Washingtonville honors winter athletes at Board of Education meeting

The Washingtonville Central School District recognized its winter student-athletes during a recent Board of Education meeting, highlighting a season defined by growth, resilience and standout achievements across multiple programs.

Athletic Director Suzanne Lendzian set the tone for the evening, emphasizing that the success of the district’s programs extends well beyond competition.

“To every single person who plays a role in our athletic program, whether it’s a coach, family member or supporter behind the scenes, that support is what builds the character and perseverance we see in our athletes,” she said.

Across all programs, Washingtonville saw strong participation and competitive success. All seven winter varsity teams qualified for the Section 9 tournament, while several athletes advanced to the state level. Indoor track standout Cameron Snyder captured a state championship in the 300-meter dash and ranked among the top sprinters in New York State.

Additional highlights included multiple wrestlers reaching major career milestones, including 100 wins, a new school record and sectional championship in the high jump, and recognition for OCIAA Scholar-Athletes Joseph Mullan and Lila Sinacori.

Girls basketball

Under the leadership of head coach Joseph Piccone, the girls basketball program took a significant step forward this season, qualifying for sectionals for the first time in seven years while more than doubling its win total from the previous year.

The team also earned Scholar-Athlete Team recognition from the New York State Public High School Athletic Association, while player Carly Graham was named a Basketball Coaches Association of New York (BCANY) Section 9 Top 50 All-Star.

With a renewed focus on development and participation, the program is building a strong foundation for continued growth.

Cheerleading

Progress was a strong theme for the cheerleading season, where varsity coach Megan Murphy, alongside JV coach Kimberly Acevedo, guided the team through a season defined by both performance and academic success. The team recorded one of its highest scoring seasons while also earning Scholar-Athlete Team honors with a collective average above 90.

Coach Murphy pointed to the team’s resilience, unity and strong growth as defining elements throughout the year.

Wrestling

On the mat, coach Andrew Poust highlighted a wrestling program that continues to build toward long-term success. Owen Milmore and Gianni Gennaro qualified for the New York State Championships, while multiple athletes surpassed 20 wins on the season.

Gianni was among those to reach the 100-win milestone, with Jacob Burgos also achieving the mark this year.

With a roster largely made up of underclassmen, the program’s growth points to a strong future.

Boys swim

In the pool, assistant coach Brad Peterson, speaking on behalf of head coach Jim Frisbee, recapped a successful season for the boys swimming team. The group posted a 7–3 record, finishing third in their division and fourth overall at the OCIAA championship meet.

Several swimmers earned strong finishes at sectionals, while relay teams delivered standout performances. The 200-yard freestyle relay placed third, and the 400-yard freestyle relay dropped significant time to finish fifth, with contributions from Owen Sliwinski, Justin Gonzalez, Nolan Nemeth and Craig Brown.

The team also earned Scholar-Athlete Team recognition, with 11 swimmers maintaining an average of 90 or above.

Boys basketball

Under head coach Daniel Malvey, the boys basketball team continued its consistent run of success, securing a home playoff game for the second consecutive year and advancing to the sectional semifinals.

The team earned Scholar-Athlete Team honors and saw multiple players recognized at the league level. Liam Ebert, Luke Devaney and Brennan Tesseyman were named OCIAA All-Stars, while Liam and Luke also earned BCANY Section 9 Top 50 recognition.

Coach Malvey also acknowledged the program’s coaching staff, including longtime JV coach Matt Donaldson, along with modified coach Matthew Cutney and freshman coach Daniel Gray, for their role in building a strong and sustainable program.

Track and Field

Few programs matched the depth and impact of indoor track and field this winter. Under the direction of head coach Mike White Sr., alongside coaches William Quinn, Erin Wilson, Deborah Boerke and Mike White Jr., both the boys and girls teams delivered standout seasons, each finishing second in their divisions.

Dozens of athletes recorded personal best performances, while many broke into the program’s all-time top 10 — a notable achievement in a program with a long and competitive history.

On the girls side, Lila Sinacori, Camryn Flynn, Caitlin Butcher, Sydney Lozza and Avery Flynn each earned top 10 marks in their respective events.

For the boys, Isaiah Cameron and Joseph Mullan also broke into the top 10, while Kenixander Vermenton placed ninth in the state in the high jump. At the state level, the 4x200 relay team of Ethan Gonzalez, Cameron Snyder, John Kosowicz and Isaiah Cameron earned a fifth-place finish.

Cameron Snyder’s state championship performance in the 300-meter dash capped a historic season, marking him as the top sprinter in Washingtonville history.

The program – with 150 students, making up 15% of the school’s population – also earned Scholar-Athlete Team recognition, underscoring its balance of academic and athletic excellence.

A strong season, even stronger community

Community and its role in supporting student-athletes remained a consistent theme throughout the evening. From coaches and families to trainers and staff, the district credited a collective effort in creating an environment where students can succeed both on and off the field.

As the winter season comes to a close, attention now turns to spring sports, with the same energy, support and commitment continuing to drive Washingtonville athletics forward.

Check out a gallery from the sports presentation here!