Ravens win big on the road, 34-7

In Sports, Sports - Ravena, The Ravena News Herald

October 11, 2024

By Melanie Lekocevic

Capital Region Independent Media

Sophomore Gavin Lochner runs with the ball in Friday night’s 34-7 win at Lansingburgh. Courtesy of Jennifer Kennedy

RAVENA-COEYMANS-SELKIRK — The Ravens took their show on the road Friday night and came away with a big win, 34-7.

RCS was in Lansingburgh to face off against the Knights in an evenly matched game — both teams had a 3-2 record going into the matchup — but the Ravens pulled ahead early and never looked back.

The team scored three touchdowns in the first half and the defense shut down their opponents, sending the Ravens into the locker room up 21-0.

There was more of the same in the second half, with the Ravens scoring another 13 points, and gave up only one touchdown, to come away with a 34-7 victory.

The win puts the Ravens at a 4-2 record on the season and comes a week after a tough home field loss to Fonda-Fultonville last week, when the Ravens had trouble moving the ball into the end zone.

Next Friday the Ravens will again be on the road against Cohoes at 7 p.m., and then will wrap up the regular season in a home match against Green Tech the following Friday, with kick-off at 7 p.m.

Ravens win tri-meet as wrestling season gets underway

In Sports, Sports - Ravena, The Ravena News Herald

December 17, 2024

By Melanie Lekocevic

Capital Region Independent Media

Donovin Taber competes in the 160-pound weight class. Courtesy of Gina Pelletier

RAVENA-COEYMANS-SELKIRK — The RCS Ravens took to the mat again as the 2024-25 wrestling season got underway.

The team faced off against Tamarac and Duanesburg in a tri-meet Dec. 5 at home.

TAMARAC

The Ravens outscored Tamarac 47-36. In the 116-pound weight class, Carter Castagna pinned Tamarac’s Camden Willets in 3:09, and RCS’s Owen Greene defeated Nate Passinello 18-2 in 4:13 in the 124-pound weight class.

RCS’s Aiden Forster pinned Tony Guadagnino in just 25 seconds in the 138-pound category, while Donovin Taber pinned Sebastion Vansluyters in 1:10 in the 160-pound weight class and Kellen Houghtaling pinned opponent Hunter Loiselle in 2:49 at 190-pounds.

RCS athletes pinned by their Tamarac opponents included Brock Larsen, Darius Slade, Matt Masino, Aiden Miner and Finnegan Wickware at 131-, 138-, 145-, 152- and 170-pounds, respectively.

Winning by forfeit were RCS wrestlers Aiden Daley at 101, Elijah Percival at 215, and Micky Buchanan at 285.

Lee Kittle in the 152-pound weight class. Courtesy of Gina Pelletier

DUANESBURG

Competing against Duanesburg in the tri-meet, RCS outscored their opponent 42-36.

Taking home pins were RCS’s Carter Castagna against Olivia Campbell in 1:05 in the 116-pound weight class, Aiden Forster pinned Carson Killenberger in 3:14 at 138, Aiden Miner pinned Kellen Yatto at 152 in 1:36, Kellen Houghtaling pinned Isaiah Ferguson in 1:10 at 190 and Elijah Percival pinned Cody Vannie at 215 pounds in 0:41.

RCS Ravens’ Aiden Forster takes his opponent to the mat. Courtesy of Gina Pelletier

Aiden Daley and Owen Greene won by forfeit in the 101- and 124-pound weight class.

Taking losses in the meet were RCS’s Lily McCormack, Brock Larsen, Matt Masino, Donovin Taber, Finnigan Wickware and Micky Buchanan.

Carter Castagna wrestling in the tri-meet in the 116-pound weight class. Courtesy of Gina Pelletier

Dirt Central | Chasin’ Racin’: Fonda Speedway returns after 3 weeks of downtime

In Dirt Central, Sports, Sports - Greenville, The Greenville Pioneer

June 3, 2024

By Mark Kane

For Capital Region Independent Media

The Memorial Day weekend usually produces some great racing action in the Capital District, and this year “The Great Race Place,” Albany Saratoga Speedway, kicked it off in a big way.

Once again, a great field of cars assembled in the pits and the fans were parked out on Route 9. Saturday it was off to “The Track of Champions,” Fonda Speedway, after three weeks of downtime to get the second race of the season in the books.

Well folks, Fonda Speedway is back. That old girl was smooth and fast. A big thank you has to go out to Brett Deyo and everyone else who had any part of turning that track around 100% to produce the racing fans were treated to Saturday night. Well, that was before the rains came, ending the night prior to features.

ALBANY SARATOGA SPEEDWAY

Efficiency must have been the word of the night at Albany Saratoga with the lineup of qualifying and features for the full pit area, but that just seems to be the norm. Heat races went off one right after the other, as one heat left the track the next was coming out and ready to take the green for another action-packed heat.

The NAPA Modified feature had 667 Matt Depew with the early lead with rookie Brandon Darrah 14B all over the leader, with Brian Calabrese 21C having the best seat in the house, running third. Lap 5 would find the lead change hands with Darrah the new leader out of turn 2 as the battle in the top 5 was heating up, with Jesse Mueller 19 ending up on the top side.

Back in the field, Matt DeLorenzo 3D and Marc Johnson 3J were racing hard mid-pack after starting deep in the field. With the rookie Darrah still in command the caution was out after a tangle off turn 4 that found David Schilling 20 sitting on the front stretch infield. Back to green Darrah would lead the NAPA Modifieds into 1 as the High Slider Jesse Mueller quickly worked his way to second, with Jeremy Pitts working his way to third. Former champion Marc Johnson and last week’s winner, Jack Lehner 2, had worked their way into the top five in the first 10 laps. Using the high side with perfection, Mueller would be the new leader on lap 11 with a power move through turns 3 and 4. Once out front Mueller left Darrah to deal with Lehner, Marc Johnson and Pitts as Matt DeLorenzo was now just outside the top 5 and battling for more.

Don’t look now but here comes Peter Britten 21A, who has been nothing but plain and simple, bad FAST each week coming from deep in the talented starting field; this week it was 25th. The caution would bring the field back to Mueller with Darrah, M. Johnson, Lehner and DeLorenzo, who worked past Pitts for fifth before Don Ronca slowed.

Back to green and Mueller again had the lead as M. Johnson moved to second and Lehner to third as Darrah battled Pitts for fourth and fifth, with DeLorenzo losing two spots.

Jessey Mueller used the high side to perfection to pick up the NAPA Modified win at Albany Saratoga Speedway. Mark Kane/For Capital Region Independent Media

Making his return to the racing wars was Todd Ryan in his 19 ride, who would bring out the last caution along with Derek Bornt. Back to green and again it was Mueller with the lead, but Marc Johnson was never far off his back bumper.

The on-track racing stayed tight as they were racing 3-wide for the top 5 with Pitts, Calabrese having a good season, and Britten racing hard and nerf bar to nerf bar.

As the laps wound down Johnson would make one last ditch effort out of turn 4 but it was Mueller in for the win after using the high side with perfection holding off Marc Johnson, Jack Lehner, Peter Britten and Brian Calabrese rounding out the top 5.

In other action on the night Marc Johnson won his second in the Modifieds by picking up the Di Carlo Auto Body 358 Shootout win over early leader Andrew Buff, Robert Bublak Jr., Matt DeLorenzo and Chris Curtis rounding out the top 5.

Marc Johnson picked up the DiCarlo Auto Body 358 Shootout at Albany Saratoga Speedway. Mark Kane/For Capital Region Independent Media

The Sportsman feature was dominated by Brendan Gibbons in the Dave Boisclair 02 ride that he took over a few weeks back with Craig Wholey, Zach Buff, Taylor Wason and Dan Grignon rounding out the top 5.

It was Kim Duell picking up the popular Pro Stock win, his 30th, that now has him back in front as the All-Time win leader with Rob Yetman with 29 wins. Following Duell to the checker was Jason Casey, Kyle Hoard, Chucky Dumblewski, and Rick Crane in the top 5. The Limited Sportsman had Nick Brundige in with the win and Chris Stalker getting the Street Stock win.

FONDA SPEEDWAY

I am not sure what has been done to Fonda Speedway over the last few weeks, but if that is any indication of the new track surface we are going to get each week it is going to be one great season of racing action on that old girl.

Oh, as I have said before, Fonda Speedway has given promoters fits for years. When she’s good, she’s fast and smooth with 3-wide racing; when she is bad she has a mind of her own. The ruts were gone and the rocks did not seem to be any issue. For those who had written that old girl off, once again Brett Deyo was right there not thinking of giving up. I hope to God he can put this behind him and move on with the remainder of the season and that old girl behaves herself. Maybe she has met her match.

Before the rains came the track was just what everyone was looking for—smooth, fast and even the constant hole in turn one was gone. Doing the best they could to get the show in running, the show quick before the rain hit, but Mother Nature had a different idea. The heat winners for the three Modified heats have all been Fonda Speedway Track Champions during their careers—Demetrios Drellos, Stewart Friesen and Mike Maresca. With a solid field of past champions in the weekly Modified wars and along with a great field of young guns looking for that first win and championship, this is going to be a great year at the “Track of Champions,” Fonda Speedway.

Fonda Speedway is back on track with a smooth, fast racing surface as Stewart Friesen 44, Demetrios Drellos 111, and Mike Maresca 7MM pick up heat wins before the rain hit. Mark Kane/Capital Region Independent Media

Other action on the weekend found Matt Sheppard pick up the win at Utica Rome Speedway, fourth of the year with Rocky Warner, Jessica Friesen, Pat Ward and Mike Maresca rounding out the top 5.

MORE RACING

Over at the “Valley of Speed,” Lebanon Valley Speedway, it was the “Ravena Rocket,” Keith Flach, picking up the Modified feature with Brett Haas, Kolby Schroder, Marc Johnson and JR Heffner rounding out the top 5.

In the 358 Modifies it was Andy Bachetti picking up the win.

Please remember to support those who sponsor our local dirt tracks as well as the teams that put on the show for us, the fans.