Latest news with #Westhill
Yahoo
03-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
High school lacrosse: South Jefferson, Watertown girls claim Section 3 titles
Jun. 3—CORTLAND — Monday proved to be a banner night for the Frontier League in girls lacrosse. One team successfully defended their sectional title and another returned to the championship ranks. South Jefferson defeated Westhill, 13-7, in the Class D final at SUNY Cortland. Advertisement In Class B, Watertown rallied to beat Auburn, also 13-7, at the same venue. With the win, the Spartans repeated as sectional champion. Meanwhile, the Cyclones prevailed to claim their first Section 3 title in nearly a decade. SOUTH JEFFERSON 13, WESTHILL 7 The top-seeded Spartans rode a surge in the fourth quarter to turn back the third-seeded Warriors and prevail in the Class D final. Amalia Netto scored three goals and assisted on two others, and Lily Morrison supplied three goals and an assist for South Jefferson (18-1). "It's amazing to be back here and get a two-peat again," Spartans senior Chloe Elmer said. "We're excited to be here obviously and excited for states." Advertisement Lydia Tremont tallied two goals and two assists, including the go-ahead goal in the fourth quarter, and Emma Kelley contributed two goals and an assist. The Spartans dominated in the possession game as Elmer won 16 draw controls. "Defensively we played well, but Chloe was dominant on the draw and we didn't have to play much defense," South Jefferson coach Jen Williams said. "Later on, we were winning ground balls at that point and we were possessing the ball, we were getting better looks and the girls came through." In an encounter which was close nearly throughout until the fourth quarter, South Jefferson finished with a flourish by generating the last six goals of the game. Advertisement "We knew they were going to give us a fight, there were matchups that are pretty consistent," Elmer said of Westhill. "But we knew we had the heart and we knew we had the confidence to go in and win and we executed, which is really important." "I think just our intensity was up, we were excited, we knew we had one goal and we wanted to do it as a team," Morrison, a senior midfielder, said. "And I think we all just kind of came together, like we put it together and got it done." After Westhill tied the game at 7-7 on a goal from Kara Rosenberger with 9:24 left in regulation, Tremont scored the go-ahead goal with 7:41 remaining, while the Spartans were a player up after a Westhill player was assessed a two-minute penalty. "The draws obviously helped, but the execution our offense had, we had good opportunities, we were man up for most of the game," Elmer, a senior defender, said. "And later on when were able to execute when we were a man up, that execution was important." Advertisement Kelley then followed with back-to-back goals, the first an unassisted effort and the second set up by Tremont with 4:58 left to build an 10-7 advantage. Netto would score 57 seconds later after Elmer won yet another faceoff and Morrison followed with a goal to extend the scoring run to five. Hodges would then add a goal to complete the scoring. "We had our last-minute push, the draws started clicking, the defense started clicking, the offense started clicking and we just really ran with it," Elmer said. Also with the triumph, South Jefferson also claimed back-to-back sectional titles for the first time in program history. Advertisement "It's something every team wants to do once, but we wanted to do it twice," Morrison said. "We really wanted this and we were excited to come back and get the opportunity to do it again and go as far as we can." "I never had a doubt, I was just anticipating it would have been a little bit easier," Williams said of the win. "But at the same time, I just think that, it's a championship-style game, this is a big stage for kids. And they handled it and they did well, they've earned it and I'm glad they came through with it." The Spartans now advance to a state quarterfinal when they'll face an opponent to be determined at 3 p.m. on Saturday at Christian Brothers Academy. Last year, the Spartans defeated Westhill in the final and went on to reach the state final in Class D. Advertisement WATERTOWN 13, AUBURN 7 Olivia Macutek and Alena Clough each scored four times to propel the top-seeded Cyclones past the second-seeded Maroons in the Class B title game. "This is so awesome, we have no words to describe it," Macutek said. Julia Covey and Delaney Callahan each contributed two goals to propel Watertown, which improves to 10-8 on the season. "I'm speechless, like genuinely speechless, it's like the greatest feeling ever," Clough said. Goalie Lilah Bieri made seven saves, including several clutch saves in the second half, to record the win. She was supported by a strong defensive effort as the Cyclones yielded only one goal in the second half. Advertisement Watertown trailed by two goals at halftime, but mounted a determined rally to take command. "I think we handled that well and we were just like 'who wants it?" Clough said of the team being down at halftime. "And we were like, 'we want it more,' so we went out there and we had to prove it." "I think after the first half, after we were able to kind of take it all in, this is a different atmosphere for us, obviously," Watertown coach Taylor Purvis said. "And we knew we had adjustments to make and we did a really good job of coming out in the second half and playing more confidently." Callahan and Adriana Arthur each scored a goal within a span of two minutes to draw the Cyclones even at 6-6. Advertisement Clough then struck for back-to-back goals, scoring twice within a span of 24 seconds. First, she converted on a free-position attempt with six minutes left in the quarter to provide Watertown with its first lead of the game at 7-6, then followed with an unassisted tally. Macutek followed by generating two quick goals within 48 seconds, first scoring 1:21 into the final period. After Auburn's Anna LeFevre scored just 12 seconds later, Macutek responded with tally set up by Clough to extend the lead to 10-7 and the Cyclones never looked back. "She (Clough) assisted one of mine and our teammates did a great job opening up lanes for us and we all just played together as one unit and really fed the ball well," Macutek said. Advertisement "Alena is one of our seniors so that was really awesome to see her perform the way she did and be successful with it," Purvis said. "Olivia, everyone knows she's one of our go-to (players), she's all over the field, she never gives up, her tenacity is something I hope all of our girls strive for all the time." In the meantime, Auburn went scoreless for nearly 15 minutes since their last goal in the second quarter. "I think energy, everyone was communicating and defense did a phenomenal job on really stopping the ball," Clough said of the team's success in the second half. "And heads up to our goalie Lilah Bieri, she had an amazing second half, had some key saves that really helped us translate to the offensive end and get those quick goals." "We knew that possession in the midfield was probably going to be where we struggled," Purvis said. "So being able to adjust to that in the second half and come up with the ball. Even when the times we didn't come up with it, the defense knew it was their job to stop them, and our goalie Lilah did great, she had a really great second half for us." Advertisement The Cyclones also secured their fourth sectional title and their first since the 2016 season. "We've had an up and down season, so for us to come out with a sectional title really means a lot to all the girls and us as coaches," Purvis said. "Just to know that we were working towards that and capable of achieving that goal is great." Watertown advances to a state quarterfinal to play Columbia of Section 2 at 2 p.m. on Saturday at Queensbury High School in the Glens Falls area.
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Westhill star Luke Gilmartin wins National Title at Cornell
FOXBOROUGH, MA (WSYR) — Cornell men's lacrosse brought home their first National Championship since 1977 and a local star was a part of the big game. Former Westhill lacrosse player, Luke Gilmartin, is now a national champ and we caught up with him after the big game on Monday. Click the video player above to watch Steve Infanti's interview with Luke. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
02-05-2025
- Yahoo
‘My heart breaks': In new message, Westhill superintendent address hazing incident, aftermath and steps forward
SYRACUSE, N.Y. (WSYR-TV) — The superintendent of the Westhill Central School District is out with a new statement to his district about the hazing within the boys varsity lacrosse team, the chaotic aftermath and how the district will move forward. 'My heart breaks first and foremost for the victims and their families,' wrote the superintendent in an email sent on Friday, May 2. 'The pain they have experienced is unimaginable, and they remain at the center of our concern.' The superintendent went on to mention the 11 students ticketed as a result of the incident. 'This situation has deeply affected our entire community. That includes the students involved, who have accepted responsibility,' said Dunham. 'While we are not able to share specific details about student discipline due to privacy laws, I want to be clear that accountability is essential. So too is empathy, so that healing can begin for everyone.' 'Hazing on steroids': Westhill ends boys lacrosse season as Onondaga County DA demands 11 of its players surrender The superintendent outlined steps the district will take to heal and improve the culture. Earlier this week, Dunham said the remainder of the boys varsity lacrosse season was cancelled to 'reset' the program. 'We will coordinate with the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) for additional training and resources for all coaches and student-athletes at every level,' said Dunham. 'We will also work with OCM BOCES to increase staff training and learning opportunities for students and families related to hazing, bullying, peer pressure, and mental health. We will undergo a thorough review of our existing policies and practices.' He also said his statement that the school can not change what has been done, but that going forward, the school district has a responsibility to identify what else they can do to eliminate behaviors like this. .'..In addition to the supports and programs we currently have in place district-wide to address hazing, bullying, and the social-emotional learning (SEL) needs of our students, we will expand the framework of supports to strengthen these areas,' said Dunham. Dunham pushes back on people criticizing the district's classification of the incident as 'hazing,' some suggesting it undermines the severity of the incident. Dunham said: ''Hazing' is the formal term available to us within the Code of Conduct to classify and address this behavior. The suggestion that we are downplaying what occurred by using that term is simply incorrect. This situation has both a criminal component and a Code of Conduct component, and both are being addressed with the seriousness they deserve.' 'While this dark cloud hangs over us, we must choose to move forward,' said Dunham.'…This is the time for us to stand together in support of our students, staff, families, and one another. We will get through this—together. Over the course of the past week, our community has been deeply impacted by the events involving members of the varsity boys lacrosse team. As the details became clear and the situation gained both local and national attention, everyone connected to our school community has been navigating a range of emotions—from sadness to anger, shock to heartbreak, and everything in between. My heart breaks first and foremost for the victims and their families. The pain they have experienced is unimaginable, and they remain at the center of our concern. This situation has deeply affected our entire community. That includes the students involved, who have accepted responsibility and will face consequences under the District Code of Conduct. While we are not able to share specific details about student discipline due to privacy laws, I want to be clear that accountability is essential. So too is empathy, so that healing can begin for everyone. From the outset of our investigation, we have approached this situation with compassion, integrity, and great care. Given the seriousness of the report we received, we immediately involved law enforcement. Since last Friday, we have been cooperating fully with the District Attorney and the Onondaga County Sheriff's Department. Throughout our internal process, we have used the term 'hazing' because it is the applicable charge under our District Code of Conduct. It refers to any behavior involving humiliation, embarrassment, or harmful group activity directed at another student. Hazing is both a violation of District policy and may also constitute criminal misconduct under New York State law. To be clear, 'hazing' is the formal term available to us within the Code of Conduct to classify and address this behavior. The suggestion that we are downplaying what occurred by using that term is simply incorrect. This situation has both a criminal component and a Code of Conduct component, and both are being addressed with the seriousness they deserve. As I have shared previously, any behavior that endangers the physical or emotional well-being of our students will continue to be addressed promptly and in accordance with our Code of Conduct. We remain committed to addressing issues directly and thoughtfully, and we will make the decisions necessary to uphold the values of our school community. Unfortunately, some are using the events from last week to try to define us as a community. We know that isn't accurate or fair, but unfortunately, that is the world we live in. Our pain becomes fodder for talking points, comments, or criticism as people are quick to label everyone with one broad stroke as 'those kids' or 'that community.' We do not condone any of the behaviors from last week. What took place isn't who we are or what we stand for, and we will not allow it to define us. While we cannot undo what has been done, we can decide how we respond—how we support those who are hurting, how we lift up one another, and how we each carry ourselves moving forward. We must rise above those who seek to tear us down and extend grace, even when it is not extended to us. Moving forward also requires honest reflection and identifying what else we can do as a District, as a community, and as a society to eliminate behaviors like this. While I am proud of the work we do, there is more work to be done. In addition to the supports and programs we currently have in place district-wide to address hazing, bullying, and the social-emotional learning (SEL) needs of our students, we will expand the framework of supports to strengthen these areas. We will coordinate with the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) for additional training and resources for all coaches and student-athletes at every level. We will also work with OCM BOCES to increase staff training and learning opportunities for students and families related to hazing, bullying, peer pressure, and mental health. We will undergo a thorough review of our existing policies and practices. We are committed to growing stronger in all of these areas—and that work will take all of us. Students, staff, families, and community members must come together. I want to express my gratitude to our high school administrators, athletic director, and varsity boys lacrosse coaches for their thoroughness, dedication, and complete cooperation throughout this investigation. They have worked around the clock since last week to support the process. As stated by the District Attorney, and based on all the evidence I have reviewed, there is no indication that anyone outside of the students involved had prior knowledge of what was going to occur. I also want to thank the Onondaga County Sheriff's Department and the District Attorney's Office for their continued partnership and support of schools in Central New York. While this dark cloud hangs over us, we must choose to move forward. We have incredible students doing amazing things in every building, every day. The upcoming calendar is filled with concerts, athletic contests, award ceremonies, and celebrations—all showcasing the positive impact our students have on this community. Each of these is a moment of light, and I encourage everyone to embrace them. This is the time for us to stand together in support of our students, staff, families, and one another. We will get through this—together. Steve Dunham Superintendent of Schools Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
01-05-2025
- Yahoo
Behind Hazing: Expert warns of dangers in normalized hazing practices
SYRACUSE, N.Y. (WSYR-TV)— The recent investigations at Westhill High School have drawn comparisons to hazing tragedies from the past decade, raising questions about how deeply hazing has become the cultural norm. National Hazing Expert, Hank Nuwer, has spent almost 40 years diving into these cases. Nuwer says what happened was 'not a rite of passage — it was abuse.' Westhill boys lacrosse team will miss second game amid alleged hazing investigation 'It reminds me of the death of Chuck Stenzel at Alfred University,' said Nuwer, referring to a 1980s hazing death in NYS. 'This case was extreme. Putting someone in a trunk — that's not team bonding, it's dangerous.' Psychology professor at Le Moyne College, Rachel Dinero, who studies group behavior and trauma, said that hazing isn't just impulsive behavior; it's culturally acceptable. Dinero also acknowledged that hazing traditions are often passed down, and that the respected 'leaders' of teams, clubs, and Greek life become normalized. 'There's pressure to conform,' Dinero said. 'Even when individuals know it's wrong, they look around, see others doing it, and think it must be okay.' Dinero said that hazers often believe no one will get hurt, but in reality, victims don't know, and therefore, the aftermath can be just as damaging. The professor also notes that teens are more at risk than others since their brains are not fully developed. 'High school hazing often flies under the radar because victims are afraid to speak up. But just because we don't hear about it doesn't mean it isn't happening,' said Dinero. 'This is the kind of trauma that can lead to PTSD… Even if someone walks away physically unharmed, the emotional scars can last.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Toronto Sun
30-04-2025
- Toronto Sun
Lacrosse hazing included high schoolers staging armed abduction, prosecutor says
Published Apr 30, 2025 • 2 minute read The Westhill boys lacrosse team huddles up during a matchup against General Brown at Westhill High School. Lia Garnes/ via AP A group of high school students in upstate New York are being threatened with charges of kidnapping if they don't turn themselves into authorities over a lacrosse team hazing prank in which participants are accused of staging an armed abduction of younger players. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account Prosecutors allege members of the lacrosse program at Westhill High School in suburban Syracuse planned a team trip to McDonald's that ended with one player being tied up, blindfolded and put into a trunk, Onondaga County District Attorney Bill Fitzpatrick said. The alleged victim was led to believe he would be abandoned in a remote area, but was returned to his home without being physically harmed. 'I cannot adequately express to this community the level of stupidity and lack of judgment involved in this case,' Fitzpatrick told reporters Tuesday evening. Fitzpatrick said a person driving five younger players on the team pretended to get lost, pulled over in a place where other participants in the prank lay in wait, armed with at least one knife and a weapon that appeared to be a gun. Your noon-hour look at what's happening in Toronto and beyond. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. That's when the students launched the fake abduction. While the student wasn't hurt physically, 'emotionally, that's going to be long term,' Fitzpatrick said. 'This is not lighting a bag on fire on Halloween and sticking it in your driveway, this is criminal activity,' he said, adding that it could have led to a fatal shooting if police had come across the scene and saw 'a kid with a hood over his head being abducted at gunpoint.' The events were captured on video, and Fitzpatrick said that the local sheriffs office identified 11 people they believe participated either directly or indirectly. in the ruse. He's offering those people — some of whom are 18 — until Thursday to turn themselves in and face lower-level charges that would not result in jail time. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Those who don't turn themselves in would face felony charges. 'Don't come crying to me two weeks from now and say, 'You charged my little baby with kidnapping.' Yeah, that's right. Most of my prosecutors can win cases that are on videotape,' said Fitzpatrick. Messages seeking comment were left for Westhill School District Superintendent Steve Dunham. In a statement provided to earlier this week, he said: 'Our top priority is always the physical safety, mental health and well-being of our students' and that 'any behavior that negatively affects any of these aspects for other students will be addressed promptly and appropriately according to our Code of Conduct.' Ontario Toronto Maple Leafs Toronto Maple Leafs Canada Toronto Maple Leafs
