SCHENECTADY, NY — Kara Bacon, a senior from Warrensburg High School, and Hannah Price, a senior from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, 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 7, 2023.

Kara was named the Grand Scholastic Woman of the Year and Hannah was named the Grand Collegiate Woman of the Year. The event also honored 11 other female student-athletes from the region, who made up the 2023 Class of the Capital District Sports Women of the Year. CDSWOY honors excellence in academics, athletics and community service.

The virtual guest speaker was ESPN personality Jessica Mendoza, an Olympic Gold Medalist. Entertainment was provided by members of the Empire State Youth Orchestra.

Academically, Kara is ranked #3 in her class with a 97.5 average. She has earned high honor roll recognition in all four years at Warrensburg. Kara was a HOBY Leadership Award recipient and also a President’s Award recipient in her junior year. She has received the George Eastman Young Leader Scholarship as well as the Innovation and Creation Scholarship. A member of the Nation Honor Society, Kara was a NYSPHSAA Scholar-Athlete Award winner in all four years. She is a member of the school’s French Club and Varsity Club.

Kara played soccer for five seasons, softball for four seasons and basketball for three seasons. She was a varsity captain for all three sports. She was named a First Team Adirondack League All Star three times in soccer, twice in softball and once in basketball. In soccer, she was a two-time Section 2 All-Star including 2022, the Offensive Player of the Year in her senior season. Her team was a Section 2 semi-finalist. On the court, Kara also was the Offensive Player of the Year this past season, and was a NYSSWA Class C Honorable Mention All Star. Her softball teams this season was a Section 2 Semifinalist, and she was the MVP of the Maple Hill Tournament this spring. Kara has signed a letter of intent to play softball at LeMoyne.

Kara’s community service includes volunteering for the Red Cross Blood Drive and the Honor Society Book Fair. She is a student ambassador for the Wounded Warrior Project and the Community Halloween Trail. She also volunteers as an official for youth basketball, soccer, and softball.

An Economics and Sustainability Studies dual major, Hannah is a multiple Dean’s List and ECAC Hockey All-Academic selection. When RPI’s 2020-21 season was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, she received the team’s Bill Cahill Memorial Award, presented annually to a player who displays high character, ability, and dedication. In 2021, she received third prize in the McKinney Writing Contest for her entry in Undergraduate Essay/Creative Nonfiction. In both 2022 and 2023, Hannah was named a finalist for the Hockey Humanitarian Award, a national award recognizing the best and brightest in the classroom, in the community, and on the ice in men’s and women’s collegiate ice hockey. She was one of five national finalists for the award each season. In addition, she earned RPI’s Livingston W. Houston Citizenship Award awarded to a select few top students of the institute by RPI’s student life office.

Hannah, a defenseman, played in all 32 games for the Engineers in 2022-23, recording five goals and two assists for seven points.  She had just two minor penalties for four minutes, while registering 29 shots on goal and 33 blocks at the defensive end. In 98 career games at RPI, she had seven goals and eight assists for 15 points. She was a staple & starter for the Engineers all four years she dressed in Red. In May, Hannah signed a professional contract with the Vienna Sabres of the EWHL in Austria.

Since her arrival in 2019, Hannah has been a leader on and off the ice. Serving as president of the Student Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) in 2022-23 after serving as a team representative for previous three years, she helped expand the group’s efforts including co-sponsoring a blood drive with the American Red Cross, where she was responsible for recruiting and promoting the event. She also created such initiatives as Fresh Check Mental Health Days, Troy School 2 Reading Program and Special Olympics Basketball. She was the RPI Food Recovery Network President, helping to save thousands of pounds of food from RPI’s dining halls for donation to a local food pantry for redistribution to the needy. Hannah was her team’s Team Community Service Coordinator and as the team forged a partnership with Hope 7 Food Pantry & After School Program. The Pittsburgh native coordinated Skate with the Engineers and developed a new partnership with Clifton Park Youth Hockey. Hannah volunteers with Troy Street Soldiers and Catholic Charities Mass Food Distribution. She recently served an internship at the State Attorney’s Office in the Environmental Protection Bureau.

Here are the other members of the CDSWOY Class of 2023 who were honored at the Awards Gala:

• Amanda Chambers, University at Albany
• Emma Crahan, Fonda-Fultonville HS
• Rylee Dunbar, Corinth HS
• Isabella Franchi, Colonie HS
• Rachael Frazier, Maple Hill HS
• Emily Frost, Tamarac HS
• Addyson Galuski, Waterford-Halfmoon HS
• Kayla Grant. Lake George HS
• Zoey Lints, Schoharie HS
• Olivia Lomascolo, Siena College
• Grace O’Brien, Galway HS

ALBANY, NY – Members of the acclaimed Empire State Youth Orchestra will perform at the Capital District Sports Women of the Year 2023 Awards Gala on Monday, August 7 at 7 p.m. at the GE Theatre at Proctors.

Tickets are now on sale for the event at the Proctors Box Office or at proctors.org. 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.

Empire State Youth Orchestra engages more than 600 youth from across New York’s Capital Region and Western New England in the joyful pursuit of musical excellence. Guided by outstanding teaching artists, coaches and conductors, members explore their potential alongside like-minded peers in an environment that is musically daring and fun.

This year’s performers will be Julia Spretty and Peyton Roach.

“We are very pleased to have exceptional performers from the Empire State Youth Orchestra entertain our audience at the CDSWOY Awards Gala,” said Eric McDowell, President of the Capital District Sports Women of the Year organization.

“Like our student-athletes who are being honored, Julia and Peyton are talented and dedicated and have bright futures. We appreciate Dr. David Bebe for providing us with students from ESYO.”

“ESYO is thrilled to bring beautiful music to this incredible celebration!,” said Dr. Bebe. “All of the young women being highlighted, athletes and musicians, have such amazing accomplishments and impressive stories. It’s so important to have organizations like CDSWOY give our outstanding youth a well-deserved acknowledgment.”

Julia Spretty has been a clarinetist for nine years and is a graduate of Waterford-Halfmoon High School. Studying with Julie Taylor, she has been Principal Clarinet in ESYO’s Symphony Orchestra for the past three years. She earned a position in the NYSSMA AlI-State Winter Conference Symphony Orchestra, as well as the Symphonic Band on Eb clarinet. Julia also enjoys singing, playing flute, piccolo, and the alto saxophone. She played in the pit orchestra for her school’s musical on clarinet, flute, and alto sax. She also composed her very own band piece for her High School’s band to perform at their fall concert. Julia has also conducted her High School Band and has attended the Juilliard Summer Winds Program, NYSSSA (NYS Summer School of the Arts), Ithaca College Summer Music Academy, and virtual programs through the Crane School of Music. Her final season of ESYO concluded with an exceptional performance by the Symphony Orchestra at Carnegie Hall. This past April, Julie was the WMHT Radio Station’s Classical Student of the Month this past April. In the fall, she will be attending Boston Conservatory at Berklee to pursue a degree in clarinet performance. Julia will be playing Concertino in Eb Major Op. 26 by Weber. Her accompanist will be Brian Axford.

Peyton Roach is a classical violist and a visual artist from Bethlehem, New York. She recently graduated from Bethlehem Central High school with an advanced regent’s diploma. She has been in the Empire State Youth Orchestra ensembles since the sixth grade and has been the assistant principal violist for the Empire State Symphony Orchestra for the past two years. Peyton has been playing viola for 10 years, studying under her mother, Monica Roach, for the first three years of her musical education, and then with Elizabeth Moll for the remaining seven. Her biggest musical inspiration is her mother, and she hopes to teach others about the wonders of music. Her plans are earning a bachelor’s in fine arts and studying animation at music at Bennington College.

ALBANY, NY – Isabella Franchi, a senior at Colonie High School, has been named as one of the 10 scholastic award recipients for 2023 by the Capital District Sports Women of the Year organization.

Isabella, who competes in basketball and soccer, will be recognized at the Capital District Sports Women of the Year Awards Gala on Monday, August 7 at 7:00 p.m. at the GE Theatre at Proctors in Schenectady. Tickets are available online at proctors.org or at the Proctors Box Office.

The Capital District Sports Women of the Year organization (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.

Isabella was on the high honor roll for all four years at Colonie High School. She was a scholar-athlete in basketball, and a member of the National Honor Society. She also served on the youth advisory board. Isabella represented Colonie at the Section 2 Scholar-Athlete Banquet.

Athletically, Isabella was named to the Section 2 Girls Basketball All Star Team. She was a Second Team Suburban Council All-Star and a Second Team Suburban Council Senior All-Star. Isabella served as the team captain this past season and she will be continuing her basketball career next year on a full scholarship to St. Michael’s College. She was an Honorable Mention selection in the league for two seasons and was captain the past two seasons. She also earned the Suburban Council Excellence in Leadership Award in 2023.

Isabella served as a coach for the Capital District Girls Basketball League for four years. She organized a student/staff charity basketball game at Colonie High School. She helped with the Unified Basketball Team and is a member and Treasurer of ICare and Treasurer. Isabella is also a member of the Youth Advisory Board.

A total of 10 high school and three college female student-athletes will be honored at the August 7 event. The next announcement will be the Grand Collegiate and Grand Scholastic Sports Women of the Year, which will take place at the Awards Gala.

ALBANY, NY – Hannah Price, a senior at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, has been named as one of the three collegiate award recipients for 2023 by the Capital District Sports Women of the Year organization.

Hannah, who competes in ice hockey, will be recognized at the Capital District Sports Women of the Year Awards Gala on Monday, August 7 at 7:00 p.m. at the GE Theatre at Proctors in Schenectady. Tickets are available online at proctors.org or at the Proctors Box Office.

The Capital District Sports Women of the Year organization (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.

An Economics and Sustainability Studies dual major, Hannah is a multiple Dean’s List and ECAC Hockey All-Academic selection. When RPI’s 2020-21 season was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, she received the team’s Bill Cahill Memorial Award, presented annually to a player who displays high character, ability, and dedication. In 2021, she received third prize in the McKinney Writing Contest for her entry in Undergraduate Essay/Creative Nonfiction. In both 2022 and 2023, Hannah was named a finalist for the Hockey Humanitarian Award, a national award recognizing the best and brightest in the classroom, in the community, and on the ice in men’s and women’s collegiate ice hockey. She was one of five national finalists for the award each season. In addition, she earned RPI’s Livingston W. Houston Citizenship Award awarded to a select few top students of the institute by RPI’s student life office.

Hannah, a defenseman, played in all 32 games for the Engineers in 2022-23, recording five goals and two assists for seven points.  She had just two minor penalties for four minutes, while registering 29 shots on goal and 33 blocks at the defensive end. In 98 career games at RPI, she had seven goals and eight assists for 15 points. She was a staple & starter for the Engineers all four years she dressed in Red. In May, Hannah signed a professional contract with the Vienna Sabres of the EWHL in Austria.

Since her arrival in 2019, Hannah has been a leader on and off the ice. Serving as president of the Student Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) in 2022-23 after serving as a team representative for previous three years, she helped expand the group’s efforts including co-sponsoring a blood drive with the American Red Cross, where she was responsible for recruiting and promoting the event. She also created such initiatives as Fresh Check Mental Health Days, Troy School 2 Reading Program and Special Olympics Basketball. She was the RPI Food Recovery Network President, helping to save thousands of pounds of food from RPI’s dining halls for donation to a local food pantry for redistribution to the needy. Hannah was her team’s Team Community Service Coordinator and as the team forged a partnership with Hope 7 Food Pantry & After School Program. The Pittsburgh native coordinated Skate with the Engineers and developed a new partnership with Clifton Park Youth Hockey. Hannah volunteers with Troy Street Soldiers and Catholic Charities Mass Food Distribution. She recently served an internship at the State Attorney’s Office in the Environmental Protection Bureau.

A total of 10 high school and three college female student-athletes will be honored at the August 7 event. The final recipient will be announced on July 20.

ALBANY, NY – Grace O’Brien, a senior at Galway High School, has been named as one of the 10 scholastic award recipients for 2023 by the Capital District Sports Women of the Year organization.

Grace, who competes in basketball and volleyball, will be recognized at the Capital District Sports Women of the Year Awards Gala on Monday, August 7 at 7:00 p.m. at the GE Theatre at Proctors in Schenectady. Tickets are available online at proctors.org or at the Proctors Box Office.

The Capital District Sports Women of the Year organization (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.
Grace was an academic scholar five times at Galway High School. She received the George Eastman Young Leaders Award from the University of Rochester. She helped to start the Spanish Club at Galway and was a member of the Student Senate.

Athletically, Grace was a First Team WAC All-Star in both her junior and senior seasons. She was a First Team All-State Class C volleyball selection last fall. She was the WAC MVP and Top Scholar-Athlete in the WAC and a WAC All Star in basketball. She also competed in track this past season for the first time.

In community service work, Grace organized a donation to UNICEF for children in Ukraine. They made and sold bracelets that said “We stand with Ukraine,” All the profits made were donated to UNICEF. Grace worked for the Clean Up Great Camp Santanoni program in Newcomb. This camp in the Adirondacks was built in the 1890s and has been passed down through many families. Now the camp is open to the public and in the late spring, Grace and other volunteers clean the debris from the winter. She also helps with scorekeeping services for girls modified and JV basketball games.

A total of 10 high school and three college female student-athletes will be honored at the August 7 event. The next recipient will be announced on July 19.

ALBANY, NY – Emma Crahan, a senior at Fonda-Fultonville High School, has been named as one of the 10 scholastic award recipients for 2023 by the Capital District Sports Women of the Year organization.

Emma, who competes in basketball, soccer, softball, and track & field, will be recognized at the Capital District Sports Women of the Year Awards Gala on Monday, August 7 at 7:00 p.m. at the GE Theatre at Proctors in Schenectady. Tickets are available online at proctors.org or at the Proctors Box Office.

The Capital District Sports Women of the Year organization (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.

Emma recorded a 4.0 GPA throughout her high school career, earning Principal’s List honors in every quarter. She had the highest Algebra II Average two times. She earned Scholar-Athlete honors in all five sports (both indoor and outdoor track seasons). She has been awarded the Trustee Scholarship and a Music Award. At Fonda-Fultonville, Emma was an active member of student government, chorus, concert band, jazz ensemble, and the Yearbook Club as well as the Yellow Roses group, Key Club, and Spanish Club. She received the LeMoyne Heights Scholarship.

Athletically, Emma was a three-time softball team MVP and also a two-time soccer MVP. She also was a Co-MVP for this past season’s indoor track team. She won two Best Field Events honors for outdoor track and was a Section 2 All Star in softball for two seasons as well as a first team WAC All Star in softball in one season. She was the Best Newcomer for the softball team and the indoor track team.

Her community service includes volunteering at Axis Strength Training, teaching children crossfit2. She worked a pancake breakfast for holiday cheer for children, volunteered at the concession stands at various soccer games, and worked during the Fonda Fair. Emma received the school’s Community Service Award.

A total of 10 high school and three college female student-athletes will be honored at the August 7 event. The next recipient will be announced on July 18.

ALBANY, NY – Addyson Galuski, a junior at Waterford-Halfmoon High School, has been named as one of the 10 scholastic award recipients for 2023 by the Capital District Sports Women of the Year organization.

Addyson, who competes in soccer and track & field, will be recognized at the Capital District Sports Women of the Year Awards Gala on Monday, August 7 at 7:00 p.m. at the GE Theatre at Proctors in Schenectady. Tickets are available online at proctors.org or at the Proctors Box Office.

The Capital District Sports Women of the Year organization (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, Addyson is a member of the National Honor Society and has been on the Honor Roll every period of her career at Waterford-Halfmoon High School. She held a 96 GPA was ranked 6th in the Class of 2024.

Athletically, Addyson currently is the all-time leading scorer in the history of the soccer program at Waterford-Halfmoon. She was a First Team All-State performer for the soccer team last season and was a First Team All-Wasaren selection in soccer as well in 2022. She also earned First Team honors last fall from the Albany Times Union. She was fourth in the 400 in the outdoor track league championships this past spring.

Her community service includes volunteering for the Ronald McDonald House. She also serves as a referee for the Waterford youth Soccer program and works with the Albany Alleycats Skills Clinic. Addyson also works with the Waterford Futsal Youth Clinic and the Waterford Skills and Drills Clinic.

A total of 10 high school and three college female student-athletes will be honored at the August 7 event. The next recipient will be announced on July 17.

ALBANY, NY – Amanda Chambers, a graduate student at the University at Albany, has been named as one of the three collegiate award recipients for 2023 by the Capital District Sports Women of the Year organization.

Amanda, who competes in cross country and track & field, will be recognized at the Capital District Sports Women of the Year Awards Gala on Monday, August 7 at 7:00 p.m. at the GE Theatre at Proctors in Schenectady. General admission tickets are $25 and can be purchased at Proctors or online at Proctors.org.

The Capital District Sports Women of the Year organization (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, Amanda has been on the Deans List in all four years at UAlbany. She is a five-time member of the America East Honor Roll and also made the America East Commissioner’s Honor Roll. She is pursuing her master’s in public health.

Amanda recorded many outstanding performances in cross country and track & field. She suffered an ankle injury in her senior year at Colonie High School, and after surgery had an 18-month recovery period. She began collegiate competition during the covid period of cancellations or postponements of events. In 2022, she was diagnosed with severe iron deficiency and had infusions for four weeks. Yet, she was named to the 2022 America East Cross Country All Star Second Team. This past spring, Amanda was an American East Outdoor Track & Field All-Conference performer in the 5000 meters. She set personal bests in six events combined in the two sports, the 5K in cross country, and the 800, 1500, Mile, 3000 and 5000 in track & field. She set meet records in the first two meets of the indoor track season. Amanda ranks in third in all-time school rankings in the 1500 and 5000 and in the top 13 in three other track events and one cross country event.

Amanda was a four-year member of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee at UAlbany. She volunteered for the Mental Health Games and with the Hudson-Mohawk Road Runners Club. She was an event coordinator for the Friends of Jacyln, and previously was a food bank volunteer and served an internship assisting special education students. Amanda worked with a holiday card program at St. Peter’s Nursing Home during the covid pandemic.

A total of 10 high school and three college female student-athletes will be honored at the August 7 event. The next recipient will be announced on July 14.

SCHENECTADY, NY — Tickets for the 2023 Capital District Sports Women of the Year Awards Gala are now on sale. The event will take place on Monday, August 7 at the GE Theatre at Proctors at 7:00 p.m.

Tickets for the 2023 CDSWOY Awards Gala are on sale at this link: https://www.proctors.org/event/capital-district-sports-women-of-the-year-awards-gala/ or through the Proctors Box Office. Box Office representatives are available Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. through 6 p.m. via phone (518-346-6204) and in person at Proctors. The box office location is Robb Alley inside Proctors Arcade, 432 State St., Schenectady, NY 12305.

Tickets are $25 while tickets for children 5 and under are free and those tickets are at the Box Office only, not available online. All tickets are general admission tickets and will be sold on a first-come, first-serve basis.

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.

ESPN Broadcaster Jessica Mendoza will serve as the virtual guest speaker for this year’s event. Jessica joined ESPN in 2007 and in 2015, became the first woman to serve as an analyst for nationally-televised Major League Baseball games. She has since become one of the leading voices in ESPN’s Major League Baseball coverage. She appears regularly on ESPN studio shows including Baseball Tonight, SportsCenter, Get Up and First Take. In 2020, Jessica became the first woman to serve as a World Series game analyst on national radio as she joined the MLB on ESPN Radio team for the World Series. She also serves as an analyst for the Women’s College World Series. On July 10, Jessica served as an analyst on ESPN2’s coverage of the Major League Baseball Home Run Derby.

The Empire State Youth Orchestra will feature selected performers for the 2023 CDSWOY Awards Gala.