

In 1959, the Cadets finished 6-0-1, tied with Christian Brothers Academy atop the Diocesean League standings. CBA did lost a non-division game that year, finishing 5-1-1 overall.


According to La Salle’s 1960 Chevron yearbook, The members of the La Salle defense from the previous season were known as ‘Boland’s Bandits’ in honor of assistant coach Edward Boland. The Cadets pitched five shutouts during the 1959 campaign and allowed just 12 points the entire season.

At the time, high school football was markedly different than today’s game. La Salle’s football team, which did not have a home until Sutton Field was constructed in 2002, played its games at Hawkins Stadium in Watervliet or rented Catholic Central’s field in Lansingburgh for a game. Later on, the team used the field at Hudson Valley Community College.

In Byrd’s day, facemasks were often a just single bar, not the full cage and plastic visors familiar to contemporary football fans. Additionally, no sectional or state playoffs awaited teams upon completion of the regular season.

With an open date at the end of the 1959 season, the La Salle players begged for one more game.

“We went to Tom Farnam, La Salle's Athletic Director, to see if he would approach RPI to see if we could play their freshman team,” Byrd wrote. “He wouldn't hear of it.”

“That same year, Shaker High, in Latham, went undefeated and we again approached Mr. Farnam with the same request,” continued Byrd. “Both schools had an open date at the end of the season. Again Mr. Farnam said no and that was that. I particularly wanted to play them because I had gone to grade school (School 7) with some of the Shaker players.”


A five-time Pro Bowl player and a member of the Bills’ 25th and 50th anniversary teams – he was inducted into the Boston University Athletics Hall of Fame in 1980 - Byrd is still proud to be recognized as a Cadet and as a major player in the Capital District’s football history.

“In searching my memory, the lasting thought was how respected the La Salle team was around the Tri-City area,” wrote Byrd. “It didn't matter if it was Watervliet, Troy, Albany, Schenectady, Amsterdam, etc. If you played football for La Salle you were somebody. I can remember people both young and old being in awe because I played for La Salle.”

Butch Byrd Scribd Career Stats

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Continuing our high school basketball history series this week, Record sports editor Kevin Moran caught up with Rod Owens, who played at Berlin, Catholic Central, Davidson and Siena College.

The 6-foot-6 power forward’s highlight-reel dunk came while playing at Syracuse in Manley Field House, several years before the Carrier Dome opened. Siena, in its infant days as a Division I program, traveled west to take on a Syracuse team that featured Louis Orr, Roosevelt Bouie, Jay Cohen and Marty Head.

Late in the second half, Owens blocked a shot by Orr, who eventually became head coach at Siena. The Saints sprinted upcourt on a fast break, with Siena guard Mike Catino handling the ball.

"I though Mike was going to pull up for one of his patented 15- to 18-foot jump shots," Owens said. "I was going hard to the basket, filling one of the lanes. Mike said he saw me frothing at the mouth, so he passed me the ball."

Owens took two power steps, elevated and slammed the ball home over Bouie, Syracuse’s 6-foot-11 All-Big East center who in 1980 was a second-round selection of the Dallas Mavericks, but opted for a 13-year pro career in Italy.

"I went up hard and pushed Bouie’s arms out of the way and was able to score," Owens said. "They ref blew the whistle and called a foul on Bouie. He couldn’t believe it."

Syracuse, paced by the Louis & Bouie show, won the game, 99-64, but Siena had its moment as a fledgling Division I program.

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For the full story, check out Sunday's edition of The Record, which will also feature our All-Area baseball and softball teams, local reaction to the World Cup, coverage of the Country Club of Troy Invitational and the ValleyCats game story from Saturday night.

Here is a list of the people who will be inducted into the Capital Region Basketball Hall of Fame's second annual class.

WOMEN
Debbie Barnes...Laura Barnes
Val Higgins...Katrina Springer
Jane Meade...Mary Fuchs
Robin Reed...Maureen Holohan
Julie McBride...Tonya Hansen
Anita Kaplan...Nikki Hilton
Nancy Egerton...Cathy Rousseau
Jen Scanlon...Michelle Collins
Katelyn Dooley...Kelly Scanlon
Becky Gottstein...Jolene Johnston
Carolyn Gottstein...Stacey Hurd
Heidi Harkins...Brenna Doty
Kim Corbitt...Heather Fiore
Marcell Harrison...Tahnee Heins

MEN
Lucious Jordan...Jeff Robinson
Jason Graber...John Leonard
Freddie Daniels...Rod Owens
Fred Shear...Kasheef Hameed
Steve Dagostino...Randy Cross
Corey Osinski...Tom Backer
Billy Harrell

COACHES
Don Bassett...Ron Sontz
Walt Pryzyblo...Mike Long
Ken Strube...Richard "Doc’ Sauers

REFREES
Tom Brennan...Bill Varno
John Cahill Sr.

We plan to have coverage of Sunday's ceremonies, so look for that story in Monday's edition of The Record.

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Nikki Emery-Hilton (44), Maureen Holohan (25) and Marcell Harrison (32) celebrate as the finals seconds tick off the clock in the 1989 Section II Class A final played at Colonie High School. (Record file photo).

As part of our week-long look back at the history of high school basketball in the Collar City, our Andrew Santillo caught up with a trio of Troy High stars from the late 1980s and early '90s.

In 1989, Troy High's girls basketball team won a state title and may have won it again in 1990 had Holohan not injured her knee during her senior season.

For the full story, click here.

Maureen Holohan (pictured, with ball) went on to become a college star at Northwestern University. Hilton-Emery and Harrison, who are cousins, went on to play at George Mason University.

Some of the most interesting information in the story was the fact that 1,000 people had to be turned away at the door when Troy met Shenendehowa in the Class A final at Colonie High School in 1989. The next year, the rematch was moved to the Glens Falls Civic Center, the first time a Section II girls basketball championship game was not played at a high school site. Some 5,000 fans watched the rematch in Glens Falls.

The trio will be inducted into the Capital Region Basketball Hall of Fame together Sunday night in a ceremony at the Crown Plaza in Albany. This second year of the Hall of Fame is focusing on recognizing the girls game in the area, something the Troy High trio are proud to be a part of.

“I think it’s great that they are celebrating the women who changed the game for the area,” Holohan said. “I’m honored to be considered in that group.”

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With the second annual Capital Region Basketball Hall of Fame induction ceremonies coming up Sunday night, we here at The Record have been chasing down some of the Collar City's finest cagers to illustrate Troy's illustrious basketball history.

Sunday, Record sports editor Kevin Moran caught up with former Catholic Central High School head coach Don Bassett, who won over 300 games and turned the CCHS program into a dynasty on the east coast. His team regularly played in front of capacity crowds in gyms such as the Washington Avenue Armory, as in the picture below. To read the story on Bassett, click here.
To read quips and anecdotes from some of his former players, click here.
In Thursday's paper, we looked at the 1964-65 Troy High team, which is widely regarded as being the top team ever to play in the Capital Region.

The Troy High 1964-65 basketball team finished 22-0 and ranked No. 1 in the nation. The team, to this day, is considered the best to ever compete in the Capital District.
Front Row: Perry Ashley, Joe Cohen, A. Wilson, Neil Dembo.
Second Row: Hubert Terry, R. Pompey, Jerry Guter, Luther Rackley, K. Holmstead, Roosevelt Phillips, Bobby Wood.

All these years later, however, the Hall of Fame committee has had a hard time tracking down former members of the team. Hence, they have yet to be inducted into the hall, although they're certainly deserving.

To read the whole story on the '64-65 team, click here.

New York City's Power Memorial team, which featured a young Lew Alcindor, also finished the '64-65 season 22-0. The teams were set to meet, but the New York State Athletic Association, which allowed just 22 games to be played, canceled the contest.

Luther Rackley, a 6-foot-10 center, went on to play at Xavier and later in the NBA. He turned down an invitation to be inducted into the hall last year.

The whereabouts of some of the other members of the team are still unknown.

Mechanicville native Julie McBride, who went on to star at Syracuse University and later in the WNBA, is now a star overseas in Turkey. Here, she posed for the cover of a Turkish basketball magazine. (Photos provided).

Our Chris Fitz Gerald caught up with Julie McBride for a story that also run in Thursday's paper. To read the whole piece, click here.

She has had her number retired at Catholic Central and in a poll by Sports Illustrated, was named Syracuse University's No. 9 all-time athlete.

Julie McBride pushes the ball up court to avoid a double team while competing in a pro league in Turkey.

She spends eight months of every year playing in Turkey, but returns home in the summers and runs a basketball camp at CCHS.

“I love going over there,” McBride said. “Basketball is who I am and that’s what I do and I love getting paid for it. I go over there for eight months (October to May) and then come home to my family. I love playing and I want to keep going.”

The 27-year old recently signed a two-year contract to continue playing in Turkey.

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Check back later this week as we'll have more on the hall class, including stories on former CCHS player Rod Owens and the Troy High trio of girls, Maureen Holohan, Nikki Hilton and Marcell Harrison.

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The Watervliet High School Athletic Hall of Fame welcomed its inaugural class in 2008, with plaques commemorating the careers of 20 former athletes and coaches. In 2009, 17 more former Watervliet legends answered the call.

With the construction of a new gymnasium currently ongoing, the Cannoneers are looking to raise a bit of money to pay for the new display cases that will be needed in the lobby.

To that end, the Hall of Fame committee is sponsoring a 300 brick campaign. 4x8 inch bricks will be sold for $100 apiece. Each may be engraved with a custom message and they will be permanently displayed around the lobby entrance.

For an application form, please contact Athletic Director Rick Cowles at 629-3303.

To nominate an athlete, coach or team for the Hall of Fame, click here for a Hall of Fame form.

Construction is coming along on the project, which will make a definite difference in the outer appearance of the school. For the latest, click over to the school district's web site: www.vliet.neric.org

Construction of a new softball field is also underway at the elementary school. For more on that, click here.

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Fox 23 News is reporting that the inaugural Capital Region High School Football Hall of Fame class has been announced. It would be nice if the local football and basketball Halls of Fame ever contacted The Record to let us know directly....but I guess that's too much to ask. All apologies for any typos or omissions.

From the release:
Induction ceremonies will be held August 7, 2010, 6 p.m. at the Colonie Elks Club.
Tickets are $40 per person and include hor d'ooeurves, drinks and the induction ceremony. Contact NFF president Nick Fitzgerald at 588-2772 or fitzgeraldn@sgfallsssd.org for more information.

Click here to see the team on Fox's website.