Wednesday, July 25, 2012: Nazareth loses all-state guard Edwards to N.J.

   Leading off today: Nazareth guard Sadie Edwards is leaving the Brooklyn school to attend Blair Academy in New Jersey, making her the most notable transfer in New York scholastic sports so far this summer.

   Edwards, a third-team all-state selection last season, told The New York Post it was a family decision rooted in academics and basketball following the death last January of coach Apache Paschall.

   “At Nazareth it wouldn’t have worked out,” she told the paper.

   The first indication of a change came when she opted to not play travel ball with Exodus and coach Lauren Best, the co-coach at Nazareth. Edwards, who had transferred in to Nazareth from Connecticut a year ago, joined the Epiphanny Prince Elite Club for the USJN/Nike National Championships this week. Exiting Nazareth may be a step toward playing more point guard; the Lady Kingsmen used returning underclassman Darius Faulk at the point last year.

   “It’s going to be tough to say goodbye to Sadie,” Best said. “She is a great kid. She fit our style of play. I wish her the best.”

   Edwards already has offers from Boston College, Kentucky and UTEP, the paper reported.

   Early look at girls cross country: Longtime NYSSWA girls cross country editor Dan Doherty, the highly successful coach at Pearl River, has compiled his preseason preview of top returning runners and teams for the 2012 season.

   To the surprise of no one, Fayetteville-Manlius is loaded again, but the field behind the Hornets looks as deep as ever, typical for New York.

   We've assembled that information as well as some links to results from 2011 and posted it as a separate page.

   Accusations against ex-coach: Ralph Wager, a successful boys soccer coach at Webster Thomas from 1967-82 before moving on to the college ranks, is accused of sex crimes involving a child more than 20 years ago, several media outlets reported.

   Wager, 69, of Charlotte, N.C., was charged late last week with felony first-degree child sex offense, crimes against nature and indecent liberties with a child and remained in the Rowan County jail under $500,000 bond

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on Tuesday, according to reports. Rowan County sheriff’s deputies said the investigation of incidents alleged to have occurred between 1987 and 1989, when Wager was a coach Catawba College in Salisbury, N.C., began in May.

   A probable cause hearing is scheduled for next Wednesday.

   Capt. John Sifford said the victim was younger than 10 at the time and had participated in a sports program at the college. The Salisbury Post reported the alleged victim told authorities he came forward after learning Wager was still working with children at Steele Creek Soccer Club in Charlotte.

   Wager left Webster Thomas in 1983 after compiling a 176-64-36 record and winning for Section 5 championships. He resigned from Catawba in 1990, citing stress, the Salisbury paper reported.