Cougars softball and baseball come to an end after great seasons

Canajoharie High School's softball and baseball teams closed out great seasons with tough losses in Section II semifinal games. Both girls and boys advanced further in sectional play than in the last several years.

Lady Cougars finish 18-6-1 earning #19 ranking in Class C by NY Sportswriters

The Lady Cougars dropped a 1-0 heartbreaker to WAC league champs Duanesburg in the sectional finals at Clifton Commons on June 4. Senior Laura Gaydusek held the Eagles to just three hits but, the the Lady Cougars couldn't get a run despite having runners in scoring position in the second, third, and fifth innings. The deciding point in the game came in the bottom of the sixth inning when Canajoharie third baseman Alison Limoncelli made a stumbling grab of a pop foul. As her teammates checked to be certain she was not hurt, an alert Duanesburg runner advanced from first base to third. The next Duanesburg batter single to drive in the Eagles' lone run. The Lady Cougars had previously beaten Duanesburg 4-3 in extra innings on May 14.

Boys finish with 17-7 record

The Cougar baseball team jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first inning of their semifinal game versus Fort Plain at Joseph L. Bruno Stadium in Troy on June 3. Canajoharie nearly broke the game open in the second. Leading 4-1 with two outs, Zach Fleischer singled to right field, but a near perfect relay to the plate caught Don Oeser as he attempted to score from second. Down 6-4, the Cougars threatened again in the seventh with one out and runners at first and third. Fort Plain's top hurler came on in relief striking out the next batter. With two away he hit the next batter to load the bases. He settled down to strike out the final batter.

NYSPHSAA adopts new soccer overtime rules

The New York State Public High School Athletic Association has adopted new overtime regulations for the 2008-09 sports season.

• Boys soccer—Overtime procedure: Regular season - two 10 min. sudden victory periods. Sectionals & beyond—two 15 min. sudden victory then penalty kicks. If still tied in State Championship Game only co-champions will be declared after the two sudden victory periods.

• Girls Soccer - Overtime procedure: Regular season - two 10 min. periods played fully. Sectionals & beyond—two 10 min. periods played fully then two 5 min sudden victory periods, then penalty kicks. If still tied in State Championship Game only co-champions will be declared after the two sudden victory periods.

Heidi Anderson honored as Scholar-Athlete

Senior Heidi Anderson has been selected the Female Scholar Athlete for the Southern Division of the Western Athletic Conference. She received the award at the Annual WAC Spring Awards Dinner on Wednesday, May 21 at Lanzi's on the Lake. The award includes a $500 scholarship from the WAC. (read more)

Moyer and Coach Sullivan honored by NFF-CHF

Senior football standout Alex Moyer and Canajoharie Cougars head football coach Ken Sullivan were honored by the Albany chapter of the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame at its 20th Annual Scholar-Athlete Awards Dinner on Wednesday, May 14.

Coach Sullivan was selected from all the coaches in the region as the NFF-CHF 2008 Coach of the Year  The honor follows Coach Sullivan's selection as last year's Class C Section II Football Coach of the Year.

Just four years ago, Canajoharie did not even have a varsity football team. Since resurrecting the varsity football program, he and his coaching staff have established Canajoharie as a perennial Section II football powerhouse.

Coach Sullivan is quick to credit his accomplishments to the combined efforts of his entire team and his fellow coaches Don Krutz, Marty Waffle, Mike O'Connor, and Todd Jones.

Senior Alex Moyer, proudly represented the Cougars, both on and off the field. He was a team captain and was second on the squad in both rushing and tackles. His play earned him a berth on the first team, all-league as a linebacker.

Coaching positions available

CCSD Athletic Director Todd Jones has announced the following coaching positions are currently unfilled. Candidates must have a CPR/First Aid certificate. Form further information, contact Mr. Jones at 673-6345:

• Fall '08

  • JV Boys Soccer

Hill siblings earn same honors

It's not uncommon for Canajoharie athletes to be honored for their achievements—but it is unusual for siblings to earn the same honor, especially when they are brother and sister! Senior Jonathan Hill named Canajoharie's outstanding cross-country runner as sophomores by the Fulmont Roadrunners Club. Just two years later, sister Celia received the same award! The Fulmont Roadrunners Club initiated the high school cross-country awards program several years ago as part of its efforts to encourage and reward young runners in Fulton and Montgomery Counties.

Wrestlers step up in Class CC Sectional

The Canajoharie-Ft. Plain Wrestling team put on one of their finest outings of the year at the Class CC Sectional Tournament held Friday and Saturday, Feb. 15-16 at Glens Falls Civic Center. Seven our of 11 wrestlers placed in the two-day event. The team finished 8th out of 12 schools.

Placing for C-FP were:

• 96-lb. third place Greg Costello

• 125-lb. sixth place John Dillenbeck

• 130-lb. fourth place Ken Crouse

• 135-lb. fifth place Tim Sealey

• 145-lb. third place Dylan Slater

• 140-lb. sixth place John Cyr

• 189-lb. fifth place David Wall

Costello, Crouse, and Slater qualified to compete in the Division 2 Section 2 Finals to be held Friday and Saturday, Feb. 22-23 at the Glens Falls.

School honors basketball seniors

Canajoharie Central Schools honored its senior basketball players in ceremonies at two games. The girls team celebrated Senior Night on Wednesday, Jan 30 and the boys celebrated on Friday, Feb. 8. (full story and photos)

Bowling teams capture league titles

Tuesday, Feb. 5 was an exciting day for Coach Dwayne Heroth and his Canajoharie High School bowling teams. With both the girls and boys teams clinging to narrow leads in the league standings, this year's Western Athletic Conference Position Round Tournament would both establish rankings for section play and determine the conference championship. By day's end, both the girls and boys captured 2008 Western Athletic Conference League titles and WAC Position Round Tournament championships.

The girls entered play in the morning with a four-game lead over Mayfield. The Cougars secured the league championship by defeating Mayfield 3-1. Although they bested Mayfield 3-1 and secured the league championship, their total pins left them trailing Berne-Knox-Westerlo in the tournament. That afternoon the girls again squared off against Mayfield. Another consistent match propelled the girls past B-K-W for the tournament win. Leading the girls (49-15 league record) )to their first WAC Championship since 2002 were Samantha Kuhne, Laura Jones, Ashley Putnam, Sarah Adams, Shelby Colegrove, and Carly Edick.

The boys went into the WAC tournament with a two-game lead over Mayfield, needing four games to clinch the title.  The Cougars dropped the morning match 1-3 leaving them tied with Mayfield for the top spot in the league. In a close match that afternoon, the Cougars dropped their first game to Mayfield by a mere 15 pins. Canajoharie dug in and out-bowled Mayfield by 183 pins in game 2 and by 56 pins in game 3 clinching the tournament win and their fifth consecutive league championship under Coach Heroth. The boys team (51-14 league record) are Jake Pamkowski, Joe Pamkowski, Matt Yacobucci, Tony Congdon, Nathan McRedmond, and Dillon Welch.

Adding to the celebration, four Canajoharie bowlers were named to WAC All-Star teams. Nathan McRedmund (191.71 average) and Jake Pamkowski (189.77 average) were named Boys 1st Team All-Stars, Samantha Kuhn (158.02 average) was named a Girls 1st Team All-Star, and Laura Jones (151.77 average) was selected as a Girls 2nd Team All-Star.

Anderson eclipses 1000 points

Senior Heidi Anderson made Canajoharie sports history as she scored the 1000th point of her girls high school basketball career during a game versus Berne-Knox-Westerlo in Canajoharie on Tuesday, January 8th. Anderson, who averages over 20 points per game, needed just 13 to break the mark. (full story and photos)

Class D football realigns for 2008-09 season

The Canajoharie Cougars football team will play in a newly created Class D Southern Division for the 2008-09 season. The Cougars will compete against Bishop Gibbons, Greenwich, Rensselaer and Saratoga Central Catholic in the south. The Class D North Division will feature Fort Edward, Lake George, Salem, Warrensburg and Whitehall.

The New York State Public High School Athletics Association reorganized all high school football classes to create an even number of teams across all classes and sports sections.
 

Cougars Football Banquet caps outstanding season

Players, coaches, and families celebrated the 2007 CHS Cougar football season at the annual Football Banquet on Sunday, Dec. 9th. Following an impressive pot-luck buffet dinner, varsity head coach Coach Sullivan complimented his team for a remarkable 8-0 regular season record (9-1 overall) and a Section II Class D League Championship. He noted that the last time anyone can recall an undefeated regular season for Canajoharie Football was in 1961. Defensive Coordinator Coach Don Krutz and Superintendent Richard Rose spoke to the same message, that sports are more than merely games, they teach life lessons like cooperation, self-discipline, preparation, determination and leadership.

Each of the senior members in attendance took the podium and spoke about a coach and how that coach had impacted his life. Coach Sullivan spoke again thanking Coach Krutz who is retiring after 34 years of coaching.

From the students and fans, thanks to the players, coaches and everyone who worked hard to make 2007 an unforgettable football season!

New York State Sportswriters name Cougars football team #14

The New York State Sportswriters Association published its final ranking of New York's high school football teams late in November. The 9-1 Canajoharie Cougars finished the season ranked 14th in the state. Below are the Class D rankings:

1 Walton (13-0) - Section 4

2 Bolivar-Richburg (11-1) - Section 5

3 Onondaga (10-1) - Section 3

4 Randolph (8-3) - Section 6

5 Dundee (9-1) - Section 5

6 Maple Grove (8-1) - Section 6

7 Dolgeville (8-2) - Section 3

8 Deposit (8-2) - Section 4

9 Groton (8-1) - Section 4

10 Ticonderoga (10-3) - Section 7

11 Frankfort-Schuyler (8-1) - Section 3

12 Portville (8-2) - Section 6

13 Fort Edward (8-3) - Section 2

14 Canajoharie (9-1) - Section 2

15 Weedsport (7-2) - Section 3

Cougar athletes named 2007 All-Stars

Several Canajoharie athletes have been recognized for their outstanding performance on the field, court, and course. The following were selected to their respective All-Star squads:

Boys Cross Country Western Athletic Conference All-Star

• Jonathon Hill

Girls Soccer Western Athletic Conference All-Stars:

• Heidi Anderson - 1st Team

• Bethany Young - 1st Team

• Melanie DeLong - 2nd Team

• Samantha Kuhn - 2nd Team

Girls Volleyball Western Athletic Conference All-Stars:

• Amelia Fredenburg - 1st Team

• Alison Limoncelli - 1st Team

• Laura Gaydusek - 2nd Team

• Kelly Prime - 2nd Team

Boys Football Class D All-Stars:

• Cody Brown (Sr.) - OL

• Max Goodrow (Sr.) - OL

• Dylan Slater (So.) - RB

• Jeff Hill (Sr.) - DL

• Ray Renzi (Sr.) - DE, Punter

• Alex Moyer (Sr.) - LB

• Don Oeser (Sr.) - DB

• Honorable Mention:

  • Mike Dean (Sr.) - WR, DB

  • Jake Horning (Sr.) - TE, DE

Renzi wraps up Cougar football career in Senior All-Star game

When the North squad took the field for the 2007 Section II Exceptional Senior All-Star Football game on Nov. 8 at Union College, Cougar senior Ray Renzi lined up in his familiar role as defensive end.

On a roster crammed with Class A (large school) stars, Ray was the only Class D or Class C athlete selected. He demonstrated through his play that he clearly belonged on the field as one of Section 2's finest football players. With just two minutes remaining in the fourth quarter and the South driving on the North's 20-yard line, he recovered a fumble that clinched the North's 36-28 victory.

Ray was an integral part of the Canajoharie Cougar's 2007 Division Championship team. He was a powerful running back and a fearsome defensive end. Ray Renzi plans to attend either SUNY Albany or SUNY Potsdam next fall.

Cougars football upended in Section 2 finals

The Canajoharie Cougars football team ended a tremendous season with tough 30-13 loss to Fort Edward on Saturday, Nov. 3 at 2 p.m. at Johnstown's Knox Field.

The game seemed within reach as the Cougars entered halftime down just 8-7 in a closely fought contest. Throughout the season, the team wore down its opponents in the second half, but that was not to be the case on this day. Fort Edward executed on both sides of the ball, frustrating the Cougars' normally productive offense and stingy defense.

The Cougars finish the season 9-1. Thanks for a great year! (see game introductions and memorable moments videos)

Lady Cougars soccer and volleyball seasons come to an end

The Lady Cougars soccer and volleyball seasons drew to a close on Tuesday, Oct. 30 as both teams fell in sectional play. The soccer team (8-11 record) held tough, but was beaten by MIddleburgh 3-0 in a quarterfinal matchup. The volleyball team lost in three games to Voorheesville.

 2007 marked a turnaround for Lady Cougars fall sports.  The soccer team showed a dramatic improvement as it hung tough with even its toughest opponents. A season highlight came as the team defeated Rensselaer 1-0 in the fourth overtime period. The volleyball team made equally impressive progress. As veteran players teamed with newcomers to keep every match close. Thanks Lady Cougars for a great season.

Lady Cougars soccer take first sectional game

#7 seed Canajoharie Lady Cougars persevered through 120 minutes of soccer to defeat #10 Rensselaer 1-0 in a first round Section 2 match-up on Friday, Oct. 26. The match remained scoreless after 90 minutes of regulation play, two 10-minute overtime periods and a full five-minute overtime. At 1:13 in the second five-minute overtime, Sonni Pank rifled a cross to Heidi Anderson who drilled the ball into the upper right corner of the goal.

Canajoharie Coach Elle Fichthorn's squad dominated most of the game and led in shots on goal, but could not convert. Anderson, Pank, Bethany Young and Sarah Blood saw their shots go wide or directly into the Rensselaer goalkeeper. Rensselaer saw it best shots stopped cold by Canajoharie keeper Samantha Kuhn. Despite having fewer shots and Kuhn's solid play, Rensselaer had two shots that narrowly missed ending the Lady Cougar season with one caroming off the cross bar and a second ricocheting off the left post.