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Written by: Jack Capobianco

Published: 04 February 2026

Created: 04 February 2026

Last Updated: 06 February 2026

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The team poses together after the Section 1 Class A championship at Suffern High school, May 29, 2025.Have you ever run high school track and field? If so, have you ever gotten a piece of candy for earning a personal record in a race? Most would question giving a sugary treat as a reward for an athletic achievement, but for the Scarsdale High School track team, this small tradition fosters a strong sense of belonging and The team after the completion of the first ever Scarsdale invitational on April 6, 2025serves as a way to celebrate even the small efforts.

On the SHS Track and Field team, every athlete is more than just their time or score, and the results of a race do not represent or define an athlete. When stepping on the track the goal is to live up to the team motto: “Surrender to the result. Celebrate the achievement. Build on the success tomorrow.”

This motto is a representation of the culture that has been built around the track team. Dominance and success are not guaranteed but there are plenty of athletes whose efforts earn them a personal record or lead to a trip to states or nationals.

The work for highly committed track runners begins earlier than you might think. To help these athletes prepare for the winter and spring season, Scarsdale recently added a fall track program. The other fall sport that many runners participate in is Cross country. The team competes in 5K races every Saturday from early September all the way to November. There are about 6-8 runners per season. Many of the sprinters are on the fall track team while many of the mid-distance and distance runners are on the cross country team.

The cross country team deserves credit to where credit is due. The Team now has a winning culture and an expectation to dominate on the cross country course every Saturday. Our girls cross country team won the 2024 Section 1 Class A Championship for the first time in over 40 years and a Westchester County Championship for the first time in 41 years, in that same year. Our boys cross country team, despite not winning a section title in 2025, the team captured the Class A title at the Westchester County Championship, taking down their rival New Rochelle.The girls cross country together one last time before their Nike cross nationals New York regional race, November 23, 2024 at Bowdoin Park in Wappinger Falls, New York.

Once the cross country season ends, the runners tend to have a week before the winter track season starts. Athletes who run winter track run around the indoor track at the Armory from November to March, preparing for the New York State Championship which takes place at Ocean Breeze in Staten Island.

Proving just how terrific the track team is, last March the girls won the 4x800 meter relay at the state championship and Freshman Adriana Pettinelli got second in the state last winter in the 1000M. On top of these wins, more athletes like Julie Scheffler who graduated last June, juniors Jake Saxon and Charlie Rich all competed at States and did very well.

Thanks to their wins at States, Scarsdale sent about seven runners to Nationals that season. . There, the team of Rachel Rakower, Alice Nicassio, Zoe Dichter and Ana Pettinelli not only broke the school record, but got the 4th fastest time in Westchester County history. Julie Scheffler earned herself All American Honors and 2ND PLACE in the race walk and what was her first season ever doing the event.

Fast forward to the spring, where consistency and continued success led to more State Championship appearances. That outdoor season, there were about 20 athletes who competed at States followed by a grand finale at the great Nike Outdoor Nationals.

Nationals during the 2025 spring, was the end to truly a historic run. A few runners made the trip up to the University of Oregon to compete at Nike Outdoor Nationals, a once in a lifetime opportunity for most of the athletes. Scheffler rebounded off her second place finish at Indoor Nationals to become a National Champion in the 10,000 meter racewalk. Ana Pentinelli finished 4th in the 800 meter championship and the boys SMR Championship finished 5th and earned all American Honors. Other athletes like Jake Saxon The girls 4x800 relay team of Leia Patel, Zoe Dichter, Ana Pettinelli and Rachel Rakower after their win at the state championship.and Charlie Rich made the trip out to compete and did the Raiders proud.

Though it is easy to highlight all the team's success when it takes place on a track in Eugene, Oregon or at the State Championship, it is important to remember that it all starts with a team bond, which is what the Scarsdale track and field program has created.

Head track and field coaches Vincent Modafferi and Carlos Bedoya have dedicated much of their lives to running. Both coaches ran at the Division 1 level during their college careers. Modafferi, a graduate of Clarkstown South and Bedoya, a graduate of Stepinac, both are teachers at Scarsdale High School and both have been the drivers to the growth and success of the program.

Speaking about the culture that has been built within the track program, Coach Mod applauded the consistent hard work of the kids who are invested in the program and emphasized that the coaches take a family-approach in which the team is more connected as a family and as a team rather than a few individuals. Mod mentioned that later in life, the runner’s times won't matter as much as the memories they walk away with and the experiences that are had together.

Many of the athletes I spoke with appreciate the emphasis that their coaches place not on breaking records but on building team spirit. Senior distance runner Nate Lynch mentioned how being friends with each other and their tight-knit community helps the team to push each other to achieve their best. Nate, also explained that everyone congratulates each other on their success, even when it's small, which helps to motivate everyone to push each other harder.

The boys 4x1 mile team of Brandon Lin, Charlie Rich, Nate Lynch and Jack Sheridan after earning the school record at the Jim Mitchell invitational on December 20, 2025

Ever since joining the track program, freshman runner Henry Lorch, has been focusing on personal growth and learning how to face the competition. Lorch joined the cross country and track teams and made an instant impression. He made sectionals for cross country, which is the top-10 runners for the boys and girls, and this accomplishment is not very common for someone of his age. He has carried his success into the winter track track season. Speaking about the success he has had so far, Lorch said it is important for a young athlete to never put themselves down and to make sure they are always testing their limits.

Charlie Rich, Labrowne Brown, Julie Scheffler, Jake Saxon, Hugo Gueler, Kaya Williams and Ana Petinelli pose together at Nike outdoor nationals in Eugene, Oregon, June 2025Cami Culang, a current senior and captain of the track team who has been a leader for many of the seasons that she has taken part in, shared her perspective of team culture. It is clear that as a leader, Culang sets high standards which helps to build a strong team environment. Throughout her 4 years, she has been an instrumental in cultivating a culture of inclusivity and strength. Culang humbly credits all the hard work, determination in training, and team bonding for the team’s strong culture.

Kate O’Connell, another senior on the team is not only a runner but she also played Varsity B soccer in the fall and sails which has no school affiliation. I was interested to hear from her, Does running and being on the track team have an impact on performance in other sports? I expected to hear, “Yes, because running and conditioning helps in a sport like soccer.” Safe to say, I got a different answer but a very intriguing point. O’Connell says that being on the track team allows her to grow closer with her teammates and despite not really competing with your teammates, you are helping them by cheering and supporting. O’Connell says this, not necessarily competition but being able to uplift your teammates, is what she carries over to other sports.

We also spoke to Jack Sheridan and Rachel Rakower. Both are seniors, both have been members of the track team all three seasons and both just truly have a passion for running that not many people can replicate. Jack and Rachel are two of the fastest and committed to the program.Senior captain Cami Culang

Rakower provided plenty of insight on the team's success and culture. She told me that she loves the community aspect of cross country and track. In terms of culture, Rakower talked a lot about how the different team events that take place from running together in groups, team bonding events, pasta parties before meets, warm up games at practice, are all things that help build a strong team culture. On the success side of things, Rakower talked again about being able to push each other in workouts and races as well being able to set strong goals with help from the coaching staff. Rakower explained that training and mileage are big factors and are both things that are built up throughout the course of the season. Rakower ended by noting the team's motto and realizing that stuff she doesn't get right the first time will happen. She lastly said, being able to celebrate current accomplishments and working towards future ones has helped the program rise to where they are today.

During the interview with Sheridan, he talked about training which he attributes to the teams’ success.The influx of freshman who have joined the team along with the seasoned distance veterans like Nate Lynch, Charlies Rich and Brandon Lin have all seen their training pay off with big personal records. Sheridan said the goal is to carry that training into championship season in hopes for States and Nationals; specifically in a relay. When talking about wanting to go to these big meets in a relay, Sheridan mentioned that all hands are needed on deck.

Lorch running at the Armory.Whether joining the track team just for cardio or if you are truly committed, athletes are sure to feel that family approach as soon as they step foot on that track.

It is always more than just runner’s “time”. It is about building a team of people who are not only dedicated but prepared for success during and after high school. “Small wins are just as important as big wins” and the “willingness to always push your teammates” has been central to the team’s big results.

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Written by: Jack Capobianco

Published: 28 January 2026

Created: 28 January 2026

Last Updated: 28 January 2026

Hits: 393

The hockey team poses together after practicing at the “Farm” which is an outdoor rink in Vestal, New York and… it was extremely coldScarsdale Raiders winter sports teams continued their strong play with another successful week. And for some of these teams, momentum keeps on building at just the right time. We have all the highlights in the third ever edition of the Raiders Recap.

Boys Basketball:
The boys basketball team continued their great start to 2026 with a win in their only game of the week. On Tuesday, the boys headed across the Bronx River and up the hill to play neighboring Edgemont. In this game, the boys left with a 55-43 win for their fifth win in their last six games. This week, the team will head north to play Ossining where they hope to sweep the season series before returning to SHS where they will play Spring Valley on Friday.

Girls Basketball:
The girls basketball team finished 1-1 on the week. On Thursday January 22nd, they had a landslide win with a score of 63-19, but then had a tough loss to Ketcham with an end score of 56-49. This week our girls basketball team will play Harrison away and John Jay- East Fishkill at home.

Hockey:
The hockey team played upstate over the weekend and despite not getting the results they wanted on the ice, they grew a lot as a team off the ice. First, on Friday January 23rd, they practiced on an outdoor rink in the freezing cold in Vestal, New York. Next they headed indoors to play Broome County in Binghamton and then on to play in Ithaca on Saturday. Next up, the Raiders will take on Suffern on Wednesday and then North Rockland on Friday; both at Murrays in Yonkers in hopes to get back on a winning streak.

Mens Swim:
The men's swim team completed their 25-26 regular season schedule against Horace Greeley and then against Arlington for their senior night. Despite an unsuccessful result against the Quakers of Greeley, the Raiders bounced back with a big win against the Admirals to finish the season with a 6-3 record. The swim team will now begin to prepare for sections.

Skiing:
The ski team headed back up to Thunder Ridge for a Thursday night race this past week and once again the team found more ways to win. The girls squad won again and the boys finished second. Skiers continued to find success with Stella Van Arsdale and Jayden Hernandez finishing first and second for the girls and Alex Xia and Andrew Jeremiah leading the way for the boys.

Wrestling:
The wrestling team continues to wrestle well down the stretch. They have their senior night on Tuesday 1/27 after meets against Yonkers and Mamaroneck last week and the girls squad will compete at the Edgemont girls tournament this upcoming Saturday.

Track and Field:
The track and field team crushed it this past Saturday at the Westchester County Championships, where many runners achieved personal records. The team also had many “county champions” and set a new school record. Ana Pettinelli and Jake Saxon both became Westchester County Champions with Pettinelli finding top success in the girls 1000 meters and Saxon in the boys 55 meter hurdles. Junior Sydney Laboy earned a school record in the girls long jump. Due to the weather, the Westchester County Novice Championship was cancelled giving the team some time off before their next race. The Track and Field team begins preparation for the championship season.

Squash:
The squash team had another tough match last week against City Squash. The team went 2-5 in their matches with Sam Yu and Peter Lin earning Scarsdale’s only wins. Squash is back at it on Saturday as they will head up to Yale University for a match against a local Connecticut team in New Haven.

Cheerleading:
The cheerleading team had their competition this past Saturday January, 24th at New Rochelle and did very well. The team cheered at the Wrestling senior night on Tuesday as the seniors were being honored. The team now has their eyes set on their Orlando competition next weekend.

Bowling:
The bowling team completed their match VS. Mamaroneck last week and now turn their focus to games against Pelham and Irvington as the regular season comes to a close.

Gymnastics:
The gymnastics team had their last meet of the regular season and now look to shift gears to the postseason which begins this week.

Fencing:
The fencing team continues to compete at tournaments and get great results. The team had a tournament last weekend and have one more coming up this weekend to close out the regular season before the start of sectionals.

Scarsdale sports looks to finish off January on a strong note. A few teams will look to get back and track while a few teams will look to carry their momentum into more success. Scarsdale10583.com and the Raiders Recap, covers all Scarsdale athletics!

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Written by: Jack Capobianco and Jeremy Gorrin

Published: 11 January 2026

Created: 11 January 2026

Last Updated: 11 January 2026

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Tyler MitchellThe Scarsdale Raiders boy's basketball team won their second game in a row when they took down Ketcham (Wappinger Falls) 76-29 on January 10, 2026 at SHS. Fueled by a strong offensive performance, Scarsdale was led by junior Ryan Sussberg who dropped 16 points along with Tyler Mitchell who had 9 points.

Junior Ryan Sussberg taking a 3-point shot

Right out of the gate, Scarsdale started strong taking a 13-0 lead before Ketcham even scored a point. Steady defense along with great 3 point shooting were key for Scarsdale who finished off the first quarter up 31-5. Continuing this momentum in the second quarter, the score was 45-12 at half.

Having a 30+ point lead going into the second half, allowed Scarsdale to bring in players who do not play all the time or who are not in the starting five. Players like Jason Roseman, Ian Dilorenzo and Arbri Gjyriqi all got big minutes in the second half. Bench contributions were huge for ‘Ders in this game. Hunter Ross played well off the bench and Jason Roseman had 8 points in the second half including two three-points.

Starters Andrew Roseman and Ethan Grossberg had good games defensively. The tall centerman Roseman had 14 rebounds. Grossberg led with 5 steals.

It is also important to note that Scarsdale drew a lot of fouls in this game. Scarsdale had their fair share of free-throws and shots to make it a 3-point play.

I caught up with Scarsdale’s Head Coach Joe Amielo after the game. He credited his team's confidence and the ability to make shots early stating that it “raised their level of play.” Amielo also talked about his team's strong defense playing a role in the building of confidence amongst the team.Senior Spencer Goldfarb taking a shot.

Amielo said a win like this, having guys back from injury, scoring at a high rate and having everyone touching the basketball can help build momentum going down the stretch.

The Raiders move to 3-7 and are currently riding a two-game win streak after beating Horace Greeley and now Ketcham. Next up, the team plays Mount Vernon on Tuesday and will then head to Springfield, Massachusetts for a two-game tournament against non-section one teams.

Scarsdale stands together during the national anthem.

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Written by: Jack Capobianco

Published: 08 January 2026

Created: 08 January 2026

Last Updated: 08 January 2026

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On Tuesday January 6th, the Scarsdale Raiders men’s basketball team returned to action for the first time in 2026 with a matchup against the Pelham Pelicans at SHS. The game was back and forth all four quarters with Scarsdale leading at the bottom of the fourth with a score of 53-51. Unfortunately for the home team, with just 4.9 seconds left on the clock, Pelham's Ty James hit a 3-pointer at the buzzer to lift Pelham to a 54-53 victory.

Though Pelham had a 21-18 lead, the game was close at the half. Down 36-27 at the end of the 3rd quarter, it looked like a big hill for the ‘Ders to climb. Scarsdale fought back eventually taking a 48-47 lead with about a minute left, their first lead since the second quarter.

Scarsdale was led by senior Jason Ling who had 18 points including some clutch
3 pointers in the 4th quarter.

Senior Jason Ling was Scarsdale’s leading point scorer
Pelham was led by sophomore Ty James who made 17 points including the game winner at the buzzer.

Scarsdale had great shooting overall and showed real determination, fighting back after working themselves into a hole earlier in the game. Unfortunately the score did not reflect their comeback and Scarsdale lost on a last second prayer thrown from the top of the key. Scarsdale falls to 1-7 and will return to action on Wednesday against Horace Greeley.