Returning All-Section lineman Constantine George pushes tackling dummy out of way during defensive rushing drill at Putnam Valley.

PUTNAM VALLEY – New Putnam Valley head varsity coach Ryan Elsasser is a fan of his predecessor.

Of Matt Mello, he said, “He put Putnam Valley football on the map.”

At only 27, Elsasser is young for a head football coach. But if he wants advice from his mentor he won’t have to look far: Mello, who stepped down because of time demands associated with his pursuit of an administrative degree, is staying on as junior varsity coach.

“He cares about the program,” Elsasser said of Mello. “I think this will be a very smooth transition.”

Still, the Tigers are facing one uphill battle – replacing 22 graduated seniors from a team that went 6-3 and came up just short in the Section 1 Class B semifinals against Nanuet.

Putnam Valley is down about five players to 35 this year. But Elsasser, who was the team’s offensive coordinator last year after running the Tiger D for three years, is optimistic.

“We were known (last year) just for consistency on both sides of the ball,” the former Walter Panas High baseball and football (tight end/defensive end) player said. “We came up with big things when we needed to. I think we’ll be able to do the same (this season).”

FOOTBALL: Ardsley seeks redemption after season was ‘cut short’

FOOTBALL: Fiorelli looks to ‘change the culture’ at Hastings

FOOTBALL: Langella’s fun, up-tempo game a draw for Mahopac football

FOOTBALL: Progress ‘day-by-day’ as new Croton staff begins rebuild

FOOTBALL: DeMatteo relying on experience in Nyack debut

FOOTBALL: White Plains is getting up to speed with Lindberg

THOMSON: Heat, humidity force football teams to scramble

SKODNICK: Practice begins indoors for many Section 1 schools

One big reason is All-Section defensive and offensive lineman Constantine George. If not for his height (5-7-plus), he’d be a D-I recruit, according to Elsasser.

Still, smaller schools are after George and Elsasser predicts he’ll be the section’s lineman of the year.

“He’s dedicated,” Elsasser said. … “He’s strong as an ox. He’ll be a success whatever college he plays for.”

Of George’s influence at the high school level, Elsasser said, “A lot of teams have to make their offenses and defenses play around him.”

Elsasser is also expecting good things from other seniors, including Rudy Gonzalez and Alex McDonald, both defensive backs and receivers; Nick Singer, a tight end and defensive back; and safety/running back Marc Beck, who Elsasser said has “busted his butt this off-season.”

Only a handful of starters are back but Elsasser said, “We have a lot of athleticism come through our ranks – a lot of multi-sport athletes. Those skills carry over to football.”

Among other players to watch are sophomore fullback/linebacker John Listwan, sophomore defensive end/tight end Darnel Shillingford and junior quarterback Travis Anderson.

Putnam Valley football players do drive-and-carry drill during Monday’s practice..

Anderson got some snaps last year and Elsasser considers him “crafty.”

“He can run the ball,” he said. “He can throw. He has good vision. We’re looking forward to see what he can do this year. He’s a tough kid.”

George is looking forward to the season, remarking he expects “really good things.”

“A lot of players worked in the off-season. There’s a lot of heard hitters and talent,” he said, noting his goal is a section title.

Elsasser would, of course, like that, too.

He knows Mello is a tough act to follow and that people will be watching.

“It’s going to be a battle this season to see what new coach makes a name for himself,” Elsasser said

“It’s an honor to know Coach Mello and the district and (Athletic Director) Brian Burrow had faith in me. I will not let them down.”

Twitter: @HaggertyNancy

Tappan Zee football held on to beat Byram Hills 27-20 at Tappan Zee Oct. 9, 2015.

ARMONK — To the rest of Section 1, Byram Hills’ Doug Carpenter is one of several new head football coaches heading into the 2016 season.

But around the Byram campus, he’s known simply as “Carp.”

“Having (former coach Scott) Saunders leave was definitely a blow to the program, but I couldn’t think of a better person to replace him than Carp,” senior Sean Bruskewicz said. “Since Carp came here two years ago, he’s been the most brilliant football-minded coach I’ve ever had. He knows more about it than anyone here, and he’s made the transition really, really seamless. The stuff that we did as a program before, all he wants to do is make it better.”

Carpenter spent the previous two seasons on Saunders’ staff, last year as his offensive coordinator. He made his case for a promotion by guiding the Bobcats’ offense on a prolific campaign, with quarterback Lou Filippelli setting the Section 1 record with 2,595 passing yards, good for an average of 288.3 yards per game. His record was broken later in the season by Dean Rotger, who guided Lourdes to the Class A state final.

Despite all of the statistical success, Byram finished a disappointing 1-8. Now that Filippelli has graduated and Carpenter has ascended, it may be time to change the formula.

“Lou Filippelli was a special, special quarterback,” Carpenter said. “I may not coach another kid like him for the rest of my career, so to tell my quarterbacks that they have to come in and fill his shoes is unrealistic and impossible. But we have to create our own identity, and it’s going to start with running the football.”

Carpenter expects to lean on junior running back Danny Friedman and an experienced offensive line, which returns five players who started at various points in 2015. The Bobcats will be inexperienced at the skill positions, with senior Jay Jay Bancone and junior Jack Kenny battling to replace Filippelli.

Senior Matt Grotta also would have been in the competition for the quarterback spot, but he tore his ACL during lacrosse season.

“We were the line that blocked for Louie when he broke the Section 1 passing record, and we’re definitely ready to be a little more run-centric this year,” said Bruskewicz, a returning starter at center. “Obviously, you can’t have two of him, but we’re ready to take on the load and make sure this team goes far.”

Carpenter believes that a quick turnaround is possible because of his own experience in high school. He was a senior when Jimmy Clark took over at John Jay, and the Indians went from 2-6 to the section final in just one year.

“A lot of people say, ‘You can’t coach effort,’ but you can and we look for it,” Carpenter said. “Every day, we’re going to come in and highlight kids who are busting their humps on film. Rather than fantastic plays, who’s that guy running across the field? Whether they’re talented or not, if we have 11 guys who are on the same page and playing through the whistle, we’re going to have success.”

Since taking over for Saunders, who remains the head baseball coach at Byram, Carpenter has hosted many voluntary camps, weight lifts and film sessions in order to implement his intricate system.

His desire to improve and attract more athletes into the program seems to be rubbing off.

“Carp is probably the most enthusiastic coach I’ve ever had,” senior lineman Conor Ahern said. “He loves what he does and comes out every day with a passion, trying to get us to learn more. He had us come into his room in January to start going over film and talk about how we can get more guys in the program.”

Twitter: @vzmercogliano

The Section 1 Class AA girls basketball field will be more crowded this season after it was determined by the section that Albertus Magnus will be moving up from Class A. The Falcons will join fellow private schools, Ursuline and Lourdes, in the section’s highest classification for the 2016-17 season.

Section 1 executive director Jen Simmons confirmed the decision to The Journal News/lohud Tuesday afternoon, citing the section’s bi-annual review of all private, charter, and parochial schools. The review requires schools to submit records and playoff history over the past five seasons, the prior season’s roster, and residences of all athletes for each sport at each level, according to Simmons.

Abertus Magnus defeated Truman 61-52 during girls basketball action in the Slam Dunk Tournament at the Westchester County Center in White Plains Dec. 26, 2015.

“I think we’re always surprised when we see our teams move up,” Albertus Magnus athletic director Tim Gavan said. “It’s unfortunate, but it is what it is.”

A committee consisting of eight individuals and a sub-committee of five additional individuals review each case and decide whether to adjust the program’s athletic classification. Simmons said the decision is made on a consensus vote, but that it’s “usually unanimous.”

Gavan said he has been in contact with varsity girls basketball coach Pat Buckley since the school received the letter of notification from the section Monday, noting both were disappointed with the decision. Buckley could not be reached for comment Tuesday.

Albertus Magnus’ varsity girls basketball team compiled a record of 89-23 over the past five seasons, according to the New York State Sportswriters Association, with one section title and two additional trips to the championship game.

Albertus Magnus has competed in Class A since 2009, when it won the section championship. The Falcons have been one of the most successful girls basketball teams in the section over the past two decades, reaching the Westchester County Center — home of the Section 1 championships — in 17 consecutive seasons.

Albertus Magnus celebrates their 56-49 win over Peekskill during the Class A girls basketball final at the Westchester County Center in White Plains March 2, 2015.

It has been that stretch of consistent success that had many public school coaches, particularly those in lower classifications, calling for a change.

Rye girls basketball head coach Dennis Hurlie and Pelham girls basketball head coach Tim Pitrulle both objected to private schools playing for public school championships last year, but said they would concede to having them play in the highest classification — where the largest schools by enrollment play.

“I think it’s the right decision,” said Pitrulle, who was the head coach at private school Maria Regina for 12 seasons before arriving at Pelham. “When you’re a team that’s been to the County Center 16, 17, 18 years in a row, that’s not the norm.”

STATE RANKINGS: Albertus Magnus tops the state poll in Class A

COLUMN: Ursuline finally finds ‘A’ home

COLUMN: What to do with private schools in Section 1?

Many coaches and athletes consider making it to the County Center an accomplishment in itself.

Ursuline moved down to Class A in the middle of the season last year, rousing the ire of Class A programs, but will be back in Class AA this year due to increased enrollment at the school and not a section committee decision. The Koalas lost to Rye in the Section 1 Class A final last year.

Hurlie said he received several text messages from fellow Class A coaches who were applauding the section’s decision to move Albertus Magnus up.

“When you take Magnus and Ursuline and move them out… there’s a whole list of schools that think, ‘Wow, we can get to that Final Four,’” said Hurlie, whose team will play Albertus Magnus, Ursuline, and Lourdes this season. “I’m glad we’re playing all three because it’s going to make us better.”

Albertus Magnus was the perceived favorite by many to win the section title in 2017, with the Falcons returning all-state juniors Dani LaRochelle and Mairead Durkin, talented junior guards Kate Mager and Allison Conti, and senior starter Lizzy Benedetto.

“If you asked me (Monday) who the favorite was to win (Class A), the first word out of my mouth would’ve been, ‘Albertus,’” Pitrulle said. “I think Albertus Magnus will do very well (in Class AA). If they don’t get to the County Center, they will be in the game to get there.”

Twitter: @Zacchio_LoHud, @LoHudGirlsHoops

Game action as Pelham is hosted by Byram Hills during their boys soccer quarterfinal Class A game at Byram Hoills High School in Armonk Oct. 26, 2015.

2016 Pelham Pelicans
Coach — Terence Huvane
Seventh year as head coach

What was your final record last season and where did you finish in the playoffs? Last year, Pelham finished 9-9 and lost on a PK to Byram Hills in the quarterfinal round of the Class A sectional playoffs.

Who are your key returning players? Andres Uriarte, senior defender. Lucas Rodrigues, junior midfielder. Enea Dushaj, senior midfielder. Davis Allen, senior striker.

Who are the key players that you lost to graduation? Sam Teller’s (striker) offensive production (17 goals) and Liam Murray’s (center back) defensive presence will be big voids to fill. Matt O’Neil’s (GK) leadership and drive to win will also be sorely missed.

Did you gain or lose any players from the U.S. Academy system? None, thankfully.

Who is the most skilled offensive player on your team? Davis Allen is a naturally gifted athlete whose 6’5″ frame will give defenders all that they can handle in the box this season.

The best defender? Andres Uriarte. The senior captain CB will anchor Pelham’s defense.

The fastest? Greg Gordon and Andres Uriarte.

The biggest hustler? I have to add an “s” to the end of this question. The biggest hustlers on the squad this year would have to be the Mazzaro twin brothers, Russell and Thomas. They just work and work and work, and that tenacity inspires the rest of the players.

What do you consider to be your team’s biggest challenges for the season? Pelham’s challenges for this upcoming season are many. We compete in an extremely competitive league (Byram Hills, Eastchester, Rye, Harrison, Ardsley) and any one of those teams has the ability to lift the section championship trophy in November. Pelham will seek to do what it strives to achieve every year: To compete at the highest levels in our league, section, region and state.

What would you like your team identity or motto to be? “For Pelham.” Pelham is a unique, special place with a rich history dating back all the way to Revolutionary War times. A very important Revolutionary War battle was fought not far from our home field, Glover Field, and I often think that our players are the same age as the young men who fought that battle so many years ago. In the Battle of Pelham, Pelham troops fought valiantly through the night against numerically superior British forces and halted the British long enough to allow General George Washington’s troops to escape to White Plains. Our team’s identity will be the same as those soldiers: Young men who play bravely for Pelham.

Up next: Hastings

I’ll be posting these previews every day leading up to the start of the high school season in early September. Coaches, if you did not receive a capsule email and would like to participate, please fill out the questions below and send them to me at vmercoglia@lohud.com.

First-year coach Steve Yurek looks on as the Irvington football team practices at Dows Lane Elementary School in Irvington on Aug. 16, 2016.

IRVINGTON – With the future of Irvington football in some jeopardy, players spent the offseason urging classmates to join their ranks. Their success has been middling so far, but they began practice this week with a bright outlook on 2016.

“The players on the team are excited,” sophomore quarterback Liam Toolan said. “We’ve asked almost everyone in the school to try and come out and play, but it’s going to take time. I think the coaches here can make it happen, though.”

The district hoped so, which was a primary reason why they turned to Steve Yurek, a teacher at nearby Hastings that turned Yonkers Montessori from a new program into a competitive one. His efforts so far at Irvington have reaped some rewards, but Yurek hopes the program only builds from here.

THOMSON: Croton, Irvington take steps to save football

FOOTBALL: White Plains is getting up to speed with Lindberg​

FOOTBALL: New era at Byram Hills will focus on effort, run game​

FOOTBALL: DeMatteo relying on experience in Nyack debut​

The district has constructed a new turf field that will be ready later this year and the underclassmen have flashed plenty of talent.

“I feel like Irvington wants to succeed,” Yurek said Tuesday during a morning practice at Dows Lane Elementary School. “They’re giving us a new field and whatever we need in terms of equipment. The community has been so welcoming to us. The players know that football is down. There is some disappointment that certain kids didn’t come out, but they’re really excited about this upcoming season. They know in two years we could be pretty good, but that doesn’t mean this year we don’t have expectations to succeed.”

In fact, Irvington has had success in recent years despite its modest numbers. The Bulldogs reached the Class B semifinals in 2011 under a first-year coach (Mike Oliva, now at Pearl River) and also qualified for the postseason last year under Devin Hoover, who resigned this offseason.

New Irvington football coach Steve Yurek brings an end to Tuesday’s practice.

There was some question about the future of the program after injuries forced last year’s team to forfeit during the second half of its quarterfinal loss to Nanuet. Yurek recruited a few additional players and had a total of 26 at practice Tuesday.

He understands the players themselves will be his best recruiters.

“We’re trying to make it fun, make it so they come back on time and so that word spreads that the coaching staff is good and knows what it’s doing,” Yurek said. “The four-hour practices, the five-hour practices of yesteryear are over. When you have 25, 27 guys, you have to keep them fresh. They seem pretty happy with that. Giving them an afternoon off here and there really can pay dividends.”

As he did at YMA, Yurek has staggered double and single-sessions this preseason. He has also leaned on the staff’s one holdover assistant, Mike Toolan, for advice, while retaining three of his main assistants from YMA to instill continuity. Defensive coordinator Charlie Berger and assistants Colin Brennan and Noah Berger all played for Yurek at Hastings.

“The continuity is invaluable,” he said.

Toolan, a returning starter at quarterback, and two-way standout Tim Mezaros, a junior, will be among the leaders. The team will rely heavily on younger players, especially its sophomores. The transition won’t always be easy.

“We’re definitely finding our groove,” Toolan said. “It’s hard to go through three offenses over the past three years, but we’re working hard. We’re getting there.”

Twitter: @lohudinsider

Golf

Jake Meyer of Plainfield Country Club took the 2016 Mittelmark Invitational championship at Fenway Golf Club with a par on the second playoff hole Tuesday, defeating Michael Miranda.

Both qualified for the playoff after finishing tied at 2-under par after 36 holes of stroke play.

On the first playoff hole, Miranda, of Pine Ridge Golf Club in Coram, N.Y., made a nine-foot par putt to force a second playoff hole after Meyer reached the green in two strokes.

Miranda’s gap wedge approach shot on the second hole flew the green and landed in the rough, from where he was only able to salvage a double bogey. Meyer made a two-putt par to win the tournament.

Defending champion Stewart Hagestad and Cameron Young, who won the 2012 Mittelmark, were missing from the field, as they were playing in the U.S. Amateur at Oakland Hills Country Club in Bloomfield, Michigan.

Top Ten

Pos.    Player                  Club Name                                 Tod. Hole Tot. R1  R2    Total

T1    Jake Mayer            Plainfield Country Club                 E     F    -2    68    70    138
T1    Michael Miranda     Pine Ridge Golf Club                  +1     F    -2    67    71    138
T3    Connor O’Rourke    Country Club of Darien               -3     F    -1    72    67    139
T3    Eric LeFante           Colts Neck Golf Club                   E     F    -1    69    70    139
5      Tyler Cline               The Tuxedo Club                       +1     F     E    69    71    140
T6    Max Theodorakis    Ridgewood Country Club             E    F    +1    71    70    141
T6    Mike Stamberger    Manasquan River Golf Club       +3    F    +1    68    73    141
T8    Christian Cavaliere  Mahopac Golf and Beach Club  -1    F    +2    73    69    142
T8    James Nicholas       Winged Foot Golf Club               +2    F    +2    70    72    142
10    Connor Daly             Siwanoy Country Club               +1    F    +3    72    71    143

Locals in the Field

Pos.    Player                  Club Name                                 Tod. Hole Tot. R1  R2    Total

T12    Jason Monroe      Fenway Golf Club                        E      F    +6    76    70    146
T12    James McHugh    Rye Golf Club                              E      F    +6    76    70    146
T12    Michael Savitt       Century Country Club                +3      F    +6    73    73    146
T17    Robert Diforio    Westchester Hills GC                      E     F    +7    77    70    147
T17    Will Bernstein    Century Country Club                     +4    F    +7    73    74    147
T17    Ned Zachar    GlenArbor Golf Club                          +4    F    +7    73    74    147
T20    Jared Mactas    Paramount Country Club                E     F    +8    78    70    148
T20    Joshua Goldenberg    Fenway Golf Club                +2    F    +8    76    72    148
T22    Brian McClure    MGA eClub-Westchester/Fairfield  +6    F    +10    74    76    150
T24    Jeff Holzschuh    Winged Foot Golf Club                +10    F    +11    71    80    151
T26    Jonny Emmerman    Fenway Golf Club                  +4    F    +12    78    74    152
T26    Denver Brown    Whippoorwill Club                         +7    F    +12    75    77    152
T30    Thomas J Corrigan    Ardsley Country Club            +6    F    +13    77    76    153
T30    Johnny Schob    Winged Foot Golf Club                  +7    F    +13    76    77    153
T36    Joe Collins Sr.    Winged Foot Golf Club                 +10    F    +14    74    80    154
40    Daniel Murphy    MGA Eclub – Wch/Ct                       +7    F    +16    79    77    156
41    Philip Mintz    Century Country Club                          +5    F    +17    82    75    157
T42    Craig Leonard    Wykagyl Country Club                   +6    F    +18    82    76    158
T42    Andrew Kaskel    Quaker Ridge Golf Club                 +11    F    +18    77    81    158
T46    Christopher Coco    Westchester Country Club         +5    F    +20    85    75    160
T46    Jesse Brandt    Fenway Golf Club                             +10    F    +20    80    80    160
T50    Michael Boylan    Centennial Golf Club                      +9    F    +21    82    79    161
52    Lee Hammerschmidt    Whippoorwill Club                   +14    F    +23    79    84    163
53    Chuck Del Priore    Wykagyl Country Club                  +12    F    +24    82    82    164
55    Billy Simmermacher    Scarsdale Golf Club                +17    F    +27    80    87    167
T56    Al Rabil    Whippoorwill Club                                      +16    F    +29    83    86    169

The 2016 volleyball season will officially begin in less than a week, with fall practices opening on Monday throughout the section. In advance of the various camp stops I’ll be making, I figured now was as good a time as any to fill you all in on the important dates and information. Please print out or bookmark this page so that you will always have easy access to it!

As I told some of you on social media, I have some fun coverage plans for this season. Check below to see what I’m bringing back, what I’m implementing for the first time and what I’m looking to tweak a little bit.

Hendrick Hudson lost to Owego in five games during the Class B regional final at John Jay High School in Cross River, Nov. 14, 2015.

Social media

It’s 2016, and if you refuse to use any form of social media, you’re really missing out. Below are all of my accounts for you to follow so that you don’t miss a thing. I strongly encourage you follow along for up-to-minute information. Plus, there’s even some entertaining stuff there every now and then.

Facebook: facebook.com/mzacchio (you’ll want to follow me, see below)
Twitter: @Zacchio_LoHud
Instagram: @Zacchio_LoHud
Snapchat: @Zacchio_LoHud

Weekly content

Every Sunday (in chronological order):

• Keeping with the tradition of years’ past, I will be selecting a player of the week (#POTW) every Sunday afternoon, which will include a blog post for each winner. Anyone can nominate a player by submitting their name and stats for the week (Monday-Saturday) to me via email, Twitter, or text message. I’ll also be including a five-player “Honor Roll” in the post for honorable mentions. I’m aiming to have the posts up around noon.

Player of the week: Megan Sneeden, Nyack
Player of the week: Catalina Munoz, Yorktown
Player of the week: Kailee Chimento, Pelham

• Weekly power rankings will be published every Sunday on lohud.com and will appear in Monday’s print edition of The Journal News. Rankings will include my top 10 power rankings (all teams, all classes) with short bios on each team, plus top 10 rankings for each class with no bios. There will be no Class D rankings since there is only one team (Tuckahoe) in the class.

Rankings: A deeper look inside the section
Rankings: Final regular-season rankings
Rankings: Final rankings of the 2015 season

• My weekly column will be published every Sunday on lohud.com and will appear in Monday’s print edition of The Journal News. The column will not appear directly on the blog (unlike the POTW post and rankings), but I will link to all three every Monday morning.

Column: Punished for being a three-sport athlete?
Column: Mixed competition rules are a grey area
Column: I will never be ‘that’ parent
Column: Ardsley’s Nicolina Chenard beats the odds, lands scholarship

Every Tuesday:

• I will be doing a Facebook Live video chat every Tuesday night at 9 p.m. to discuss all things volleyball, my weekly column, plus any other questions or concerns you would like me to address directly. The video will likely last anywhere between 5-15 minutes, depending on how much material I have, but there really is no set time limit. This is my first time experimenting with it, so it’s pretty much trial by fire. Find me on Facebook at facebook.com/mzacchio. If you follow me (you don’t necessarily need to add me as a friend), you should get a notification on your phone as soon as I go live so that you can tune in. Get your popcorn ready.

Important dates

Preseason

Wednesday, Aug. 24: Preseason coaches meeting at Harrison HS, 7 p.m.

Section 1 tournament

Wednesday, Oct. 26: Section 1 tournament seeding meeting, 8 a.m.
Thursday, Oct. 27: Section 1 outbracket matches (if necessary)
Friday, Oct. 28: Section 1 first round matches (all classes), 4:30 p.m. at higher seed
Monday, Oct. 31: Section 1 quarterfinals (AA, C), 4:30 p.m. at higher seed
Tuesday, Nov. 1: Section 1 quarterfinals (A, B), 4:30 p.m. at higher seed
Wednesday, Nov. 2: Section 1 semifinals (AA, C), 4:30 p.m. at higher seed
Thursday, Nov. 3: Section 1 semifinals (A, B), 4:30 p.m. at higher seed
Friday, Nov. 4: Section 1 Class A final at Hendrick Hudson HS, 5 p.m.
Friday, Nov. 4: Section 1 Class AA final at Hendrick Hudson HS, 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, Nov. 5: Section 1 Class C final at John Jay-Cross River HS, 2 p.m.
Saturday, Nov. 5: Section 1 Class B final at John Jay-Cross River HS, 6 p.m.
(Editor’s note: The section is currently working on getting all four finals to one location, so this is subject to change.)

Regionals, states, and more

Monday, Nov. 7: Section 1 all-section, all-league meeting at Hendrick Hudson HS, 7 p.m.
Tuesday/Wednesday, Nov. 8-9: Class AA-C state regional semifinals: Section 1 vs. Section 9 at SUNY Ulster, 3 and 5 p.m. (specific schedule is still being finalized)
Saturday, Nov. 12: Class D state regional final: Section 1 vs. Section 9 or 11 at Pelham Memorial HS, 11 a.m.
Monday, Nov. 14: NYSPHSAA regional finals at Section 4
(AA: 11 a.m., B: 1 p.m., C: 3 p.m., A: 5 p.m.)
Saturday, Nov. 19: NYSPHSAA semifinals at Glens Falls Civic Center
(A, B, D: 8 a.m., AA, C: 2 p.m.)
Sunday, Nov. 20: NYSPHSAA finals at Glens Falls Civic Center
(A: 10 a.m., B, D: 12 p.m., AA, C: 2 p.m.)
Monday, Nov. 21: Section 1 all-section dinner at Crowne Plaza in White Plains, 7 p.m.

For the third consecutive year, Cameron Young has won a match at the U.S. Amateur.

Cameron Young is all for a local version of the U.S. Amateur Four-Ball Championship.

After qualifying for match play by shooting a 1-over par total of 141, which left him in a tie for 41st, Young defeated Scottie Scheffler of Dallas 3-and-2 at Oakland Hills Golf Club in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, Wednesday.

Young, a Scarborough resident, took an early lead on Scheffler with a birdie on the par-4, 462-yard 1st hole.

After halving the next four, Scheffler squared the match with an eagle 2 on the short par-4 6th, but Young would regain a 1-up lead on the next hole, making a par to best Scheffler’s double bogey.

Young would win five of the next nine holes, icing the victory by making par on the 16th hole.

The rising sophomore at Wake Forest University has won a match in each of the last three years. He made the semifinals in 2014 at Atlanta Athletic Club before falling 1-down to eventual champion Gunn Yang of Korea. In 2015 at Olympia Fields, Young reached match play again, topping Yang 3-and-2 in the round of 64 before losing 7-and-6 to Jon Rahm of Spain in the round of 32.

Young will play fellow American Stephen Franken, a 1-up winner over Hunter Shattuck, Thursday morning at 8:50 in the round of 32.

Hastings’ Alex Bourgeois, center, celebrates with teammate Nate Constantine, after his goal against Rye Neck at the Section One Class B boys final at Arlington High School, Oct. 31, 2015.

2016 Hastings Yellow Jackets
Coach — Fred Sandhop
Ninth year as head coach

What was your final record last season and where did you finish in the playoffs? 17-3-3. Class B champs. NYS final four.

Who are your key returning players?
Nate Constantine, Sr., Mid/Def
Andrea Russo, Sr., Mid
Jackson Silverstein, Sr., Mid
Alex Bourgeois, Jr., Mid/Def
Daymon Theodule, Sr., GK

Who are the key players that you lost to graduation? 
Will Berritt 
Jordan Heinlein 
John Ceballos

Did you gain or lose any players from the U.S. Academy system? We didn’t lose any players to the U.S. Academy system, which we are very happy about.

Who is the most skilled offensive player on your team? We have a lot of very good, talented individual players who play very well as a team. They have all proven to be unselfish players, putting the team before themselves.

The best defender? We defend as a group. As a whole, we are very hard to beat.

The fastest? To be determined.

The biggest hustler? To be determined.

What do you consider to be your team’s biggest challenges for the season? We graduated a lot of very good players (1 All-State, 3 All-Section and several All League players) and that will be a difficult challenge to overcome.

What would you like your team identity or motto to be? Play the game the way it was intended to be played and have fun doing it.

Up next: Briarcliff

I’ll be posting these previews every day leading up to the start of the high school season in early September. Coaches, if you did not receive a capsule email and would like to participate, please fill out the questions below and send them to me at vmercoglia@lohud.com.

Rick Powers (left) went looking for the story behind St. Andrew’s member Charles Sands, who won the first Olympic medal in golf, at the urging of club president George Miller (right).

HASTINGS – Charles E. Sands was a footnote in history before golf was reinstated as an Olympic sport.

The membership at St. Andrew’s knew the name.

Sands was a gentleman sportsman who joined the landmark club some five years before he went to Paris in 1900 and won the first Olympic golf competition, long before Justin Rose ever put a tee in the ground or dreamed of Olympic gold.

The rest of the story was sketchy, though.

“A year ago, we knew two things about Charles Sands,” longtime member Rick Powers said last week. “We knew he won the Olympics in 1900. We knew he reached the finals of the U.S. Amateur in 1895.

“It was all sort of lost in time.”

That changed quickly when St. Andrew’s president George Miller suggested the 70-year-old Mount Vernon resident with a background in marketing poke around.

“I got volunteered into the role,” said Powers, who admittedly is a history buff. “I had no idea this would become such a large story with so many facets. I didn’t know I would become so engaged.”

The end result is on display in the club’s new learning center.

A reasonably complete Sands bio came together over the course of the last year and the club was able to locate several photos of the Olympic champion, who was undoubtedly a more accomplished tennis player.

Mark Von Ulrich, another St. Andrew’s member with a graphic design company, assembled the display and built pages for the club’s website.

“Each time Rick says, ‘We found these things’ it was really Rick doing some great detective work,” Miller said. “It really was a lot of fun, every few weeks he would add more texture to this amazing story.”

Sands was celebrated at St. Andrew’s over the July 4 weekend.

He was born in New York City to Samuel Stevens Sands and Mary Emily Sands. There were 11 children in the family. His father ran a namesake brokerage firm and was a founding member of the New York Stock Exchange.

Sands attended Columbia College where in addition to being a noteworthy tennis player, he was, according to a written account of a classmate that Powers unearthed, a standout in football and crew.

“We really liked that connection, said Miller, noting that St. Andrew’s has long been home to the university’s men’s team.

In the summer of 1895, Sands became a member of the club. A short time later, he went to Newport Country Club to compete with 31 other entrants in the first official U.S. Amateur Championship.

He took up the game just three months earlier and was hoping to gain competitive experience, but wound up advancing to play Charles Blair MacDonald in the 36-hole final, losing 12 and 11.

It was an unexpected run to say the least.

And when fellow competitor Winthrop Rutherford questioned the golfing acumen of Sands later that fall, the remark led to a grudge match at Meadow Brook Hunt Club on Long Island with each side putting up $1,000. It was an obscene amount of money. Sands won the match 3 and 2 and instantly gained a measure of celebrity.

It was a national story.

“Shortly afterward, the USGA adopted rules to control wagering by amateurs,” Powers said.

Clearly, he was an opportunistic golfer.

Sands had more credibility with a tennis racquet in hand, reaching the quarterfinals of the U.S. Open in 1894. After he graduated from Columbia in 1887, he began to play in professional competitions. He won national titles on both sides of the Atlantic. Sands also competed in the Olympics in lawn and court tennis.

It’s part of the reason why he was in Paris.

Sands played lawn tennis in 1900 and lost in the first round of men’s singles, men’s doubles and mixed doubles. He went to London for the 1908 Olympics and lost again in the first round of court tennis.

When the modern Olympic movement began, the Games were essentially a sidebar to the World’s Fair.

Sands was among the 12 competitors at the Compiegne Club north of Paris for the inaugural golf competition. He shot rounds of 82-85, beating Scotland’s Walter Rutherford by a stroke.

Powers came across photos of the medal Sands won in 1900 on the internet and quickly found it to be in possession of Bill Anderson, a retired history professor who taught at Suffolk Community College.

It was too close to home not to reach out.

“Bill was incredibly helpful,” Powers said. “We did go down to Long Island to meet with him and play golf. He doesn’t let anyone display the medal, but we got to see it and hold it. We took photographs to bring back.”

Anderson’s discovery is getting a lot of attention right now.

“I love golf history and I’m a collector by nature,” he said. “I specialize in medals and postcards. Back in 1999, I saw this medal on eBay. It was listed by an antiques dealer in New Jersey. There was no background on it, nothing that would be relative to its provenance.”

Anderson went right to work connecting the dots.

“It really getting a lot of attention lately,” he added. “I’ve been contacted by a number of different organizations that would like to display the medal. I was unwilling to part with it unless they sent me to Rio with it.”

St. Andrew’s club historian Bruce Clark poured through old club documents looking to find more Sands history.

“We don’t how long he was a member,” Powers said. “Bruce went through all of the minutes through 1905 and there is no mention of him leaving the club and they were careful to document that activity back then.”

Sands died in Brookville in 1945.

“I spent hundreds of hours on the project,” Powers said. “I became very passionate about it.”

And having a nearly complete backstory of Sands makes the members at St. Andrew’s a little more invested with the men’s tournament in Rio under way.

“We’re really proud of the history we have,” Miller said. “The leadership role St. Andrew’s has played in golf is really quite remarkable. We take all of it very seriously. Our club, we’re the right people to do this. He’s our guy.”

A display at St. Andrew’s Golf Club in Hastings honors Olympic medal winner Charles Sands Aug. 5, 2016. Sands was a member of St. Andrew’s and won the first Olympic medal in golf in Paris in 1900.

A display at St. Andrew’s Golf Club in Hastings honors Olympic medal winner Charles Sands Aug. 5, 2016. Sands was a member of St. Andrew’s and won the first Olympic medal in golf in Paris in 1900.

Photos of Charles Sands on display at St. Andrew’s Golf Club in Hastings Aug. 5, 2016. Sands was a member of St. Andrew’s and won the first Olympic medal in golf in Paris in 1900.

Photos of Charles Sands on display at St. Andrew’s Golf Club in Hastings Aug. 5, 2016. Sands was a member of St. Andrew’s and won the first Olympic medal in golf in Paris in 1900.

A photo of the Olympic medal won by Charles Sands is on display at St. Andrew’s Golf Club in Hastings. Sands was a member of St. Andrew’s and won the first Olympic medal in golf in Paris in 1900. Retired Suffolk Community College history professor Bill Anderson bought the medals off eBay in 1999.

From left, Photo of Charles Sands on display at St. Andrew’s Golf Club in Hastings Aug. 5, 2016. Sands was a member of St. Andrew’s and won the first Olympic medal in golf in Paris in 1900.

Unfortunately for Cameron Young, he ran into Luck at the U.S. Amateur on Thursday.

Young, of Scarborough, was eliminated 6 and 4 by Curtis Luck of Australia in the Round of 16 at Oakland Hills Country Club in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, after Luck won five of the final eight holes played to ice the match on the 14th green with Young’s concession.

Cameron Young from Scarborough, N. Y. tees off on the first hole in the first round of the 2016 U. S. Amateur Four-Ball Championship at Winged Foot Colf Club in Mamaroneck on Saturday, May 21, 2016.

Earlier in the day, Young defeated Stephen Franken of Raleigh, North Carolina, in a marathon, 23-hole match where neither player held a lead greater than 1-up.

“It was one of those you expect to go right down to the end from the very beginning,” said Young, whose father, David, is the head golf professional at Sleepy Hollow Country Club. “I made a 12-footer on the very first hole to tie the hole, and from that point forward, it was just kind of knowing it was going to be a long match. It’s one of those you just have to hang in there.”

After squaring the match with a birdie on the par-5 12th, Young took a 1-up lead by making par against a bogey by Franken on the 13th, a lead he’d hold on to until a bogey on 18 against Franken’s par forced extra holes.

“I hit it about 60 yards right of the fairway and then hit like a low hook 6-iron around some trees into the right rough and took a full swing at that from 60 yards and happened to go the right distance and made like a 12-footer down the hill,” Young said of his birdie on the 12th. “He hit a bad chip on 13, and I just two-putted from down below the slope.”

Starting back at the first hole, Franken and Young matched pars to halve the first four extra holes.

On the par-4, 453-yard 5th hole, Young faced a tough birdie putt to win the match, and had encouragement from a familiar face.

“My mom told me that I was going to make it,” said Young, whose mother, Barbara, was his caddie. “I had a feeling I might, and I thought I did about halfway there, but just barely missed on the right.”

He knocked down the par putt, and Franken made a bogey.

Then, on the first tee at 3 p.m., Luck reared his ponytailed head.

Young made a double bogey on the first hole against a par from Luck, then fell 2-down on the third when Luck made a birdie against his par.

Young made back-to-back birdies on the par-4 3rd and 4th holes, but they would be his only wins of the match.

Luck would birdie four and win five of the next nine holes to punch his ticket to the quarterfinals.

Twitter: @LeifSkodnick

Soccer ball on grass

2016 Briarcliff Bears
Coach — Brandon Beck
11th year as head coach

What was your final record last season and where did you finish in the playoffs? 9-5-3, ranked No. 5 in Class B sectionals and lost to Edgemont in the quarterfinals.

Who are your key returning players? 
Eric Koenig, Senior.
Alex Leahy, Junior
Matt Cohen, Senior
Harrison Singer, Senior
Jack Dineen, Senior

Who are the key players that you lost to graduation? Alex Jacobs, Caleb Asamoah, Brendan Krupa, Aaron Duke.

Did you gain or lose any players from the U.S. Academy system? Yes. Alex Cabeca and Colby Cho.

Who is the most skilled offensive player on your team? Eric Koenig and Alex Leahy have developed a strong midfield presence. Matt Cohen was the second lead scorer behind Caleb Asamoah last year.

The best defender? Jack Dineen, Cam Fash, and John Gross return to the starting back line with plenty of experience from last season.

What do you consider to be your team’s biggest challenges for the season? Last year, we scored the most goals we have ever scored in a season (37), however, we also allowed more goals against than ever. We need to continue to increase goal output while decreasing our goals against ration. Developing our team defensive shape as a unit of 11 is critical. Secondly, we return 17 veterans, eight starters, and appear on paper to have plenty of experience. We will need to play smarter and quicker soccer this year, so we are hoping the experienced players will rise to the occasion. There are plenty of leaders on this team, but the developing transformational leadership in our team will take a lot of work. We are hopeful.

What would you like your team identity or motto to be? We have two team mottos: The players created this three season ago, and it has stuck: “Respect all. Fear none.” For this year, we want to raise our expectations and attempt to improve upon last season: “Nothing is given, only earned.”

In addition, we will be dedicated our season to fundraising and raising awareness for pediatric cancer. On October 17th, Pleasantville and Briarcliff will playing their final match of the season at Pace University, under the lights, and the match will be dedicated to this cause. We have been inspired by many of the teams around the section that have done this and hoping to continue to this tradition in the future.

Up next: John Jay

I’ll be posting these previews every day leading up to the start of the high school season in early September. Coaches, if you did not receive a capsule email and would like to participate, please fill out the questions below and send them to me at vmercoglia@lohud.com.

Yorktown’s Paul Nolan and John Jay’s Malachy Friel chase down a ball during the Yorktown vs. John Jay soccer game in Yorktown, Oct. 17, 2015.

2016 John Jay Indians
Coach — Peter Neidell
16th year as head coach

What was your final record last season and where did you finish in the playoffs? 7-8-3. We lost a heartbreaker to TZ 1-0 in the first round of the Class A playoffs.

Who are your key returning players? We have several three- and four-year varsity players returning this season in the midfield and up front: Cole Verbeke, Nick Giardina, Ian Woods, Jayson Sementilli and Malachy Friel have all been a big part of our varsity team the last few years. This being their senior season, we know they are a driven and motivated group of student-athletes and we anticipate them to get the best out of their teammates and to lead by example. Malachy Friel and Ian Woods are the leaders in the midfield and we expect them to direct and orchestrate the tempo of the matches this season. Strong distributors of the ball and outstanding off ball movement.

Who are the key players that you lost to graduation? Ryan Wanek, who is now playing in college after being a four-year starter at John Jay.

Did you gain or lose any players from the U.S. Academy system? None.

Who is the most skilled offensive player on your team? It’s a team game and we tell the players it takes 22 feet to score a goal. Cole Verbeke runs very well with the ball and can be a real threat to the opponents back line.

The best defender? We stress team defense and rely on the entire team to defend. Whether the team is high pressing or counter pressing, the emphasis is on defending with 11 players.

The fastest? Cole Verbeke and Jayson Sementilli give each other a great race and have excellent pace with and without the ball.

The biggest hustler? Nick Giardina is the hardest working player on the field. Works exceptionally hard with and without the ball.

What do you consider to be your team’s biggest challenges for the season? Finishing in and around the goal box is always a challenge. Responding to adversity within the game is always a challenge.

What would you like your team identity or motto to be? The prior girls coach, Paul Smith, used to always say be the best of the best, which is what we are asking of the players this season. We are always cautiously optimistic at this point in the season. The seniors are a driven and motivated group of student-athletes. Our goal is to be one of the top teams in the section, to compete for a league title and to be playing our best soccer of the season in late October. The boys and staff are excited for the start of the season at JJCR. Through hard work, team preparation and a little luck, we are hopeful to have a great season. We have a tough schedule and are excited to open the season on 9/3 against Island Trees in Long Island.

Up next: Elite 11 finalists

I’ll be posting these previews every day leading up to the start of the high school season in early September. Coaches, if you did not receive a capsule email and would like to participate, please fill out the questions below and send them to me at vmercoglia@lohud.com.

OSSINING – No one knows yet whether or not the Ossining football team will have a larger crowd than usual for its first varsity game of the season on Sept. 2, but one certainty is that the Pride will now be able to accommodate more fans than ever before.

New York State Sen. David Carlucci was on campus Friday afternoon for a ribbon-cutting ceremony to christen the field’s brand-new bleachers and press box, both of which were funded through a $230,000 grant secured by Carlucci after working with the Ossining Union Free School District.

“Not only does it help the athletics, and increase the morale in the overall school district, but it also gives a place for the community to come together to cheer on our children,” Carlucci said. “We’ve got to take pride in our students — that’s the number one asset of our community, and it’s a way that we can all come together as a community no matter what your background is.”

From left to right, Ossining football players Hearthon Sewell-Richards and Shamar Holebrook, New York State Sen. David Carlucci, and football players Liam O’Connor, Mark Clase and Justin Everett stand in front of the new press box.

The new bleachers will hold 1,000 fans, nearly double what they held last year. Three sections of the previous bleachers remain on the far side of the field, holding approximately another 150 fans. Pride head coach Dan Ricci said the new bleachers will allow fans to move more freely, enter and exit with greater ease, and is now handicap accessible.

The new bleachers sit atop a 4-foot platform, allowing fans to have a more aerial view of the field. That foundation, plus the new press box, will also allow coaches to scout closer to the field, and no longer from the third story of the high school, which opened in 1929.

“It was really outdated,” Ricci said of the old bleachers, installed in 2006. “This was always something needed, the district just didn’t have the money to put in for it. It was in a bond at one point, that bond didn’t pass, so Senator Carlucci came up with the money through the state and the grant, and it’s something we desperately needed.”

Ricci, a former Ossining football player, said the remodeled field will boost his players’ motivation and excitement levels and has been a source of pride for himself as an alum of the school.

The new bleachers at Ossining High School will hold 1,000 fans, nearly double what the old bleachers could hold.

“It just looks like every other school in Westchester County now,” Ricci said. “You never really realize it until you got the new field, and when you have a new field and these little old bleachers, it definitely stood out.”

Ricci added that the renovations will hopefully allow Ossining to host Section 1 championships in lacrosse or field hockey in the future.

Ossining senior defensive tackle Justin Everett will likely have a different demeanor on opening day, but the 6-foot, 230-pounder was all smiles when talking about the remodeling done to the field.

“I can see it right now — I just see us playing the game, looking in the bleachers and everybody’s just cheering us on,” Everett said. “We’re playing for everybody, we’re playing for ourselves, and we play as a family, so I think that’ll be great.”

Twitter: @Zacchio_LoHud

CORTLANDT MANOR – The wood blocks lying on the grass next to the volleyball nets that were set up behind Walter Panas High School were not there by accident. They were place-markers showing Andreo Otiniano, the lone male playing in the annual Section 1 grass doubles tournament Saturday, where he was allowed to hit.

It was the lone stipulation for the Mamaroneck volleyball alum, and one that did little to stop him and Yonkers senior Nicole Frascati from taking home top honors in the ‘‘A’’ Division. The duo held off Panas juniors Yvette Burcescu and Sabrina Patriciello, 21-18, in the final.

Mamaroneck alum Andreo Otiniano, left, and Yonkers senior Nicole Frascati won the annual Section 1 grass doubles tournament at Walter Panas High School on Saturday.

“It was nice to play with everyone again and not get criticized or ridiculed,” said Otiniano, who was the focus of a Journal News feature last year about his commitment to Mamaroneck despite being ruled ineligible to continue playing for the varsity girls volleyball team.

LOVE OF THE GAME: Mamaroneck’s Andreo Otiniano’s love for the game undeterred

COLUMN: Mixed competition rules are a gray area

Frascati said she’s always wanted to play with Otiniano since the two became friends through an open gym at Downstate Volleyball Club in Peekskill, where Frascati plays her travel ball.

“He’s such a great partner,” she said. “I wasn’t going to do (the tournament) at first, but I’m happy that I asked him.”

Burcescu, the reigning Journal News Westchester/Putnam volleyball player of the year, said she didn’t mind Otiniano playing “at all.” The recent Tulane-committed outside hitter said more guys should be involved in volleyball, particularly the grass doubles tournament.

“I think it’s fun, and I think it’s extra competition,” she said. “It’s unusual, because you never really play against guys in indoor, so I think it’s different and it’s nice to see something else.”

Burcescu earned a moral victory in the semifinals after eliminating three-time champions Tara Malone and Meagan Gallagher, who knocked out Burcescu and Ardsley’s Christina Chu last year. Malone and Gallagher, who attend Maria Regina and Kennedy Catholic, respectively, won back-to-back titles in the ‘‘B’’ Division before taking home the ‘‘A’’ championship last year.

“I mean, we’re close friends with them, so it’s not like we’re all in their face,” Burcescu said, before bursting into a chuckle, “but it feels good.”

Panas volleyball head coach and tournament co-director Joe Felipe may not have seen any of his pupils win in the ‘‘A’’ Division, but he quite literally went back home with hardware after his daughter Gianna helped win the ‘‘B’’ Division title alongside eighth-grader Kirsten Yager.

The tournament also allowed a pair of former teammates to reunite on the court one last time.

North Rockland junior Madison Monahan joined forces with sophomore Jaida Patrick, who transferred to Long Island Lutheran over the summer. Patrick, a standout volleyball and basketball player, has already picked up an offer to play basketball for Stony Brook.

“Madison has always been a really close teammate of mine,” Patrick said of Monahan, with whom she also played modified volleyball. “We’re always silly — always singing, dancing — and we just have a really chill, funny vibe to us.”

Twitter: @Zacchio_LoHud

Rye head coach Dennis Hurlie talks to his team during a 37-31 win over Pearl River in the girls Class A semifinal at the Westchester County Center in White Plains. Feb. 25, 2016.

Mike Zacchio

Abertus Magnus girls basketball will compete in Class AA for the first time in program history this season.

Albertus Magnus was informed Monday that its girls basketball team would be moving up to Class AA, the highest classification in Section 1, starting this season.

The ruling means the three most prominent private school girls basketball programs in Section 1 — Albertus Magnus, Ursuline, and Lourdes — will be competing together in Class AA for the first time ever.

“When Lourdes went on their run, there was no rule,” Albertus Magnus head coach Pat Buckley said Wednesday, referring to the Warriors’ stretch of 19 section titles from 1986-2007, when they were bumped up to Class AA. “Recently, (the section is) more in tune to it.”

Whether the decision to move Albertus Magnus up was right or wrong can be debated long after the Falcons’ incoming freshmen class graduates, but it is the lesser of two evils.

The topic of private schools competing for public school championships — such as Section 1 and New York State Public High School Athletic Association titles — has been a sore one for decades, and understandably so.

MAGNUS: Albertus Magnus girls basketball moved up to Class AA

COLUMN: Ursuline finally finds ‘A’ home

COLUMN: What to do with private schools in Section 1?

Public schools argue that privates should not be allowed to compete for the same championships because of their ability to draw any student to their school. While public schools often boast significantly higher enrollment numbers, they can only draw from students who live in the area.

Private schools argue that, while they can draw any student from any location, there is also thousands of dollars in tuition associated with the student’s enrollment. The tuition at Albertus Magnus will cost just under $11,500 for the upcoming school year, according to the school’s website. Lourdes and Ursuline come with bills of $8,000 and $18,250, respectively, according to their sites.

This does not include personal reasons for a student’s attendance, such as wanting a Catholic school education or their family’s legacy at the school.

Albertus Magnus guard Dani LaRochelle (3) defends Ursuline forward Katie McLoughlin (21) during a Section 1 Class A semifinal at the Westchester County Center.

Both sides have valid points, but nonetheless, the issue remains.

Several public school coaches in lower classifications have gone on record saying that if private schools with competitive sports programs have to compete in the section, then they should be playing in the highest classification — which boasts the largest schools by enrollment numbers. The section’s decision Monday granted those wishes.

“My opinion, if you’re a private school, you should be in AA — that goes across the board. Albertus, as well,” Pelham girls basketball head coach Tim Pitrulle said last year, just before it was finalized that Ursuline would drop down to Class A for the 2015-16 season. “If (private schools) want to be in Section 1, or they’re grandfathered in, it’s understandable. I don’t mind playing them, but if they’re going to play in the playoffs, they should be in the highest class.”

Pitrulle coached at Maria Regina, a private school based in Hartsdale, for more than a decade before taking over at Pelham.

With Albertus Magnus moving up to Class AA, it will abolish the argument that it’s unfair to have some private schools in one classification and some playing in another.

“It does make it more open,” Rye girls basketball head coach Dennis Hurlie, who led the Garnets to a Section 1 Class A title last season, said of this year’s field. “I think it’s basketball where it has the biggest impact, where two or three players can change the landscape of the game.”

Rye girls basketball head coach Dennis Hurlie talks to his team during a timeout against Saugerties in the Class A state regional semifinal at the Westchester County Center in White Plains March 1, 2016.

Albertus Magnus, which has reached the Westchester County Center — home of the Section 1 basketball championships — in 17 consecutive seasons, should extend the streak this year. Ursuline and Lourdes should also be strong contenders for a spot in the section semifinals.

The move has left a sour taste in the mouths of Class AA programs who now feel their chances of reaching the County Center have diminished significantly.

“For some schools, just getting there is the dream — it’s The Mecca for us,” said Fox Lane girls basketball head coach Kris Matts, who coached alongside Pitrulle at Maria Regina. “(Private schools) arguing that, ‘We haven’t won anything,’ for a public school, that’s a really hollow argument.”

Fox Lane has been eliminated from the Section 1 tournament by a private school three times in the past four seasons. No Section 1 girls basketball final has ever featured two private schools.

In a perfect world, private schools would be able to compete with public schools during the regular season before playing for a separate sectional and state title. Those same private schools would then be allowed to participate in the Federation Tournament of Champions at the end of the year.

That’s not the world we live in.

Whatever the section decided in regards to Albertus Magnus, it was bound to rub someone the wrong way. The private schools (the ones who are great at basketball, anyway) are all in the same class, which is at least a step — however small — in the right direction.

Twitter: @Zacchio_LoHud, @LoHudGirlsHoops

Soccer ball on grass

Hope everyone had a good summer.

Kind of hard to believe (at least to me), but fall season is very close to starting up. Practices will officially kick off tomorrow, and we’ll be making the rounds around Section 1 this coming week with camp coverage.

I say “we’ll” because I will not be running the blog this upcoming season. I accepted an editing/producing position at lohud; this means that I’ll be spending most of my time sitting at a desk editing stories instead of reporting.

We’ll be hiring someone soon to take my spot in running the blog, but in the meantime, me and everyone else on the sports staff will be pitching in.

While I’m still working out our itinerary for the week, we’ll kick of pre-season coverage with stops to Bronxville and Scarsdale. I’ll be waking up early to catch up with the Broncos at their 6 a.m. practice, while Josh Thomson will be at Scarsdale’s practice later in the morning. Be sure to follow me (@Szkolar_Lohud) and Josh (@lohudinsider) on Twitter for updates.

I’ll post our next camp stops later in the week as soon as I finalize practice times. In the meantime, be sure to stay cool and stay hydrated out there. It should shape up to be an exciting season.

Mamaroneck alum Andreo Otiniano, left, and Yonkers senior Nicole Frascati won the annual Section 1 grass doubles tournament at Walter Panas High School on Saturday.

Yvette Burcescu (5) of Walter Panas shows determination in the match against Burnt Hills in the Class A State Volleyball Finals at the Glens Falls Civic Center on Sunday November 22, 2015. (Codee Carlisle)

Panas Sabrina Patriciello, passes the ball during a two-game sweep of Kings Park at the state volleyball championships on Saturday, Nov. 21, 2015, at the Glens Falls Civic Center.

Panas’ Lauren Feeley goes up for a spike during a two-game loss to Burnt Hills at the state volleyball championships at the Glens Falls Civic Center on Saturday, Nov. 21, 2015.

Hen Hud’s Zoe Staats returns a shot to Owego during the Class B regional final between Hendrick Hudson and Owego at John Jay High School in Cross River, Nov. 14, 2015. Hen Hud lost to Owego in five games.

Haldane defeats Shelter Island 3-0 in the NYSPHSAA Class D state regional semifinal volleyball game at Pelham Memorial High School on Tuesday, Nov. 10, 2015. Haldane won 25-7, 25-9, 25-20.

Yorktown High School defeated John Jay 3-0 in the sectional semifinal match at John Jay High School in Cross River on Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2015.

Yorktown defeated John Jay 3-0 in the class A semifinal volleyball game at John Jay High School in Cross River on Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2015.

Game action between Ardsley and Nanuet High School Section 1 Class B quarterfinal volleyball at Ardsley High School on Nov. 3, 2015.

Scarsdale swept Ursuline, 25-20, 25-16, and 25-23 in volleyball action at Scarsdale High School Oct. 20, 2015.

Scarsdale swept Ursuline, 25-20, 25-16, and 25-23 in volleyball action at Scarsdale High School Oct. 20, 2015.

Scarsdale swept Ursuline, 25-20, 25-16, and 25-23 in volleyball action at Scarsdale High School Oct. 20, 2015.

From left, Hen Hud’s Kristin Loh (21) gets a shot by Walter Panas’ Shauna O’Flaherty (11) during volleyball action at Hendrick Hudson High School in Montrose Oct. 8, 2015. Panas swept the host 3-0.

Hendrick Hudson swept all three games from visiting Yorktown during volleyball action at Hendrick Hudson High School in Montrose Sept. 10, 2015.

Hendrick Hudson’s Kristin Loh (17) gets a shot by Yorktown’s Toni Fiore (15) and Macey Dresek (10) during volleyball action at Hendrick Hudson High School in Montrose Sept. 10, 2015. The Sailors took all three games.

Ardsley plays in the NYSPHSAA volleyball pool play Class B semifinals at the Glens Falls Civic Center Nov. 15, 2014.

Panas’ Julianna Bottarini (1) prepares to serve during the 11th Annual Panther Invitational Volleyball Tournament at Walter Panas High School in Cortlandt Manor on Saturday, September 27, 2014.

North Rockland’s Madison Monahan (4) returns to New Rochelle’s Madeline Smith (42) during the game at North Rockland High School in Thiells on Sept. 2, 2014. New Rochelle won the first two sets.

Every year, the Journal News/lohud selects a list of the top returning players in each sport, with our annual football list — commonly referred to as the “Super 11” team — has become one of the biggest announcements during the preseason each fall. While we will still announce a list of seven players for volleyball, I’ve decided to make things a little more interesting by naming 15 finalists a week before the final list is unveiled:

Players cool down after the morning session of the first day of soccer practice at Tappan Zee High School Aug. 22, 2016.

Tappan Zee sophomore Jorge Umana during the first day of soccer practice at Tappan Zee High School Aug. 22, 2016.

Tappan Zee junior Joe Stahl during the first day of soccer practice at Tappan Zee High School Aug. 22, 2016.

Coach Job Jacobs leads the first day of soccer practice at Tappan Zee High School Aug. 22, 2016.

Tappan Zee senior Jack Samett during the first day of soccer practice at Tappan Zee High School Aug. 22, 2016.

Players cool down after the morning session of the first day of soccer practice at Tappan Zee High School Aug. 22, 2016.

PEARL RIVER — Once the handshakes were completed and the Pearl River boys soccer team had shuffled back onto the bus following its Class A semifinal win over Eastchester last October, everyone’s attention immediately turned to their cell phones.

Rockland County rival Tappan Zee was playing perennial Westchester power Byram Hills in the other semifinal, and the Pirates were anxious to see the result.

“I remember we were on the bus after we played Eastchester at the World Class field (in Orangeburg), and we were all going on Twitter,” senior striker Craig MacDonald said. “We saw the tweet that TZ had won in overtime, and we went crazy. It was huge. To play the team right next door in one of the biggest games that we’ll play — you dream about that.”

Pearl River prevailed over the Dutchmen in the Section 1 final, breezing to a convincing 3-0 win on its way to the state championship game. The title marked the first for the Pirates since 1995 and resulted in a team which will go down as arguably the best in school history, but Monday marked the start of a new chapter and a new season.

BOYS SOCCER: ‘Elite 11’ finalists

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#LOHUDSOCCER PREVIEW: Tappan Zee

Less than five miles away, Tappan Zee was gathering for its first official practice of 2016. The Dutchmen still carry the sting of the disappointing loss, but their accomplishments were also noteworthy. Just three years prior, they were among the worst teams in Section 1, and they had never previously reached a Section 1 championship game.

Not too long ago, Westchester teams were considered the alpha dogs in the Class A landscape, with programs such as Byram Hills, Port Chester and Lakeland usually considered the preseason favorites.

Now the power may be shifting across the Hudson River into Rockland County.

“Westchester teams in the past have always been seen as the upper echelon of Section 1,” Tappan Zee senior Jack Samett said. “But now that two Rockland teams were in the final last year, I think people are going to start paying more attention to us.”

Pearl River and Tappan Zee combined to 35-6-2 last season and ended up sharing a league title, although the Pirates clearly got the last laugh.

Pearl River coach Damon O’Keefe (left) participates in practice on Monday, Aug. 22, 2016.

There is no love lost as both teams enter a new season with high expectations — “This year,” Pearl River coach Damon O’Keefe said, “we have full intentions of winning the league outright” — but there is also undeniable reverence.

“The respect is through the roof,” O’Keefe said. “We respect Jon (Jacobs) and his group a lot. Coach Jacobs is great. What he’s done with that program over the last few years has been phenomenal.”

Not only do the coaches speak highly of each other, but the players have similar feelings from playing in various offseason leagues together.

“We know a lot of those kids, like Joe Stahl and Jack Samett,” Pearl River senior Kevin Doorley said. “I’ve played with them for a while, and it’s great. It’s even more fun when you know them. After, you get to talk about it and be friends with them. It’s different on the field, but once you get off it, you’re back to being friends again.”

Both teams have holes to fill coming off of a memorable year, but there is no question that they remain viable contenders in Class A.

The Pirates will have several new starters after graduating a strong senior class, but they were noted for their depth last season and O’Keefe feels like he has players who are ready to step into more prominent roles.

Coach Job Jacobs leads the first day of soccer practice at Tappan Zee High School Aug. 22, 2016.

The Dutchmen will need to find some offense after losing their top scorers, but their defense will remain one of the best in Section 1 with a couple of highly-regarded returners in Stahl, Samett and Sam Gould.

“We have to find some depth on that bench, but we really feel that the first 11 guys we put out there can compete with anybody,” O’Keefe said. “As long as we can mentally, emotionally and physically stay within ourselves, I think we have a good chance.”

The rest of Rockland County has some catching up to do. Suffern and North Rockland should be competitive in Class AA, while teams like Nyack, Nanuet, Spring Valley and the Clarkstowns are coming off of down years.

They can look to Pearl River and Tappan Zee as examples of how to turn things around, and they can thank them for putting Rockland County soccer back on the map in Section 1.

“I don’t think there’s a bigger rivalry in Section 1 than TZ and Pearl River,” Jacobs said. “Growing up a Tappan Zee graduate, it’s something that I’ve been a part of for the better part of 20 years. It never gets old. Having two capable teams so close to one another just makes it that much more special.”

Twitter: @vzmercogliano

Tappan Zee sophomore Jorge Umana during the first day of soccer practice at Tappan Zee High School Aug. 22, 2016.

ORANGEBURG — Each year under boys soccer coach Jon Jacobs seems to be better than the last for Tappan Zee.

The Dutchmen have made steady improvements in each of his first three seasons at the helm, winning at least 10 games each year. Last season was the best yet, capped by the program’s first-ever trip to the Section 1 finals.

There’s really only one more step for TZ to take — winning a section title — but that end goal should prove to be more difficult than any of the previous accomplishments.

“(The section final) was the biggest game in our program’s history, especially against Pearl River — our rivals and a team that we play all of the time,” senior Jack Samett said. “It just leaves you hungry for this year.”

Although the Dutchmen lost to rival Pearl River in the section final, they picked up the biggest win in program history in the semifinals. Byram Hills was ranked No. 1 in New York State for a stretch last season, but Lukas Puris scored an overtime goal to knock off the Bobcats in a thrilling victory.

“We’ve always been seen as a very capable team,” Samett said. “But I think that raised our standard.”

COLUMN: Pearl River, Tappan Zee elevate Rockland County soccer

Since Jacobs’ arrival in 2013, the Dutchmen have been known for their air-tight defense. They’ve earned the reputation as one of the most difficult teams to score on in Class A, and that trend should continue in 2016.

TZ graduated All-Section defender James Hennessy, but it returns three starters in Samett, Joe Stahl and Sam Gould. Stahl is a junior who formerly played with the U.S. Academy, and he’s already considered one of the best in Section 1.

“It was a great experience, coming from the Academy. The kids on team were great,” Stahl said. “We have very high expectations. … As coach always says, ‘The attack leads from the back.’ We always tell everybody where to go.”

The defense will need to be stout because many of the Dutchmen’s most reliable scorers have graduated, namely Puris, Eoghan McGee and Chris Mulqueen.

Daesob Lim and the Shalvey’s — Thomas, Kyle and Ciaran — will be looked at to carry the burden.

“We lost a unique group of guys to graduation, as most programs do,” Jacobs said. “But I think we have a very, very capable group of younger players who are going to moving up. There are expectations and big shoes to fill, and there are going to be a lot of opportunities out there. We have more than enough capable players to hopefully seize those moments.”

More so than winning a section title, Jacobs stressed that TZ will dedicate this season to athletic director Liam Frawley, who remains hospitalized after aneurysm burst in his brain in January.

“For me personally — and it’s something that I hope the guys will embrace as we go along — is that this year is big one for us, playing with heavy hearts with our athletic director, Mr. Liam Frawley, on the mend and in hospital,” Jacobs said. “He’s meant a lot to this program and he’s always been our biggest supporter. He’s been a huge part of why the program has taken off the way that it has in recent years.”

Twitter:  @vzmercogliano