My farewell to The Saratogian sports department

It’s hard to find a way to say goodbye when you’re not totally leaving. Not geographically anyway.

Wednesday was my last day as Sports Editor of The Record and The Saratogian. I have accepted a position as a content editor at the Times Union and before I depart I’m doing something I haven’t yet in my time here — write about myself.

I can’t begin to describe how gratifying it has been reporting on the local sports scene for three years as a reporter in Saratoga and for the last two and a half years as the sports editor.

And while I will still be working to get your stories out to the public in my new position, it will be in a different capacity. The regular faces and names on email address I look forward to seeing each week will likely change.

There are too many people that contribute to the production of two daily papers to thank each one of you. However, there are a few I’d like to single out.

First and foremost on that list are student athletes. School and sports and college prep and social media pulls them in a million different directions every day. Thanks to all who gave their time for an interview.

Second is coaches. Those

who coach at the high school level have a chance to impact a student well beyond her success as an athlete. It can be a thankless job at times, especially if you’re in a rebuilding year. And I hear the pay often isn’t great. Thanks to all those coaches who took time after a game to chat, sent in a score (even if your team lost) or facilitated an interview with one of their players.

Next on the list is parents. Well, the parents who cheer for their team and respect opponents. I don’t yet know the feeling of watching a child participate in high school athletics, but the emotions it brings out in parents are wonderful. Unfortunately it can also bring out the worst in people. I’ve seen some stunningly bad referee calls in my time covering local sports, but have yet to see one reversed after a tirade by a parent. Thanks to those parents who support their student athletes and the newspaper by caring about high school sports.

Finally, my coworkers. I’ve been lucky to work for and alongside some amazing people the last five and a half years. Many of them I consider friends. Former managing editor Barbara Lombardo started from the bottom and worked her way to the top of The Saratogian. When I applied, she hired me. My former sports editor Kevin Moran had the same bottom-up path with the Record sports desk. Current managing editor Charlie Kraebel has let me run the sports department as I see fit.

Michael Veitch and Jeff Scott literally have taught me everything I know about horse racing and continue to teach me every time I read their columns. This is also Michael’s last week with the Saratogian after 38 years as a columnist. He’s not retiring, just splitting time between his two upcoming books and his increasing number of grandchildren.

I always asked too much of the sports staff that worked for me once I got the editor position, but they came through every time I needed them to.

To all those coworkers, columnists, contributors and others from the business office to the press room — thanks for everything. And say hello when I you around town. I’m not totally leaving. Not geographically anyway.