Leading off today: Fayetteville-Manlius school district residents overwhelmingly rejected a proposal for a new sports stadium with artificial turf yesterday.

   The $4.6 million proposition failed, 4,213-2,296, as turnout set a record — approximately 20 percent higher than the previous mark set 30 years ago. Voters had also rejected a turf-field proposal that was part of a $5.97 million package in 2004 by a large margin.

   As noted by The Post-Standard the proposal created months of community debate. Supporters contended the existing facility is 45 years old and unsafe. Opponents said the estimated $5.30 per year per $100,000 of assessed value was one too many tax increases for residents to swallow.

   In nearby Liverpool, voters rejected spending $44.5 million last week for building projects that included a new stadium with replacement turf.

   Ogden snags Gatorade honor: Will Ogden of Byram Hills has been selected New York's Gatorade Player of the Year in boys soccer.

   Ogden led his team to the New York State Public High School Athletic Association championship by racking up 25 goals and 17 assists. He scored game-winning goals in both the state semifinal and final. He will attend Villanova in the fall.

   AD OD'ing on power? When Abraham Lincoln's boys basketball team opened PSAL playoff action on Tuesday, security at the Coney Island school barred a New York Daily News reporter from attending the game, apparently under instruction of AD Renan Ebeid.

   The school did not explain the decision, which drew a rebuke from PSAL Director Donald Douglas, but the paper said Ebeid had taken offense to a Jan. 31 article in the News about former Railsplitter Reggie Davis.

Winter tournament brackets NYSPHSAA boys basketball NYSPHSAA girls basketball NYSPHSAA boys ice hockey

   Davis had transferred from Xaverian to Lincoln last summer. After nearly two months at Lincoln, he retured to Xaverian saying, "It's more important to be eligible for college than to get a city (title)."

   The Railsplitters, who have won six PSAL titles in seven years, beat Lehman, 111-59, even though junior swingman Lance Stephenson did not play.

   Longtime football coaches leaving: Curtis High football Coach Fred Olivieri announced he is retiring from coaching and teaching in June after 38 years in the classroom and 26 seasons in charge on the sideline. Longtime assistant and 1993 Curtis graduate Peter Gambardella will take over.

   Olivieri led Curtis to a 13-0 record last fall, including a 22-16 win over Canarsie in the PSAL championship game. It was hih fouth title and ran his career record to 170-110-4.

   Also stepping down is Watertown's Kevin Wood, 124-91 in 24 seasons. The Cyclones have gone 1-15 over the past two seasons and are 13-43 since leaving the Northern Atlantic Conference in 2001 in favor of playing a Section 3 schedule.

   "The last couple years we haven't won that many games," Wood said. "But that really had nothing to do with it. There's nothing bitter there, it's nothing the district wanted or anything like that."

   "Wood plans to continue to coach the Watertown boys track and field team this spring. He did not rule out a return to a football role, possibly with the modified program, down the road,

HOME
ABOUT US
BLOG
BRACKETS
CONTACT US
LINKS
NYSPHSAA
REFERENCE
SUBSCRIBE
VIDEOS

©2008 New York State Sportswriters Association.

All rights reserved.

Contact us via e-mail.