Members of the Fulton unified basketball team discuss their season with the board of education alongside athletic director, Christopher Ells.
FULTON, NY – According to Fulton City School District’s athletic director Christopher Ells, the district saw a successful spring sports season despite having to dodge a lot of rain and mud.
The highlight of the season came from the district’s first year participating in Unified Sports along with other schools throughout Section III.
Fulton formed a unified basketball team, the first ever team of its kind at the district, that paired 12 special education students with 5 regular education students to compete in games and practices throughout the season coached by Josh Viscome and Joe Meeks, both employees in the district.
The team got their own uniforms and traveled to the five other participating school districts including East Syracuse Minoa, Baldwinsville, Fayetteville-Manlius, Liverpool, and West Genesee for a total of six games with two weekly practices and a culminating event.
“We’re already putting things in place for next year on how we can improve it,” Ells said, predicting more than 20 schools will participate in the program next year after seeing such immense success in its first year.
Fulton’s success came from a group of general education team members who were very enthusiastic and dedicated to allowing their special education teammates to be the key players in the game. Fulton was the only school district across the section of which all baskets made throughout the season came from special education students.
“Just seeing all the kids having so much fun playing, they got to do something they wouldn’t normally get to do, was amazing,” Anthony said, one of the team’s general education players.
Anthony, a second general education team member the program was as much of a learning experience for him as it was for anyone.
“For me, I learned just as much as anybody else there,” Joe said. “It was a lot of fun for me personally. I got to know all the kids on the team who I would normally not meet. It was a lot of fun getting to know them and getting to play with them.”
One of the team’s special education players, Alex, said he tried to pass the ball to teammates who were open, but if he was open, he would make a three-pointer totaling 14 three point baskets this season.
Board member, Robert Briggs told the players that this season is something that the entire district and Fulton community can, and should be, very proud of.
Superintendent Brian Pulvino said the season has been one of the highlights of his first year with Fulton City School District.
“I was proud of the fact that they really embraced what this is all about which is supporting one another and being a team and really demonstrating what we want to do here in Fulton which is care about one another, work together, support one another no matter where we’re from, who we are or what we’re all about. It was one of the things that really highlighted my first year here so thank you (all,)” Pulvino said.
Ells went on to recap a “successful spring sports season” at Fulton City School District.
This year’s varsity baseball team with 16 athletes placed first in their division, honoring seven all league recipients: Nolan Bonnie, William Caster, Cole Cotton and Bryce Guernsey receiving first team all league and Frank Barbagallo, Austin Fleming, and Malcolm Wettering receiving honorable mention.
New this year, New York State began recognizing students individually with a grade average over 90 percent.
Varsity baseball finished as a scholar athlete team, with five individual scholar athletes recognized.
The varsity softball team placed third in the league and honored six all league recipients: Aryelle Barbagallo, Madison Gilmore, and Brynn Waloven received first team all league, Brittany Alton and Sydney Gilmore received second team all league, and Karly Kearns received honorable mention.
The team finished as a NYS scholar athlete team with 12 out of 14 players receiving individual scholar athlete recognition.
The varsity boys lacrosse team made up of 17 total athletes recognized four individual scholar athletes with six all league recipients: Matt Conn and Nate Lindsey received second team all league, and Matt Borrow, Josh Compson, Nick Noel, and Nick Walberger received honorable mention.
The girls varsity lacrosse team placed second in the league, losing in the semi-finals of Section III Class B.
The team of 19 athletes recognized 15 scholar athletes with eight all league recipients: Hailey Carroll, McKenna Chesbro, and Jordan Coulan received first team all league, Mallorie Kitts and Keara Patterson received second team all league, and Hannah Burlingham, Kylie Jones, and Lexi Patterson received honorable mention.
Three of the team members surpassed 200 career points as Hailey Carroll logged 242 points, Jordan Coulon also logged 242 points, and McKenna Chesbro logged 240 points. Mallorie Kitts was not far behind totaling 169 career points.
Hailey Carroll led Section III in goals with 109 as well as leading the section in points with 131. Teammate Jordan Coulon joined her in the top 10 of points in Section III.
Varsity boys tennis finished third in the league and placed fourth in the Class A Tournament with seven athletes qualifying for the Class A Sectionals and five athletes receiving all league distinction: Anthony and Robert Salerno, who competed at state qualifiers, received first team all league along with Ryan Lalik and CJ Hyland III, and Eric Shear received second team all league.
The team of 12 finished as a NYS scholar athlete team with six students receiving individual scholar athlete recognition.
The varsity girls track and field team placed fifth in the league and Cara Smith placed fourth in the Class A Meet. The team of 25 finished as a NYS scholar athlete team with 15 individual scholar athletes.
The varsity boys track and field team placed fourth in the league as the team of 29 finished the season as a NYS scholar athlete team with 14 individual scholar athletes recognized and two all league recipients: Ken Deloff receiving first team all league and Caleb Clarke receiving second team all league.
Issac Crandell placed first in the 1600 and Ken Deloff placed second in the 3200 at the CNS Invitational.
In the Section III Class A Meet: Issac Crandell placed third in the 1600, Caleb Clarke placed fourth in the Pentathlon, and Daniel Phillips placed sixth in the 400IH.
The district boasted 328 total athletes at the modified, junior varsity, and varsity levels.
Sights are already set on the fall season as Ells prepares for the start of football on August 14 with all other JV and varsity sports beginning on August 17.
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