Area pair lead Oneonta run
Queensbury, Bethlehem grads carry women’s tennis team to D-III tournament
The SUNY Oneonta women’s tennis team is heading to its first-ever Division III NCAA Tournament and the Red Dragons’ one-two punch of Olivia Fraser and Madeline Carswell will lead the way.
Senior Fraser, from Queensbury and a Queensbury High graduate, plays No. 1 singles and No. 2 doubles. She was an ALL-SUNYAC first team pick in both. Senior Carswell, from Bethlehem and a Bethlehem Central graduate, plays No. 2 singles and No. 1 doubles and was an ALL-SUNYAC second team pick in both. She was named SUNYAC Tournament Most Valuable Player after winning the deciding point as the Red Dragons topped New Paltz 5-4 on April 30 to earn an automatic bid to the NCAAS.
Oneonta also relies on two former Averill Park High graduate, seniors Ariel Loucks and Amelia Wilson. Loucks is 5-2 and Wilson has an 8-2 record in singles play.
The Red Dragons topped Lebanon Valley (Pa.) 5-2 in the first round of the tourney in Cleveland, and will have to get past No. 4-ranked Claremont-mudd-scripps (Calif.), in Cleveland, to earn a berth to the Final Eight May 23-25 in Orlando, Fla.
Ezra Ruggles (Saratoga Springs)
The junior led the Geneseo men’s track team to its fourth consecutive SUNYAC Championship title. The Saratoga High graduate finished first in the 800- and 1,500-meter run. He posted times of 1:53.69 in the 800 and 3:53.71 in the 1,500. Senior Luke Andres (Bethlehem Central) finished first in the decathlon with a personal record total of 5584 while freshman Sean Stewart (Burnt Hills-ballston Lake High) was second in the high jump with a 6-foot, ¾-inch effort.
Samantha Dayter (Cohoes)
The junior midfielder will lead the SUNY Canton women’s lacrosse team into the Division III NCAA Tournament after being named the North Atlantic Conference Player of the Year for the second consecutive season. The Cohoes High graduate has scored 126 points on a program-best 70 goals and 56 assists. She also has 113 draw controls with 35 ground balls and 21 caused turnovers. The Kangaroos open tourney play against Stevens Tech on Saturday in Hoboken, N.J.
Ava Caputo (Waterford)
The freshman was named to the Northeast-10 Conference third team and the All-rookie team for her play with the Saint Anselm (N.H.) softball team. The Shenendehowa High graduate is hitting .285 (35-for-123) with two home runs, 18 runs scored and 14 runs batted in. The 28-15 Hawks earned an at-large bid to the Division II NCAA Tournament.
Elijah Washington (Ballston Spa)
The fifth-year student had a solid effort for the Brockport men’s track team at the SUNYAC Championship last weekend in Brockport. The Ballston Spa High graduate finished first in the hammer throw with a heave of 182 feet, 8 inches and was third in the shot put with a toss of 47 feet, 7¾ inches. Senior Devin Kipp (Hudson High) finished second in the discus throw with a 142-foot, 1-inch effort.
Jarod Rackliffe (Niskayuna)
The SUNY-DELHI sophomore tennis player was named Co-player of the Year in the North Atlantic Conference on May 5. He posted a 6-0 record at No. 1 singles in league play. The Niskayuna High graduate was Player of the Year and Rookie of the Year as a freshman. He won his singles match 6-1, 6-2 and his doubles match 8-5 to help the Broncos top Thomas for their first-ever NAC Championship on April 30.
Andrew Drescher (Duanesburg)
The sophomore helped the St Thomas Aquinas men’s track team capture the East Coast Conference Championship last weekend in Rochester. The Duanesburg High graduate finished second in the 800-meter run (1:58.44) and second with a personal record effort in the javelin throw (152 feet, 8 inches).
Haley Nash (Delmar)
The sophomore was named to the All-university Athletic Association second team at third base after a solid season with the 22-18 Brandeis (Mass.) softball team. The Bethlehem Central graduate batted .304 (34-for-112) with five doubles, a team-high seven home runs and a team-high 24 runs batted in. As a third baseman, Nash made nine errors on 93 chances (.903) with four double plays.