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.
2024-25 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 Simona Scavio (Varsity Gymnastics), Isak Brkanovic (Varsity Swimming), Jack Larson (Varsity Indoor Track & Field) and Saida Assabahi (Varsity Indoor Track & Field) for earning final DOW (Dutchmen of the Week) honors for the winter season.
Simona Scavio (Varsity Gymnastics)
At sectionals, Simona placed sixth on the floor and qualified for the NYSPHSAA Gymnastics Championship Meet. Simona worked so hard to achieve her goals this season. Congratulations Simona!
Isak Brkanovic (Varsity Swimming)
At the Section II Division I Championship, Isak Brkanovic dominated from start to finish. Isak went on to win both his sectional events 50 Free (20.69) & 100 Breast 58.57, both state qualifying times. He was part of the team’s second place 200 Free Relay and fifth place 200 Medley Relay. Isak was voted by the Section II coaches as Co-Swimmer of the Meet. In addition, Isak’s 50 Freestyle time of 20.69 has him ranked #1 in NYS going into the State Championship meet. Isak has also made state qualifying times in the 200 Free, 200 Individual Medley and 100 Freestyle. Throughout the year, Isak’s hard-work and dedication to his team has not only made him the fastest swimmer in the area, it has helped make him be a great leader for the nineteen other Guilderland/Voorheesville swimmers.
Jack Larson (Varsity Indoor Track & Field)
Jack Larson has had a stand-out season on the Varsity Indoor Track & Field team. He competed at Section II State Qualifiers at Hudson Valley Community College and flew his way into qualifying for State Championships for the first time in his Indoor Track career. He qualified and set a personal record in both Long Jump and the 300m dash, placing second in Long Jump with a distance of 21′-2.25″ inches and third in the 300m, running 37.14 seconds. Jack’s impressive performance at state qualifying races is a direct reflection of who he is as a student athlete; he is a role model in his determination, attitude, and passion to succeed both on the track and in the classroom. We are eager to watch him soar as he prepares to compete on March 8 at the Indoor Track State Championships in Ocean Breeze.
Saida Assabahi (Varsity Indoor Track & Field)
Saida had an unbelievable week for the Girls Indoor Track team! She competed in three races at Section 2 Championships and had an amazing come from behind victory as the anchor leg of our 4×200 team. She followed that up with two individual wins in the 300m dash and the 55m dash. Saida scored 30 points for the team to help them win their third Sectional title in a row. Once again, she anchored our 4×200 team who placed first at Section 2 State Qualifiers. She ran the two rounds of the 300m dash masterfully and placed third against unbelievable competition and will be representing our team at the NYSPHSAA State Championships in both events. Saida is always, without hesitation, willing to do whatever it takes to help her team. Running that many races in one week, on the Hudson Valley Community College track, is a difficult task and she threw down one amazing performance after another, in two of the most important meets of the season. Saida, we are so proud of you!
Congratulations to Julia Beyer, Alexa Kosier, Braelyn Cornell and Addison Vellekoop named Dutchmen of the Week for the week of Feb. 3.
Julia Beyer, Alexa Kosier, Braelyn Cornell, and Addison Vellekoop (4×800 relay team)
Julia Beyer, Alexa Kosier, Braelyn Cornell, and Addison Vellekoop competed in the 4×800 meter relay Saturday at the 117th Millrose Games in NYC. The girls ran a time of 9 minutes 8.68 seconds. They placed 3rd in a race that was loaded with 12 really fast teams, including 8 of the top 10 teams in the country!
This was a school record, #1 in NYS, #3 in the US, and the 7th fastest time ever run in Section 2 History. This section is well known for distance runners. To be #7 on that list is unheard of.
Important Athletics Updates and Dates
Athletics Updates
GHS senior Isak Brkanovic wins state swim title
Guilderland High School senior Isak Brkanovic won a state title in the 50-yard freestyle with a time of 20.52 seconds at the New York State Public High School Athletic Association Boys’ Swimming and Diving State Championships held at Ithaca College’s Kelsey Partridge Bird Natatorium.
Brkanovic became the first GHS boys’ swimmer to win a state title and the second swimmer ever from the merged Guilderland/Voorheesville program to win a state championship. He competed in two events at the state meet, finishing in second place, as a state runner up, in the 100 freestyle.
Congratulations to State Champion Isak Brkanovic and coaches on a historic season!
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!
Athletics Dates
Monday, July 29: Grade 9-12 fall athletes should begin submitting the required health forms to the school nurse
Monday, Aug. 5: Grade 7-8 fall athletes should begin submitting the required health forms to the school nurse
Monday, Aug. 19: Varsity & JV football start date
Monday, Aug. 26: First day of Varsity, JV and Freshman fall sports
Thursday, Aug. 29: Modified football start date
Tuesday, Sept. 3: First day of Modified fall sports
Monday, Oct. 21: Grade 9-12 winter athletes should begin submitting the required health forms to the school nurse
Monday, Oct. 28: Grade 7-8 winter athletes should begin submitting the required health forms to the school nurse
Monday, Nov. 18: First day of Varsity, JV and Freshman winter sports
Monday, Nov. 25: First day of Modified winter sports
Tuesday, Feb. 18, 2025: Grade 9-12 spring athletes should begin submitting the required health forms to the school nurse
Monday, Mar. 3: Grade 7-8 spring athletes should begin submitting the required health forms to the school nurse
Monday, Mar. 17: First day of Varsity, JV and Freshman spring sports
Monday, Mar. 31: First day of Modified spring sports
Thursday, June 12: Senior Sports Awards in GHS Auditorium, 7 p.m., by invitation only
Monday, Aug. 18: First day of Varsity, JV and Freshman fall sports
Thursday, Aug. 28: First day of Modified football
Tuesday, Sept. 2: First day of all other Mod 9 and Modified fall 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