Syracuse Herald-Journal, Friday, December 1,1989

013

WINTER SCHOLASTIC SPORTS '89 - 90

Fulton's speed demon LaDue keeps

breaking records
By Andrew Milner Contributing Writer

Rivals challenge Liverpool

But senior-laden Warriors should prevail in the water
By Andrew Milner Contributing Writer j The ujpcoming 1989-1990 Onondaga High School League boys' swimming season promises to be competitive from start to finish. Even Liverpool, the one school most coaches said would win the league, has several top rivals at its heels. A rundown of the 10 teams in the OHSL, with two non-league schools thrown in. Rome Coach Paul Gigliotti is looking for success with the Black Knights through the performance of the vouneest in his
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t all began for Rich LaDue in the fifth grade, when he became friends with a class-

in the top 10 in both the 200-iind 500-meter freestyle. "We're also bringing along four or five kids who've had some swimming experience," said coach Robin Bright. Fulton The Red Raiders (9-5) lost two strong swimmers to graduation in Greg Gilliland and John Nagelschmiat. But coach Dave Garber looks' toward two seniors as reasons to feel confident about the new season. Rich LaDue, who won the 50yard freestyle at sectionals, holds six school records. Tom Coss finj fifth in fha TOO frop ?t <JPO.

be pretty strong," Falwell said. The Wildcats lost 100-yard butterflyer Sean Greis to Potsdam State and breaststroker Blake Connors to Norwich University. Returning are backstroker and freestyler Jay Brinson, distance freestyler Greg Randall, and breaststroker Dave Honis, all Seniors. Oswego "Last year, we had our best season ever," coach Jim McCaul said. "We have a bunch of fine returning swimmers, and with talented newPOTrtorQ ttm <7V*r>nM V.Q yo-^v r*v>_

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"Tom had been on the YMCA swim team (the. Fulton Speed Demons) for a couple of years," LaDue recalled, "and he talked me into trying out for the team." LaDue won a spot on the Speed Demons, and has been swimming competively ever since. LaDue joined the Fulton varsity swim team as an'eighth-grader, and for vhe past five years has swum for both the R^d Raiders and Speed Demons. Ladue finds swimming on two separate teams beneficial. "I get to swim two to three hours a day," he said. "It's like swimming with one team at a larger school." He swims the 50-yard freestyle and the 100 freestyle, butterfly and backstroke. At last year's league meet, he won the 50 free; at last year's sectionals, LaDue finished second. He was the only Red Raider to go to the state meet at Nottingham High School, where, in the 50 free, he finished in the top 20. He holds no fewer than six Fulton school records: 50 freestyle (21.89 seconds), 100 freestyle (49.12 seconds), 100 butterfly (56.36), the 100 backstroke, and the 200 medley and 400 freestyle relay. In 13 meets last season,.he led the team by scoring 139 points. Besides lifting weights, LaDue began playing the sprinter position for the Syracuse water polo team last summer, which played in tournaments in Washington, D.C., and Toronto. LaDue competed on the Central water polo team'at the Empire State Games last summer

FULTON'S RICH LaDUE is a true demon for the swimming team.

Rich LaDue

School: Fulton.
Sport: Swimming. Key numbers: 5-foot-11. 150pound, 16-year-old senior. Other sports: Soccer, weightlifting, water polo. Hero: Matt Biondi. Hobbies: Downhill skiing: Sports goals: To continue through college with swimming. Career goals: Tc become a physical therapist. Greatest sports achievement: Setting each high school record and going to the state meet last year.

in Ithaca, winning a silver medal. He swam at the Games in Syracuse in 1988, finishing in the top 10. He has played stopper on the Red Raiders varsity soccer team for three years. "It takes the place of weightlifting, and it strengthens my legs and my cardiovascular system," he said. A member of the Fulton science club, Ladue is co-president of his senior class, and in October he was named homecoming king. Ladue is also a member of another prestigious group the National Honor Society. His cumulative grade point average is 93, and his favorite subjects include science and math. LaDue

aclnowledges the difficulty of maintaining a full academic and athletic schedule. "It's a lot of set scheduling," he said. "You set aside time for practice, and you set aside time for homework. It's vigorous trying to keep up with everything." LaDue has been co-captain of the Red Raiders swim team for three years. "I feel like I'm looked up to a bit as one of the team leaders," he said. "It's my job to keep the spirits up on the team, to get rallies going when we need them." One of LaDue's most passionate supporters is his coach at Fulton, Dave Garber. "He's very likeable and supportive of his teammates," Garber said. "He has a happy attitude, but he can be instantly serious about the task at hand. He's also able to conduct a meeting with his teammates at the snap of his fingers, because they all respect and like him." LaDue is optimistic about Fulton's chances this season, quickly pointing out that members of the YMCA Speed Demons are ready to take the spots iefi by graduating seniors. So LaDue prepares to end one part of his swimming career by beginning his final high school season. It is appropriate that the other co-captain on the Fulton team is none other than the longtime close friend who got LaDue - into racing, Tom Coss.

"We'll have a young team," Gigliotti said. "We'll have a few kids coming up from the junior high." One mainstay is Mike Kunkel,who represented RFA in the states in 1-meter diving last year. BaMwinsville - Coach Mike Foster doesn't think losing four seniors will prevent the Bees (8-1 in the league, 12-2 overall) from repeating a strong second place in the OHSL. "We've got some real good kids coming back," Foster said. Among them senior are Roger Acker who holds the school record in the 500 freestyle and sophomore backstroker Erik Dalaker. Liverpool According to coach Bill Wallace, the squad's success is multilayered. "The strength of our team is that we have so many kids swimming so many different styles," Wallace said. The Warriors, finishing a solid second at sectionals behind New Hartford, lost to graduation Mike Ryan, who went to states in the 100-meter butterfly. Nonetheless, they retain more than 10 seniors, including co-captains Drew Kelly and Arkady Lapidius. 5 Nottingham Once again, it's a case of Paradis found for the Bulldogs. Seventh-grader Gregory Paradis joins brothers Andre, a senior, and J.P., a junior, on the Nottingham varsity squad. Gregory will swim distance freestyle as well as backstroke. His brothers went to the states, finishing

uonais and holds the school record at that distance. Fayetteville-Manlius The Hornets (4-5) hope to succeed with the efforts of two sets of brothers from Cicero-North Syracuse, which swims with FM. The first pair of brothers "are the Burkes. Sean is a senior butterilyer and individual medley swimmer, while Matt is a sophomore sprinter and backstroker. The other brothers pair are the Secors. Matt Secor, a freshman freestyler, joins junior individual medley swimmer Jamie. Jamesville-DeWitt The Red Rams have four keys to a successful 1989-90 campaign. The Red Rams (6-8) will be led by seniors David Tauber, a freestyler at 100, 200 and 500 yards, individual medley swimmer Matt Kaplan, sprint freestyler Mark Thorne and backstroker Shawn Dickersbn. In all, 13 swimmers return to the program. Auburn Last season, four members of the Maroons' boys' swimming team set a New York State high school record in the 400-yard freestyle relay with a time of 3:08.47.
But three of the four swimmers Tom Simon, Scott Charlton and Ardie Dandino graduated. Only Chad McMillan remains to help the Maroons (1-5, 2-10).

West Genesee Despite a solid fourth-place finish in the OHSL (11-7, 12-7), veteran Wildcats coach George Falwell has few pretensions about maintaining that level in a competitive league. "Everybody in the league will

peiuive." The Bucs (6-3, 9-4), who finished fourth in sectionals, lost Pat Chetney, a state meet finalist in the b r e a s t s t r o k e , and all-league diver Dave Kells to graduation. But they retain co-captains Matt Mitchell and Rick Webber, both senior freestylers. butterflyers and ail-leaguers, along with all-league freshmen Drew Thomas (a distance freestyler) and Jeff Tonkin (backstroke). "We're equally balanced throughout the lineup," McCaul said. Holland Patent (Tri-Valley) Golden Knights coach Mark Celecki admits that the graduation of four seniors from last season hurts. "We lost sprinters (50and 100-yard freestylers)," he said. "But we maintained speciality swimmers." Celecki says t h a t H-P's strength lies in such distance freestylers as seniors Scott Carney and Evan Davies and such individual medley and backstroke swimmers as Harold Higley and Christian Holmes. Weedsport The Warriors (11-3 in the Finger Lakes League, 12-4 overall), winners of the Section Three Class B title, suffered a blow as a result of a football injury. Backstroker Chris Jorolemon hurt his knee in a Warriors football game and is likely to miss much of the season. Weedsport has 14 returning swimmers, including Jeff Riley, who finished fifth in the 100-yard backstroke at the state championships.

Bees' Alexander rolls up team, individual honors

He spends all of his free time at the lanes
part of a B'ville team that finished behind only Oswego in the OHSL last year. Besides their second-place finish in the t the age of 17, Art Alexander has regular season, the Bees won the OHSL notched more than his share of tournament and finished fourth in the bowling accomplishments. sectionals. His credentials include three perfect LAST YEAR, Alexander often came games last year. One came during tryouts for Team USA, where he just missed through for his coach B'ville coach Joel qualifying against older bowlers for the Bart, who said, "I have never seen national touring team. Another came anyone bowl as well as he does. He can during practice for the sectional all-star make any shot. He is awesome." game. Alexander finished last year with a 206 Alexander concluded the all-star series average and 23 games of 200 or better by getting another 300, which was only games and seven 600 or better series. the second perfect game in the all-star Bart expects more from his star this game's history and the first in 12 years. year. His all-star-leam-high-series of 1,252 was "He has become more powerful and tops on a record-setting team that won consistent," Bart said. "He is a leader and a captain of the team. It only takes the state title. Moreover, the Syracuse Young Ameri- one 300 game to really build your confican Bowling Alliance honored the left- dence in bowling." hander at the Syracuse Bowling AssociaSome of Alexander's biggest competitions Presidents and Hall of Fame Din- tion in the OSHL will come from his own ner where he was picked as the youth teammates. bowler of the year in Syracuse. "I am going to have trouble picking a Part of the success that Alexander has starting lineup," Bart said. "This year we achieved in bowling comes from his have the potential to go to states." experience and dedication to the sport. Right behind Alexander is super sophomore Steve Volkin, who had a 203 "A LOT OF practice contributes to average last year. They are joined by becoming a more consistent bowler, and hard throwers Joe Petrowski and Andy I try to bowl in the off-season as much as Picciano. Up and coming eighth-grader I can," Alexander said. "I had a reaily Andy Volkin adds more depth to the good season last ye^ar with some pretty Bees. steady scores." Kurt Kaeting is another B'ville bowler He also has the advantage of working who could possibly make some all-star as a pin-chaser for the Thunderbird teams. In his first day of practice this Lanes in Baldwinsville. One of the job's year, he bowled a 298. benefits is he gets all the free bowling he "I WOULD LIKE to see the team go to wants. the states instead of just me. We should In addition, Alexander will spend most have done it last year, but the guys were of this winter around bowling as he takes still young," Alexander said. "Were a part in a Saturday morning bowling tight-knit group with many of the playleague and a Saturday afternoon trav- ers in many of the same leagues as me." eling league. "When Alsxsnder is not contributing to the bowling team, he is a starting halfAnd, on every other Sunday, Alexander plays in the Youth Bowlers Tour. back on the Bees' soccer team. He also enjoys pitching for the Bees baseball This is the same league he bowled in last team. However, this year he may not go year in which he finished third overall and won a tournament. So far this year out for baseball because he wants to he has matched his performance in the spend more time bowling. league by winning a tournament. Alexander's parents have also helped However, perhaps his. best times in in his bowling. Art, his father, teamed up Central New York's bowling alleys with young Art in the AVCO Family comes as he represents his school, Bald- Tournament, where the two advanced to By Mike Sgarlata Staff Writer

3 teams to stay kingpins

Oswego, B'ville, ES-M to bowl over foes
Westhill, a coed team, should be upgraded with the return of experienced players Jason Fellows and Andrea ScriLast year, Oswego, Baldwinsville and malle. East Syracuse-Minoa ruled OHSL boys' Tri-Valley League boys Camden is the favorite in the Tri-Valley. Leading bowling. Oswego won the regular-season title, the way for coach Steve Baker's Blue but Baldwinsville took the league tour- Devils are three experienced seniors nament and ES-M lingered near the top. Jamie Turner, Clayton Clark and Rich This year, these three still appear to be Campbell. the teams to beat. Vernon-Verona-Sherrill is another top Baldwinsville seems to have remained contender. The Red Devils have one of the most intact from a year ago as it the league's best bowlers, sophomore looks to improve on its 25-11 mark. Pete Glover. Last year, he had an Coach Joel Bart will have several key average of 190 and was a member of the returning people Art Alexander, Kurt Section Three All-Stars. Kaeting and Steve Volkin. "We will be very competitive by East Syracuse-Minoa and Oswego both returning six out of the top eight bowlers have gone through some changes. from last year," said V-V-S coach Bill ES-M, 27-9 in the OHSL last year, was Boyd. "However, I am always missing hit hard by graduation and by the depar- one or two people to make a real go of it ture of last year's coach Carl Pulverenti, in the league." who stepped down to spend more time OHSL girls This league appears to with his family. He will be replaced with lack a clear-cut favorite. Bill Kendrat, who is-in his second tour of Like its boys, ES-M has a team capable duty as coach of the Spartans. of upsetting the equilibrium. Coach Faye "I am looking forward to getting back Grant is optimistic. into it," Kendrat said. "When I was here "We came in fourth in the sectionals before, we had a dominant team that set last season and we only lost one player off that team," Grant said. "Co-captains many records." Angela Fullana and Amy Smith will lead Like ES-M, Oswego lost many of last us again. We were only a couple of season's players to graduation. However, points away last season, and this year we the Bucs still have the opposition scared. again appear solid from top to bottom." Cicero-North Syracuse coach John PizDefending champion tftica and last zuto stated, "I believe they lost four of season's runner-up C-NS are others that their top five bowlers. However, you should challenge for the title. can't count them out. They always seem Tri-Valley League girls - One team to have a good team." that could be in contention for top team Pizzuto knows something about losing both in Central New York and the Triplayers. He lost two key members from Valley League is Terry Oliver's Vernonlast year's squad. However, the return of Verona-Sherrill. senior Carmen Serbio and junior Jeff The Lady Red Devils have either won Chapman could provide a solid nucleus or tied the Tri-Valley League the past for the Northstars. three seasons. Besides being Tri-Valley Another school with an outside chance champs last season at 12-2, they also in the OHSL is Fulton. After finishing took the Class B sectionals. The Devils the year with a perfect 30-0 mark and a should continue to be tough as they have Ciass B championship, the Red Raiders experience in veteran all-stars Jennifer moved up to Class A. Coach Dean Distin Eaton and Amy Myers. One of coach could have his problems with a young Terry Oliver's biggest problems will be team and a more competitive schedule. replacing standout Andi Paluck, who He brings back John Taylor, who graduated and took with her several averaged 206 last season, and Wayne school records, including a record-high 615 series. Debendorf. "Many of our girls have potential," Cortland is one of the many young teams expected to improve this season. Oliver said. "0-jr biggest challenges this The Tigers return Jason Tripoli, Dan year will come from Camden and New Hartford. Both are big. schools and have Smith and John Bishop. By Mike Sgarlata Staff Writer

JM COMMENTUCCI/Staft Photographer

ART ALEXANDER rolls for more honors as the top man on Baldwinsville's bowling team.
A r t Alexander School; Baldwinsville. Sport: Bowling. Key numbers: 5-toot-8, 140-pound. 17year-old senior.

Other sports; Soccer and baseball. Hero; None. Sports goth To be a professional bowter^ Ctittf god; Art/advertising. MobbtoK Soccer, hunting. Greatest sports achievement: His 300 game in last year's sectionals.

Liverpool needs a strong year from Mike Scnartt, who is the only player in school history to average 200 for a season. Rome Free Academy is also expected to do better by bringing back three bowlers with averages in the 170s ~ Richard Malvaney, Larry Guiliano and John Bas-

a lot of bowlers to chose from." Camden is the other defending co-champion of the Tri-Valley at 12-2. New Hartford finished at 11-3. Michele Heintz of Utica Notre Dame and Tricia Callahan of Clinton are bowlers to watch. However, both need super years for their schools to reverse last

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