Amber Kolpakas has led the Golden Eagles on the volleyball court since she was in eighth grade. “I had always been interested in volleyball,” Kolpakas said. “I joined my school’s team in sixth grade and was asked to play JV the next year. By the end of seventh grade, I was pulled up to varsity for sectionals.”

The following year, even though she was still in eighth grade, Kolpakas led Galway to a state championship appearance while averaging 15 kills in her postseason matches. It was just the beginning of a stellar career on the court. Kolpakas went on to be a three-time First Team All-State selection in volleyball with two league MVPs and Offensive MVPs. She selected to the Section 2 First Team four times and was selected to the Albany Times Union Section 2 All-Star team, the only player selected from a small school. Kolpakas ended her career with two All-State First Team selections along with a Second Team selection and three appearances on the New York State All-Tournament Team. She set the Galway record with 1,578 career kills and added 1,028 career digs.

“In all my years, I have known other students with talents equivalent to Amber’s. However, most of them lacked her good nature and humility, and even fewer demonstrated the genuine intellectual curiosity that Amber has exhibited over and over,” said Galway Athletic Director and Volleyball coach Michael Glenn. “It’s a curiosity that is often accompanied by her excitement or enthusiasm for an idea, an experiment or the lead role in a challenging operatic performance.”

It was curiosity that would lead Kolpakas to take up basketball during her junior year. She says she always wanted to play, and finally was able do when she got her driver’s license and was able to drive herself to practice.

“It was hard,” Kolpakas said of her early basketball career. “I wasn’t particularly good at first. But I kept working to get better every day.”  Her hard work paid off and by the end of her first season, she was part of the starting five. She began her senior year being chosen as the team captain and went on to lead the Golden Eagles in rebounds and blocks. As team captain, Kolpakas encouraged the team on and off the court including organizing a gift basket for a teammate who missed a few weeks due to an illness.

 “Amber’s height and athletic ability led her to be a good rebounder,” said Galway Basketball Coach Phillip Meashaw. “Amber had the courage and motivation to attempt a new sport. Her attitude was always positive and she knew she had a lot to learn and a short period of time to do it.”

That positivity was also evident on the diamond. Kolpakas represented Galway as a three-time section 2 all-star and was named the league MVP. But her positivity went beyond the spring seasons. Kolpakas has been a part of a local softball camp helping young players in her area to hone their skills.

“I’ve played softball since I was eight years old,” Kolpakas said. “A lot of these girls have dreams of being good and playing here in the future. They look up to me and it’s rewarding to help them.”

In addition to being a three-sport standout at Galway, Kolpakas also exceled in the classroom as she ranked ninth in the class of 2024. She also spent her spare time making personal hygiene packages for a backpack program and making blankets for a dog shelter. She also assisted a teacher by organizing musical performances for a service project.

“I feel she is a wonderful role model for other young women”, Meashaw said. “I am proud to have coached her.”

“Receiving this award is such an amazing honor for me and I am so grateful for the recognition,” Kolpakas said. “I feel like it helps bring attention to our small school and show that there are so many amazing athletes out there. I definitely couldn’t have done it without the support from my parents or coaches, but I am so grateful for them believing in me and giving me that support.”

Field hockey is a family affair for Carly King. She credits her older sister for introducing the sport to her back in seventh grade. Now, her younger sisters are taking part in the youth program as well. In between, King has stuck with field hockey to numerous high school awards and even to the collegiate level.

Though she played other sports in her time at Guilderland High School, field hockey has always been her favorite. After field hockey ended for the winter, King would take up indoor track as a way to cross train for field hockey. A middle distance runner, King competed in the 600 meters as well as the 4×800 meter relay.

“I liked doing track,” she said. “It helps with endurance and the motivation and hard work transferred over to field hockey.”

King said lacrosse offered her a similar opportunity to stay in field hockey shape. But while in field hockey she mostly played defense, King said she had a different role on the lacrosse team.

“I liked that I got to play a different position in lacrosse,” she said. “I had more of an offensive role in lacrosse. While it also has the team dynamic, I liked that it’s a different culture.”

But King garnered most of her accolades on the field hockey pitch. She helped the Dutchmen post the best record in program history and a Section 2 championship in her senior season. She was also named All-State and First Team Suburban Council All Star.

“I’ve found success when I’ve kept practicing, improving, and learning more,” King said. “We were all super close as a team this season – we were all striving for the same goal.”

Along with her athletic award, King was also recognized for her academic excellence in leadership by the Suburban Council. Each school in the council selects one female and one male student that excels in leadership.

King was selected because of her involvement with the Guilderland Field Hockey youth program. As the lead coach, King has been involved in coaching younger players in her area through regular practices, camps, and free playdays that offer a free way for any youth in the area who’d like to try field hockey.

She also helped the program raise money to purchase free equipment that’s offered to any player who wants to try the sport. To do this, King helped write grant with the Albany County Legislators Office. The program helps grow the field hockey participation numbers in the area while also offering those already playing field hockey opportunities to improve their skills.

“I volunteer with the youth program because I want to help improve the Guilderland program in the future,” she said. “Seeing the kids get along and learn teamwork – that’s a skillset they’ll have for the rest of their career.”

Off the field, King also tutors her peers through her school’s National Honor Society. Just like with coaching, she enjoys helping her fellow students build longlasting skills.

“Coaching is similar to tutoring for me,” King said, “Watching it “click” is just as rewarding for the students I’m tutoring as it is for me. It makes a difference that lasts a lifetime.”

King’s commitment to field hockey will continue into college. She will join the team at Salve Regina University in Rhode Island this fall. King says just like in high school, she’ll have to manage her time wisely as a collegiate player.

“If we have practice at 4 with school over at 2:30, I know I need to use that time wisely to do homework so I have the evening for my other things,” she said.

King said she’s honored to receive the Capital District Sports Woman of the Year away since it highlights the hard work she’s put in at an often-overlooked position.

“This award means a lot to me,” she said. “I am very honored to receive this award especially as a defender because a lot of the time accolades go to the people scoring the points, or the goalies making the saves.”