On Our Minds

Details: Published: 09 January 2013; Created: 09 January 2013; Last Updated: 09 January 2013; Hits: 4264

Dylan Madoff

On January 5th, 2013, the Scarsdale wrestling team hosted its annual wrestling tournament at Scarsdale High School. This thrilling day provides the wrestlers, coaches, and spectators with exciting matches and tough competition. But in head coach Barney Foltman's eyes, this year seemed a bit different than past year's tournaments.

This year the team lost a lot of key seniors who graduated in the class of 2012, including section finalists John Tambunting and Jack Braun, and state runner-up Jacob Berkowitz. Coach Foltman has switched gears to rebuild this young new team to compete for a section title in upcoming years. "We have a big opportunity," Coach Foltman states. "We have to go back to basic wrestling skills to build a strong foundation and become a top section competitor again." Foltman and assistant coach Brian Roemer have always put out a solid, well rounded team on the mat and with this year's young squad, they hope to develop the program into the best it has ever been. As it is no secret the sport can get quite exhausting and overwhelming due to its physical demand from its athletes, the two coaches emphasize the importance of teamwork. The incoming freshmen quickly learn from the team veterans that providing support for fellow teammates, whether it is on or off the wrestling mat, will yield a stronger team.

Joe Koshakow

That said, the team never ceases to amaze with terrific leadership from its captains. This year's only seniors and three captains, Dylan Madoff, Joe Koshakow, and Michael Hodges provide a pivotal role for their younger teammates. Hodges, at 138, cruised his way into the finals of the tournament and dominated his opponent winning a major decision 10-2 against Garden City. Hodges went on to win the tournament's Most Outstanding Wrestler award as he displayed impressive skill that made him stand out amongst the other athletes. Senior captain Joe Koshakow duplicated Hodges performance in the 160-weight class as he picked apart his opponent from Garden City in the finals and won the tournament with a solid 11-2 victory. Captain Dylan Madoff fell short of making it to the final round at the 152-weight class, but the senior went on to capture the bronze medal by securing a pin against Rye's Fritz Zahringer.

The three captains were not the only one of Scarsdale's standouts for the day. Sophomore Daniel Baruch made his way to the final round but fell short of a gold

Mikey Hodges, Mike DaBramo and Joe Koshakow

medal and went on to take 2nd place against Garden City. Perhaps one of the most exciting and unexpected wins came from Scarsdale freshman Mike DaBramo. DaBramo is a first year wrestler and came into this tournament with unknown expectations but the young wrestler impressively made his way into the final round. As the coaches yelled the moves from the sideline, DaBramo echoed their calls and executed the moves and secured a pin in the 3rd and final period. Winning a tournament doesn't come easy, as this is the first time in 10 years that a Scarsdale freshman has won the Scarsdale tournament. Expectations remain high for Baruch and DaBramo in future meets.

Mikey Hodges

As a team, Scarsdale finished with 100 points to land them in 6th place overall out of the 14 teams at the tournament. The biggest tournaments are yet to come for Scarsdale, as the team has historically finished among the top 3 teams in the upcoming Edgemont tournament. Hopefully, the team will look to duplicate that in a few weeks and prepare themselves for a competitive divisional and sectional tournament in the beginning of February. The senior captains are looking to make a bigger name for themselves as they hope to finish among the top three in the section on an individual level. Moreover, the program's future remains bright as the veteran coaches look to inspire hard work and determination in the young team.

Photos by Leslie Berkowitz

Details: Published: 08 October 2012; Created: 08 October 2012; Last Updated: 08 October 2012; Hits: 6863

lippaisoccershot On Saturday, October 6, members of SYSC’s Pride U12 girls team got up very very early to play in the 12th Annual Beekman Cup Soccer Tournament held at Doherty Field in Beekman, New York. Pride played three 50-minute games. In its first game versus Brewster Storms, Pride dominated the field, pulling off a 6-0 win. After a short break, the team once again took control of the field, scoring 9 goals against the Chappaqua Dragons. In the last match, Pride pulled off a 6-0 win against Carmel United Wildcats. Pride is coached by UK Soccer Elite’s Simon Annis with help from coach Scott Edlitz. Members of Pride include Ella Ansell, Paige Barlow, Margo Boxer, Mia Dell'Orto, Sierra Donovan, Polly Adler, Riley Edlitz, Lena Glickman, Katie Karp, Lizey Mehlman, Isabelle Riback, Kelly Rutherford, Caroline Schuh, Tay Siegel, Allison Stafford, and Nanoka Umehara.

Details: Published: 19 September 2012; Created: 19 September 2012; Last Updated: 20 September 2012; Hits: 3755

VarsityS This week is Fall Raider Pride Week at Scarsdale High School. There's a big of schedule of fall games to be played throughout the community from Wednesday, September 19th through Saturday, September 22nd, with free refreshments, courtesy of Maroon and White served at all games from Wednesday through Friday. Maroon and White encourages everyone to honor the game and demonstrate respect for rules, opponents, officials, teammates and tradition.

The week is sponsored by Maroon and White, the Scarsdale High School Parent Athletic Association. Support the athletes by purchasing Raider merchandise which will be available for sale at all events.

Everyone is invited to attend the following events:

Wednesday, 9/19

Girls Varsity B Tennis plays Pelham 4:15 p.m. at SHS.
Girls J.V. Tennis plays Ursuline 4:15 p.m. at SHS.

Thursday, 9/20

Girls Varsity Soccer plays Fox Lane 4:30 p.m. SHS Turf Field
Girls Varsity B Soccer plays Tuckahoe 4:30 p.m. Scout Field
Girls J.V. Soccer plays Fox Lane 4:30 p.m. Crossway Field

Boys Varsity Soccer plays White Plains 7:00 p.m. Turf Field
Boys J.V. Soccer plays White Plains 4:30 p.m. Quaker Ridge Front

Varsity Volleyball plays White Plains 4:15 p.m. Gyms 3 & 4
J.V. Volleyball plays White Plains 5:45 p.m. Gyms 3 & 4
J.V.B Volleyball playsWoodlands 4:30 p.m. Gyms 1 & 2

Friday, 9/21

Girls Varsity Tennis plays New Rochelle 4:15 p.m. SHS
Varsity Field Hockey plays Sleepy Hollow 7:00 p.m. Turf Field
J.V. Field Hockey plays Sleepy Hollow 5:00 p.m. Turf Field
Boys J.V.B Soccer plays Ardsley 4:30 p.m. Fox Meadow

Saturday, 9/22

Varsity Football plays White Plains 3:00 p.m. Turf Field

Little League Calls for Volunteers:

The Scarsdale Little League (“SLL”) Board of Directors is conducting their yearly search for volunteers interested in serving on the Little League Board. Now is the time to volunteer if you have a passion for our national pastime and serving the children of our community.

Each year SLL provides over 1,000 children in Scarsdale with an opportunity to play baseball. SLL endeavors to offer a fulfilling and well-designed, inclusive, recreational, baseball program each year. The SLL Board, along with many parent coaches, coordinators and other volunteers comprised of parents from within the community keeps this program going.

In the past year, the Board launched a new league website to keep the community informed and created a new team sponsorship program to raise funds that are being used to better maintain our baseball fields.

SLL encourages the ideals of good sportsmanship, honesty, loyalty and courage. If you share in those ideals please complete the Board Application Form and send via e-mail to the above address. The deadline for all applications is Friday, September 28th.

Details: Published: 24 September 2012; Created: 24 September 2012; Last Updated: 24 September 2012; Hits: 6024

tennisroanerokito Happily for the Scarsdale Girls Varsity A Tennis Team, their first win of the season coincided with Raider Pride Week and sparkling fall weather that brought out a crowd to watch their match.

On Friday September 21, Scarsdale played New Rochelle at home and almost scored a clean sweep, winning 6-1 by taking all matches save first singles. According to New Rochelle’s Coach Sgobbo four of his star players were out that day, making it easier for the Raiders to score a victory. This was Scarsdale’s third match of the

Pitofsky and Shein

season, and they previously fell to Ursuline 6-1 and narrowly missed a victory over Mamaroneck where they lost 4-3. According to Coach Roane, the Mamaroneck matches were close -- and the team fell due to losses in tie-breakers which are now played in lieu of a third set.

But on Friday, Scarsdale breezed by New Rochelle and gave away very few games in the process. In second singles, 3-year varsity player Lindsay Rokito won 6-2, 6-0 over New Rochelle’s Rikki Woodlin and in third singles, Scarsdale’s Kim Zou won 6-0, 6-0. Zou is a sophomore who moved up to the varsity team this year.

Cousins Rabin and Zelicof

Playing first doubles, team co-captain Caroline Pitofsky and partner Allison Shein bested New Rochelle 6-2, 6-3 while senior and co-captain Jessie Somekh and partner Alexandra Emmerman set each other up to take their doubles match easily, winning 6-1, 6-0.

Partners and cousins Katy Rabin and Carolyn Zelicof were also off the court quickly. The girls made the varsity team as freshman and are an athletic and dynamic duo. In fact they have won all of their matches this season. According to the girls they practice together and “balance each other’s strengths.” The called Friday’s match “fun” and won it quickly at 6-2, 6-1.

Somekh and Emmerman

The fourth doubles team included the team’s only freshman, Jessica Tsai. Playing with sophomore Francesca Johnson, the girls got on the court late but used powerful strokes to beat their opponents 6-0, 6-0. Johnson is new to the team this year and comes to SHS from Hackley where she played last year.

The only match Scarsdale lost was first singles where Scarsdale junior Adrienne Travis played sophomore Jessie Cruz who was filling in on the first court for her older sister Cassidy Cruz. Jessie was a formidable opponent who was ranked among the top 30 in the east at one time. The girls played a long match with both pounding the ball from the baseline in lengthy exchanges. That tough match finally ended with Cruz winning the first set 6-3 and the second set in a tiebreaker, 7-4.

Kim Zou

Also on the Raiders this year are junior twins Collette and Carine Torres, and junior Jacqui Hebner. We hope to see them on the court later this season.

This week, Scarsdale will play an exhibition match against a team from the Emma Willard School who will travel down from Albany to compete against some Westchester teams. Watch the match on Friday September 28 at 4:15 at SHS.

Thanks to Liz Whitney and Tricia McFarland from Maroon and White for providing refreshments. (Pictured at top: Coach Jennifer Roane with junior Lindsay Rokito.)

Adrienne Travis

Colette and Carine Torres, Jacqui Hebner, Jessica Tsai and Francesca Johnson

Details: Published: 13 September 2012; Created: 13 September 2012; Last Updated: 13 September 2012; Hits: 7373

Apples Peak apple picking starts the third week of September and continues into October in our area. Each orchard grows a different assortment of apples based on the orchard’s unique soil content and available space, but in general you can find more than 7 different varieties at each orchard. Since we live in the information-overload age, I’ve included links to reviews on Yelp.com for added color on the orchards and great finds in the area. Most places will have pumpkins available as October gets closer, and many have picnic facilities. As always, call ahead to avoid disappointment and to confirm prices and opening hours. If you can fit a small wagon in your car, bring it as carrying buckets of apples gets heavy really fast and kids tucker out. My favorite place for apple picking is Pennings: a bit of a drive but consistently good apples and great ice cream very near by.

Dutchess County
Barton Orchards
63 Apple Tree Lane
Poughquag NY, 12570-9610 Phone (845) 227-2306
Web Site: www.bartonorchards.com
Hours: 9-5pm every day

Apple varieties now available include Paula Reds, Early Gold, and Ginger Gold. Tomatoes, eggplant, peppers, cucumbers, beans squash and cut flowers also available for picking. Barton Orchard is one of the few places that charges admission, so beware. General admission to the farm is $3.00 per person, 6 years old and up. Chainsaw Doc will be at the farm every weekend making wooden carvings, something you don’t see every day.

Cedar Heights Orchard
8 Crosby Lane
Rhinebeck NY, 12572 Phone (845) 876-3231
Web Site: www.rhinebeckapples.com
Hours: 9 to dusk daily

Cedar Heights has been a family-owned orchard for over 150 years. Prices are $8.00 for 1/4 bushel (10 lbs) or 1/2 bushel (20 lbs) for $15.00. Once you are stocked with apples, try two recipes I found on Cedar’s website that are quite good http://rhinebeckapples.com/page5/index.html.

Mead Orchards LLC
15 Scism Road
Tivoli NY, 12583
Phone (845) 756-5641
Web Site: www.meadorchards.com
Hours: 10-6pm weekends and Columbus Day

Mead Orchards is a 180-acre fruit orchard and vegetable farm located in the mid-Hudson River Valley. In business since 1916, the orchard grows nearly 40 varieties of apples, as well as peaches, pears, plums, cherries, strawberries and other berries. Current varieties of apples include Fuji, Golden Delicious, Mancoun, Senshu and Shizuka. At the end of September, look for Mutsu, Red Delicious Cameo, Fuji, Rome, Stayman-Winesap.

Orange County
Apple Ridge Orchards
101 Jessup Road
Warwick NY, 10990
Phone (845) 987-7717
Web Site: www.appleridgeorchards.com
Yelp: http://www.yelp.com/biz/apple-ridge-orchards-warwick
Hours: Friday, Saturday, Sunday 9-6pm

This orchard has dwarf apple trees, which makes it ideal for young kids. When they tire out from picking, take them to the honey bee observation area where they can learn about the importance of pollination and see the bees in action. Be on the lookout for poison ivy if you do visit. Current apple varieties include Cameo, Liberty, Zestar, SunCrisp and Gold Rush. Here is a link for the greatest ice cream in the area http://www.bellvalefarms.com.

Masker Fruit Farms Inc
45 Ball Road
Warwick NY, 10990
Phone (845) 986-8852
Apple Hotline at (845) 986-1058
Web Site: www.maskers.com
Yelp: http://www.yelp.com/biz/masker-fruit-farms-inc-warwick
Hours: 9-5 every day

Starting the third week of September, Granny Smith, Cortland, Empire, Jonagold, McCowan and Red Delicious are available, with Sparta Macintosh, Ida Reds, Smoothies and Surprise coming in October. Bags are free and management encourages sampling while visiting the orchard. Bellvale Farms is famous state wide for its ice cream, so make sure you stop for a cone. http://www.yelp.com/biz/bellvale-farms-creamery-warwick.

Pennings Orchard
169 State Rt 94
South Warwick NY, 10990
Phone (845) 986-7080
Web Site: www.penningsorchard.com
Yelp: http://www.yelp.com/biz/pennings-orchard-warwick
Hours: Weekends 10-4

On September 15, 2012, Pennings will host a Brew Fest on the Farm from 2-6 pm (additional fee), which includes a 4-hour tasting, local food vendors, and live music. Pennings has no entrance fee for apple picking, but there is a one bag minimum per vehicle. Pumpkins are available September 22-October 31.

Soons Orchards Inc.
23 Soons Circle
New Hampton NY, 10958
Phone (845) 374-5471
Web Site: www.soonsorchards.com
Yelp: http://www.yelp.com/biz/soons-orchard-and-farm-market-new-hampton
Hours: Weekends 10-4

The orchard offers a Dinner at the Farm once a month featuring local produce with cooking demonstrations by top chefs in the area. The next one is September 21. U-pick pumpkins will start by 9/22. Current varieties available for picking include Frieheir von Berlapsch, Arlet, Macoun, Redcort, Cortland and Lady Jean.

Westchester
Outhouse Orchards
139 Hardscrabble Road
Croton Falls, NY 10519
Phone: 914-277-3188
Yelp: http://www.yelp.com/biz/outhouse-orchards-north-salem#query:soons%20orchard
Hours: 10-5pm

When you don’t feel like a long drive, Outhouse is a quick ride straight up I-684. Available for picking now are McIntosh, Cortland, Rhode Island Greenings. Look for Rome, Baldwin and Red Delicious in about two weeks’ time. Stop on the way back home in Katonah, a charming northern Westchester town with a great restaurant, Blue Dolphin or visit La Tulipe in Mt Kisco, where the Clintons ordered Chelsea’s wedding cake.

Stuart's Century Farm
62 Granite Springs Road
Granite Springs NY, 10527
Phone (914) 245-2784
Web Site: www.stuartsfarm.com
Yelp: http://www.yelp.com/biz/stuarts-fruit-farm-granite-springs-2
Hours: Daily 10am-5pm

Stuart’s, the oldest working farm in Westchester County, grows nine varieties of apples including Macintosh, Cortlands, and Macouns (September) and Golden Delicious, Red Delicious, Empire, Mutsu, Jonagold, Ida Red, Northern Spy, Black Twig, Baldwins, Stuart's Surprise (October). This is one of the few places around that will allow you to pick your own pumpkins right from the vine!

Wilkens Fruit Farm
1335 White Hill Road
Yorktown Heights NY, 10598
Phone (914) 245-5111
Web Site: www.wilkensfarm.com
Yelp: http://www.yelp.com/biz/wilkens-fruit-and-fir-farm-yorktown-heights

Varities ready to pick include Cortland, Macoun, Golden Delicious, Red Delicious, Jonagold, Crispin, Empire, Winesap, Fuji and Ida Red and Granny Smith. There is a 1/4 bushel minimum (11 pounds) for entering the orchard. Choose-And-Cut Christmas Trees will start from the Saturday after Thanksgiving through the third week of December.