With the school year about a month behind us and preseason practices for the fall sports still about a month away, we figured it would be good to reflect a bit on what was a tremendous year for local sports. Three teams and three individual athletes won state championships, and there were several remarkable and record-setting performances.
So, we've got two for-fun polls that compile several of the Journal's high school Athlete of the Year honorees from the three seasons, including a few who starred in multiple sports, and we're asking you to select the most impressive. Who were the area's overall Athletes of the Year?
The polls will be open until 8 p.m. Wednesday.
Large-school nominees:
Mike Rescigno, Arlington football and basketball
The Cortland-bound quarterback had one of the best individual runs of any local player ever, program records and piling up accolades while leading Arlington to its best season. Rescigno averaged 12.4 yards per attempt and threw for 1,886 yards with 23 touchdowns to only four interceptions. He also was a dynamic runner, going for 1,002 yards and 14 touchdowns at 12.9 yards per carry. That was in addition to his contributions as a hard-hitting safety and a respected leader. He did that against high-level competition, helping the Admirals win their first 10 games en route to the section final. Rescigno was voted Section 1's Class AA Player of the Year and was a finalist for USA Football's Heart of a Giant award. He also led the underdog boys basketball team to the playoffs and earned Journal All-Star honors in that sport.
Closer to the dream: Former Ketcham pitcher Xavier Kolhosser drafted by Minnesota Twins
All gold everything: Gunsett, Birkenstock star as Marlboro wins softball state title
Spack on top: Spackenkill completes improbable run with baseball state title
Cali DeLawder, Roosevelt softball
She earned Journal Player of the Year honors for a second time after putting forth another all-time great season. While handling the rigors and responsibilities of being a catcher, DeLawder hit .707 with an .833 on-base percentage, eight homers and 24 RBI, despite often being pitched around. The Rhode Island commit played a key role in Roosevelt winning two Section 9 championships and, this season, led a rebuilding team to the Class AA sectional quarterfinals.
Riley Pettigrew, Arlington track and field
An excellent natural athlete, Pettigrew has earned Journal All-Star honors in girls soccer and track and field. The speedster won two Division I titles in the track and field state championships in June. She took first in the 100 (12.17 seconds) and 200 meters (24.73), having the most successful run of any local athlete in the tournament.
Owen Paino, Ketcham baseball
The Ole Miss-bound shortstop had an exceptional senior season, posting career-highs in several statistical categories while leading Ketcham to a Class AAA state final a year after winning a state title. Paino hit .469 with five homers, 41 runs, 27 stolen bases and 29 RBI despite being walked 40 times. That performance resulted in him being named Gatorade's New York Player of the Year. He also earned Journal Player of the Year honors for a third time.
Dillon Arrick, Arlington wrestling
His outstanding season included several dominant victories and a Section 1 championship at 124 pounds. The Binghamton commit went 53-4, including 23 technical falls and 20 pins. He eventually finished fifth in the state tournament after an inadvertent headbutt disqualified him in a quarterfinal match. But Arrick became only the sixth Dutchess County wrestler to surpass 200 career wins and his 230 victories rank second in Arlington history.
Mattie Betts, Ketcham field hockey
The junior emerged as a leader and flourished as a playmaker and explosive scorer, sparking an eye-opening turnaround. She totaled 30 points, including 17 goals, and her tireless drive to improve set a tone that helped Ketcham rebound from a winless season and go on a surprise run to the Section 1 Class A quarterfinals. Betts earned all-section honors and had one of the best offensive seasons a Dutchess County field hockey player has ever produced.
Kayla Kalbaugh, Arlington girls soccer
The Iona-bound goalkeeper earned Journal All-Star honors for a third time after another splendid season in which she helped lead the Admirals to a Section 1 title. Kalbaugh earned a reputation for making acrobatic stops and delivering under pressure, and consistency was a mark of her career. She allowed only 0.28 goals per game and recorded 17 shutouts last fall as Arlington reached the Class AAA regional final.
Small-school nominees:
Simone Pelish, Lourdes girls basketball
The Miami-bound star crafted a storybook ending, leading the Warriors to the Class AAA state championship in March. The 6-foot guard averaged 26 points, eight rebounds and six assists, and set a Lourdes record with 2,225 career points, and was the Journal's Player of the Year for a third time. Pelish's finale included 33 points in a win over Section 3's Liverpool in the state final.
Dan Collins, Spackenkill baseball and football
He from Tommy John surgery and returned triumphantly, leading the baseball team to a second state championship in three seasons. Collins played center field, shortstop and first base, batting .507 with a 1.441 OPS, four homers, 39 runs, 28 RBI and 16 stolen bases, and set a program record with 127 career hits. He also successfully resumed his role as a power pitcher, going 4-1 with a 2.19 ERA and dominating in the playoffs. Collins homered and pitched a complete game in the Class B state final. The Cortland-bound senior was voted the Small School Player of the Year by the Dutchess County Baseball Coaches Association. He also was a Journal All-Star in the fall, doubling as a quarterback and tight end.
Juliana Juras, Marlboro track and field
The Binghamton commit recovered from a broken toe and had a dream season, winning a second state championship in the discus and following that with a national title. Juras broke her own program record and took first in the discus with a throw of 138 feet, 6 inches at the Adidas Outdoor Nationals in North Carolina in June.
Matthew Nachamkin, Haldane basketball and soccer
The Williams College commit elevated his game out of necessity, as he was the only returning regular after reaching the 2023 state final. The 6-foot-8 star averaged 21.3 points, eight rebounds and 2.5 assists and shot 40% from three, leading the Blue Devils in a dominant season that culminated in another run to the state final. Nachamkin was named state Class C Player of the Year by the New York State Sportswriters Association. He also was a standout defender for the soccer team and helped them win a state title in 2022.
Gianna DiPilato, Millbrook volleyball
She enjoyed a breakout season, leading what once was thought to be a rebuilding Blazers squad to the Class C state final. DiPilato totaled 338 kills, 110 aces and 212 digs overall, but she was even more impressive in the playoffs, posting 68 kills in six matches ― five of which were sweeps. She helped Millbrook upset Mount Academy in the section final, which sparked a brilliant run in the regional and state tournaments. The Holy Family University commit was voted all-state and named MVP of Section 9 Class C.
Julia Gigliotti, Lourdes girls soccer
Despite the Warriors graduating the Player of the Year from the previous season, the team accomplished as much last fall, reaching the Class A regional final. That, in large part, was because of Gigliotti's dominance. With exceptional quickness and footwork, the midfielder had 34 goals and 10 assists, helping Lourdes win a second straight Section 9 title. She received all-state and all-section honors.
Dylan Updike, Spackenkill soccer & baseball and FDR hockey
A superb multi-sport athlete, Updike was a standout and a leader on each of the three teams he played. The senior starred for the Spackenkill boys soccer team, totaling 22 goals and 11 assists, including several clutch plays during a playoff run that brought them to the Class B state final. Updike managed those responsibilities while also playing for the Franklin D. Roosevelt hockey team. He was among their top playmakers, and he assisted the winning goal in overtime of the league final, clinching Roosevelt a third straight Hudson Valley High School Ice Hockey Association championship. Updike also earned Journal All-Star honors after helping lead the Spackenkill baseball team to a state title.
Kalista Birkenstock, Marlboro softball and volleyball
The speedy slap-hitter was a consummate leadoff batter and demonstrated that in the state final four in June, getting on base and stealing second and third before scoring to immediately put her team on the board in the semifinal and final. The Florida Gulf Coast commit hit .481 with a .562 on-base percentage, 40 runs and 40 steals, helping Marlboro win the Class A state championship. Birkenstock also excelled defensively at shortstop. In the fall, she starred as a libero for the volleyball team, earning Journal All-Star honors after leading that upstart team to the Section 9 semifinals.
Natalie Fox, Millbrook basketball and volleyball
Coming off two consecutive state championships, the senior had her best individual season last winter. Despite being the obvious focus of opponents on an inexperienced rebuilding team, 6-foot-4 center averaged 27.5 points, 17.2 rebounds, 4.4 blocks and 3.3 assists, leading Millbrook to an improbable Section 9 Class C title. The William & Mary commit also starred as an outside hitter on the volleyball team, running up 415 kills, 60 aces and 191 digs en route to the state final.
Evan Giachinta, Haldane lacrosse and football
The High Point commit said he considered himself a lacrosse player who dabbled in football, but it was hard to tell. Giachinta excelled at both, dominating individually and elevating his teams. He had 41 goals and 39 assists, leading the boys lacrosse team to the Section 1 semifinals, and set a program record with 284 career points. In the fall, he totaled 1,501 yards and 16 touchdowns as an explosive running back, leading the football team to the Class D state semifinals. He also helped the boys basketball team reach the state final for a second straight year.
Ani Safaryan, Red Hook girls soccer
The Columbia commit earned Journal All-Star honors for a fourth time last fall, again dazzling with her quickness and instincts while leading the girls soccer team to the Section 9 Class A semifinals. Safaryan accomplished that while also competing on the Armenian women's national team. The 18-year-old has earned a starting role and has multiple goals in the Euro-2025 Championship qualifying tournament.
Zach Hart, Lourdes boys basketball
The junior assumed a greater leadership role and became the go-to scorer after teammate Patrick Faughnan was lost for the season. Hart rose to the occassion, the 6-foot-7 forward averaging 24 points and 10 rebounds while shooting 56% from the field and leading underdog Lourdes on a run to the Class AA state semifinals.
Stephen Haynes: shaynes@poughkeepsiejournal.com;845-437-4826;Twitter: @StephenHaynes4
This article originally appeared on Poughkeepsie Journal: Poll: Choose the Journal's most impressive 2023-24 Athlete of the Year
