Sports

This season, the Minnesota Vikings kicked off their season with a small change to their cheerleading team that ended up becoming a huge internet story. The sidelines have almost become a bigger story than what is actually happening on the field! The team welcomed two male cheerleaders onto their squad, Blaize Shiek and Louie Conn. The pair are the team’s first male cheerleaders, and their debut broke the internet. Many comments were filled with awe and praise; however, there was also some criticism. This change made room for a national conversation about gender roles.

Many TikTok videos featuring the duo alongside their female teammates dancing together had thousands of views within hours, with likes, comments, and shares coming in across all platforms of social media platforms. While multiple teams have male cheerleaders on their teams this season, these two have gotten famous quite quickly and have remained in the spotlight as they continue to post on social media and be posted about by others! Although there has been criticism, and some think that the addition of the two boys is inappropriate, men have long had a place in cheerleading. This includes its birthplace, where the first recorded cheerleader in 1898 was male.

The two do not seem to be bothered by the small amount of negativity. For Shiek and Conn, the mission is simple: bring energy to the sidelines and help the team’s fans cheer louder than ever. All of the Vikings’ cheerleaders make an already great team even easier to root for!

Is the gym starting to bore you? Have you been looking for new and fun workouts to try? Fly to Fit Bungee Fitness Studio, located in Colonie (just 20 minutes from campus), offers a large variety of exciting Bungee workout classes. Very different from the average gym, Fly to Fit offers a fun style of workout that you’ll actually want to keep going to.

The studio is always bustling with excitement. Clients from all over town gather to listen to music, catch up on each other’s lives, and get in their daily workout together. Their low-impact, high-intensity classes blend full-body cardio with weight and resistance training. Burning calories while protecting your joints!

When you arrive, you can expect to get fitted for a harness and bungee and get some stretching in before class. Their environment is upbeat and welcoming; other clients are always offering to lend a helping hand to the newcomers. Once you’re all strapped in, prepare to fly! Each class is led by an instructor, and typically consists of three rotations of arms, legs, and cardio workouts.

Classes are held every day of the week in the morning, afternoon, and evening, and there is a class for everyone. There are classes with a focus on cardio, dance, and weight training in the bungee. There are also mobility-impaired classes, which offer extra support for individuals who seek it. Outside of the bungee, there are yoga classes, TRX, and Zumba. 

They offer single class passes, multipack bundles, and monthly memberships… But the best part? They offer a student discount! 

The New York Yankees 7-6 defeat to the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game 5 on Wednesday night ended their hopes of pulling off the most improbable of World Series comebacks. It’s just a matter of record that the series concluded with the loss in Game 5. Nevertheless, the Yankee’s hopes might have been dashed in inning No. 5. As we’ll see shortly, the Yankee’s numerous errors in Game 5 weren’t limited to that inning, but it was that frame that caused the majority of the damage and let the Dodgers avoid having to return to Los Angeles for Game 6 of the series. 

Although Yankee supporters may not want to do so, it is necessary to revisit all of those errors, the most of which occurred in that game and series changing fifth inning.

Photo credit: New York Post

Going into that frame, the Yankees had a commanding 5 – 0 lead, giving them a 94.1% chance of winning Game 5 and extending their comeback from 3 – 0. Ace Gerrit Cole had not yet given up a hit and had been playing like a legend. As the Dodgers leadoff hitter in the top of the fifth inning, Enrique Hernández immediately recorded that elusive first hit, a single to right. The Yankee’s situation really started to go south at that time. The first and only mistake Judge made in 2024 was when he seemed to glance at Hernández on the bases. Hernández managed to get into second place before the throw. “I just didn’t make the play,” Judge said to reporters following the defeat that ended the season. Will Smith then gave Anthony Volpe a quick bounce. Hernández was sprinting toward third place in the play, while Volpe was trying to get a chance at the front-runner. Hernández would likely receive a force-out for a decent or, frankly, even adequate throw, but Volpe’s toss was untrue. Despite being somewhat fresh to third base, Jazz Chisholm Jr. was unable to save him with a nice scoop. The Dodgers had the bases loaded and no outs when Volpe made a throwing error. What could have been one of the most incredible comebacks in World Series history came to an end as the New York Yankees lost Game 5 to the Los Angeles Dodgers 7 – 6.

Although this loss marked the formal conclusion of the series, the real turning point was the fifth inning, which ended their hopes of extending the series. Aaron Judge’s crucial error and Anthony Volpe’s throwing error were the first of several costly errors that caused the Yankees to lose momentum despite having a commanding 5 – 0 lead. The Dodgers were able to capitalize on these mistakes, loading the bases with no outs and starting a series of events from which the Yankees were unable to recover. Even while it is hard to think about, the Yankees’ failure to perform in key situations—especially in the fifth inning—was the final blow to their hopes of winning the World Series. In high-stakes baseball, when even one mistake may alter the outcome of a game—and a season—the loss serves as a reminder of the thin line separating victory and failure.

On Ice Perspectives is a YouTube channel created by Jordan Cowan, a former Team USA Ice Dancer, who is now a cinematographer on the ice. Taking the arts of ice skating and giving us, the audience, a whole new view. Yes, skating has been videoed before, but this is different. Cowan’s work is not just about recording the competitions.

He’s documenting the progress of skaters and their careers. Sharing stories of their art and artistic abilities on the ice, which reveals more than just the skaters’ hard work, but the teams of people pouring into them that we rarely see on camera.

Merging his love for cinematography and skating, he gives us a view of what he sees himself. Skating up close and personal; not just a seated view spectating from a distance.

By video, we get to follow them closely on the ice, detailing their emotions, forms, spirit and more. Getting a closer view of them means we don’t just see their success; we see their failures too. Mistakes are part of the journey and when it happens, you move forward despite the mishap. The show must go on and they do this best by completing their routine, skating through their mistakes.

On Ice Perspectives really is amazing in so many ways. While having free access to this skating content for entertainment purposes, it also serves as a way of supporting skaters, the sport of figure skating and a learning tool for aspiring skaters like me. Aside from being just a spectator, I am learning while I watch.

Without even realizing it, I have used techniques and moves I haven’t been taught by my coach.

All because I’ve grown the habit of studying other skaters; the visual information has gone from my brain to my bones.

This channel is for anyone with a love for the arts of ice skating, whether you’re a skater, or spectator.

For skaters seeking to learn more, and possibly gain exposure on the channel themselves, it’ll be like a treasure. But perhaps you’re someone looking to enjoy some action on ice, no learning involved.

It’s like a free video subscription with ads.

Either way, it’s worthy to be checked out by anyone with an interest in ice skating, even if it’s for recreational purposes.

The year’s final major Tennis tournament begins on Saturday when the sports highest ranked athletes descend on Riyadh, Saudi Arabia to compete in the 2024 WTA Finals.

Before the winter break, Olympic medalists and Slam champions will vie to win the Billie Jean King and Martina Navratilova trophies, which will be contested by the top eight singles players and top eight doubles couples.

There is also a chance to win a share of the record $15.25 million prize pool, which is more than any Grand Slam award and has increased by about 70% from the 2023 amount. The singles champion will receive $5.155 million, while the top doubles team will receive $1.125 million, if the champions win the event without losing.

Eight days of elite tennis action!

In the WTA finals the singles and doubles categories, competitors are split into two groups of four. During the span of the first six days, each singles player or doubles pair will play every other member of their group three times. Both finals are scheduled for November 9th, with the top two in each group competing in the semifinals on November 8th. In the singles competition, the Orange Group has No. 2 Iga Świątek, No. 3 Coco Gauff, No. 6 Jessica Pegula, and No. 8 Barbora Krejčíková, while the Purple Group has No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka, No. 4 Jasmine Paolini, No. 5 Elena Rybakina, and No. 7 Qinwen Zheng.

The United States is represented by 25% of the top eight athletes in both disciplines. The No. 5 US pair Caroline Dolehide and Desirae Krawczyk, as well as Nicole Melichar-Martinez and Taylor Townsend in the Nos. 6 and 8 pairs, are also in the doubles tournament, in addition to Gauff and Pegula on the singles court.

The 2024 WTA Finals kicks off on Saturday. All of the 2024 WTA Finals will be broadcast -ed live on the Tennis Channel. 

The Vikings Athletics Department recently welcomed Taylor Ringer, who was named assistant athletic trainer. Taylor is a board-certified athletic trainer and is currently a member of the National Athletic Trainers’ Association. She graduated from SUNY Cortland, where she received her master’s degree in athletic training and her bachelor’s degree in exercise science. The Valley is excited to have Taylor as a resource and a key part of athlete experience and performance.

Men’s Basketball played in a game against Orange County Community College on Thursday evening, November 7. The game, played on away courts, served as the team’s season opener, which ended in an unfortunate loss. Viking athletes kept the game close and fought hard to try and turn around the score. Players James Blake and Tijahn Reed led the team through the game, each totaling 12 points. The team is hopeful of future success, playing Herkimer on Wednesday, November 13.

Women’s Basketball started their season with success, winning their season opener against Orange County Community College. Team captain Leah Pergola led the team with a total of 20 points, shortly followed by Stylianna Mantzouris and Gracemary Baumann each with 13 points. The Vikings hope that they maintain their overall success as the season plays out.

Women’s Volleyball played in a scrimmage at Dutchess Community College on Tuesday evening October 22nd. They won their 5-set battle, led by Abbigail Newell, who had 17 kills, 29 digs, and 1 ace. She was followed by Jordan Peacock with 11 kills, 12 digs, and 1 ace. The team’s entire roster saw the court, using a full team effort to take down Dutchess Falcons.

Women’s Soccer played Onondaga Community College on Tuesday, October 22nd, at 6pm, on the opponent’s campus in Syracuse. They took a loss, ending in the first round of playoffs to #2-seeded Onondaga. They tallied a total of 5 shots on the day. The team’s goalie Meaghan Casabonne made a total of 18 saves and only allowed 2 goals. The Viking’s offense could not break past the Lazer’s defense. The team ended the season with a final record of 4-8.

Men’s Soccer took a loss on Wednesday, October 23rd, against Herkimer College. This was the NJCAA Region III Semifinals, and was hosted at the Herkiemer campus, in Herkimer NY. They ended their season with a record of 6-7-2. The Vikings held the other side to just a single goal and keeper William Brown had a total of 5 saves.

Backflips on ice. The most controversial and difficult move in the history of figure skating. A move done by those most daring. In fact, it was so concerning that it was banned for decades in the 1900s. Skaters could face penalties as severe as disqualification for performing the dangerous move on ice. And though the backflip was illegal until 1976, that did not stop a certain someone from making a daring decision.

That certain someone I am referring to is Surya Bonaly. A retired figure skater from Nice, France. An audacious athlete, breaking barriers and making history in the world of figure skating, a very notable career. She succeeded in doing a backflip, landing on one blade during the 1998 Winter Olympics. She incorporated the move throughout her career countless times.

Surya isn’t the only athlete to succeed at performing the backflip. As the move has become more popular to add to skaters’ routines, people like Ilia Malinin, Nathan Chen, and Siao Him Fa have done so. And if jumping off the ice to do full rotations in the air seemed daunting, backflips could
cause nausea. First off, concerning the mind, there’s like a mental rift you have to cross without a bridge. Second, you have to weigh the risks. Third, you have to be courageous. It’s not something anyone can do.

Watching a backflip being per-
formed on ice was shocking, scary, and stunning. The first time I ever saw the movie performed was by Nathan Chen during the Stars on Ice tour in Boston, Massachusetts, in 2023. I did not expect to see a backflip during the show, much less on ice. This was when I

was ignorant of the backflip existing as a figure skating move. Since then, I am still scared when seeing it done, but praying no person is injured. If there’s something we can all agree on, it’s that we don’t want to watch anybody possibly break any bones. But I believe these athletes know what they’re doing and must be confident in their abilities to take risks that they believe are worth taking. To set new records and challenge themselves by doing what hasn’t been done before. It’s exciting to set a new bar while aiming to reach for the one higher than it.

Photo Credits: Eric Feferberg/AFP via Getty Images

In a division that is red hot with competition following the defeats of champions Isaac “Pitbull” Cruz, Devin “The Dream” Haney, and Puerto Rican pressure fighter Subriel Matias, 2 men meet in the squared circle each jockeying for title position and with something to prove. On October 26, Jack Catterall (29-1, 13 KOs) and Regis Prograis (29-2, 24 KOs) will share the ring. Coming fresh off of a unanimous decision loss, hard-hitting 35-year-old former WBA champion Regis Prograis looks to recapture boxing gold and establish himself among the big fish in the 140lb division. But can he do so against a hungry, young (31) and dogged Jack Catteral? 

Caterall’s lone controversial loss came at the hands of former undisputed champion Josh Taylor which he avenged in commanding fashion in May of this year leaving no doubt that he should’ve been the top dog in the division. Prograis also shared the ring with Taylor where he lost in a 12-round war of a unification bout that ended in a majority decision for Taylor back in 2019 on his road to undisputed.

In boxing styles make fights. Each man is an elusive south-paw who fights mainly as a counter-puncher. Expect sharp and accurate blows from both men and, if you love a good chess match, this is the fight to watch. Like many fighters of the post-Mayweather era, Catterall has patterned his style after Floyd, utilizing the Philly shell defense and pumping sharp flickering jabs consistently.

Photo Credits: Getty Images

Prograis also has adopted the Philly shell only adjusting it so that he can land his signature straight left cross leading to 24 of his 29 wins coming by way of knockout. 

This is essentially “Money Mayweather” vs “Pretty Boy Floyd”. This is vitality vs experience. For Catterall, this is only his second high-profile opponent; can he continue proving that he is a 5-star boxer? For Prograis, does he still have what it takes to hang with the young fighters of the division? We will find out soon. Ringwalks start at 5pm and will be streamed on DAZN or check in with your local sports bar!

The name Fankie Muniz is usually associated with the Fox hit TV show “Malcolm in the Middle”, which ran from 2000 to 2006.  Rightfully so as in 151 episodes the show racked up nearly 100 Emmy nominations, winning 29.  Its streaming availability on Hulu and Disney Plus also keep it relevant as many rewatch or discover it for the first time.  But even as the show’s main star, Malcolm, Muniz hopes that in the near future he will be known as NASCAR driver first, actor second.

At age 38, Muniz is certainly on the older side of full time NASCAR drivers, but he is no beginner to racing.  Despite his early start as an actor, Muniz had always wanted to be a racecar driver.  He got his first chance to experience this during the 2004 Toyota Pro/Celebrity race, then dabbled with American open wheel racing in a variety of series throughout the rest of the 2000s.  In the 2010 he took a step back, only appearing in a few select one-off races.  But as the 2020s came around he had shifted his focus to NASCAR. He dabbled with NASCARs lesser known ARCA Menards series with a few races in 2022, before going fulltime in 2023 with Rette Jones Racing. 

He had a successful season with them, which led him to move up to part time racing in NASCARs third and second tier series, the Craftsman Trucks and Xfinity, for 2024.

He made the most out of these opportunities, as the team he had run part time for this year, Reaume Brothers Racing, has signed him to pilot their number 33 Ford fulltime in the Truck series next year.  Getting a full time ride in one of NASCARs three premier series is a huge part of eventually becoming a Cup series driver.  Muniz hopes to take full advantage of this opportunity in his continued pursuit of a lifelong dream.

     Men’s Football played Erie Community College on Saturday, October 19, with a victory of 55-10. The team was led by players Cameron Harbaugh, Kevin Mayfield, and Micah Gates. This win was a continuation of their Region 3 dominance. HVCC, currently 7-1, secured its fifth consecutive regional title under Coach Don Jones. The Women’s Cross Country team competed at the Mountain Valley Conference Championships, hosted by Herkimer, on Saturday October 20. Athena Seebald led the team, finishing in third place at 22:58.7.

She was shortly followed by other leading athletes, Emily Wilson (10th place) and Brooklyn Callaghan (13th). 

The Men’s Cross Country team also competed at the Mountain Valley Conference Championships hosted by Herkimer on Saturday. The team captured their title for the fourth year in a row, being led by athlete Drew Schroeder. He finished second overall, with a time of 30:05.5. Michael Kleinman (4th), Robert Wiltsie (5th), and Ryan Keane (10th) contributed to their victory and all garnered All-Conference recognition.

The Men’s Soccer team played in a game at SUNY Adirondack on Wednesday September 16, at 7:00pm. They ended with a final score of 4-1, winning overall. Goals were made by athletes Eli Charlebois, Ethan Miller, Gavin Haller, and Camryn Curet. Assists were made by Matthew Schraa, Dillon Halvax, and Simon Rogers. Goalie William Brown made a total of 8 saves, and played the full 90 minute game. The team will celebrate their success and will continue to persevere through the season, hoping to continue their wins. 

Photo credit: HVCC Athletics

     Earlier in the year I had written an opinion piece on how I thought the Jets offense would take a large step forward from last year with the return of Aaron Rodgers.  But besides a few select flashes, I have been proven wrong.  The Jets average just 18.8 points per game, and currently sit at 2-4.  This is almost entirely the offense’s fault, as their defense is considered one of the best in the league.  The defense keeps them in games by holding opponents to an average of just 18 points, aided by their 16 total sacks and 5 interceptions through the 6 games. 

This abysmal start in what was envisioned to be a successful season has not sat well with ownership, who fired Head Coach Robert Saleh and stripped Offensive Coordinator Nathaniel Hackett of his play calling duties. All of this happened in a couple day stretch, capped off with the Jets trading a conditional third round pick to the Raiders in order to bring in wide receiver Davante Adams.  But will the addition of a former Rodgers top target All-Pro wide receiver save the season, or is it too little too late?

Photo credits: Fireside Yankees – Empire Sports Media

   In just the three games that Adams has played this season, he has 18 receptions for 209 yards and a touchdown.  While these numbers are down from his average, even if he continues this production it would make him Rodgers top target on gameday. 

I believe this will be the case as in 8 seasons as Rodgers top target Adams had over 8000 yards and 73 touchdowns.

But if the Jets continue to struggle offensively the heat will be on Aaron Rodgers as he now has his previous coach from Green Bay (Hackett) and his old WR1.  But only time will tell if these two will pick up where they left off and turn the season around for the team with the longest active NFL Playoff drought.