The GCSD athletic program is founded on the principle that the playing field is an extension of the classroom and the athletic experience contributes to the growth of mind and body.
The cornerstones of the Dutchmen tradition were laid generations ago by some of the community’s most respected student-athletes, many of whom continue to be involved in the athletic program as supportive parents and sports boosters. While the names change from year to year, the principles they embodied remain the same – dedication and desire, cooperation and compassion, and the importance of working collectively toward a common goal. These are just some of the ideas that echo across the Guilderland playing fields and gymnasiums.
2023-24 Dutchmen of the Week
Each week, we highlight two student-athletes (Modified, Mod 9, Frosh, JV or Varsity level) for athletic accomplishments.
- The athlete should have made a significant impact to a contest within the nomination time frame, which is the week prior to selection; or
- The athlete must have shown excellent leadership, sportsmanship, noticeable improvement/effort, community service and/or other notable trait(s).
Congratulations to Calleigh Del Pozzo (Varsity Track & Field) and Saida Assabahi (Varsity Track & Field) for earning DOW (Dutchmen of the Week) honors for the week of June 2.
Calleigh Del Pozzo (Varsity Track & Field)
Calleigh, a 10th grader, ended the best season of her young career as a two-time champion in the discus! At Suburban Council championships, she overcame a difficult wind to hold off her competitors and win the event. She followed this up with a personal best 103′ 7″ throw at Sectionals, helping lead our team to win the Group 1 Championship by over 100 points! Calleigh was our top discus thrower and shot putter throughout the season and has a promising career ahead of her. Congratulations, Calleigh!
Saida Assabahi (Varsity Track & Field)
Saida has been working incredibly hard all season, and that hard work has paid off during our Championship season. Saida competed in 4 events at Section 2 Championships. She ran her best times ever in 3 out of 4 races to help score 32 points for our team. She placed 2nd in the 200m dash, 2nd in the 400m dash, 3rd in the 100m dash and was on the winning 4x400m relay team. I should add that this was all done on the hottest day of our competition season so far!! She followed that up by running another PR, and the 3rd fastest time in program history, in the 400m dash at State Quals to qualify for the State Championship meet!!! She has also qualified in the 100m dash, 4x100m relay, and 4x400m relay!!! During this high pressure point in our season Saida approaches every day with a positive attitude and unbelievable work ethic! She is supportive and kind to her teammates and helps create a positive team environment. We are so proud of everything Saida has accomplished this season!!!
Congratulations to Rajeev Rai (Varsity Tennis) and Sam Manzella (JV Baseball) for earning DOW (Dutchmen of the Week) honors for the week of May 13.
Rajeev Rai (Varsity Tennis)
Rajeev Rai had some BIG shoes to fill playing #1 for the Boys Varsity Tennis Team, as an eighth grade student. He had only 3 losses over the season, giving him a third seed in the Individual Sectionals. Rajeev played on Thursday, May 16, winning 2 matches. He played on Friday from 1 p.m. until 6:15 p.m. winning 2 more matches, earning him a spot in the semi-finals on Saturday. Rajeev began his match on Saturday at noon and finished at 3:00 p.m. Unfortunately Rajeev did not pull out the win, but he fought like crazy, losing 6-7, 6-7 to the #2 seed, who he had previously lost to 1-6, 2-6!! In that match, Rajeev hurt his ankle but played through the pain. After an hour of rest, he now had to play in another match to determine #3 and 4. Rajeev won the first set 6-3 but fell 6-7 in the second. Just after starting the third set Rajeev had to withdraw, as the pain in his ankle was too much. The tennis was finally over at 6:30 pm! Let’s celebrate Rajeev for an unbelievable fourth place finish in the Section 2 individual sectionals! Not only is Rajeev a winner, he always demonstrates good sportsmanship and gives 110%! Great season!
Sam Manzella (JV Baseball)
Sam has become a true leader for the team, both vocally and leading by example. He motivates his teammates and is always working to get better. He had another great week offensively. He collected two hits and two RBIs in a hard fought win over Ballston Spa and his best performance came in a win over Schenectady going 3-3 at the plate with five RBIs including a first inning grand slam. Great job Sam!
Important Athletics Updates and Dates
Athletics Updates
GHS girls track and field team wins NYSPHSAA/Federation Team title
The Guilderland High School girls outdoor track and field team won the team championship on Saturday, June 8, at the two-day NYSPHSAA/Federation Track and Field Championships held at Cicero-North Syracuse High School. This was a historic win for GHS track and field, as it was the first Federation team title for the program.
The 4×100 relay team of Parker Steele, Tatum Cramer, Kendall Barnhart and Saida Assabahi is the first Guilderland girls’ track relay team to win a NYSPHSAA Championship, finishing with a time of just over 48 seconds. Overall, the GHS team had a total of 15 top ten finishes at the meet, making 13 trips to the awards podium.
- Parker Steele (14.27) second place finish in the Division 1 100 hurdles
- Parker Steele (14.20) second place finish in the Federation 100 hurdles
- Kendall Barnhart (1:01.80) second place finish in the Federation 400 hurdles
- Tatum Cramer (19-6.50) second place finish in the Federation long jump
- Steele, Cramer, Barnhart and Saida Assabahi (48.17) second place finish in the Division 1 400 relay team
- Barnhart (1:02.34) third place finish in the Division 1 400 hurdles
- Cramer (18-7.25) third place finish in the Division 1 long jump
- Isabella Lagios, Assabahi, Lauren Burnash and Barnhart (3:57.03) third place finish in the Division 1 1600 relay team
The Federation title is added to a long list of achievements for the Guilderland girls’ track and field program which includes a gold medal at the 2023 New Balance Nationals and back-to-back Section 2 championships.
On Tuesday, June 11, the team and Head Coach Chris Scanlan were honored with a parade at GHS. The student body and staff lined the hallways to applaud and cheer for the athletes and coaches, as they processed throughout the building.
Congratulations to the GHS girls’ outdoor track and field team, their coaches and families on this historic and outstanding accomplishment!
GHS field hockey team wins Section II crown
Guilderland High School field hockey had a season for the record books! The team finished with 14 wins and 5 losses and had many “firsts” in program history, including:
- most wins in a season
- most goals, assists and points in a season
- a win at the field hockey national tournament for the first time
- earning the #1 overall seed in the Section 2 Class A tournament for the first time
The Lady Dutch won the Section 2 Class A title by beating Saratoga 2 -1. This is the second sectional title in program history and the second since 2019. Although the team fell to Mamaroneck in the regionals, it was a special season and we are so proud. Congratulations to GHS field hockey on an amazing season!
GHS boys soccer team wins Section II title
Guilderland boys soccer has had an outstanding season. The team boasts a record of 13 wins, three losses and three ties. They have only given up seven goals all season, highlighted by seven consecutive games without giving up a goal. The Dutchmen defeated Niskayuna by a score of 5-0 on Monday to capture a Class AA Sectional Title, their first sectional championship since 2013! The sectional championship was the third for Guilderland Head Coach Mike Kinnally. They are not quite done yet. They will play in the regional final on Saturday, Nov. 4, 2:30 p.m. against CBA Syracuse at Fayetteville-Manlius high school. Congratulations and good luck to the Guilderland Dutchmen boys soccer team!
Athletics Dates
Wednesday, June 14: Senior Sports Awards in GHS Auditorium, 7:00 p.m., by invitation only
Friday, July 21: Grade 9-12 fall athletes should begin submitting the required health forms to the school nurse
Friday, July 28: Grade 7-8 fall athletes should begin submitting the required health forms to the school nurse
Saturday, August 19: Varsity football start date
Monday, August 21: First day of Varsity, JV and Freshman fall sports
Thursday, August 24: Modified football start date
Monday, August 28: First day of Modified fall sports
Friday, October 13: Grade 9-12 winter athletes should begin submitting the required health forms to the school nurse
Friday, October 20: Grade 7-8 winter athletes should begin submitting the required health forms to the school nurse
Monday, November 13: First day of Varsity, JV and Freshman winter sports
Monday, November 20: First day of Modified winter sports
Monday, February 12: Grade 9-12 spring athletes should begin submitting the required health forms to the school nurse
Monday, February 26: Grade 7-8 spring athletes should begin submitting the required health forms to the school nurse
Monday, March 11: First day of Varsity, JV and Freshman spring sports
Monday, March 25: First day of Modified spring sports
Sports Sign-up Requirements
Students interested in playing school sports are required to sign-up in the school health office. Students will be given a sports packet to be completed and returned (in person, by mail, or by fax (High School) 518-861-5151 or (Middle School) 518-456-3747 before being cleared by the nursing staff prior to participating in tryouts for a particular sport. Additional sports packets will be available in the health office.
The sports sign-up packet includes three forms:
- Athletic Form which includes emergency contact information
- Required NYS School Health Examination Form (Completed by private physician or school physician)**
- Health History Update (This form cannot be completed earlier than 30 days prior to the start of the season.)
**If our nurse has a valid physical on file (within the last calendar year), the NYS School Health Examination Form is not required. It is only required if we do not have a valid physical on file.
You can find the forms here and download and print.
All three forms must be handed in before your try-out/practice starts. Students who do not follow this process and have not been approved by the health office will be considered ineligible for sports until they are cleared by nursing staff or our athletic trainer.
- Grade 7 & 8 Students- Should drop off completed forms to FMS Nurse Beth Ford
- Grade 9-12 Students- Should drop off completed forms to GHS Nurse Amanda Vogel