Girls’ volleyball team raises funds for cancer research

In News - Ravena, Sports, The Ravena News Herald

October 2, 2023

By Melanie Lekocevic

Capital Region Independent Media

The RCS girls’ volleyball team held a tournament this weekend to raise funds for cancer research. Melanie Lekocevic/Capital Region Independent Media

RAVENA-COEYMANS-SELKIRK — The RCS varsity girls volleyball team put their skills to work this weekend to aid cancer research.

On Saturday, the team hosted the Go Green Volleyball Tournament in RCS High School’s main gym, matching up against regional competitors for a good cause.

Funds were raised through player entry fees and raffle ticket sales for gift baskets to benefit the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.

Multiple schools participated in the tournament.

RCS inducts 21 students into National Honor Society

In News, News - Ravena, The Ravena News Herald

June 8, 2023

RCS High School inducted 21 students into the National Honor Society. Check out the photo montage on page A8 of this week’s Ravena News-Herald. Contributed photos

RAVENA-COEYMANS-SELKIRK — The Ravena-Coeymans Selkirk chapter of the National Honor Society welcomed 21 new members — 18 from the sophomore Class of 2025 — in a formal induction ceremony held at the RCS Senior High School auditorium on Tuesday, May 31.

Incoming members received news of their acceptance into the society through a surprise tapping ceremony earlier that day. Current honor students ushered in their new members by tapping the unsuspecting new members on their shoulders during class.

Two seniors earned the distinction this spring and one junior was added to the growing list of honor students from the Class of 2024.

“There may be people who have more talent than you, but there’s no excuse for anyone to work harder than you do — and I believe that,” said RCS High School Principal Ryan Funck, quoting from his favorite athlete, Derek Jeter.

It’s a message, he said, he instills in his children, too.

The National Honor Society program empowers and equips students with the knowledge and skills to be transformative leaders in school, community and beyond. In addition, it provides a bridge between students and school leaders, helping educators engage and hear what students think, feel and need.

Membership has been the true mark of student achievement for over 100 years, going far beyond the standard report card. By empowering, championing and recognizing well-rounded students, NHS provides schools with a values-based framework to elevate a culture of scholarship, service, leadership and character.

RCS NATIONAL HONOR SOCIETY MEMBERS

CLASS OF 2023:

Nana Anto-Asare *
Dylan Balta
Emma Banahan
Angelina Brandt
lan Brisco
Jaymie Carkner
Nicholas Cifone
Alicia Craft
Olivia Craft
Robert Dorrance
Kassidy Green teRiele
Jenna Grogan
Sara Hotaling
Holly Macera *
Maximillian May
Colin McDermott
Michael McMullen
John Meddaugh
Emily Robbins
Elizabeth Robertson
Kayla Stanton
Arika Vogel
Jasmine Weidman

CLASS OF 2024

Clarissa Ball
Katherina Burch
Sydney Campbell
Chloe Canham
Tyler Carrk
Carl-Hanee Coquillon
Nathaniel Cross
Makenna Deitz
Maxwell Deyoe
Carter Dixon
Christopher Dodway
Peyton Flansburg
Jillian Hallisey
Nina Kozlowski
Eve Krell *
Alexis Mancini
Jack McFerran
Jack Mullin
Alivia Ortiz
Jeremy Pickup
Jack Reif
Sienna Rinella
Austin Rosado
Sonia Snyder
Abigail St. John
Kaitlin Strokes
Chizoba Uba
Roksolana Voronko

CLASS OF 2025
Ethan Axley *

Ana Ball *
Kendall Bullock *
Patricia Dorrance *
Isabella Dulay *
Molly Engelhardt *
Alyssa Grogan *
Allison Kennedy *
Samuel Langlais*
Abby McDermott *
Keegan McClellan *
Katherine McFerran*
Cooper Penzabene *
Sabrina Racine *
McKenna Slingerland *
Justin Sulik *
Aurora Wagner *
Madison Wilcox *

* Inductee

Indians on 4-game winning streak

In Sports, Sports - Ravena, The Ravena News Herald

May 9, 2023

By Melanie Lekocevic

Capital Region Independent Media

The RCS Indians baseball team has qualified for sectionals this season with a May 5 win against Voorheesville. Jennifer Kennedy/For Capital Region Independent Media

RAVENA-COEYMANS-SELKIRK — The Indians baseball team is on a four-game winning streak.

The run started when the team defeated the Cohoes Tigers by a score of 14-4 in an away game May 2. Jack McFerran picked up three hits in three at-bats, including a homerun and three RBIs, while Luke Misetich drove in another four runs. Alex Halwick had his third homerun of the year and Rilley Kellam added three more runs and his first career varsity homerun.

In the second game of the winning streak, the Indians again had explosive offense, beating Schalmont 11-2 in a home conference game May 3. Rilley Kellam pitched his first complete game of the season. Michael McFerran and Luke Misetich each drove in two runs and Austin Rosado had several hits on the day.

The team gave up a single run to the Sabres in the second inning but answered with three runs of their own in the bottom of the inning, then put five additional runs on the board in the fourth, while the defense shut down their opponents. The Sabres scored their second and final run of the game in the top of the fifth, but the Indians came back with another three runs in the bottom of the inning for a final score of 11-2. The game put the Indians’ record at 7-6.

The Indians would follow up with another win May 4 against the Cobleskill-Richmondville Bulldogs on their home field, by a score of 4-1, bringing their season record to 8-6. Jack McFerran and Wyatt Algozzine each had two hits apiece and Michael McMullen had a big single to drive in a valuable run. Pitcher Alex Halwick was on the mound and struck out 12 batters.

Another victory followed in a closer contest, with the Indians winning 4-3 against the Voorheesville Blackbirds on May 5, putting the Indians at a 9-6 record on the season. Austin Rosado had a big game, picking up two hits in four at-bats with driving in three runs. Rosado also pitched five innings, with Wyatt Algozzine picking up a save in relief.

The May 5 game qualified the Indians for a spot in the Sectionals competition.

RCS’s last loss came April 28 against a tough Albany Academy team with a 16-3 defeat, but the game also saw Eddie Reville hit his first career homerun.

As of press time Monday, the Indians were scheduled to play against La Salle Institute on Wednesday and Cobleskill-Richmondville on Thursday in a pair of away matches.

Special thanks to photojournalist Jennifer Kennedy for the photos from the May 4 game: