2010 Archives

2-5-10

For the OHS boys basketball program, it was the fact that it was senior night. For a select bunch on this Jackets squad, it was the last time they would grace the floor at Drago Gymnasium outside of practice.
Oneonta, who had gotten pounded by arch-rival Norwich just a few nights before (losing 27-6 at Halftime), had been embarrassed and upset after their loss.
As we saw with OHS football, the energy on Senior Night was amazing. It was unparalleled, unmatched, and Owego, their STAC rival, simply could not keep up.
Coach Jerry Mackey, who had very high expectations for this team coming in, has kept the Jackets within competition in the STAC (arguably the toughest conference for class B in central NY), however they just can't seem to get over that hump.
OHS has numerous talent, let’s not forget that, however it seems that they have the same problem as eggplant....poor consistency.
As they showed this week, they can beat anyone, but they have also shown that they can lose to anyone. Oneonta still has a shot at sectionals, and with their senior leadership (Eastman, Broe and Southerland), they should be able to make some noise....if they can stay consistent.
Oneonta High School is pretty much all this city has left. Sure, the colleges are what the city is known for, however the community really rallies behind their Yellow Jackets.
The OHS boys squad was 4-9 coming into this game, and 4-8 heading into the Norwich game, and the stands were packed.
 The girls team, which is ranked 4th in the state (after their shocking loss early season to Maine Endwell), has deep fan support but this passionate community gets behind their high school the way a city rallies around a professional team. Win, lose or draw, OHS is their life.

Miller Proves Himself On SUNY Swim Team
By: BENJAMIN DEER
   
It is rare when a collegiate athletic program finds a star in its youngest athlete.  However, that is what the Oneonta State Men’s Swim Team has found in freshman, Alex Miller. 
Miller, a 2009 graduate of Oneonta High School, has been swimming competitively since the age of six.
“My parents put me on the YMCA Swim Team when I was six, and I have just liked it and stayed with it ever since,” he said. 
Even as a freshman, Miller knows not to let his nerves get the best of him.  In his first-ever college meet, he finished first place in the Men’s 200 yard IM as well as in the Men’s 100 yard Backstroke.  Since then, Miller has come in first place 16 more times.  For Miller, focus is the most important aspect of his success.
“When I’m competing, all I focus on is beating the guy next to me,” he said.
Miller’s simple, yet directed approach has worked wonders for him and the swim team as a whole.  In his freshman year alone, Miller has already set a school and pool record in the Men’s 400 yard IM with a time of 4:23.59.  He plans to break a few more records as well.
“I want to go 52.0 seconds in the 100 yard backstroke.  I would also like to take down both the 200 and 400 individually medley records, as well as the 200 backstroke record.  I also think our freshman class can take down most of the relay records by the end of our senior year if we keep working as hard as we have this season,” he said.
SUNY Oneonta’s swim team boasts 11 talented freshmen, with Miller being the most prominent.  And as a freshman star, Miller keeps his success in perspective.
“I really feel like I have accomplished something with all the hard work I have put in to swimming throughout my life,” he said.
Miller’s freshman year will spawn many memories, but one in particular is special to him.  At the North Country Invitational Meet in Potsdam, NY on the weekend of Nov. 20, Miller led his team to finish first place.  Dominating the pool that weekend, the Oneonta men finished with 466 points.  Second place Clarkson University finished with 427.5 points.  However, what made this first-place win even more special was beating out Oneonta rivals, Buffalo State.
“The most memorable moment of the year for me is when we beat Buffalo State at the North Country Invite and started chanting ‘No More Dancing’ to Buffalo State,” he said.
If the Oneonta men can channel that confidence to the SUNYAC Championships, it will bode well for them, as they will enter the final meet of the season with a dual (swimming and diving) record of 3-6.  The SUNYAC Championships will take place Feb. 10-13 at Erie Community College.  

That could have been the fuel to the fire Monday night for their 62-51 win. The fuel to the fire which burned bright, creating 34 total points from the Oneonta Seniors Eastman (15), Broe (2) and Southerland (17). Dan Baker contributed to the pot with 15 and Bryce Wooden scored 9.
Apparently, Oneonta has some depth, and some hope for next season as well.
Oneonta has a rich seeded athletic heritage, and despite the recent blow they have been dealt with their professional team leaving, they will continue to support their tradition, their heritage, their Jackets.
Despite swirling accusations claiming the lack of fan support in the city, I have always been humbled about how this community as a whole gets behind their team. You put out a good product, and they are more than willing to indulge.
Oneonta High School is a competitive athletic program, and they are soundly rewarded by the community. With a gym packed, sometimes a team with a down record may be lifted up.
Sometimes, the little things make a difference.