ALBANY, NY – Ayaka Suesada, a senior at Hawthorne Valley Waldorf School, has been named as one of the 10 scholastic award recipients for 2022 by the Capital District Sports Women of the Year organization.

Ayaka, who competes in soccer, girls basketball, volleyball and on the boys basketball team, will be recognized at the Capital District Sports Women of the Year Awards Gala on Monday, August 8 at 7:00 p.m. at the GE Theatre at Proctors in Schenectady. Ticket information is to be announced.

The Capital District Sports Women of the Year (CDSWOY) organization honors the best and brightest female student athletes from high schools and colleges in the Capital District of New York State. The student-athletes will be recognized for their achievements in academics, athletics, and community service. More information is provided at the website: cdswoy.com.

Ayaka, a 4.0 student, grew up in a Camphill community for adults with special needs, where both parents were live-in caregivers and co-workers in her current residence in Hudson, New York. Thus, she was surrounded by people with special needs and developmental differences who were integrated into their community and participating in work, education, and family life.

Ayaka volunteers various occasions in her community. She has also been a leader of climate action efforts at Hawthorne Valley Waldorf School and has been a mentor in academics, athletics, and social justice to younger members of the school community.

Athletically, Ayaka has been a standout player in multiple sports since fifth grade. She competed in club soccer as well. After two years of no sports due to COVID, Ayaka played for the girls volleyball team for the first time and earned CHVL All-League honors. Hawthorne Valley Waldorf did not field a team in girls basketball in the 2021-22 season, so she tried out and made the boys team. She became a starter and team captain for that squad.

CDSWOY will announce the next student-athlete recipient on June 24. A total of 10 high school and three college female student-athletes will be honored.

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ALBANY, NY – Carlie Rzeszotarski, a senior at Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake High School, has been named as one of the 10 scholastic award recipients for 2022 by the Capital District Sports Women of the Year organization.

Carlie, who competes in basketball and volleyball, will be recognized at the Capital District Sports Women of the Year Awards Gala on Monday, August 8 at 7:00 p.m. at the GE Theatre at Proctors in Schenectady. Ticket information is to be announced.

The Capital District Sports Women of the Year (CDSWOY) organization honors the best and brightest female student athletes from high schools and colleges in the Capital District of New York State. The student-athletes will be recognized for their achievements in academics, athletics, and community service. More information is provided at the website: cdswoy.com.

Academically, in 2021-22 Carlie has been a member of the National Honor Society, Science Honor Society and Math Honor Society, and served as President of the Math Club this academic year. She was on the 2021 Fall Sports Leadership Team and was part of the 2019 Suburban Council Leadership Summit. Carlie has also been a member of the National Junior Honor Society, the World Language Honor Society and worked on the yearbook.

Athletically, Carlie was twice named the MVP of the State Tournament and named to the All-Tournament Team for the Class A State Champions at Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake in both 2019 and 2021. She was the NYVCA Section 2 Player of the Year in the 2021 season, when she was also named an AVCA High School First Team All-American, AVCA Region 1 All-Region team member, and named to the AVCA’s Best and Brightest Second Team. In addition, Carlie was a MaxPreps 2021 High School Volleyball All American First Team selection. She was the 2021 Suburban Council MVP for volleyball and named the Albany Times Union Overall Outstanding Athlete of the Year and Volleyball Player of the Year. Earlier in her volleyball career Carlie was also named as the NYVCA Section 2 Player of the Year, Suburban Council MVP, the New York State Gatorade Player of the Year, the Times Union Volleyball Player of the Year, and received MaxPreps honors for 2nd Team All-American and Best Volleyball Player in New York State. On the basketball court she returned after sitting out the abbreviated 2021 season and in 2022 helped lead the team to its best finish in over a decade. Carlie was selected as one of the News Channel 13 Girls Basketball All-Stars, named to the First Team Suburban Council All Stars and was a Times Union All-Star 2nd team selection. Most recently Carlie received the Overall Best Female Athlete award for the BHBL Class of 2022.

Carlie’s community service includes working summers at Vacation Bible School as a camp counselor and helping with a variety of activities at Stevens Elementary School. She volunteers with young female athletes through the Junior Diggers Volleyball program, Spartan Junior Basketball, and at the Spike Mountain Volleyball Camp.

CDSWOY will announce the next student-athlete recipient on June 22. A total of 10 high school and three college female student-athletes will be honored.

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ALBANY, NY – The 2022 Capital District Sports Women of the Year Awards Gala will take place on Monday, August 8, 2022, at the GE Theatre at Proctors in Schenectady, NY. The event will begin at 7:00 p.m.

The Capital District Sports Women of the Year program (CDSWOY) honors the best and brightest female student-athletes from high schools and colleges in the Capital District of New York State. The student-athletes will be recognized for their achievements in academics, athletics, and community service. Ticket information will be announced later this summer.

CDSWOY conducted voting from a committee of media professionals at a press conference, and the selections will be announced throughout June and July.

At the press conference, CDSWOY announced that the virtual guest speaker for the Awards Gala will be U.S. Olympian Lindsey Jacobellis.

The CDSWOY initiative was created by Eric McDowell, President of The Eric Idea Agency, a Capital District business that provides services in public and media relations, event management and M.C. services. McDowell is a veteran of collegiate and professional sports communications.

“As many scholastic and collegiate student-athletes returned to the playing arena, our pool of candidates is truly breathtaking,” said McDowell. “We look forward to our summer announcements capped off by a memorable evening of honors and entertainment at Proctors in August.”

Candidates for CDSWOY recognition come from institutions in Section II in the New York State Public High School Athletic Association and colleges that feature athletics in the Capital District. The Athletic Director from each institution was provided the opportunity to nominate one female student-athlete for CDSWOY recognition. The 2022 CDSWOY Awards Gala at Proctors will feature three collegiate and 10 scholastic honorees, with a Grand Collegiate Sports Woman of the Year and Grand Scholastic Sports Woman of the Year announced that evening.

Capital District Sports Women of the Year 2022 Schedule of Announcements

The announcements of the 2022 Capital District Sports Women of the Year honorees will take place during the months of June and July prior to the Awards Gala on August 8 at Proctors. Announcements will be made on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, from June 20 to July 18, at 3:00 PM Eastern time on cdswoy.com.

Here is the schedule for the 2022 announcements:

• June 20 – High School Honoree
• July 6 – College Honoree
• June 22 – High School Honoree
• July 8 – High School Honoree
• June 24 – High School Honoree
• July 11 – High School Honoree
• June 27 – College Honoree
• July 13 – High School Honoree
• June 29 – High School Honoree
• July 15 – College Honoree
• July 1 – High School Honoree
• July 18 – High School Honoree
• July 4 – High School Honoree
• August 8 – Grand Scholastic Woman of the Year and Grand Collegiate Woman of the Year (at Awards Gala)

SCHENECTADY, NY — Rachel Hunsicker, a senior at Lake George Jr. Sr. High School, has been named as one of the 10 scholastic award recipients for 2020 by the Capital District Sports Women of the Year.

Rachel, who competes in bowling, will be recognized at the first-ever Capital District Sports Women of the Year Awards Gala on May 12 at 6:30 p.m. at the GE Theatre at Proctors in Schenectady. Tickets for the Gala will go on sale on Monday, April 13 at proctors.org and at the Proctors Box Office.

The Capital District Sports Women of the Year (CDSWOY) honors the best and brightest female student athletes from high schools and colleges in the Capital District of New York State. The student-athletes will be recognized for their achievements in academics, athletics and community service. More information is provided at the website, cdswoy.com.

Academically, Rachel has a GPA of 94.53, and is ranked 7^th in her class of 84 at Lake George. Athletically, Rachel is the captain of her bowling team and is a Leadership Council Member.

Rachel’s community service includes the Castleton Honors Choir, the Eyes of the World student-led cultural showcase Chairperson, the Being Human Project (a youth planned educational set of sessions for the community on current issues in the county), GLSEN Street Team, True Colors LGBTQ+ Diversity Conference, French Club, Spectrum (GSA Club) President, Yearbook Committee Editor, and Treasurer, Lake Take School Newspaper Editor, Rock Solid Mentoring Program Team Leader, Leadership Retreat for YMCA Camp Chingachgook on Lake George, Class of 2020 Officer Secretary, Astronomy Club, Student to Student Peer Counselor, Senior High Art Club, Senior Select Choir, Cabaret Club and Drama Club.

CDSWOY will announce additional student-athletes March 11 and 12 and Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays through April 7.

Testimonial:
“We have known Rachel for five years. During that time, we have watched her grow into an exceptional young woman who has superseded her goals academically, athletically and personally. As her bowling coaches, we have watched her mentor other teammates and be a responsible captain for her team. She goes above and beyond without any direction when she sees someone needs help.

“Rachel has spear-headed a project at the school called ‘Eyes on the World.” She is a thinker who thinks outside the box. She is involved in many clubs at the school and manages her time well to be part of all of them.

“Rachel is a unique individual. She is a person to be looked at as a role model. She has a compassionate, sensitive, calming nature. We are so proud of Rachel and all her characteristics and know that she will continue to grow beyond her high school and is bound to do great things in her life.”
                -Laurie J. Skellie, Teacher Assistant, Assistant Bowling Coach
                -Todd Wood, Varsity Bowling Coach

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ALBANY, NY – Van Patten Golf Club will host a sports podcast show along with a fundraiser for the Capital District Sports Women of the Year on Wednesday, March 30, 2022. The event begins at 5:30 p.m.

Van Patten Golf Club is located at 924 Main Street in Clifton Park, NY. The club has new management that is producing renovations to the golf course, the bar and the Vista Ballroom. The course opens for play on April 15.

The March 30 event will take place in the Cooley Kill Bar. The bar will be open with the new bar menu as well as the full cash bar menu.
The weekly podcast, “M&M&M Across the Board,” will be recorded beginning at 6:00 p.m. The show, which is available on YouTube, Apple TV and Spotify, features three local sports personalities talking about the latest topics, and a “whiteboard” segment with their topic of the week. Sean Martin is an author and freelance sportswriter. Ashley Miller is the weekend sports anchor and serves as a sports reporter with WNYT-TV 13. She is the M.C. of the annual CDSWOY Awards Gala. Eric McDowell, a veteran media communications professional from college and pro sports, is the President of CDSWOY. The March 30 show will feature a Men’s & Women’s Final Four preview.

CDSWOY will conduct a raffle with all proceeds going to support the 501c3 organization. Raffle tickets will be sold on site beginning at 5:30 p.m. Prizes include the following: Winner’s choice golf glove, Choice of Sunglasses, Men or Women’s Golf Polo, $100 Gift Certificate for the Cooley Kill Restaurant, Golf Pass for four including carts, and a Grand Prize of a new Callaway Golf Bag. The drawing will take place at 7:30 p.m. and individuals must be present to win.

“We are happy to host Eric, Sean, and Ashley at the Van Patten Golf Club,” said Van Patten General Manager Joe Gunther. “As fans of scholastic and collegiate sports ourselves, we’re proud to support the incredibly talented female student-athletes from around the Capital District. What they do for our community both on and off the field is remarkable. We will continue to support them well into the future.”

“I appreciate (Owner) Lance Orcutt and Joe Gunther for hosting our podcast show as well as their generosity in supporting CDSWOY,” said McDowell. “As a member of a league that plays at Van Patten, I am very excited about the updates to the course as well as the amenities including the ballroom, bar, and dining facilities. We look forward to fans coming to see our show in person as well, and I can’t wait to get back on the course.”

Capital District Sports Women of the Year, Inc. recognizes outstanding scholastic and collegiate female student-athletes for excellence in academics, athletics, and community service. The 2022 Capital District Sports Women of the Year Awards Gala will be held in early August at the GE Theatre at Proctors in Schenectady, NY.

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ALBANY, NY — The Capital District Sports Women of the Year, Inc. is proud to celebrate National Girls and Women in Sports Day on February 2, 2022.

National Girls and Women in Sports Day, abbreviated as N.G.W.S.D., is observed on February 2 this year and it is all about breaking the gender stereotypes built around the sports industry. National Girls and Women in Sports Day was first observed in 1987 to remember the Olympic volleyball player Flo Hyman and acknowledge her as the best female volleyball player of her time and her work in promoting equal representation of women in sports. Hyman died of a genetic disorder, Marfan’s syndrome, while playing a tournament in Japan.

Since then, the day has evolved to commemorate all women athletes, their achievements, the positive impacts of inclusion of women in sports, and to address the challenges regarding equal participation of women in sports activities. The day also appreciates the progression made since the enactment of the civil rights law, Title IX.
National Girls and Women in Sports Day is celebrated in all 50 states. The day is usually celebrated by organizing community events, award ceremonies, and other sports activities that inspire girls and women to play sports and be active.

CDSWOY is celebrating this date by starting to solicit nominees for the 2022 Class of the Capital District Sports Women of the Year. Nomination opportunities have been provided to the Directors of Athletics at Capital District high schools and colleges and will be open until May 20.

“I was fortunate to meet Flo Hyman on September 13, 1980, when the Olympic women’s volleyball team came to the University of New Haven and I was a student assistant in the sports information office,” said Eric McDowell, President of CDSWOY. “She and her teammates were so gracious and kind, and the team put on a wonderful show while our student-athletes truly enjoyed the experience. It is fitting that today we begin to solicit the nominations for the exceptional young women in the Capital District who would make Flo so proud.”

The 2022 Capital District Sports Women of the Year Awards Gala will be held in early August at the GE Theatre at Proctors in Schenectady, NY.

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The Hoffman Helping Hands program provides charities with fund raising opportunities. Hoffman Car Wash is once again supporting the Capital District Sports Women of the Year program.

CDSWOY will receive 50% of selected car wash packages from Hoffman’s, which is providing car wash packages for the fundraiser. The Full Service Car Wash is a $43.00 value, “inside and out,” and is available at 1672 Route 9, Clifton Park; 1757 Central Avenue, Colonie; and 753 New Loudon Road, Latham. The Exterior Car Wash has a $13.00 value, “exterior only,” and is available at locations in Albany, Amsterdam, Clifton Park, Colonie, Delmar, East Greenbush, Hudson, Kingston, Queensbury, Saratoga Springs and Troy as well as new exterior only locations in Latham and Utica.

Orders must be made online here: http://www.cdswoy.com/hoffmanscarwash

Funds generated will provide CDSWOY with the opportunity to host an Awards Gala at for outstanding female student-athletes from high schools and colleges for academics, athletics and community service.
The Capital District Sports Women of the Year program honors the best and brightest female student athletes from high schools and colleges in the Capital District of New York State. CDSWOY honors outstanding female student-athletes who excel in academics and community service as well as athletics. The Athletic Director from each institution is provided the opportunity to nominate one female student-athlete for CDSWOY recognition. A committee that features media members selects the honorees in each category. The Awards Gala features three collegiate and 10 scholastic honorees, with two Grand Sports Woman of the Year honorees selected by the committee from the finalists in each category. The next Awards Gala will take place on August 8, 2022 at the GE Theatre at Proctors in Schenectady, NY.

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SCHENECTADY, NY — Clare Howard, a senior from Taconic Hills High School, and Hallie Klosterman, a junior from Russell Sage College, received Grand honors at the Capital District Sports Women of the Year Awards Event held at the GE Theatre at Proctors on Monday evening, August 8, 2021.

Howard was named the Grand Scholastic Woman of the Year and Klosterman was named the Grand Collegiate Woman of the Year. The event also honored 10 other female student-athletes from the region, who made up the 2021 Class of the Capital District Sports Women of the Year. CDSWOY honors excellence in academics, athletics and community service.

The virtual guest speaker was Tara VanDerveer, the head coach of the Stanford University women’s basketball program. The Cardinal won the national championship this past season and Tara is the winningest women’s basketball college coach in history. Local entertainer Annie Scherer performed. Over 200 family, friends, administrators and coaches attended to support the newest CDSWOY honorees.

Academically, Clare Howard is a member of the National Honor Society and is a NYS Athletic Administrators Association Scholar-Athlete nominee. She ranks third in her senior class and won the 2020 RPI Medal for Math and Science. She also won the 2020 RIT Award for Innovation and Creativity. Clare was accepted to play cello with the NYS Empire State String Youth Orchestra. She was an NYS School Music Association Soloist in cello, flute, and piano.

Athletically, Clare earned varsity letters in five sports, including dual sports in the fall (cross country and soccer) and dual sports in the winter (alpine ski and swimming) and with her spring sport, track & field. In track & field, she set new school records in the pentathlon, steeplechase, 100 hurdles, 400 hurdles, 1600 relay and the 3200 relay. She was a two-time state qualifier, three-time Patroon Conference 400 Hurdle Champion, and a three-time Patroon Conference First Team All Star. She was the MVP in 2018 and 2021, 2019 Coach Award recipient and member of the 2018 and 2019 conference title teams as well as the Section II title teams in 2017 and 2019. Clare earned three Section 2 title in 2021 and was named the Patroon Conference Track MVP. At the 2021 Colonie Relays, Clare was first in the 400 hurdles and set school and meet records while posting the fastest time in the State at 1:03.86. She was third in the heptathlon at the USATF Youth National Championships. In swimming, Clare set a new school record in the 400 free relay and was the 2021 captain. Her team won the 2018 Southern Division Championship. In skiing, Clare was named a 2021 Section II First Team All Star for Alpine Skiing and earned her team’s MVP award. She was co-captain of the high school ski team for two years and earned the Leadership Award in 2020. On weekends during the winter seasons, Clare competed for the Catamount Alpine Ski Racing Team. She qualified to compete in the NYS Ski Championships for three years and had to be one of the top 10 in Section 2 to qualify. Clare qualified for the USA Ski under 16 women’s finals and the under 19 women’s finals.

Clare’s community service includes volunteering to help run a youth track program and with the humane society as a dog walker. She was treasurer for her class for three years and Senior Class President. Clare also worked as a board representative for the Scholarship Committee for Dollars for Scholars, and a senior class representative for the school’s reopening committee during the Covid-19 closure.

Academically, Hallie Klosterman has been named to the Empire 8 President’s List and Dean’s List in each of her three years at Russell Sage. She was inducted into RSC’s Athletic Honor Society in 2021, and recorded a 4.0 undergraduate GPA in each of her three years. She was also named to the 2020-2021 CoSIDA Academic All-District First Team and is a candidate for the CoSIDA Academic All-America Team. She was also named to the 2020-2021 United Soccer Coaches Player of Distinction NCAA Division III Team, as well as the 2020-2021 USC NCAA Division III Women Scholar All-East Region Team.

Athletically, Hallie led the Gators to the 2021 Empire 8 Women’s Soccer Championship, played in the spring. She was the tournament Most Valuable Player and was named the Women’s Soccer Gator of the Year. A two-time Empire 8 Offensive Player of the Week, Hallie served as captain of the team this past season.

Hallie’s community service includes serving as a member of the Student Athlete Advisory Committee at Russell Sage. She provided service in a food pantry, volunteered for a pop tab fundraiser for donations, and worked with a bottles and cans drive to raise funds for local charities.

The other members of the CDSWOY Class of 2021:

• Naseyah Dix, Bryant & Stratton College
• Phoebe Fox, Glens Falls HS
• Riley Gibbons, Germantown HS
• Jenna Hoffman, Maple Hill HS
• Beth Irwin, Guilderland HS
• Anna Jankovic, Averill Park HS
• Sara Langworthy, Warrensburg HS
• Isabella Mancini, Galway HS
• Madison Relyea, Mayfield HS
• Kate Sherman, Mohonasen HS

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SCHENECTADY, NY — Rachel Hunsicker, a senior at Lake George Jr. Sr. High School, has been named as one of the 10 scholastic award recipients for 2020 by the Capital District Sports Women of the Year.

Rachel, who competes in bowling, will be recognized at the first-ever Capital District Sports Women of the Year Awards Gala on May 12 at 6:30 p.m. at the GE Theatre at Proctors in Schenectady. Tickets for the Gala will go on sale on Monday, April 13 at proctors.org and at the Proctors Box Office.

The Capital District Sports Women of the Year (CDSWOY) honors the best and brightest female student athletes from high schools and colleges in the Capital District of New York State. The student-athletes will be recognized for their achievements in academics, athletics and community service. More information is provided at the website, cdswoy.com.

Academically, Rachel has a GPA of 94.53, and is ranked 7^th in her class of 84 at Lake George. Athletically, Rachel is the captain of her bowling team and is a Leadership Council Member.

Rachel’s community service includes the Castleton Honors Choir, the Eyes of the World student-led cultural showcase Chairperson, the Being Human Project (a youth planned educational set of sessions for the community on current issues in the county), GLSEN Street Team, True Colors LGBTQ+ Diversity Conference, French Club, Spectrum (GSA Club) President, Yearbook Committee Editor, and Treasurer, Lake Take School Newspaper Editor, Rock Solid Mentoring Program Team Leader, Leadership Retreat for YMCA Camp Chingachgook on Lake George, Class of 2020 Officer Secretary, Astronomy Club, Student to Student Peer Counselor, Senior High Art Club, Senior Select Choir, Cabaret Club and Drama Club.

CDSWOY will announce additional student-athletes March 11 and 12 and Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays through April 7.

Testimonial:
“We have known Rachel for five years. During that time, we have watched her grow into an exceptional young woman who has superseded her goals academically, athletically and personally. As her bowling coaches, we have watched her mentor other teammates and be a responsible captain for her team. She goes above and beyond without any direction when she sees someone needs help.

“Rachel has spear-headed a project at the school called ‘Eyes on the World.” She is a thinker who thinks outside the box. She is involved in many clubs at the school and manages her time well to be part of all of them.

“Rachel is a unique individual. She is a person to be looked at as a role model. She has a compassionate, sensitive, calming nature. We are so proud of Rachel and all her characteristics and know that she will continue to grow beyond her high school and is bound to do great things in her life.”
                -Laurie J. Skellie, Teacher Assistant, Assistant Bowling Coach
                -Todd Wood, Varsity Bowling Coach

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SCHENECTADY, NY — Rachel Hunsicker, a senior at Lake George Jr. Sr. High School, has been named as one of the 10 scholastic award recipients for 2020 by the Capital District Sports Women of the Year.

Rachel, who competes in bowling, will be recognized at the first-ever Capital District Sports Women of the Year Awards Gala on May 12 at 6:30 p.m. at the GE Theatre at Proctors in Schenectady. Tickets for the Gala will go on sale on Monday, April 13 at proctors.org and at the Proctors Box Office.

The Capital District Sports Women of the Year (CDSWOY) honors the best and brightest female student athletes from high schools and colleges in the Capital District of New York State. The student-athletes will be recognized for their achievements in academics, athletics and community service. More information is provided at the website, cdswoy.com.

Academically, Rachel has a GPA of 94.53, and is ranked 7^th in her class of 84 at Lake George. Athletically, Rachel is the captain of her bowling team and is a Leadership Council Member.

Rachel’s community service includes the Castleton Honors Choir, the Eyes of the World student-led cultural showcase Chairperson, the Being Human Project (a youth planned educational set of sessions for the community on current issues in the county), GLSEN Street Team, True Colors LGBTQ+ Diversity Conference, French Club, Spectrum (GSA Club) President, Yearbook Committee Editor, and Treasurer, Lake Take School Newspaper Editor, Rock Solid Mentoring Program Team Leader, Leadership Retreat for YMCA Camp Chingachgook on Lake George, Class of 2020 Officer Secretary, Astronomy Club, Student to Student Peer Counselor, Senior High Art Club, Senior Select Choir, Cabaret Club and Drama Club.

CDSWOY will announce additional student-athletes March 11 and 12 and Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays through April 7.

Testimonial:
“We have known Rachel for five years. During that time, we have watched her grow into an exceptional young woman who has superseded her goals academically, athletically and personally. As her bowling coaches, we have watched her mentor other teammates and be a responsible captain for her team. She goes above and beyond without any direction when she sees someone needs help.

“Rachel has spear-headed a project at the school called ‘Eyes on the World.” She is a thinker who thinks outside the box. She is involved in many clubs at the school and manages her time well to be part of all of them.

“Rachel is a unique individual. She is a person to be looked at as a role model. She has a compassionate, sensitive, calming nature. We are so proud of Rachel and all her characteristics and know that she will continue to grow beyond her high school and is bound to do great things in her life.”
                -Laurie J. Skellie, Teacher Assistant, Assistant Bowling Coach
                -Todd Wood, Varsity Bowling Coach

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