Cadets football coach steps down

PHOTOGRAPHER: Jim Schiltz

Tony Fruscio has stepped down as Albany Academy’s varsity football coach in order to spend more time with his two young daughters.

The Cadets advanced to the Section II playoffs six times in Fruscio’s seven seasons and made a Class B title-game appearance in 2011.

“I’ve had so many great experiences at Albany Academy, and the community has been wonderful,” said Fruscio. “I’m so happy that I was able to be a part of it.”

Fruscio served as a varsity assistant at Albany Academy under Paul Gallucci in 2007 before taking over the following year, and five of his teams finished .500 or better. His 2011 team won the Reinfurt Div ision championship and closed out at 7-3 when Schalmont forged a 36-35 overtime win in the Super Bowl.

Fruscio’s 2010 team went 6-3 with a sectional semifinal appearance.

“Several games stand out, and the Super Bowl is one of them. It came down to a big play,” said Fruscio.

With standouts such as Jimmer Bennett, Darrien White, Zay Richardson and Conner Hartigan, Albany Academy went 32-28 with Fruscio, including a 3-5 mark this year.

“Albany Academy and Troy have both been great to me,” said Fruscio. “I can’t say enough thank yous.”

Fruscio is an elementary physical education instructor in the Troy school district and spent 10 years with the high school’s football program. From 2002-06, he led the Flying Horses varsity to a 27-19 record. Fruscio’s 2003 team won the Big 10 title and went 9-1 after a loss to Shenendehowa in the Section II Class AA final.

Fruscio spent two season as Shaker’s junior varsity coach in 1995-96.

In 2010, the former football and basketball star at Watervliet was inducted into his alma mater’s athletic hall of fame.

Coaches on hand

Murray O’Neil and Ed Dempsey, who guided the Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake football team through its first 30 years, served as honorary captains Friday when the Spartans played the final game on their grass field.

The Spartans beat Troy, 42-14, in a Section II Class A quarterfinal game, and head to Amsterdam Friday for semifinal competition.

The high school field and surrounding track is scheduled to be renovated, and is expected to be ready for action next fall.

With O’Neil serving as head coach and Dempsey as his lead assistant, Burnt Hills put together a 131-103-7 record from 1955 through 1984. The 1956 team went undefeated (5-0-2) and shared the Saratoga County League title, and five of their teams won or shared Suburban Council banners.

Burnt Hills graduate Blase Iuliano joined the former coaches as an honorary team captain and represented the many players who were instrumental in the program’s success. Iuliano is well-known for his football coaching stint at Saratoga Springs.

Record quest

Helena Masiello is two good whacks from becoming Columbia’s single-season record-holder for goals in a field hockey season.

The Georgetown-bound senior knocked in a goal in Tuesday’s 2-1 Section II Class A quarterfinal win over Guilderland to boost her season total to 25. Chris Nalley scored a Columbia-record 26 goals in 1991 when the Blue Devils advanced to the state semifinals.

Nalley’s brilliant senior season included game-winning goals in five consecutive playoff games.

Masiello set a Columbia single-game record with six goals earlier in the season in a win against Shaker, and also had a four-goal game against Niskayuna. The midfielder had 16 goals in her first three varsity seasons.

Columbia (12-5) meets Saratoga Springs (14-3) today in a Class A semifinal at the Adirondack Sports Complex.

Here and there

The Section II cross country championships are Friday at Saratoga State Park. The girls will start at 11 a.m. (Class D, A, B, C) and the boys will start at 1 p.m. (Class D, A, B, C). . . .

The New York State Public High School Athletic Association’s Executive Committee last week voted in favor of a state championship for competitive cheerleading for the winter 2015-16 school year. . . .

Shenendehowa’s junior varsity boys’ soccer team completed a 15-0-1 season in which it scored 77 goals and gave up one.